Georgia-Auburn game is safe, SEC goes with 6-1-1 schedule format
DESTIN, Fla. — The SEC completed its annual spring meetings Friday with votes aimed at preserving rivalries in regular-season football and maintaining the conference’s clout in the postseason.
The league, soon to consist of 14 schools, overwhelmingly approved a football scheduling format that will keep the 120-year-old Georgia-Auburn game intact annually.
But after siding with history on that vote, the presidents of the SEC schools bucked tradition by unanimously endorsing a national four-team football playoff.
The SEC’s support of the proposed playoff came with a caveat that will be contentious in negotiations with other conferences. The SEC wants the nation’s top four teams in the playoff field, a position at odds with other leagues — the Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC and Big East — that want to give preferential treatment to conference champions.
After producing the past six national champs and placing two teams in last season’s BCS title game, the SEC is adamant that as many of its teams as possible should be able to qualify for the playoff.
On the matter of regular-season football scheduling for 2013 and beyond, the SEC put aside the objections of several schools and adopted a 6-1-1 format: six games against division opponents, one game against a permanent cross-division opponent (Auburn in Georgia’s case) and one game against a rotating cross-division opponent.
“That was our priority all along, to maintain that series with Auburn,” UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said. “… Every school has their own agenda, but at the end of the day, it’s what was best for the SEC.”
The other annual cross-division games will be Alabama-Tennessee, Florida-LSU, Arkansas-Missouri, South Carolina-Texas A&M, Kentucky-Mississippi State and Ole Miss-Vanderbilt.
In an acknowledgement of the fluid landscape of college athletics, the 6-1-1 proposal passed without a stipulation regarding how long it would be in force. SEC commissioner Mike Slive said he didn’t think the issue would be revisited for at least three or four years.
The strongest objection to the format came from LSU, which said permanent cross-division opponents should be scrapped in the interest of more equitable scheduling.
“That was my argument, and obviously it didn’t stick,” LSU chancellor Michael Martin said. “But, hey, you lose some and you win some.”
While the SEC was able to settle the issue of its football schedule, the league’s position on the national playoff merely established its stance for negotiations with other leagues. The playoff, if enacted, would begin with the 2014 season.
Meetings of the BCS commissioners are scheduled for June 13 and June 20, and a meeting of the BCS presidential oversight committee is set for June 26. By then, the goal is to have a consensus among conferences on a deal.
The SEC position calls for the semifinal games to be incorporated into the bowl system and for the championship game to be bid out to cities, like the Super Bowl.
The thorniest issue in negotiations figures to be the SEC’s view that the four best teams should reach the playoffs, regardless of whether those teams are conference championships. Other leagues have suggested various ways of favoring conference champions. The Big Ten’s position, for example, is that if four conference champions are ranked among the nation’s top six teams, those four champs should comprise the playoff field.
“If we’re going to go to a four-team playoff, which I anticipate we are, I think it needs to be — and I think the fans would expect us to provide — the four best teams in the country: one, two, three, four,” Slive said.
Slive added that he is open to different ways for determining the top four teams, “whether it’s a committee or data points,” but is opposed to “gerrymandering who is playing for the national championship” by making conference championships a criteria.
“I think people will come around some in some of the other conferences,” UGA president Michael Adams said.
But it’s not clear what will happen to the proposed playoff if they don’t.
Adams said the SEC discussed several “fallback” positions, but he wouldn’t say what they are.
“I think you have to be careful now about not painting yourself in a corner,” Adams said. “This is a new world, and I think you have to rearrange your mental furniture a little bit and say, ‘Are we really prepared for this next iteration?’
“Everybody every now and then has to give a little to make something work. You’ve got to quit thinking now about the way the world has been. You have to start thinking about the fact this is a new day with a new set of rules.”
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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148 comments Add your comment
dawglife
June 1st, 2012
12:58 pm
Will they ever go to 9 conferance games?
te29wr
June 1st, 2012
12:59 pm
Yea LSU will have to play UF every year and Tenn vs Ala as well as the dogs and auburn
Pdx dawg
June 1st, 2012
1:02 pm
9 conf games is the way to go.
Paddy
June 1st, 2012
1:03 pm
dawglife….my guess is no. Not on the agenda. Not many, if any schools think that is a good idea.
Dave
June 1st, 2012
1:07 pm
I know College football is changing and is more about money now, but if they had stopped the AU vs UGA rivalry it would be a sad day in history of football in the South. It is from these 2 schools in the beginning that started it all…
Reality
June 1st, 2012
1:08 pm
That means that outside of you cross division rival, you only get to see the other teams 2 times every 12 years. I personally as a fan think that sucks.
dawglife
June 1st, 2012
1:10 pm
I think 9 games is the way to go no more D2 schools.
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
June 1st, 2012
1:13 pm
Glad they haven’t changed any of this rivalry. AU has to get this rivalry ship righted UGA has owned us the last several years (with the exception of the dream season, NC 2010).
It’s still great to be an AUBURN Tiger!
WDE
DawgInaTruck
June 1st, 2012
1:16 pm
Auburn can be a formidable opponent but that game needs to stay on the schedule. It would be a shame to see such a long standing, traditional rivalry become a memory.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
1:17 pm
So every other conference is going to go to a 9 game schedule and the SEC is going to stick at 8? Shocking.
DawginLex
June 1st, 2012
1:20 pm
Glad the south’s oldest rivalry remains intact
Big Wally
June 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
Do away with Divisions. Go to 9 conf. games. Take the two teams with best records at end of regular season to play for Conf. Champ. Every team will have 5 permanent opponents. The other 4 conf. games rotate every 2 years. That way everybody will place every conf. team at least twice every 4 years. Your also guaranteed of getting the two best teams in the conf. champ. each year, instead of like last year, when Ga. was mayb the 4th best team in the Conf. playing for the SEC champ. If you do away with Divisions, you never have to worry about one Division being weaker than the other.
UGA 11
June 1st, 2012
1:23 pm
9 conference games is not a good idea. We already play in the SEC, we want an even tougher schedule? We should stay at 8 unless the other conferences are also going to 9. No reason to make it tougher on ourselves in the mean time.
There should be a rule against playing FCS (D2) opponents though.
