ATHENS – The SEC had to know when it announced that it would re-sign the league schedule that there would be some oversimplification of fanbases and collusion theories.
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In retrospect, perhaps the SEC should have just gone with a faster model for cross-division.
Think of it as one more lesson learned as the league tries to build a bridge as it crosses the river, per metaphor of a Greg Sankey in the early stages of crisis management.
Each team would draw the next two teams from the opposite division in 2021 and 2022 – already determined – and be done with it. In fact, the league could have just announced the opponents, at the same time revealing that it was going for a 10-game SEC scheme.
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Instead, the decision was overturned and we all waited. And wait. And wait.
“What could talk for so long?” many asked and surprised her on Twitter and Facebook. Finger pointing and speculation about who could “keep” the process growing on social media channels.
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All eyes focused on a potential Alabama and Florida game, the league should use the accelerated schedule of cross-division.
The Tide and Gators are still scheduled to meet in Gainesville in 2021, but the latter in 2020 did not present such a showdown when they were revealed in the SEC Network on Friday night.
There is no evidence that the SEC tried to protect the Tide and Gators with its schedule model, there was no public lobby nor lobbying when the athletic directors held their weekly call.
But when Alabama pulled Kentucky and Missouri, to go with Alabama and Tennessee, it started to cry.
The Vols’ fans were, in particular, wide-ranging, following in the footsteps of Texas A&M and Auburn to deal with the two already-planned West Division, Alabama and Arkansas.
According to a CBSsports ranking, Arkansas has the smartest schedule in the league after the additions, followed by Tennessee.
Florida, it’s worth noting, has the easiest scheme per the website.
But in the social media world, perception quickly takes over reality.
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