[FarmBoy]

Well, "we" asked for it in the conference alignment, and now we got it. Guaranteed games against U.SC and UCLA every year. Meanwhile, Oregon only had to play U.SC and instead played an extra non-LA South opponent.

Ted Miller has been hitting UCB and Stanford about this regularly, making the point that we handicap our selves by requiring us to play two teams with high potential to be quality opponents. In general, I'm happy  to make Stanford's road to the CCG harder if it means maintaining historical rivalries, but now that the rubber meets the road, and playing UCLA (instead of ASU or Utah) may be the difference between playing in the CCG or not, I'm having my doubts. There's no guarantee that U.SC and/or UCLA will be high quality, but history shows they're more likely a tough outing than any of the other South schools.

I'm not even sure that guaranteed games in SoCal each year has helped recruiting that much. How many players from SoCal are having an impact (now that Nunes is benched for Hogan from Texas?)

What do other people think? Was requiring the yearly "weekenders" worth the additional risk it involves in our path to the Rose Bowl?

[FarmBoy]

Well, "we" asked for it in the conference alignment, and now we got it. Guaranteed games against U.SC and UCLA every year. Meanwhile, Oregon only had to play U.SC and instead played an extra non-LA South opponent.

Ted Miller has been hitting UCB and Stanford about this regularly, making the point that we handicap our selves by requiring us to play two teams with high potential to be quality opponents. In general, I'm happy  to make Stanford's road to the CCG harder if it means maintaining historical rivalries, but now that the rubber meets the road, and playing UCLA (instead of ASU or Utah) may be the difference between playing in the CCG or not, I'm having my doubts. There's no guarantee that U.SC and/or UCLA will be high quality, but history shows they're more likely a tough outing than any of the other South schools.

I'm not even sure that guaranteed games in SoCal each year has helped recruiting that much. How many players from SoCal are having an impact (now that Nunes is benched for Hogan from Texas?)

What do other people think? Was requiring the yearly "weekenders" worth the additional risk it involves in our path to the Rose Bowl?

[fullmetal]

Hogan's from the DC area, I think.

I don't think it was ever a bad idea to play the LA schools.  Those are two storied programs with a long tradition of playing Stanford, and as far as Stanford is concerned in California, the exposure is excellent.  I would not swap out one of the two for either Colorado or Utah.  If you're Stanford, you have to own all the California schools.

The strength of schedule is nice too.

[fullmetal]

Hogan's from the DC area, I think.

I don't think it was ever a bad idea to play the LA schools.  Those are two storied programs with a long tradition of playing Stanford, and as far as Stanford is concerned in California, the exposure is excellent.  I would not swap out one of the two for either Colorado or Utah.  If you're Stanford, you have to own all the California schools.

The strength of schedule is nice too.

[oman]

Well, Hogan plays like he is from Texas.

I still buy the recruiting argument, even if we may not have any short term games. 

Playing those LA schools every year is a selling point.  Both Arizona schools, plus Utah plus Colorado don't equal the cache of even one of those schools.

[oman]

Well, Hogan plays like he is from Texas.

I still buy the recruiting argument, even if we may not have any short term games. 

Playing those LA schools every year is a selling point.  Both Arizona schools, plus Utah plus Colorado don't equal the cache of even one of those schools.

[needle]

Attendance matters, too.

[needle]

Attendance matters, too.

[3card]

I'd say the recruiting is helped more by being in a major bowl and competing for a national title shot.

I think the whole pac-12 needs to look hard at what the SEC is doing.  Ultimately it's just easier to get the top talent when you have 5-6 top ranked teams every year and always have 2 teams in the BCS.  Their formula seems pretty simple:  8 conference games, all OOC games against FCS teams at home, have the top 3-4 teams in the league play 1 game each against a middle-of-the-pack major conference school at a "neutral" location near the SEC school, begrudgingly play a few OOC rivalry games.  Even adding 2 more teams would help thin out the competition (glad to see that backfire for them this year).  The whole pac-12 is really shooting itself in the foot by not playing by the same rules as the SEC in scheduling.

[3card]

I'd say the recruiting is helped more by being in a major bowl and competing for a national title shot.

