So I'm in Tuscaloosa visiting relatives through New Year's and on one of the local radio stations they were talking about Alabama's recent signing to be in the 2015 week 1 game at Cowboy Stadium. The opponent is currently TBD and the station was asking listeners to call in and say who they would like to see as the opponent. There were the obvious high profile teams like USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, but the most common answer was Ohio State.
I know Urban has been busy filling out the future non-conference schedule with better teams, but do any of you expect him to put us in a week 1 high profile game? I always disliked these games and thought they were riskier than the possible reward because you never really know what you could get from your team with the first game of the season. I don't think Urban has ever scheduled a game like this before when he was Florida, so I don't see him doing something like this now.
Just something I thought was interesting and wanted to let all you guys know.
I think that would be awesome, but to me sounds like a disadvantage for tOSU due to travel. Obviously, we can't change Bama's plans for 2015, but since SEC and southern schools routinely cite weather as a factor for not wanting to come north for bowls...
Why not make this opening week showcase game played somewhere like Chicago or NY? That way we stay relatively close to home and it is still housed in a big time venue AWAY from SEC country?
EDIT: Nice thread BTW, this "work" week combined with a lack of buckeye news has me yearning for ANYTHING
Aside from the SEC always getting to play Non-Conference (and even BCS games) in SEC country, it's funny to me that it seems like (maybe I just don't pay enough attention?) the only SEC teams that play high profile non-conference teams are Bama and LSU. You could throw in FLA if you count their traditional rivalry w/FSU. I'd love to get a shot at MissSt, Vandy or Bert's Arkansas team. Even FLA or Georgia (MSU and OSU put on good shows against both just last year, MSU winning). Probably never will outside of bowl games, though, and there it seems like you have a higher ranked SEC team playing a slightly lower ranked B1G team at a location in the deep south in every game.
Guys, the reason bowl games aren't held up north isn't because SEC teams don't want to play in cold weather(granted they probably don't want to) it's because the BOWLS don't want to have their games up north, and if they did, they'd probably be played in cities with domes like Detroit or Indy. The bowls have committees and are run like a business, and what's best for business is to have these games in cities that people actually want to travel and stay in January.
Openning Week, though, the weather in Chicago, likely wouldn't be much different than in SEC country. It's in the 90's and humid. Although, playing at Jerry's World weather isn't a factor anyway. I'd love for Ohio State to play Bama in Irving. We'd sell our alotment of tickets and it'd be an awesome atmosphere. We would be more competitive than Michigan too. It'd be awesome to see the 2 teams play with Saban and Meyer planning all summer to play eachother.
Another amazing thing about that game in 2015, is a loss wouldn't immediately kill the Buckeyes chance for a national title. With the new playoff, a close loss against Bama would be better than a win against Kent State. A win would be amazing.
I don't really consider Texas SEC country. Besides, it isn't as if Dallas is a close drive from Alabama. I don't think the location puts us at any more of a disadvantage than Alabama. And the stadium is a dome, so weather should be a non-factor.
With the Big Ten not looking like it is gaining strength soon I welcome the opportunity to play a big opponent in primetime.
"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." -Woody Hayes
Why not? Better to take a week one beating with a chance to get better than a week 1 weakling that doesn't help you at all.
Yeah, I guess I just need to come around to the fact that our in-conference schedule won't do much for us anymore in terms of SOS. These early high profile games help out in terms of publicity and creating anticipation during the offseason. My uncle, big Alabama fan, also said a reason Saban keeps scheduling these kickoff games in Georgia and Texas is because it helps out in recruiting. I certainly wouldln't mind more help recruiting in those states haha
Class of 2016. Go Bucks!
that one loss regardless of who its against always looks worse than a w. not saying i think we automatically lose but its def a possibility if a team is playin bama. imo with national perception they (bama) would be the ones with everything to lose and nothing to gain
mark may wins douchebag of the year... again
Oregon took this chance up with LSU in 2011. It was played at Cowboy Stadium as well. In the end, I think it helped both teams. LSU won, but Oregon wasn't really affected by the loss because they ended up beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl that year. Both teams got a scheduling boost, so why not.
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It didn't really hurt Oregon and they pretty well got their ass handed to them in that game. That win also had LSU riding high that season. Go to Texas and beat Bama all the sudden you are a legit top 3 team. If you lose the game but blow through the rest of your schedule, pretty good chance you end up in the new playoff as a top 4 team.
A new QB at the helm in his first start against Alabama? Don't think Urban will go for that.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Beat me to it haha
Class of 2016. Go Bucks!
That sir is called amazing foresight
Another reason I'm a little hesitant is because that could be the first year we don't have Braxton if he stays for senior year. That's not really the kind of position I would want to put Barrett, Jones, Barker, whoever our QB is in.
Class of 2016. Go Bucks!
Urban has said on his call-in show that he's not heavily involved with scheduling, and that it's mostly been Gene Smith.
Don't see a problem with it. With the new playoff system coming in there will be less pressure to go undefeated and assuming Alabama continues on their pace, a loss to a top 5 opponent won't be a deal breaker on making it in.
Why won't these" southern schools",play up north?? Always cracks me up that these SEC powers will play at a neutral site,down south or out west.God forbid a cooler climate!! Other than that,if we don't take the game,if offered,all will say we gripe and complain about SEC not wanting to schedule games with us.Now we have our "shot",and we tuck tail and run.I say take the game!! Even Alabama has players declare and move on from program.
SCOTTC.
Climate has nothing to do with it guys. The Georgia Dome reaches out and wants games like this. Jerry wants a huge game in his stadium, it's another event in his facility. Lucas Oil could put something like this together and try to draw 2 teams for the game. Ford Field could do it too. I'm sure Jerry has approached Texas and they say no, theyd' rather have that extra home game I'm sure. So, he reaches out to other teams in the region like Bama or LSU who oblige.
Indy/Lucas Oil could do it, and ask Ohio State or Michigan to take part, then you reach out to one of the big teams down south or out west to come in and play. It's not rocket science. It has nothing to do with climate especially when it's in the 90's in this part of the world in Early September anyway and THE GAMES ARE PLAYED IN A DOME!!!!!
We already play North Carolina and @Virginia Tech that year so I doubt they do another road game OOC
I say lets do it! High risk high reward. If Bama is not scared either should we! Go bucks!!!
P.s. If we did do this I really wish we had Braxton.
Sounds like fun.
Class of 2010.
Be more than happy to play Bama in Dallas if they play in The Shoe first. Hell, we'll even pay 'em a Mill. like we do the MAC schools.
I doubt tOSU will schedule this game. Remember game #1 2015 is the first game with OUT Miller at QB. I don't see him going pro next year no matter how well he does even with the toutoring he is getting right now. So 2014 is his last year. I can't see tOSU with a new QB scheduling Bama week 1 of the season nuetral site with a playoff format underway for NC Championships. Just my humble opinion.
Because they wouldn't let me go for 3!
Woody Hayes 1913-1987