GaDawg_2004
June 1st, 2012
1:27 pm
Completely agree Wally. The divisions are not really historical (early 1990’s). What is the point going forward……..UGA could play FL, AUB, TEN, SC and VANDY, then rotate the others bi-annually.
supsalemgr
June 1st, 2012
1:29 pm
GTBob probably wants a 9 game SEC schedule so GT wouldn’t have to play UGA. Nine plus GT is not a good deal for UGA.
Devil's Advocate
June 1st, 2012
1:35 pm
This is a HUGE step in preserving what makes college football great. I’m all for a move to playoffs determining a champion but all of this realignment and threatening long standing rivalries was a bitter pill to swallow.
ESPN doesn’t know how to define a rivalry. They have many believing it’s whatever teams are most popular at the moment or highly competitive spurts of games in a series. Wrong! A real rivalry is one where two teams don’t like each other, records be damned. Real rivalries don’t need marketing to make them legit.
UGA-Auburn and Bama-UT fit that bill. I was sad back in the day when Oklahoma and Nebraska stopped playing annually and I’m shocked about Texas-TA&M ending. Good move by the SEC to put a stop to trashing traditional rivalries.
Hairy05
June 1st, 2012
1:37 pm
I still don’t understand why this idea didn’t get more legs… It seems so simple… Move Alabama and Auburn to the East and move Vandy and Mizzou to the West. All the rivalries continue, plus it takes less than 12 years to play everyone twice. What were the AD’s thinking?!?!
Burbank Dawg
June 1st, 2012
1:43 pm
I agree with Big Wally.
Do away with divisions, and let the top two teams in the conference play for the SEC title.
Consequences
June 1st, 2012
1:45 pm
@UGA 11
I get the hate against playing FCS teams but you won’t hear them complaining about it. The games against FBS teams can make or break a FCS athletic budget for the year. They LOVE being scheduled for those games so I expect that you’ll see a little resistance on that end.
Jay
June 1st, 2012
1:45 pm
UGA 11…. FCS & D2 are two different things
c
June 1st, 2012
1:47 pm
What’s wrong GT Bob? You upset that nobody talks about or cares about the weak arse ACC? Your school is irrelevant.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
1:50 pm
Do away with Divisions. Go to 9 conf. games. Take the two teams with best records at end of regular season to play for Conf. Champ.
The NCAA requires that you have divisions if you have a conference championship game. They can’t get rid of them.
Iliketacos
June 1st, 2012
1:53 pm
I, for one, love seeing the smaller colleges get to play the big boys. How soon we forget what App. State did in the Big House a few years ago…
Devil's Advocate
June 1st, 2012
1:53 pm
I usually give Techies credit for at least being smart and logical about things but when it comes to sports all of their engineering qualities go down the toilet.
The SEC went to 12 and held a conference championship game first. How long did it take for the ACC to catch up with that idea? The SEC could still increase the number of conference games one day, just not today.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
1:53 pm
GTBob probably wants a 9 game SEC schedule so GT wouldn’t have to play UGA. Nine plus GT is not a good deal for UGA.
GT will be playing a 9 game schedule plus UGA. Pac 12 and Big 10 teams will be playing 9 game schedules plus each other in an additional game. Why is the SEC so weak that they can’t do it too?
Ole Big Dawg
June 1st, 2012
1:54 pm
Deep Souths Oldest Rivalry
Auburn Grad
June 1st, 2012
1:56 pm
Traditions haven’t gone completely out the window, yet.
what of it?
June 1st, 2012
1:58 pm
Hallelujah, at least some things remain sacred, for now.
It’s the best college football game year in and year out.
Dawg Fan
June 1st, 2012
2:00 pm
I would have been in favor of a 6-2 format. Get to see more of the S.EC. West sooner.
Also while we are at it how about just dropping the Bugs from our schedule so we do not have to hear their constant whining. We own them anyway and I would rather play schools like Clemson, Louisville, West Virginia, etc. instead.
Just my 2 cents
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
2:01 pm
What’s wrong GT Bob? You upset that nobody talks about or cares about the weak arse ACC? Your school is irrelevant.
Nope, as far as football goes I hate the ACC as much as you do.
Habersham Dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:02 pm
If college football continues to evolve toward a true playoff format, then the conference championship will become more important, so a 9 game conference schedule will become more likely.
AU>UGA
June 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
Problem with a 9 game schedule is that it’s unbalanced. Some teams get 5 home games while others get 4.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
Also while we are at it how about just dropping the Bugs from our schedule so we do not have to hear their constant whining.
I have been advocating this for over 10 years and nobody has listened. Hopefully expansion will kill it.
Big Wally
June 1st, 2012
2:04 pm
Can you provide a link Bob about the Divisions. From what I saw the only requirement was that a conference had to have twelve teams in order to have a Conference Champ. Game. The part about not having Divisions is something the Big 12 talked about years ago, because the Big 12 North usually had an average team play a good team from the south and their ratings were bad most of the time.
coachx
June 1st, 2012
2:10 pm
I bet if LSU’s annual cross division rival was Kentucky or Vandy (not Florida) they would not be crying about it.
I’m just glad UGA, Aubur,. Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama were not wimping out.
james in athens
June 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
SEC Teams will always play 8 games period. They don’t want to
lose a home game and some teams get at least 8 home games per year.
Others like GA will never have more than 7 due to Florida game in Jax unless
that changes down the road. Its all about the $$ and home games vs. weak
sisters from smaller FCS conferences bring in the cash for each school…
College Football is a business and the fans are about 5th on the list at this
point and heading further down it….
THE MAJOR
June 1st, 2012
2:18 pm
PUT AUBURN IN THE EAST LIKE THEY SHOULD BE AND SCREW BAMA WHO DOES NOT WANT THEM THERE. THAT WAY CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY EVERY YEAR AND MISSOURI CAN BE IN THE WEST WHERE THEY SHOULD BE
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
2:19 pm
Can you provide a link Bob about the Divisions.
Here is the rule:
“17.9.1.2 (c) Twelve-Member Conference Championship Game. [FBS/FCS] A conference championship game between division champions of a member conference of 12 or more institutions that is divided into two divisions (of six or more institutions each), each of which conducts round-robin, regular-season competition among the members of that division;”
https://web1.ncaa.org/LSDBi/exec/bylawSearch?bylawSearchSubmit=Get%20Selected%20Items&multiple=20695&division=1&adopted=0
jarvis
June 1st, 2012
2:27 pm
South Carolina?
