Saban: Bama will not use scheduling issue as “an excuse”
It’s Friday which means that the floor is totally open to you. We can discuss spring football, the NFL Draft, conference expansion, politics, television (I’m still waiting impatiently for Mad Men to start its next season). Just keep it clean. Here are a few topics to get the party started:
The SEC had its end of spring practice conference call yesterday. Here are but a few tidbits that caught my attention:
**–It is well known by now that due to a scheduling quirk, Alabama’s last six SEC opponents in 2010 all have a bye week before they play the Crimson Tide. The SEC is trying to give Alabama some relief but its options are limited if other SEC schools don’t want to move games. And by now most of them don’t.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he was most concerned about the game with Auburn on Friday, Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Auburn has an open date on Nov. 20 while Alabama plays Georgia State in Tuscaloosa.
“The thing I’m concerned about is playing Auburn on a short week,” Saban said. “Sometimes a bye is an advantage and sometimes it’s not. It’s not going to be an excuse for us.”
Ironically, the key to getting Alabama some relief may be Bill Curry’s new program at Georgia State. If that game could be moved and Alabama could shift its open date from Oct. 30 to Nov. 20, then Saban would get the relief he seeks.
But here is why moving games at this late date is so hard:
**–Georgia State has an open date on Nov. 13 and might be willing to move its Alabama game at that date.
**–But Alabama has a game with Mississippi State on Nov. 13. Coach Dan Mullen said he might be willing to move that game to his open date, which is Nov. 6. Alabama can’t play that date because it has a game with LSU.
**–Alabama and Mississippi State could move to Oct. 30, Alabama’s old open date. But the Bulldogs have a date with Kentucky.
And so it goes. The process is complicated by the fact that there are only 13 Saturdays between the first Saturday of the season (Sept. 4) and the first Saturday in December. Some years there are 14 Saturdays which provide much more flexibility in scheduling.
**–In case you missed it last week, the Head Ball Coach at South Carolina turned 65 years old and, thanks to a workout regimen that would have younger men gasping for air, Steve Spurrier remains in great shape. “If you look at all the magazines you know that it’s got nothing to do with how old you are but how you take care of yourself,” said Spurrier. “I never thought I would coach until I was 60 but all of a sudden it gets here and you feel as good as you did 20 years ago.”
Spurrier said he is proud that he has never been fired as a college head coach and plans to keep it that way. “Hopefully I can coach another 4-5 years and be able to hang it up on my own.”
**–Florida center Maurkice Pouncey was the No. 18 pick in the NFL Draft by Pittsburgh. His brother, Mike, will take over the center spot this season at Florida. Maurkice Pouncey left school early and was a first-round pick. Mike stayed behind because he wanted to play one more year of college football. It is the first time since about the fifth grade that the two twins have been apart. Expect Mike Pouncey to be a first-round choice in the 2011 NFL Draft. “There is no reason he can’t do the same thing,” said interim head coach Steve Addazio, who is also Florida’s offensive coordinator. “I think Mike is the best offensive lineman in the country.”
Head coach Urban Meyer was not on the conference call and Addazio said he was not certain when Meyer would return to his office.
**–Derek Dooley, the new head coach at Tennessee, said that during his first meeting with the Volunteer players he did not ask for them to trust him. “That is something you have to earn over time,” said Dooley, Tennessee’s third head coach in as many seasons. “Trust is built with the consistency of how we treat them and coach them. It’s our job to get them to trust us, not to demand that they trust us.”
Dooley said he does not expect his father, Hall of Fame coach Vince Dooley, to be in Sanford Stadium when Tennessee comes to Georgia on Oct. 9. Vince Dooley told me a couple of weeks ago that he will watch the game from his home in Athens.
“He has a love for Georgia like none other but he also knows that his son will be playing,” said Derek Dooley. “Blood is thicker than water. He may not be wearing orange but at least I hope he’s thinking orange.”
