Mr. Tiger
December 16th, 2006, 04:39 PM
http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/4934721.html
Seven-game slate possible for SWAC
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Dec 16, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference might return to mandating its members play seven conference football games next season.
The 2005 season was the first in which all nine games counted. Though that setup simplifies how games are counted, there apparently is growing sentiment to revert to a seven-game mandate.
The subject came up at the conference’s winter meetings this week. The presidents, who hold the power in the conference, will meet to decide on the format next month.
“(Thursday) we talked about nine game vs. seven game,” SWAC Commissioner Robert Vowels Jr. said. “So, we’ve got that back on the table. There’s a real lean toward the seven game, especially if the 12th game comes into it.”
Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said SU’s stance is likely to be for the seven-game format.
Members of Division I-AA, which will be the Championship Subdivision next season, will soon vote on adding a 12th game.
The SWAC swelled to 10 members and divisional play in 1999, with only a team’s four divisional games counting that first season. A seven-game format began in 2000. Initially, the seven games consisted of four divisional foes plus a rotation of three games against teams from the other division. The rotation was later ditched, with the top three teams from the previous year’s standings counted.
The downside to the seven-game mandate is the confusion. Conference teams continued to play each other in order to maintain traditional rivalries (and paydays) in games that didn’t count, and then the “top three” scenario led to games counting for one team but not the other.
:hurray: :hurray: I hope the change is made.
Seven-game slate possible for SWAC
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Dec 16, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference might return to mandating its members play seven conference football games next season.
The 2005 season was the first in which all nine games counted. Though that setup simplifies how games are counted, there apparently is growing sentiment to revert to a seven-game mandate.
The subject came up at the conference’s winter meetings this week. The presidents, who hold the power in the conference, will meet to decide on the format next month.
“(Thursday) we talked about nine game vs. seven game,” SWAC Commissioner Robert Vowels Jr. said. “So, we’ve got that back on the table. There’s a real lean toward the seven game, especially if the 12th game comes into it.”
Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said SU’s stance is likely to be for the seven-game format.
Members of Division I-AA, which will be the Championship Subdivision next season, will soon vote on adding a 12th game.
The SWAC swelled to 10 members and divisional play in 1999, with only a team’s four divisional games counting that first season. A seven-game format began in 2000. Initially, the seven games consisted of four divisional foes plus a rotation of three games against teams from the other division. The rotation was later ditched, with the top three teams from the previous year’s standings counted.
The downside to the seven-game mandate is the confusion. Conference teams continued to play each other in order to maintain traditional rivalries (and paydays) in games that didn’t count, and then the “top three” scenario led to games counting for one team but not the other.
:hurray: :hurray: I hope the change is made.