Did we get last pick or something?
Big Wally
June 1st, 2012
2:30 pm
Was just reading a B1G blog and they were saying the same thing about how they wanted to get rid of Divisions because it messed up some of their rivalry games. SEC would never do it anyway, but I think it would be better.
Jason
June 1st, 2012
2:35 pm
The NCAA will eventually have to modify the conference championship rule. Sixteen team conferences are coming and you can’t really do a roundrobin of seven teams in your division and then play enough games in the other division to make the conference have unity. If they stick with the roundrobin requirement, they’ll have to allow more than two divisions in a conference.
Donald
June 1st, 2012
2:35 pm
If Georgia is paired with Auburn, Tennessee with Alabama, then what are the rest of the more permanent cross division matchups? Florida/LSU? Which SEC west team gets the “gift” of being paired with Kentucky?
Freddy
June 1st, 2012
2:36 pm
Bob, I’m not sure I read that as a rule. It seems more like a definition to me. In any case, who says the rule can’t be changed? If the NCAA changed the rule and allowed conferences with less than 12 teams to have a championship, some of this realignment noise might go away. Just a thought
go uga go!
June 1st, 2012
2:38 pm
Definitely should play Auburn ever year.
Let’s hope Uga (The bulldog) gets a chance to bite another player this year before GA beats Auburn by several touchdowns.
ozzfest
June 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
Great, now McGarrity (King Wimp) can get busy scheduling Akron or Bowling Green.
The dude is going to run out of options….we have BUFFALO, FLORIDA ATLANTIC, GA SOUTHERN, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY on our future schedules….I mean how low can the guy go???
UGA has now scheduled “AND CANCELLED” games Oregon State, Cinncinatti, Ohio State, Louisville, and Oregon in the last 48 months.
EXTREMELY WEAK.
LET’S PLAY SOMEBODY ALREADY!!!
Ugh.
UGA Guy
June 1st, 2012
2:40 pm
As the SEC is the most dominate conference right now, it makes no sense to go to 9 conference games. By adding an extra game, you are guaranteeing 7 losses for the conference teams (as there are 14 teams in the conference now). Doubt the conference teams would lose seven if the 9th conference game was against out-of-conference opponents.
rw
June 1st, 2012
2:43 pm
I think GTBob is right about the current rule, but I think the NCAA should change the rule. Conferences are going to get bigger, the economics of the TV deals make that inevitable whether we like it as fans or not. Without divisions, conferences would be able to protect more rivalries. You also avoid situations like the PAC-12 last year where a 6-6 team was in the title game.
Hollywould
June 1st, 2012
2:45 pm
Good news even though the leg-humpers have had our number lately. Time to turn it around. War Eagle!!
CTPAT
June 1st, 2012
2:47 pm
I agree that the SEC is a strong conference but I hate this notion that we see from our teams of running from competitive games. Either you’re the best team or you aren’t. If you’re the best, then be willing to play the best. 9 conference games should be the way and continuing inter-conference games with good teams should be too. I love GA, but damn was I annoyed when they decided not to play Oregon just because they were afraid of losing. Keeping a 6-1-1 system is the same thing. To be the best, you have to play the best. Frankly, I think it lends more credence to our conference being tough.
Gary
June 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
Yay, we get to keep playing the cheaters everyyear. The only tradition with a better history that Georgia Auburn is the history of Auburn’s scandals. War eagle or Go Tigers, whatever just keep paying your players setting up fake independent studies and be proud of your tradition.
Mr. Dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:52 pm
I’d prefer to put Auburn in a round robin rotation with the rest of the West. As far as I’m concerned adding Missouri and Texas A&M has already diluted the tradition of a true Southeastern Conference. It makes more sense as a “conference” for teams in opposite divisions to play each other as often as possible. The thought of Alabama only coming to Athens or the Bulldogs traveling to Baton Rouge once every twelve years is hard for me to swallow. .
terry
June 1st, 2012
2:53 pm
There should be no permanent cross division opponents. That is the only way to be fair to all the schools. It’s a shame that players aren’t even given a chance to visit all of the SEC cities & stadiums during their career.
Hollywould
June 1st, 2012
2:53 pm
Gary, You can get on your knees and kiss the ring. War Eagle!!
Gay Dawg
June 1st, 2012
2:59 pm
Awesome…..those Auburn guys are cute!
Gay Dawg
June 1st, 2012
3:00 pm
I’lll give your something to swallow Mr. Dawg….heyoooooo!!!
Haters Gonna Hate
June 1st, 2012
3:02 pm
Will UGA be able to take advantage of a second straight year of playing nobdy? This year will be the weakest schedule since 1980 so there is a chance. 32 years without an undefeated season….what is that like to go that long without running the table. Florida has gone longer but they at least have 3 rings in that time and countless SEC titles.
Haters Gonna Hate
June 1st, 2012
3:03 pm
Yeah terry…iits a shame that these kids miss the opportunity to go to Starkville and or Missouri.
Big Wally
June 1st, 2012
3:08 pm
rw, your right, I forgot all about that. UCLA 6-6 played for conf. championship – ended up being 6-8, but still played in a Bowl. If they didn’t have Divisions, would have had Oregon vs Stanford in a rematch I believe for the PAC-12 title.
Dev Hays
June 1st, 2012
3:28 pm
SEC should expand to 15 Schools & 3 Divisions, add Conference semi-finals between 3 Division winners & top wild card, play 4 division opponents, 1 permanent opponent from each other division, and 1 rotating opponent from each other divisions. East – SoCar, UGA, UF, UT, & UK/#15. Central – Aub, Ala, MissSt, Miss, & Vandy/UK/#15. West – LSU, TA&M, Ark, Mizzou, & Vandy/#15. Could tweak divisions depending on #15 school locale, perceived division strength equalization, etc.
mcdavidastro
June 1st, 2012
3:33 pm
Needed to go to 9 SEC games and get rid of one of the high school games. The fans are not going to continue to pay for these practice games. If Magarity won’t fix it, Georgia needs a new athletic director. They can’t get rid of the Buffalo and Fl Atlantic games for this year. Half the home schedule is worth the trip to Athens.