Here are a few other notes before we break for the weekend:
**–Auburn’s Ben Tate and Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty were the No. 5 and No. 6 running backs taken in the NFL Draft. They were the first two running backs from the SEC to be selected. What else do they have in common? They were both coached by Eddie Gran, who was the running backs coach at Auburn in 2008 and the Tennessee running backs coach in 2009. Gran decided to join Jimbo Fisher at Florida State when Lane Kiffin bolted for USC in January. This continues a run of good backs for Gran, who is considered one of the best recruiters in the business. He has coached four first round choices: John Avery (Ole Miss), Duece McAllister (Ole Miss), Carnell Williams (Auburn), and Ronnie Brown (Auburn). He has four second round draft choices: Tate, Hardesty, Kenny Irons (Auburn), Brandon Jacobs (Auburn). Just found that interesting.
**–My 790 The Zone buddies Sandra Golden and Mike Bell are starting a new show at noon on Monday on CSS. “The Sports Gig” is being billed as a sports/infotainment show. It looks like they will the sports equivalent of “Regis and Kelly.” Check them out.
A FINAL PROGRAMMING NOTE: Starting Monday and continuing through next Friday, we will do our Spring football wrap-up for 2010. Here is the schedule:
Monday: SEC East
Tuesday: SEC West
Wednesday: ACC Atlantic
Thursday: ACC Coastal
Friday: Post-Spring Top 25
Have a great weekend.
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144 comments Add your comment
5IML
April 30th, 2010
11:27 am
The departures of Mullen, Harvin, and Murphy are what happened to the Gators last year. Because of these changes, the Gators were inconsistent all season.
SaintsLSU
April 30th, 2010
11:33 am
Hey Bama fans, at least you have a bye week before at LSU. You will need it, as that will be the toughest game of your schedule. You got the Gators and the Barn at BDS. As for the article, I have too much respect for Saban to think he would use that as an excuse. It’s just bad luck, not a conspiracy. And hey, you guys got a lot of breaks last year, so what goes around comes around. Good luck to all of our SEC brothers this season!
Agent
April 30th, 2010
11:35 am
How many times do I have to apologize for the party I threw Monday before the SEC Championship game? Let it go already.
Gator88
April 30th, 2010
11:36 am
Suck it up and play it on a short week. They could roll out the 3rd string and beat those guys.
Wow-you gotta give Jimbo some credit for higher some coaching talent at FSU. It’s a little scary……but I am still not sure of his coaching ability. Time will tell…..FSU is on the upswing that’s for sure…
SEC Joke
April 30th, 2010
11:38 am
Jim Mora Jr.
April 30th, 2010
9:05 am….And seriously…isn’t playing Georgia State in their inaugural year really like a week off?…. YES
But they would probibly rather play a local HS varsity squad. Here it is.
GAMES AGAINST DIV 1AA (FCS) SHOULD NOT COUNT AS DIV 1A (FBS) WINS. SCHEDULE REAL GAMES NOT TAMS 1 STEP ABOVE A GOOD JC.
SEC Joke
April 30th, 2010
11:39 am
*TEAMS
Reptiles Rule
April 30th, 2010
11:39 am
5IML…The loss of Mullen and Harvin were factors but don’t forget that UF still went undefeated in the regular season, which they hadn’t the year before. Also, Harvin was not someone they necessarily missed in the one game they DID lose, the SECCG, because he was injured and did not play in Atlanta against Bama the year before. They still had the talent and coaching to accomplish their goals last year, but when you threw a few ” monkey wrenches” into the equation, it became too big of a mountain. And that mountains name was Alabama.
djgator
April 30th, 2010
11:40 am
The GATORS dont have a bye week before they play bama. I wonder what thier excuse will be after they lose to the Gators. GO GATORS!!!!!
djgator's spelling skills
April 30th, 2010
11:44 am
What’s my excuse when I don’t how their is spelled? Work em, Silly Gators!!!
Spell check
April 30th, 2010
11:45 am
Please use me dj, I’m free.
jumbeauxtiger
April 30th, 2010
11:46 am
5IML, I agree that the media is making a bigger deal out of the schedule than Saban is. Saban doesn’t like distractions and won’t discuss this once the season starts if not before.
Bama had a open date before playing LSU last November and the Tigers didn’t. I’m not complaining as that’s just the way it is. Both have an open date the week before playing each other this year.
