John Cohen’s Full Answers on SEC Scheduling Models
What have your discussions on soccer scheduling seemed like? What’s the timeline appear to be, too?
The timeline has to be prior to later, proper? When you speak about ’24, if — if — you go the nine-game schedule, you are gonna have to reroute one in all your non-conference video games or cancel it. We’re already working in that space, simply in preparation for a attainable nine-game.
I’ll let you know, and I imply this, I believe there’s a lot of benefit to each. I believe there’s a benefit to an eight-game schedule, and I believe there’s a benefit to a nine-game. If you have a look at the eight-game schedule, it is served the SEC fairly effectively. It’s served Auburn fairly effectively. You have a look at the final dozen years, Auburn has received a National Championship, has performed for a (one other) National Championship underneath an eight-game format. So have a number of colleges in the Southeastern Conference, together with Georgia this previous yr. The nine-game makes a lot of sense additionally, when you think about the incontrovertible fact that it actually helps tv stock. It makes one other week extra attention-grabbing. It makes a season ticket bundle extra priceless for each season-ticket holder in the Southeastern Conference. So I can see either side of it, for positive.
But I additionally see this: When we get the alternative to play nonconference video games like Cal, simply for instance, or Penn State a yr in the past, I believe it actually does a lot for school soccer. That cross-pollination of inter-regional alternatives. I believe that provides a lot to what school soccer is, and you look ahead to these. Now, for instance that these go away. The query turns into, at the moment, everyone is aware of that we’ve the dedication to the Southeastern Conference to play a Power Five opponent as a nonconference. If you go to a nine-game event, is it eradicated? Does it keep? None of that has been determined but, however I believe there’s actual worth to that.
I believe, in our league, it has been my expertise at Mississippi State, there’s been a little little bit of fatigue by way of taking part in the identical groups over and over and over once more. So permitting your self to play groups from completely different areas, and additionally creating a one-division format during which, you recognize, let’s be actual right here, Auburn performs — I’m simply gonna use Kentucky for instance — Auburn performs Kentucky in Jordan-Hare as soon as each 12 years. And conversely, we’d go to Lexington to play as soon as each 12 years.
That’s not likely what being in a league is all about. And though it has been defined to me by some people who that is not one thing that is essential to the youngsters, my query is: I’m a child that received to go to all the colleges in the league once I performed baseball at Mississippi State. How does a younger individual know that that is not attention-grabbing to them in the event that they’ve by no means performed it earlier than? So I believe there’s actual profit to that. I believe if somebody is keen to keep three or 4 years at one establishment as a student-athlete, they ought to give you the chance to see each campus in the Southeastern Conference. It’s a thrill. It’s the finest convention in the nation. Every single campus provides to the total model of the Southeastern Conference, and I believe each student-athletes ought to get that chance.
How a lot weight does dropping sure rivalries carry? For instance, the Auburn-Georgia rivalry?
Well, as any individual who’s new to the Auburn neighborhood, and wanting from the outdoors, clearly sure, the Auburn-Georgia sport is large. It is the oldest rivalry in the south. But you are additionally dropping an Auburn-LSU sport. You’re additionally dropping an Auburn-Mississippi State sport, which was actually essential to us at Mississippi State once I was there. You’re dropping some video games that you have been taking part in for a very long time, and some people take into account video games to be rivalries. I believe, unquestionably, Auburn and Georgia is a rivalry, however these different video games have been there, too. So I do not know.
What do you achieve? What do you lose? That half, I do not know. Here’s what I do know: I do know that our followers are gonna love seeing the Oklahoma Sooners run into Jordan-Hare. They’re gonna love seeing the Texas Longhorns run in there. And then, on the different facet of the coin, they’re gonna love seeing the Florida Gators are available in there extra typically. So I do assume, in both format, the 1-7 format or the 3-6, you are gonna get to see the complete league in your stadium twice over a 4 yr interval no matter what, so I believe that is actually essential.
What’s subsequent for you so far as scheduling? How quickly will you disclose extra to Auburn? Like, are conversations set to occur in the summertime?
It’s extra rapid than that. I can let you know, it is in all probability not two weeks that goes by with out me having a dialog with the Southeastern Conference about soccer scheduling. Could be, A), as a result of I’m new right here and, B), there’s so many issues which are hanging in the stability proper now, the most rapid of which is, ‘Hey, we’re speaking to our nonconference opponents for ’24. We want to put together one in all them to transfer if we really feel like there’s gonna be a ninth sport,’ and that is rapid and that is essential.
You have to be truthful to these non-conference opponents, and you could have to be truthful to your personal fan base, and you could have a price range to run. So all these issues type of come collectively for you to be a little anxious about what’s subsequent.
Questions and solutions have been edited for readability.
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