GT Man
June 1st, 2012
3:45 pm
Wish GT would drop Georgia, we cant beat em except once every 10 years. PJ wont ever beat them again, not with his 1920’s offense.
7576DAWG
June 1st, 2012
3:50 pm
I know a lot of alumni feel deeply about playing Auburn every year but I will admit that it is one rivalry that I could do without. I don’t mind playing Auburn as far as fulfilling an SEC requirement but to give them the privileged of playing us every year is too much to ask any football team that demands from themselves , class, integrity, morals and ethics as we do at Georgia and is sorely lacking at Auburn. I usually don’t hold a grudge but Auburn has stayed in the gray area since Shug Jordan and then Pat Dye all the way through the Cam Newton circus. The NCAA changed a lot of loopholes and gray areas that allowed Auburn to keep 2010 intake and their National Championship but the NCAA had to hold their nose when they had to admit they couldn’t touch Auburn legally because of their own deficient wording of the rules. Auburn’s number one Law of “WINNING AT ALL COST” makes me want to be on the football field and thus their presence as little as possible, as I would treat any individual, with such little Values.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
3:51 pm
If they didn’t have Divisions, would have had Oregon vs Stanford in a rematch I believe for the PAC-12 title.
The only reason UCLA made the title game was because USC wasn’t eligible to participate. USC beat them by 50 points the week before.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
Wish GT would drop Georgia, we cant beat em except once every 10 years. PJ wont ever beat them again, not with his 1920’s offense.
That’s true. I remember when we had a pro style offense. We were beating UGA all the time.
evil empire
June 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
who outside of athens and auburn cares about the au/uga game??? it has no national impact…the schools are mirror images of each other…both suck…
Phil
June 1st, 2012
4:02 pm
Evidently Gary forgets who still leads the series…war eagle ! Talk about traditions…the UGA summer rap sheets are always fun to follow !!
Granthams The Man
June 1st, 2012
4:28 pm
I can hear Cry Baby Spurrier now. Ga get’s to play Auburn and we have to play Arkansas.
It’s not fair!!! Why! Why! Why!
Cdpridg
June 1st, 2012
4:35 pm
Gt bob….going to give you some credit on hating the ACC……i think you have miscalculated vb if you most SEC fans hate the ACC…..i dont hate…..just think it is a weak conference.
Roll Tide
June 1st, 2012
4:46 pm
Can you say “15″
MaybeNot
June 1st, 2012
4:53 pm
Great thing about expanding conferences…everybody can argue about who the best team is every year because so many teams are off your schedule…some for 4 years or more.
Lakedawg
June 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
Great news for the Dawgs kepping thr 6-1-1.
Nine game schedule would mean 4 home one year, 5 home following year , except for the fact that we olay at Florida every year. So how fair would 3 home SEC games be and 6 on the road????
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
5:22 pm
Gt bob….going to give you some credit on hating the ACC
The ACC is annoying, but only for football. At least half of the teams in the conference couldn’t care less if they even have a football team. The conference makes up for it in other sports though so it isnt too bad. If they were to leave the ACC for some nation wide mega-conference then I would probably be done with college sports.
Big Wally
June 1st, 2012
5:33 pm
Probation is a part of it. Without Divisions, UCLA would have never been near that game.
Big Wally
June 1st, 2012
5:36 pm
ACC will get it going again, even if it is only FSU. I think Jimbo will get them back into the hunt for the National Champ. They have had good recruiting classes.
Delbert D.
June 1st, 2012
6:19 pm
One trip to College Station every 12 years for the East teams, and one to Mizzou for the West teams.
Red Stick
June 1st, 2012
6:21 pm
I don’t have any issue with playing Florida every season. What I don’t like is waiting 10 years to play the other crossover schools.
I just don’t see the SEC going to 9 conference games. If that did happen you wouldn’t see the big out of conference games that the schools are scheduling.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
bigdon
June 1st, 2012
6:24 pm
Glad to know they didn’t mess with that game. GA/AU is one as a season ticket holder I look forward to every year as the last second tix of the clock. Just good plane — get the joke — football and alwasy screws one or the other. Next theing you know they will try to mes with GA/FL. It is truly
a shame that the f’ed up Oak/Neb and several other rivalries. God, dang, leave us alone. You’re worse than Obama.
Delbert D.
June 1st, 2012
6:24 pm
Richt may finish his career without going to College Station.
BiggDawgK
June 1st, 2012
7:11 pm
gt bob admits he hates the acc and he hates Georgia. He is here all day every day whineing and making hate filled comments most of which are lies. The interweb is full of sad pathetic little nothings but gt bob has managed to set himself near the top as one of the most miserable depressed sacks of despair of all time.
I know that his hate is the only thing that makes gt bob drag himself out of his mom’s basement each day. I know I should pity him because he is truly pathetic but he is such an obnoxious little troll I am glad he will never be anything more than an idiot to be laughed at and mocked.
GTBob
June 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
I know I should pity him because he is truly pathetic but he is such an obnoxious little troll I am glad he will never be anything more than an idiot to be laughed at and mocked.
This one is nice. I can really feel the hate.
strickdawg
June 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
How many felonies have been committed by UGA players recently? Not a smart asa question,I’d really like to know…
Dawg89
June 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
I can’t wait to hear the idiotic arguments from the other conferences as to why the top 4 teams shouldn’t be in the playoff.
kingdaddy
June 1st, 2012
8:24 pm
What is a war damn Eagle? In the State Of Georgia, cussing or hurting an Eagle’s feelings is a felony! Our Eagles are PEACEFUL!!!(unless they’re hungry and starving an eagle in Georgia, is also a felony) lol…
kingdaddy
June 1st, 2012
8:50 pm
I will be back tonight. Please leave me a message, I’ll get back to you…
jonkdawg
June 1st, 2012
9:23 pm
Now I know that James Franklin of the Vandy has really bad foul mouth, i always thought that Todd Grantham started first with Franklin.
Paul in NH
June 1st, 2012
10:18 pm
Although I think the SEC should have gone to a 6-1-2 schedule, I am glad to see them keep some traditional rivalries. UT-ALA and UGA-AU should be played every year.