JB:
“Went to hear Mark Richt at the Augusta Spring visit last night…..He’s really pumped about what he saw in the spring on defense. Said the defensive backfield will be fast and very sound and deep.”
No flame intended but Miles said last night in Lafayette on his tour junket that the Tigers’ offense will be much improved. Like the Dawgs’ D, I’ll believe it when I see it.
These tours by coaches are to gain support and contributions among fans as well as to publicize their programs for recruiting. I think most coaches are going to be very positive and are going to say things the crowd wants to hear.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
TONE
April 30th, 2010
11:48 am
I expect Alabama will get by Florida in the sec championship game again , and even if they only slip up once they will land in the title game so really bama does have 1 game to play with this year . I am a DAWG fan but I don’t see the DAWGS unseating florida this year they have too much talent, and i would much rather see bama win than the gators .
Reptiles Rule
April 30th, 2010
11:53 am
djgator…wish I had your optimism but that’s gonna be a mighty tuff night game at “The Tusk” (get it? Tuscaloosa + elephants horns). Oh well, at least I thought it was clever. Anyway, that, and I think Tally are gonna be a couple of land mines for us this year.
SOGADOG
April 30th, 2010
12:17 pm
If Vince Dooley is like me, he will be pulling for his son’s team to win in Athens on October 6. There is just no way I could pull against my boy. If Vince dresses in puke Orange and sings Rocky Top at the top of his lungs, I wont like it, but I will forgive him and not think any less of him. Vince is truly a great man.
Alphar
April 30th, 2010
12:22 pm
If Vince roots for his son during the upcoming GA-TN game, will you UGA fans change your mind about Adams firing him a few years ago?
5IML
April 30th, 2010
12:27 pm
Of course V. Dooley will pull for D. Dooley in that game. It’s not like that one game will make a big difference in UGA’s season. Win or lose, UGA will finish second in the East and play on New Year’s Day.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 30th, 2010
12:27 pm
SecIsFootball, with the recent success, those things (ULM) should be easily forgotten.
Dorsey Hill
April 30th, 2010
12:46 pm
First, UGA will win the East this season. Count on it.
Second, why can’t Barbara and Vince pull for Derek to go 11-1? My brother is a football coach and if he coached against Georgia I’m wearing Red and Black. If my wife bet everything I own against Georgia, I’d be looking for a bridge to live under. Doing otherwise would be like pulling for the Germans in 1942 because you had family there. Anyway, that’s how I see it.
Third, is playing Georgia State really a disadvantage? Seems like an opportunity to build depth and give Auburn about 100 new and different things to worry about on a short week to me. I’d run about 15 different trick plays and show new coverages and new blitzes, all of which will likely work against an vastly inferior opponent and keep Chizik and crew up late at night.
Fourth, and this is for you Mr. Barnhart, isn’t the 2010 UGA v. USC game perhaps the biggest in the series since 1980? It may be USC’s last chance to be taken seriously as a real East contender under SOS and it is the first, and perhaps the last, chance for CMR to show that the program is not on the decline. If USC loses, then they will confirmed as the perennial pretender and if UGA loses, unfairly or not, it may be a tipping point in CMR’s career at Georgia. IMHO we’re going to thrash them, but that game probably has more importance than any other game on either teams schedule right now and may have more profound implications than any other SEC football game next season.
DZ
April 30th, 2010
12:46 pm
It is ironic that you Dawgs fans ride Bama for playing Georgia State when UGA has scheduled the mighty 1-AA Bengals of Idaho State who went 1-10 last year and 1-11 in 2008.
gcs
April 30th, 2010
12:49 pm
Tony,
What is going on with the NCAA vs. Southern Cal?
I saw that Reggie Bush settled out of court with the guy who allegedly gave him and his parents the free home & benefits while at USC. To me this is an admission of guilt but…
poopdawg
April 30th, 2010
1:14 pm
DZ , ironic? What was GA ST record last year and in 2008? Oh yeah thats right its their 1st year ever. Poor Bama.
