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PatriotVol
(199.209.144.220) on 10/15/2007 - 12:38 p.m. says: ( 45 views
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"I expect a post monkey for linking this... "
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CONTEXT ADDED BY ADMIN: Article published Oct 15, 2007
CECIL HURT: Greatest college rivalry gets second-class treatment
With so many choices, what is a person to do this weekend? Go to Irving’s Bait and Tanning on Highway 69 South, where they have a couple of Cezannes on display in the men’s room? Head to Barney’s Burger Barn for caviar and a nice Dom Perignon?
I know — how about watching Alabama-Tennessee at 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln Financial Sports?
Even the Crown Jewels of England look better in a nice setting, so it is a little incongruous to see the Southeastern Conference’s greatest rivalry on the league’s regional early-riser network.
It is the greatest rivalry, by the way. If one limits the perspective to the past 25 years, then votes will also be accepted for Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Tennessee, Florida-Georgia and some others. But when discussing the full scope of SEC history, it’s Alabama-Tennessee, and nothing else is even close.
And before this gets out of hand, no slam is intended to Lincoln Financial. I like the fact they show SEC football in a time slot that is, quite often, convenient (particularly if Alabama is playing a night game). I like their commitment to full employment for guys named Dave on their announcing team (although, no matter how many Daves they hire, there will never be another Dave Rowe.)
It’s just strange that Alabama and Tennessee are in the early spot, on the non-national network. Strange — but not impossible to understand.
The fact is, there are some great games in the SEC. It’s easy (and not inaccurate) to say Alabama and Tennessee are both at a level that’s slightly lower than usual. You couldn’t prove that by looking at the SEC standings today — Alabama sits in a loss-column tie atop the West, and Tennessee is in the same position in the East.
There are very important ramifications for both teams in terms of bowl positioning and, perhaps, conference championships. But the same thing is true in Baton Rouge, where LSU and Auburn will play a critical game (and, despite the fact that LSU is a two-touchdown favorite, I think Auburn has a legitimate chance.)
It’s also true in Lexington, Ky., where Florida is barely hanging on in the East and Kentucky, thanks to its upset of LSU, is the new league media darling. It’s harder to understand ESPN2’s choice of Maryland-Virginia, an ACC game that probably doesn’t even interest people in Maryland and Virginia.
Two points are worth making. First, no conference in America compares to the SEC, competitively speaking. That’s why you have games like Alabama-Tennessee at 11:30. It’s also why it is going to be extremely difficult for an SEC team to make it to the BCS championship game this year.
Teams in less vicious leagues (and, yes, that does include the Big 10, the Big East and the ACC) all have a better chance at running the table and making it to New Orleans.
Second, the SEC doesn’t give specific numbers of just how much of its $43 million in television revenue comes from Lincoln Financial, but it’s a good deal less than CBS and ESPN are paying.
Also, if Lincoln Financial is going to get games like Alabama-Tennessee on a regular basis — and if traditionally semi-relevant teams like Kentucky and South Carolina continue to hover around the Top 10, they will — then the network needs to pony up a good deal more money when its contract comes up for renewal in 2009.
In the meantime, everyone will just have to wake up early and head to Bryant-Denny Stadium for a brunch date. Who knows, maybe afterwards you can stop by one of the clubs on the Strip and see U2 or the Rolling Stones — which would be sort of a surprising setting for two of the biggest names in the business to be playing.
Cecil Hurt is sports editor of the Tuscaloosa News. Reach him at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0225.
END OF CONTEXT
http://www.tidesports.com/article/20071015/NEWS/71015001/1011:link1
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