McGarity should be happy about one other result of this schedule – UGA will never play Alabama and LSU again in the same year in the regular season.
snoop dawgy dawg
June 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
@Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
Go back to your auburn blog you stupid imbred
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
1:02 am
Eagles are an endangered species dummy…
Saldiven
June 2nd, 2012
8:17 am
The SEC will support the plan that allows the top four programs to go to the playoff only as long as the SEC produces at least one of those top four programs. When times turn (as they always do) and another one or two of the conferences eclipse the SEC, then the SEC will change their mind and want conference champions to be present in the playoff. Each of the four conferences in the story hold completely self serving positions that are focused on the short term.
Saldiven
June 2nd, 2012
8:22 am
@Phil: Auburn’s summer rap sheet has been more fun to watch than Georgia’s this year, or haven’t you been paying attention. Also, your alums have been pretty funny, too. Did you read the article where Cam Newton stated that he admitted to being whiny and immature as a rookie at Carolina last year? Or how about Fairley getting arrested for DUI twice in a 30 day period?
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
June 2nd, 2012
9:11 am
None of this really matters until UGA can win a bowl game, so calm down people.
BBFan
June 2nd, 2012
9:44 am
The sec stayed with the same scheduling as always right? Won’t play each other but want all 4 of the spots in the NCSec game? Why does anyone else even play?
flo-ri-duh
June 2nd, 2012
9:59 am
Spuddier should have to play LSU every year as their rival game since Less Miles has Spuddier’s number and whips him like a red headed step child with dyed hair. The UGA / Aubarn rivalry continues with UGA kicking Aubarn’s rear for one more year and extend their recent record to SIX for UGA and ONE for Cam Newton. The beat down of Aubarn last year was pure domination but don’t get used to it. Aubarn had a great recruiting year last year – especially for the OL. This year they are building the DL behind a FORMER UGA defensive coordinator Van Gorder. I would say Aubarn is about 3 years and one QB away from a return to the top 10.
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
10:11 am
Donald
June 1st, 2012
2:35 pm
If Georgia is paired with Auburn, Tennessee with Alabama, then what are the rest of the more permanent cross division matchups? Florida/LSU? Which SEC west team gets the “gift” of being paired with Kentucky?
________________________
Did you bother to read the column before commenting? Here’s what it said:
“The other annual cross-division games will be Alabama-Tennessee, Florida-LSU, Arkansas-Missouri, South Carolina-Texas A&M, Kentucky-Mississippi State and Ole Miss-Vanderbilt.”
Fat Freddie
June 2nd, 2012
10:22 am
UGA just doesn’t want to play the tough West schools. If you don’t have to play LSU and Bama every year, your record will look better. Just take this year, they dodged out of the Bama game for Missouri. Really?
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
10:31 am
Red Stick
June 1st, 2012
6:21 pm
I don’t have any issue with playing Florida every season. What I don’t like is waiting 10 years to play the other crossover schools.
I just don’t see the SEC going to 9 conference games. If that did happen you wouldn’t see the big out of conference games that the schools are scheduling.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
____________________
“Big out of conference games”???
Pretty rare to see those anymore–aside from the rivalry games. With few exceptions, the SEC is notoriously weak in terms of scheduling OOC powerhouses.
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
10:35 am
ozzfest
June 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
Great, now McGarrity (King Wimp) can get busy scheduling Akron or Bowling Green.
The dude is going to run out of options….we have BUFFALO, FLORIDA ATLANTIC, GA SOUTHERN, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY on our future schedules….I mean how low can the guy go???
UGA has now scheduled “AND CANCELLED” games Oregon State, Cinncinatti, Ohio State, Louisville, and Oregon in the last 48 months.
EXTREMELY WEAK. LET’S PLAY SOMEBODY ALREADY!!!
Ugh.
___________________
Excellent post, ozzfest. Our home schedules are littered with garbage teams, and then they wonder why there are empty seats. A disgrace that D-1 teams are literally allowed to buy victories by paying these weak sisters to come in and bend over.
MadDog
June 2nd, 2012
11:29 am
$3,000 for 4 season tickets to watch this schedule…What A Joke!! And now I get to see Ala, Lsu, & Ark once every 12 years in Athens!! Hope they don’t plan on expanding the stadium any time soon.
Jborodawg
June 2nd, 2012
11:37 am
Great to see they’re keeping the traditional rivalries. Playing Awbun and Flawduh every year is practically required. Whatever they do, just maintain at least those two…and the Vowels too.
What’s Miles and LSU’s problem with playing Flawduh? I don’t understand their belly-achin’.
Jborodawg
June 2nd, 2012
11:48 am
@ozzfest and @dawgnole…almost every D1 school in the country plays cupcakes. For instance, this year Bama plays W.Kentucky, Fla Atlantic, and W.Carolina. LSU plays N.Texas, Washington, Idaho, and Towson (Towson?!).
Reality will be ugly for some ..........
June 2nd, 2012
11:53 am
With all of the talk of FSU or Va Tech or Miami jumping ship to be well received by a couple of BIG BOY conferences, does anyone notice that NO CONFERENCE is clamoring to welcome GT? Sad. Three major bowls ( 2 Urange, 1 Sugar) since 1955. Citrus Bowl in 90 was NOT considered then even a mid level bowl. Sorry.
GT can soon align with Millsaps, Christian Brothers, Samford, College of Charleston, Furman and Elon College and Davidson College and Bill & Mary and possibly Ga. State to form a new league. WOW!! Can you imagine the TV revenues with that deal?
GT …………………soon to be relegated to a third level conference. We have tried and tried to tell you. Soon, the harsh reality of it all.
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
Nobody wants to see cupcakes on the schedule. I want to see Clemson or UCF. More games on the east coast will help with recruiting. We need to limit the easy games to one a year. Do it for the fans…
GTBob
June 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
GT …………………soon to be relegated to a third level conference. We have tried and tried to tell you. Soon, the harsh reality of it all.
Word is that we might shut down the football program, and possibly the school too. All GT graduates will also be required to leave the country and work in the diamond mines in Africa. The sky is falling!
wallydawg
June 2nd, 2012
2:54 pm
I could give a rat’s butt if we ever played Auburn again. Fraudulent program. Redneck fans. Upside, if we had to pick a weak permanent opponent, Auburn would be the choice. We’ve won five of the last six against this podunk school, a trend I see as what we should expect forever. Go ‘Dawgs!