Spike
April 30th, 2010
1:15 pm
We Dolphin fans still think Saban is a liar. And an unsuccesful liar at that in the NFL.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 30th, 2010
1:42 pm
DZ, I’m not riding Bama for scheduling GSU. Somebody had to. Plus Curry was former Bama coach which might be fun for some of the Curry Bama fans. They are an upstart so I don’t think you Bama fans have much to worry about preparing for Auburn and GSU in the two weeks.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 30th, 2010
1:44 pm
DZ, plus these newer programs and smaller schools could use the revenue.
Mike Bell..... Mike Bell ?
April 30th, 2010
1:49 pm
Are you kidding me? Talk about “arrested development” !! He is pathetic
G8R GRAD
April 30th, 2010
1:52 pm
coach Chizik just named Cameron Newton his starting QB.
This guy’s a STUD (and a UF transfer, mind you)!
UA needs to give AU a respectable berth.
With Cam’s arm and their receiving corps, . . . .
G8R GRAD
April 30th, 2010
1:54 pm
I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’
5IML
April 30th, 2010
2:14 pm
As hard as it his to listen to Mike Bell, it’s even harder to watch Sandra Golden.
As an AT&T Uverse customer, I’ve always regretted not having CSS. Suddenly, I don’t feel nearly as bad.
Gen Neyland
April 30th, 2010
2:25 pm
No Reptiles, brown and Nuke weren’t the cream of Kiffin’s crop. That would be Bray, Milton and James to name a few on the O side. Bryce Brown, Oklahoma recruit, right..?. Alot of hype but I’m wasn’t sold on the next Reggie Bushspeak. Recruiting is a national project. They come from near, they come from far but I’ll guarantee you, they will come…
Delbert D.
April 30th, 2010
2:32 pm
Bill Curry doing Alabama a favor? Surely you jest!
SOGADOG
April 30th, 2010
2:40 pm
Even if Vince Dooley pulls for his son’s Tennessee team over UGA on October 6, I will always disagree with Mike Adams decision to fire him. Vince Dooley was a long time loyal servant of the University of Georgia and not allowing him to finish his career on his terms was a disgrace. I will never forget the fact Vince could have returned to his alma mater Auburn right before the National Championship game, but he remained a loyal Bulldawg. If he wants to pull for his son, (after being forced out by UGA) then more power to him.
Dorsey Hill
April 30th, 2010
2:43 pm
DZ,
I think “inconsistent” is a more appropriate word than “ironic.” Everyone schedules patsies. Your patsy just happens to be of particular note and while I don’t denigrate them for their scheduling choice, Bama whining about a game that is scheduled where they scheduled it is a bit much for me. Its not like they didn’t know when the Auburn game was going to be played when they agreed to play GSU. Further, while they complain about playing 6 games vs. teams coming off of byes, what they don’t say is that in 2 of those games Bama also has a bye and in a 3rd they play GSU which may be easier than practice, so its not like they are that really that disagvantaged. I don’t recall any Bammers forgiving UGA for coming out flat in the Blackout game when Bama had a bye week leading up to it and we had just played in Tempe and Columbia, two of the hottest games you can imagine, nor do I recall us whining about it or making excuses or trying to get the schedule we created modified before the season to mollify our complaints of unfairness, but I guess you have to be a Bammer to understand victimization. While I respect Alabama and all of its accomplishments, the fact is that Bammers have an inherent sense of entitlement that makes them bristle at any circumstance wherein they are treated just like anybody else. Bammers expect special treatment. Even when caught cheating the Bammers felt that their perceived value to the world of college football should protect them from punishment. In fact, in the wake of the two seperate NCCAA investigations I heard more than one Bammer say that Bama should threaten to leave the NCAA. Why? Because the NCAA needed Bama more than Bama needed the NCAA. That’s your fan bases mentality. Its sad and patheic but very true.
jumbeauxtiger
April 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
SOGADOG
EEen if Vince Dooley pulls for his son’s Tennessee team over UGA on October 6, I will always disagree with Mike Adams decision to fire him. Vince Dooley was a long time loyal servant of the University of Georgia and not allowing him to finish his career on his terms was a disgrace.”
I agree. Adams had no chance to be the new NCAA boss as he stepped on too many toes with his arrogance.
It’s really a blessing as if he had his way he probably would have tried to do away with tailgating.