I think the whole pac-12 needs to look hard at what the SEC is doing.  Ultimately it's just easier to get the top talent when you have 5-6 top ranked teams every year and always have 2 teams in the BCS.  Their formula seems pretty simple:  8 conference games, all OOC games against FCS teams at home, have the top 3-4 teams in the league play 1 game each against a middle-of-the-pack major conference school at a "neutral" location near the SEC school, begrudgingly play a few OOC rivalry games.  Even adding 2 more teams would help thin out the competition (glad to see that backfire for them this year).  The whole pac-12 is really shooting itself in the foot by not playing by the same rules as the SEC in scheduling.

[Kathy]

Kicker Jordan Williamson is from Austin, Texas. QB Kevin Hogan is from McLean, Va., and went to high school in D.C. (Gonzaga College High School).

I'm glad we play the LA schools every year — nice to maintain some semblance of tradition in this new extended-family Pac-12. What I'm not happy about is the scheduling fiasco that has us playing UCLA in our last regular season game instead of the weenies. Big Game should have been this weekend.

[Kathy]

Kicker Jordan Williamson is from Austin, Texas. QB Kevin Hogan is from McLean, Va., and went to high school in D.C. (Gonzaga College High School).

I'm glad we play the LA schools every year — nice to maintain some semblance of tradition in this new extended-family Pac-12. What I'm not happy about is the scheduling fiasco that has us playing UCLA in our last regular season game instead of the weenies. Big Game should have been this weekend.

[Farm93]

The good news is that the Pac-12 leadership will remember this scheduling problem for some time.

If UCLA tanks at home and then rises up to beat Stanford on Nov 30th the conspiracy theories will be everywhere.  UCLA helped itself, UCLA was able to avoid a match-up vs Oregon, Oregon lost an opportunity to boost its position to get into the BCS CG, etc.

Every team should have its last conference game of the season against a member of its division.

[Farm93]

The good news is that the Pac-12 leadership will remember this scheduling problem for some time.

If UCLA tanks at home and then rises up to beat Stanford on Nov 30th the conspiracy theories will be everywhere.  UCLA helped itself, UCLA was able to avoid a match-up vs Oregon, Oregon lost an opportunity to boost its position to get into the BCS CG, etc.

Every team should have its last conference game of the season against a member of its division.

[needle]

I looked at the SEC and Conference USA schedules, and there are only intra-division games or out-of-conference games the week before the conference championship.

Of course, other Pac-12 north teams are playing their rival this week, so forcing one of the schools to play Stanford to end the regular season would have messed up the timing of their traditional rivalry game. But it might be the best policy going forward, because rematches within six days do not make anyone happy.

[needle]

I looked at the SEC and Conference USA schedules, and there are only intra-division games or out-of-conference games the week before the conference championship.

Of course, other Pac-12 north teams are playing their rival this week, so forcing one of the schools to play Stanford to end the regular season would have messed up the timing of their traditional rivalry game. But it might be the best policy going forward, because rematches within six days do not make anyone happy.

[Kathy]

Of course, other Pac-12 north teams are playing their rival this week, so forcing one of the schools to play Stanford to end the regular season would have messed up the timing of their traditional rivalry game. But it might be the best policy going forward, because rematches within six days do not make anyone happy.

We have a rival, too, and that game against our rival should have been the way we end the regular season. Problem solved.

[Kathy]

Of course, other Pac-12 north teams are playing their rival this week, so forcing one of the schools to play Stanford to end the regular season would have messed up the timing of their traditional rivalry game. But it might be the best policy going forward, because rematches within six days do not make anyone happy.

We have a rival, too, and that game against our rival should have been the way we end the regular season. Problem solved.

[Bruce Wang]

The upcoming playoff system will reward a tougher schedule.  There will be 1 and even 2 loss teams making the playoffs and the only way to rise above the crowd is to play a tougher schedule.  You see schools alll across the country positioning themselves this way with their non-conference games.

[Bruce Wang]

The upcoming playoff system will reward a tougher schedule.  There will be 1 and even 2 loss teams making the playoffs and the only way to rise above the crowd is to play a tougher schedule.  You see schools alll across the country positioning themselves this way with their non-conference games.

[Bruce Wang]

The upcoming playoff system will reward a tougher schedule.  There will be 1 and even 2 loss teams making the playoffs and the only way to rise above the crowd is to play a tougher schedule.  You see schools alll across the country positioning themselves this way with their non-conference games.