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Jborodawg
June 2nd, 2012
11:37 am
Great to see they’re keeping the traditional rivalries. Playing Awbun and Flawduh every year is practically required. Whatever they do, just maintain at least those two…and the Vowels too.
What’s Miles and LSU’s problem with playing Flawduh? I don’t understand their belly-achin’.
_____________________
We only began playing Tenn every year when the two teams were aligned in the East–and you see what a rivalry that became. The more SEC teams on the schedule, the better. Those are the games destined to become memorable–and that will eliminate the empty seats–NOT the cupcakes.
DawgNole
June 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Jborodawg
June 2nd, 2012
11:48 am
@ozzfest and @dawgnole…almost every D1 school in the country plays cupcakes. For instance, this year Bama plays W.Kentucky, Fla Atlantic, and W.Carolina. LSU plays N.Texas, Washington, Idaho, and Towson (Towson?!).
______________________
Ah, the old “but everybody else does it” excuse. That doesn’t justify it. It is immoral–and should be illegal–for D-1 teams to buy victories.
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:02 pm
Bama
you are so stupid. First off, your team missed the SEC championship game last year.
Your 2012 schedule includes::::WESTERN KENTUCKY,,,FLA. ATLANTIC,,,AND LOL WESTERN CAROLINA… What a hypocrite. Go look in the mirror for a good laugh boy. This doesn’t even include a 2–10 Ol Miss and a 5–7 U.T.
You have no credibility on this blog…
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
2011 Bama played:
KENT ST.
NORTH TEXAS
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
2010 Bama played:
SAN JOSE ST.
DUKE
GEORGIA ST.
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
2009 Bama played:
FLA. INTERNATIONAL (is that a high-school?)
North Texas
CHATTANOOGA (the Choo-Choo’s)
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
4:21 pm
Bama
You say that UGA is ducking you? Try winning your divison for a change, and maybe your school will have a chance to play the Dogs! Otherwise, shut your piehole…
BTW, Bama’s 2008 CUPCAKES:
TULANE
WESTERN KENTUCKY
ARKANSAS ST……….YOU GET THE POINT???
GTBoob
June 2nd, 2012
4:36 pm
Hi, I’m GTBobs imaginary friend with benefits. Does it matter that I’m a guy sometimes?
Anyway, as Tech is a part of the ACC (the conference that can’t win the Orange Bowl), I think the ACc should be excluded altogether from the proposed 4 team playoff.
It should consist of the SEC, the Big 10, the Big 12, the Pac 12, the Big East and the MWC since it is a tougher conference than the ACC and always kicked ACC patooey when the played in the Shorty’s Truck Stop Humanitarian Bowl or the Emerald Nut Bowl or the now defunct Silly Con Valley Bowl. Remember those Techies? I do.
If FSU and Clemson go to the Big 12, then I think VT and Miami will follow.
When that happens Pittsburgh and Syracuse will do a 180 back to the Big East and college football will again be as it should.
ACC: the Anemic Crummy Conference.
Your Girlfriend
June 2nd, 2012
6:26 pm
Heh!
A Georgia fan…. Whining about some other team’s schedule???
ROFLMAO!
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
7:15 pm
@your g.
jealousy will get you nowhere, neither will your stupidity. Bama @1:22 was crying about our schedule without talking about his weak schedule, SORTA LIKE YOU! I’ll bet you don’t want anyone to know you support, do you dingle-berry???
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
7:21 pm
Your g-friend, what team floats your boat???
kingdaddy
June 2nd, 2012
7:24 pm
Who???
gtfanfrom1951
June 3rd, 2012
6:43 am
UGA does not want to play “somebody” because they lose. 0-4 against the “Big Boys”. If they did not play in the weak side of the SEC they would not win at all! JUST THE FACTS
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
9:30 am
The trolls are out early this morning, throwing bombs as usual.
GT-1951—Obviously, you’ll never learn, as long as G.T. stands side by side with the UGA, the Doggies will look like Dash Rip-Rock while the Techies are CRYING, STANDING IN A POOL OF PEE, EATING A BOOGER!!!
Jborodawg
June 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
IF we insist on maintaining traditional rivalries, we just about have to go to 9 conference games. I don’t think Slive will let it continue where some teams only play each other every 10-12 years. I don’t like it any more than the next fan, but, we’ve gone down the expansion route to 14 teams and now have to sleep in the bed we made.
“…dropped Oregon so they wouldn’t have a loss…” That’s BS. It’s a PITA for both the teams and fans to travel to the west coast…and there’s no recruiting to be gained.
“…Dawgs shying away from/afraid to play Bama, LSU, Arky…” BS. For the thousandth time, we didn’t make up the sked; the SEC did.
@dawgnole, “…immoral to buy victories…” Strange language; indicting about 120 football programs. I agree, however, that I’d much prefer we play Clemson than Buffalo, for example. That used to be a great rivalry; would usually come down to a last minute FG or TD. Heck, I’d rather play Central Fla instead Fla Atlantic; revenge would be sweet. I like playing Ga Southern every now and then. I think the teams and fans both like those games. And not all D2 teams are equal….like if we played the MAC champs every now and then; or Louisville or Cincy. Don’t forget, it can be difficult to get some OOC D1 schools to agree to home and home; eg Ohio State.
Anyway, I see nine conference games becoming reality…soon.
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
The village idiot on the plains***
We going down in flames just like last year, 45-7??? Dude, I feel sorry for you…
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
9:48 am
Jborodawg
the morons you’re referencing just want to talk about Ga.s cupck.s, not theirs. They are just drive-by shooting trolls with no creditibility. Most Dawg fans prefer a stronger schedule. Clemson was a great rivalry. I want another shot at UCF too…
Rainbow Tide Pride
June 3rd, 2012
10:00 am
UGA is 4 out 5 against allbarn. Without Cam, Cheese D is exposed.
Drop the bees and make a nine game sec sched.
CPJ's mouth will be agape
June 3rd, 2012
10:38 am
When the new alliances take shape and form up new SUPER conferences of the BOG BOYS only getting bigger and GT left standing at the alter, only to scurry into some new lil oc nference, CPJ’s big mouth will be wide open like …………………duh, what happened? Can you see it now? Sort of like when Caleb King and Waushuan Ealey blew past him for what? 450 yds rushing? AHAHAHAHAHA
GT it is acoming …………………..the ultimate humiliation for your lil boy programs.