Bulldog59
April 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
Alabama’s game on 11/20 against Georgia State is the equivalent of a pre-season NFL game, and an early pre-season game at that. Give your starters two series to get 14 points on the board, and then get the backups plenty of work, all the way down the depth chart.
Saban is probably more concerned with a freak injury to a starter and only a week to heal. He’ll need to be 100% against Auburn on 11/27.
DP
April 30th, 2010
2:53 pm
Dorsey Hill, Alabama didn’t have a bye the week before delivering a beatdown to the Dawgs in the “blackout” game of 2008. They beat Arkansas 49-14 on the road the week prior to going to Athens. You don’t remember any whining about it because it didn’t happen.
Please, we don’t need any delusional Dawg fans disparaging the mentality of any other fan base.
5IML
April 30th, 2010
3:19 pm
Dorsey,
I think I can speak for Coach Saban, Mal Moore, and President Witt when I say that BAMA will never waste a bye week preceding a UGA game. UGA is just not that important. I bet you think UGA is a national brand.
Lobo
April 30th, 2010
3:55 pm
Well let’s just say what most people think about the University of Alabama. Its football pursuits seem to validate and justify its identity with an uneducated backward population and a symbolic link to the Lost Cause. It is truly ironic that the exploitation of a less-powerful racial group serves to inoculate the U of Alabama from pressure to improve the state or to stimulate change. Football “success” has stalled its transformation into a modern university with intellectual, aesthetic or humanistic concerns. The state of Alabama may be last in a lot of things but Bama fans can cite to the world that it is first in football.
Also the University of Alabama’s misplaced priorities (football fluff over economic substance) harm the state’s growth and development as the Crimson Tide football team is outlet for the lunatic fringe and a venue for them to be recognized. Too often though the holy crusade of Bama football acts as an umbrella under which the range of political and social opinion is from Y to Z. Thus when a university simply reflects the attitudes of its football fans….. It is no longer a university in the true meaning of the word.
The NCAA would actually be doing the University of Alabama a favor by handing down a ‘Death Penalty’ for its football team. It will be only then that its faculty, alumni and students will appreciate the scholarship and learning that mark a university with intellectual fiber and integrity. Until then Auburn will have to carry the burden alone of feeding, clothing, housing, protecting and healing the citizens of Alabama.
Thank God for Auburn!
Steve Spurrier
April 30th, 2010
3:59 pm
I’ve got me some players now and am ready to dole out some misery. Dawgs, you got next. Hee hee. What happens to all that talent when they go to UGA?
Steeledawg
April 30th, 2010
4:00 pm
Tony,
I feel the same way as you regarding Mad Men. I don’t think it is back until late July, but another great show Friday Night Lights is back a week from tonight.
Beast from the East
April 30th, 2010
4:00 pm
Lobo, where you denied acceptance or could you just not make the cheerleading squad thus harboring bitter resentment for the rest of your lonely days?
Dorsey Hill
April 30th, 2010
4:24 pm
5IML,
I’m quite certain that 1-3 vs. the Dawgs in the 2000’s was sufficient to satisfy the Bammers not to have any special arrangements made for the game.
YELLOW HAMMER
April 30th, 2010
4:34 pm
saintslsu- the tide doesn’t lose in baton rouge ,check your stats
LOL at Lobo
April 30th, 2010
4:37 pm
Lobo,
Glad to see that sociology degree is working out for you, just like Cadillac “you know” Williams.
DP
April 30th, 2010
4:40 pm
Hey Dorsey, tell us some more about how Georgia playing in the heat the previous 2 weeks and that Alabama bye week caused the 2008 blackout beatdown in Athens.
Alabama would like to play Georgia more often but you guys don’t make it to the SEC championship game very often. Alabama has been there in 7 of the 18 championship games and every time the opponent has been Florida.
SEC Joke
April 30th, 2010
4:52 pm
gcs
April 30th, 2010
12:49 pm
Tony,
What is going on with the NCAA vs. Southern Cal?
I saw that Reggie Bush settled out of court with the guy who allegedly gave him and his parents the free home & benefits while at USC. To me this is an admission of guilt but…
But what, your an idiot?
