Champions of the Buy Out Game

[1972Shocker]

The Southwestern Athletic Conference is ranked 29th out of 31 conferences in RPI. However, they rank #1 in Conference SOS.

The conference will have played 99 D-1 opponents prior to starting conference play. 8 of those were home games, 6 were on neutral courts and 85 were road games. They will probably end up with a combined won-loss record of 8-91 in these games.

Conference Members are:
Jackson State
Miss. Valley State
Alcorn State
Grambling State
Pairie View A&M
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alabama State
Alabama A&M
Southern University

Someone has to pay the bills I suppose, but sheesh. And we think we have scheduling problems.

[martymoose]

The thing is, they don't have a scheduling problem. This is exactly how they want to schedule their games.

[1972Shocker]

The thing is, they don't have a scheduling problem. This is exactly how they want to schedule their games.

I suppose that's true, although not sure it his how they want to, but they accept that is how they have to do it to survive. All members do have football programs.

They obviously are actively shopping their basketball programs to the highest bidder.

They may even us it as a recruiting tool for basketball.

[The Mad Hatter]

The thing is, they don't have a scheduling problem. This is exactly how they want to schedule their games.

I suppose that's true, although not sure it his how they want to, but they accept that is how they have to do it to survive. All members do have football programs.

They obviously are actively shopping their basketball programs to the highest bidder.

They may even us it as a recruiting tool for basketball.

The don't have scheduling problems. They do, however, have budget problems. Those buyouts pay the bills.

[Aargh]

I don't see how those schools are D1.

They exist for no purpose other than to let better schools schedule a lot of boring home cupcakes. They can't possibly afford their programs if they play home games OOC.

There ought to be something where you have to play a certain number (or percentage) of games at home and have a specified average attendance like there is in FB.

Put schools like this in another division - where they truly belong and then let's see who the BCS schools line up for their home games. It would affect WSU too, but I think we're more willing to play a game or two on the road than say - KU, Syracuse, Maryland - to name a few.

[vbird53]

I don't see how those schools are D1.

They exist for no purpose other than to let better schools schedule a lot of boring home cupcakes. They can't possibly afford their programs if they play home games OOC.

There ought to be something where you have to play a certain number (or percentage) of games at home and have a specified average attendance like there is in FB.

Put schools like this in another division - where they truly belong and then let's see who the BCS schools line up for their home games. It would affect WSU too, but I think we're more willing to play a game or two on the road than say - KU, Syracuse, Maryland - to name a few.

Yep. 345 DI schools are a tad too many.

[pogo]

There would be quite a few bcs schools that would not make the cut off for attendance for basketball. :D Assuming the attendance level would be greater than say 5,000.

[Speed]

Instead of requiring home games, require road games. A bigger issue are the Duke's, KU's or Syracuse's of the world who pad rankings with home games. SWAC teams might lose tevenue, but it would alleviate a lot of problems.

[Aargh]

I could see 2 or 3 true OOC road games and a minimum average home attendance of 5,000 as a requirement for playing D1.

But the BCS schools would cry $$$ for the loss of the home games and the NCAA would cave - even though the BCS schools are gradually moving their big money makers away from the NCAA.

Right now football TV revenue is driving college athletics. That's why (IMHO) conferences like the MWC are moving ahead of the MVC in media recognition. A school with its name in the national media for 3 extra months has a better name brand than a school in the Valley.