Pitbull
June 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
Oh good, we get to contine playing over in the Barnyard every other year.
Hope they scrape the cow patties off before the game.
kingdaddy
June 3rd, 2012
1:06 pm
Pitbull
It is one of the Great Traditional Rivalries, but we need to play all the SECw teams more regularly.
DawgNole
June 3rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Jborodawg
June 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
@dawgnole, “…immoral to buy victories…” Strange language; indicting about 120 football programs. I agree, however, that I’d much prefer we play Clemson than Buffalo, for example. That used to be a great rivalry; would usually come down to a last minute FG or TD. Heck, I’d rather play Central Fla instead Fla Atlantic; revenge would be sweet. I like playing Ga Southern every now and then. I think the teams and fans both like those games. And not all D2 teams are equal….like if we played the MAC champs every now and then; or Louisville or Cincy. Don’t forget, it can be difficult to get some OOC D1 schools to agree to home and home; eg Ohio State.
Anyway, I see nine conference games becoming reality…soon.
__________________________
I don’t care how many other teams are doing it; doesn’t make it right.
I strongly agree with you on the Clemson series. Inexcusable to play Buffalo or any other cupcake when you have such a natural rival 80 miles away.
Louisville and Cincy are not D-2 teams; they’re D-1 (FCS), just like UGA. Problem with GA Southern is that it’s a D-1AA (FBS) team. Even their national championship team was no match for an average UGA team a few years ago. D-1 (FCS) has no business playing lower-division teams. Empty seats, loss of respect, no network TV, boring/lopsided games, if you beat them it’s “so what,” if you lose to them you never live it down (Mich-App St). And to top it off, you have to pay them big bucks to come to your place; i.e., buying a victory.
Playing cupcakes should be prohibited; then there would be little problem getting other FCS teams to play. A good start would be to give more weight to strength of schedule in the rankings.
I hope you’re right about a 9-game SEC schedule–if only to remove one cupcake from the schedule.
teeAtlTiger
June 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
War Eagle..Glad they are keeping my favorite game going.
romantictoysed
June 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
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FLA DAWG
June 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
DAWG NATION,
This is good news.
This rivarly is one of the oldest in college football and win or lose, hate’m or love’m it’s just one of those matchups that’s gotta stay around.
Congrates to all of DAWG NATION and Auburn Fans…………the great tradition continues.
bitter dwag sign guy
June 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
I would watch this game if there was any way both teams could lose.
William Smith
June 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
I for myself see problems for any playoff system. What if a conference has two teams ranked five and six. That conference will have no teams in the playoffs. On the same token what if the best team in the conference losses the conference championship game and is then out of the playoffs. When will we stop kidding ourselves and realize college football is a business. I believe in one super conference just like the NFL. The playoff system will be entirely like the NFL. The NFL should chip in and send money to the colleges for football programs. The colleges are no more than a minor league system. The players could then play for the highest bidder. Lastly, with the problems of concussions football as we know it could slowly fade away. It could take it’s lesson from boxing.
dawgs01
June 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
dawgs just signed a 4star receiver out of tallahassee fl. go check it out the ajc is asleep
jj
June 4th, 2012
3:04 am
Lots of machinations just to add two mediocre programs.
SEC Football Daily: June 4th | Saturday Down South
June 4th, 2012
4:46 am
[...] The Auburn-Georgia rivalry will live on. With the adoption of the 6-1-1 scheduling model, this rivalry is indeed preserved for future battles. Both UGA and Auburn were slightly worried this game would be no more. Also, LSU-Florida and Tennessee-Alabama rivalries will continue as well with no further worry, unless the conference expands to 16 teams. [AJC] [...]
ugab
June 4th, 2012
9:03 am
Goo Dawgs Beat Auburn
ugab
June 4th, 2012
9:04 am
Every game Uga plays is a darn rivalry.
ugab
June 4th, 2012
9:08 am
Bama fans have the right to brag. Uga does not.. CMR has embarrassed the fans at times. Saban is a real football coach..Saban has his players focused and game ready..I see good things happening at Uga under CMR. I wonder why millions of dollars were waised and years waisted just for CMR finally to step it up a level at Uga? The facilities are better than they were before MR come the Uga.
MadDog
June 4th, 2012
11:48 am
Only 1 vote out of 14 to go to a 9 game sec schedule by ADs at recent sec meeting, so we will continue to have 3 cupcakes on our home schedule in Athens.
If you don’t want this schedule to continue, write or e-mail your athletic director.
Athens GA Auburn Tiger
June 4th, 2012
12:39 pm
Big Wally has the best idea, but it can’t work right now.
The NCAA rule that provides for a conference championship game also states that the conference must have two divisions and play a complete round-robin within the division. If the SEC can get that rule changed, then Big Wally’s plan will come to fruition.
Here is what the SEC would like to occur: each school would have three permanent opponents and would then rotate the other 10 teams on a “five-on, five-off” basis. That way, any kid that signs scholarship papers with any SEC school will play in every SEC stadium and also host every SEC team during a four-year span. The two best teams would play in the title game.
Permanent opponents:
Alabama- (Auburn, Miss State, Tenn)
Arkansas- (LSU, Mizzou, Kentucky)
Auburn- (Alabama, UGA, Miss State)
Florida – (UGA, UT, USC)
Georgia- (Auburn, Florida, USC)
Kentucky (Tenn, Mizzou, Arkansas)
Ole Miss- (LSU, Miss State, Vandy)
Miss State- (Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss)
Mizzou- (Arkansas, Kentucky, A&M)
LSU- (Arkansas, Ole Miss, A&M)
South Carolina- (UGA, Florida, Vandy)
Tennessee- (Alabama, Florida, Kentucky)
Texas A&M- (LSU, Mizzou, Arkansas)
Vandy (Ole Miss, USC, Kentucky)
shankit
June 4th, 2012
2:05 pm
Dawgs just need to win the East, and they can add
another cross over team from the West every year.
Gordon
June 4th, 2012
2:44 pm
I suggested Big Wally’s idea months ago. I didn’t know you had to have divisions to have a conference championship game, though.