They (NCAA) have taken this long because they have no proof that the University knew or had any thing to do with any wrong doing committed by Bush’s family. Where did you get your JD, not UGA. The out of court settlement IS NOT an admission of guilt; and if it was, it still would not be evidence against the University.
SEC Joke
April 30th, 2010
4:57 pm
Gosh, I just don’t know the difference between “you’re” and “your”. Looks like I’m the idiot.
Tide Rising
April 30th, 2010
7:13 pm
Dorsey Hill,
Why do you consistently just make up lies regarding Alabama football?
Lie no. 1.
First of all Bama didn’t have a bye before playing Georgia in the blackout game. Google 2008 sec football grid and you will see that we played Ark the week before.
Lie no. 2
You stated that while Bama plays 6 teams coming off of byes this year that we also have a bye preceding 2 of those games. This season everyone has only one bye. Nobody has 2 byes so what you are saying is obviously a lie. We use our one bye this year against LSU which also is using their bye against us so its equal.
lie no. 3
You stated Alabama is whining about a game where we scheduled it. The whole point of the article is that the SEC makes the schedule so your idea that we knowingly scheduled games this way is absurd. And yet again for what seems like the 4th year in a row Alabama probably leads the nation in the number of opponents taking their bye before playing us.
Along that same line is the absurdity of some of the other fans on here mostly dog fans who were insinuating last year that Bama and Florida were being given all kinds of breaks last year by SEC officials during games to make sure they both met undefeated for the sec title. My question to all those morons is how does that make any sense if the same SEC was scheduling 4-5 sec teams using their open date against Bama last year also putting us at a distinct disadvantage last year? Doesn’t make much sense from some of you conspiracy geniuses out there. Better yet I’ld like to see the SEC looked into for allowing one team to be put at such a distinct disadvantage in scheduling and not just for 1 year. This has been going on since 2007.
The odds were stacked against us the last 2 seasons and yet we completed back to back perfect regular seasons. We’re not complaining. We’re simply saying what any rational and fair minded person can obviously see: That the schedule is inherently unfair and is stacked against us for the 4th year in a row. Its way out of whack for one sec team to be playing 6 other teams who have the advantage of an extra week of rest and preparation.
Last of all please dog fans quit preaching about the Georgia state game being a week off. This coming from a team who plays double AA Idaho state which went 1-11 and 1-10 over the last 2 years.
We’re playing GSU as a favor to Bill Curry because he wanted the game and it will help remove some of the bad feelings regarding his coaching days at Bama. It will give GSU national exposure even if the game is lopsided and more importantly it will give them a much needed cash infusion of 450k to put into their program. That’s a lot of cash for a 1st year program that really needs it. Well, at least we play a historical powerhouse in Penn State ooc.
Dorsey do you play a Penn State caliber national name out of conference this year?
Tide Rising
April 30th, 2010
7:21 pm
Kennesaw Dawg
April 30th, 2010
10:37 am
“Saban would not change a thing for anyone else for sure. So deal with it. But it does give the over the top Bama fans an excuse to fall back on. Georgia had a number of key games after the opposition had a bye last year, and it just was what it was.”
Kennesaw Dawg, Really? Georgia had a number of “key” games after the opposition had a bye last year? “It just was what it was” ? Really? You must come from the Dorsey Hill school of making stuff up as you go along.
FACT of the matter is only one sec team took a bye before playing Georgia and that was Arkansas which is hardly a key game since its not a divison game. It was also early in the season and was only the 2nd game for Ark and the 3rd for UGA. Its not as if you were worn down after the long grind of what was up to that point a 2 game season before you played Ark. I guess you, like Dorsey, never let the facts get in the way of your argument.
BIRDDAWGONE
April 30th, 2010
8:08 pm
If Vegas isn’t affraid of Alabama, why should Saban be affraid? I just hope UGA gets to play Alabama this year.
#2 BAMA FAN
April 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
Georgia would get beat by 2 or 3 touchdowns by Alabama so really don’t the dawgs could beat the crimson tide, but you never no. Bama should use the solution about getting a bye week by playing with a chip on its shoulder and destroy the SEC WEST and than take the gators to the woodshed again like 09 SEC CG. RTR