(05-18-2017 01:04 PM)Gamecock Wrote: (05-17-2017 12:20 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote: (05-17-2017 11:26 AM)Gamecock Wrote: (05-15-2017 06:12 PM)JRsec Wrote: (05-15-2017 05:46 PM)murrdcu Wrote: Paul Finebaum @finebaum
"Auburn needs to be in the SEC East & Mizzou needs to be in the SEC West" - Pat Dye
He also wanted a nine game SEC schedule.
I would be fine with a 9 game schedule, but remember, we would be sending less schools to bowl games
Pat is plain spoken, truthful, and correct.
If we can do this and drop permanent rivals (keeping only Auburn/Alabama) I would be for it.
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Some of the other schools might have an issue with favoritism like this. Invite new western members and/or move whatever members required to enable an Alabama/ Auburn east. Problem solved. Alabama keeps the Tennessee rivalry alive. Auburn would welcome the east division. I agree the Iron Bowl is a truly epic game the SEC needs to preserve.
Then you run the risk of completely overpowering the East.
If Auburn only moves East then Alabama has two rivals in the East - one has to go. Tennessee may have more history but Auburn is the bigger rival the last 20 years.
SC, UF, LSU, and A&M are all on board with dropping permanent rivals already. UGA would join them in this scenario as Auburn would be an East team. Arkansas and Missouri have no history and could probably be easily persuaded.
UK/Miss St and Ole Miss/Vandy probably want to keep those games but may be out of luck. If worst comes to worst for the conference, those three could be preserved as well along with Alabama/Auburn.
Gamecock, Auburn has been Alabama's most bitter rival since the 1890's. The only era that separates the series is Bear's 10 year run. We didn't play for over 20 years because Alabama was trying to shut us down as a school and it lasted from the late 1800's until the 20's at which point there were fights and a death at an event. We didn't start playing them again until the late 40's and then by mandate of the Alabama legislature. It hasn't just been bitter for the past 20 years. It's been bitter for 120 years!
Auburn got screwed in '91. We had annually played Georgia, Florida and Tennessee and had recruited those areas since we began playing football. When John Heisman left Auburn he went to Clemson to build their program. He came to us from Virginia. Had the first year uniforms at Clemson not suffered from a bleach problem their colors would have been Navy and Orange the same as Virginia's and Auburn's. Instead the navy turned almost purple and the rest is history. Auburn belongs in the East period! The only time we haven't played a predominantly Eastern schedule is from 1991 until present. Why should our program get hosed because the Gamecocks and Arkansas joined? The only reason we agreed is we were promised by Kramer that it would only be temporary.
Until the putrid East can produce a champion worth playing I don't see what's wrong the the move. The output of the East is the only perception problem the SEC faces. If Florida can get back to speed and Georgia can pick it up then I still don't see how Auburn and Alabama upset the balance since the West historically has had 4 programs making a run per year. Add an Oklahoma and Texas to the West and you have balance. The problem in the East is only exacerbated by Pinkel's cancer and Missouri's subsequent tanking and the fact that Carolina is in transition. But it's been over 20 years since Tennessee was worth a damn! I don't think the Big Orange is going to get back up, ever! There are too many recruiting their grounds from Louisville to Cincinnati, to the ACC. Tennessee boosters and trustees are living in the past just like Alabama did for a decade after Bear, but Alabama woke up, Tennessee hasn't. Spurrier should never have taken his heel off of Clemson but he liked Dabo and really wanted to be back where everyone loved his past, Florida.
I hope Muschamp pulls it together but we got to know him at Auburn and he lacked organizational skills and therefore discipline. We'll see.
Auburn had 5 annual series until 1978. Georgia Tech (1892-1978), Georgia (1894-present), Florida (every year since the late 30's until 2002: WWII excepted), Tennessee (every year from 1956-1991)) and of course Alabama.
Alabama (other than Tennessee and Auburn) seldom played anyone from the East. Their annuals were L.S.U., Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee.
They could easily give up Tennessee but they don't want to because they have dominated that series for the last 25 years. It's not quite as good as having Vanderbilt or Kentucky on their schedule but it's danged close.
They keep that series because statistically it gives them a leg up on Auburn (who has to play Georgia) and LSU (who has to play Florida). There's your reason it can't be done and it's the only reason.
Pat Dye: switch Auburn and Mizzou 