The 6-1-1 is horrible. You won’t see teams in the other division but once every 12 years in your stadium. But you will see another team like Idaho State every year.
DawgNole
June 4th, 2012
3:56 pm
MadDog
June 4th, 2012
11:48 am
Only 1 vote out of 14 to go to a 9 game sec schedule by ADs at recent sec meeting, so we will continue to have 3 cupcakes on our home schedule in Athens.
If you don’t want this schedule to continue, write or e-mail your athletic director.
___________________
Better yet, don’t buy tickets for–or attend–the cupcake games. Nothing speaks louder than fans disguised as empty seats.
I don’t understand the’ fear of a 9-game conf schedule. Even the teams with long-time inter-conf rivals (UGA, USC, fla) STILL have room on the schedule for those rival games AND 2 cupcakes. And those w/o such rivalries have room for 3 cupcakes. Why is that not enough bought-and-paid-for wins? COWARDS!
Atlanta87
June 4th, 2012
4:26 pm
kingdaddy went on quite a rant there, didn’t he?
Atlanta87
June 4th, 2012
4:28 pm
@ Pitbull that’s so funny man! I say all three of those things all the time. You’re hilarious!!
Auburn Grad
June 5th, 2012
7:48 am
Went to the UGA-TN game in 2010. We had seats around the 30 yd. line on the UGA side. Considering all the “F” words being thrown around in mixed company by the 30+ year olds, UGA fans could probably use an upgrade in class themselves.
Lakedawg
June 5th, 2012
10:36 pm
Dawgnole—Let me try to explain the 9 game schedule and what it would do to the Dawgs.
If you or content to playing 4 home 5 away SEC games every year and possibly 3 home 6 away some years then go for it. I for one see that as a horrible disadvantage and totally unfair to the Dawgs.
Just take this years schedule 3 home SEC games Tenn., Vandy, Ole Miss. On the road Missouri, S. Car., Auburn, Fla, Kentucky. Project that out the next several years. The only possible solution is get the Fla. game home and home and not play in Florida every year.
jc_dawg
June 6th, 2012
2:19 pm
Why not just go back to the way it was before the BCS? 4 major bowl games.
Then….the winners of each bowl game would advance to the final 4. 6 conf champs would get a major bowl plus 2 wild card at large teams. And yes….the SEC or any conf should be allowed to have the 2 at large spots. Would have worked perfectly last year.
fupunrernlels
June 7th, 2012
8:15 pm
The Philadelphia Eagles have several second year players that have a lot to prove. Names like Casey Matthews and Danny Watkins found their way on the field in 2011 but need to improve. Meanwhile, other second year guys saw little to no playing time but will be counted on to contribute in 2012. Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett is the most obvious player that fits that bill. However, cornerback Curtis Marsh is also a guy that will need to do more in 2012. As an Eagles fan, I think the offseason will be critical for Marsh. He needs to prove that he can be a part of this team before it is too late.
The Eagles used a third round pick on Marsh in 2011. Typically, a player drafted that high makes an immediate impact on the team. Seeing that the Eagles were deep at cornerback entering 2011, it isn’t surprising that Marsh didn’t make it onto the field very often. But things are different in 2012. The Eagles have traded Asante Samuel. Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are the starting cornerbacks but there are questions after that. Joselio Hanson is a decent player but he is one that already hit his ceiling. Rookie Brandon Boykin has potential but still needs to develop. Even if he is ahead of schedule he will likely play the slot this season. That leaves Marsh as the primary backup to Asomugha and DRC. If one of those players is hurt, he is the likely starter on the outside.
Marsh has already gotten work with the first team during OTAs. DRC missed the practice on June 4, allowing Marsh to step in as a starter. Since the Eagles are going to adopt a more pressing scheme, Marsh should do well. His size and talent make him much better in the press than in the zone. It is important for him to continue to work on those skills throughout OTAs and training camp. His playing time will be much greater in 2012, and there is a chance that he might end up starting a game here and there. This is his opportunity to prove that the Eagles can depend on him to do that. If he can’t earn his playing time in 2012, the Eagles might have no choice but to abandon the Marsh experiment.
The Philadelphia Eagles will hold their first round of OTAs starting on May 22. While certain players might not be participating, this is still the first chance for the entire 2012 team to work out together. As the 2011 season turned into a disaster, we heard a lot about how the Eagles didn’t have a full offseason to get ready. In light of that excuse, I would like to think that the team would take OTAs seriously. With that in mind, here is a look at how the quarterbacks stand as the team begins OTAs.
Michael Vick
We have heard a lot about Vick not having a full offseason as a starter with the Eagles, and that is true. He inherited the job in the season opener in 2010 and there was essentially no offseason in 2011. That means that Vick will finally have an entire summer to get ready. He had better take advantage of it because his game needs a lot of work. Vick can no longer be the guy that tries to win games with his feet. The Eagles need him to become a complete pocket passer. That is the best chance that he has of remaining healthy throughout the season. If Vick can’t get the job done in 2012, the Eagles won’t have any excuses. I hope he is ready to take OTAs seriously because the journey starts here.
The backups
The other three quarterbacks on the roster have a lot to prove, so I expect them to really push hard during OTAs. Mike Kafka has the inside track to be the number two guy on this team. That name doesn’t do a lot to excite Eagles fans, but he does have experience in this system. A full offseason of work could help Kafka improve significantly. He has the tools so he is capable of grasping the number two job. However, he will need to prove his value right away.
Free agent signee Trent Edwards has plenty of NFL experience but he is pretty far removed from playing. The Eagles really took a flyer by signing him after he didn’t play in 2011. No fan really expects him to have a shot at being the first backup. However, experience can be an advantage and Edwards will have a chance to play his way onto this team.
Other than Vick, rookie Nick Foles will be the most intriguing quarterback throughout OTAs. As a third round pick, he has likely secured the number three job on this team. He showed potential during rookie camp but clearly needs a lot of work. I am anxious to see how much he improves over the course of OTAs and into training camp. No one expects Foles to be a contributor in 2012, but he still faces a lot of expectations in the offseason.
The Eagles have also signed undrafted rookie Jacory Harris to a deal, but he has no shot at making this team as a quarterback. He has great athleticism so the Eagles might be able to find something else for him to do. However, he is likely destined to wind up on the practice squad.
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