[Bruce Wang]

The upcoming playoff system will reward a tougher schedule.  There will be 1 and even 2 loss teams making the playoffs and the only way to rise above the crowd is to play a tougher schedule.  You see schools alll across the country positioning themselves this way with their non-conference games.

[Cardinal96]

I am content to miss a game against UCLA or USC in certain years.  My view is there should be no protected North/South games.  The only game that must be protected at all costs is Big Game in my view.

[Cardinal96]

I am content to miss a game against UCLA or USC in certain years.  My view is there should be no protected North/South games.  The only game that must be protected at all costs is Big Game in my view.

[76lsjumb]

I'm pretty sure this year's graduating class doesn't regret having played U.SC every season ...  ;D

[76lsjumb]

I'm pretty sure this year's graduating class doesn't regret having played U.SC every season ...  ;D

[Canalejas]

The Big Game is the most important, of course, but after that I want both LA schools on the schedule every year.  I'd rather we find a way to reorganize the divisions if we want to do away with protected cross-overs and free up a slot for a cupcake.  Get all 4 of our state's schools in one division and everyone's happy, no?  Well, everyone except the 6 schools in the other division.

[Canalejas]

The Big Game is the most important, of course, but after that I want both LA schools on the schedule every year.  I'd rather we find a way to reorganize the divisions if we want to do away with protected cross-overs and free up a slot for a cupcake.  Get all 4 of our state's schools in one division and everyone's happy, no?  Well, everyone except the 6 schools in the other division.

[Kathy]

We didn't have these problems when we were the Pac-8.

[Kathy]

We didn't have these problems when we were the Pac-8.

[dabigv13]

Thats why I wanted the Pac-16 super conference with Texas. We shunt the Arizona schools to the eastern division, and essentially it's the Pac-8 with a scheduling agreement with the Big-12.

[dabigv13]

Thats why I wanted the Pac-16 super conference with Texas. We shunt the Arizona schools to the eastern division, and essentially it's the Pac-8 with a scheduling agreement with the Big-12.

[ChicagoCard]

We didn't have these problems when we were the Pac-8.

Exactly, or Pac-10 either.

[ChicagoCard]

We didn't have these problems when we were the Pac-8.

Exactly, or Pac-10 either.

[FarmBoy]

In the end, I would be willing to compromise by dropping the guaranteed UCLA game but keep the guaranteed U.SC. I honestly don't feel much of a rivalry for UCLA (in football, basketball being entirely different.) Not playing 'SC each year would be a big loss of tradition and an opportunity for a national statement. UCLA, not so much, IMO.

[FarmBoy]

In the end, I would be willing to compromise by dropping the guaranteed UCLA game but keep the guaranteed U.SC. I honestly don't feel much of a rivalry for UCLA (in football, basketball being entirely different.) Not playing 'SC each year would be a big loss of tradition and an opportunity for a national statement. UCLA, not so much, IMO.

[Kathy]

Thats why I wanted the Pac-16 super conference with Texas. We shunt the Arizona schools to the eastern division, and essentially it's the Pac-8 with a scheduling agreement with the Big-12.

Oh, please ... my #2/#3 schools just got away from Texas. No way would I want to deal with the t-sips again. A 16-member conference will only exacerbate the scheduling problems.

[Kathy]

Thats why I wanted the Pac-16 super conference with Texas. We shunt the Arizona schools to the eastern division, and essentially it's the Pac-8 with a scheduling agreement with the Big-12.

Oh, please ... my #2/#3 schools just got away from Texas. No way would I want to deal with the t-sips again. A 16-member conference will only exacerbate the scheduling problems.

[jacketree]

I thought Stanford and California were the entities who objected to playing Big Game on Thanksgiving weekend?  In that case they have no one to blame but themselves.  Or is it the USC/ND game that messed everything up?  And trying to avoid tough conference schedules never works outside the SEC.....

[jacketree]

I thought Stanford and California were the entities who objected to playing Big Game on Thanksgiving weekend?  In that case they have no one to blame but themselves.  Or is it the USC/ND game that messed everything up?  And trying to avoid tough conference schedules never works outside the SEC.....