OUInsider - Owen Field

If your reading this you have completly forgotten the original post and now are very lost, well like me.

Ok. You win. I got it now. LSU has no advantage playing in New Orleans. Florida gets no advantage playing in Florida. And Texas losing Colt McCoy, their AA QB, had no impact on the outcome. I don't know what I was thinking. Thanks for proving me wrong. I just need to fall in line and start accepting that the SEC is Gods gift to football. I should listen to the media more and just ignore common sense..... Wrong!

Teams can overcome home field or crowd advantages. But it doesn't mean it's not an advantage and "in a close game between equal teams", it can make the difference. Like it did for Florida and LSU. Auburn-Oregon was neutral, Texas lost QB early, everyone but Herbstreit knew Ohio St was overrated and didn't belong in game. I don't remember FSU-Tenn. Point is, SEC has had some luck, some home cooking, and alot of rumors and accusations of improprieties. I'm not drinking the kool aid, so please don't feel the need to convert me. I won't be chanting "SEC" with you anytime soon.

Don't forget that Demarco didn't play in that game.I think he would have made a big difference in the outcome.

Before 1936* there was no recognized National Champion. Obviously, almost 40 years of college football had already been played by that time, and many teams had great years, and at times undefeated seasons.

Some teams (including Alabama), just took what their newspaper headlines, or some local sports writer said as fact when they were referred to a 'National Champions.' (Pitt is another school that did the same).

Most schools however were not so presumptuous and until 1936 no one seriously claimed the title of National Champions. However, in the game of can you top this? Some schools now go back into the dark archives of football history and display these long past titles on their stadiums and in their press guides.

I guess you could make an argument for doing so, but then it gets down to the qualifications and objectives of the various 'nominators,' (some who had little credibility at all).

For example, if we were still under the same system, Robert Allen would have likely declared OSU 'National Champions' this year and no doubt thousands of Cowboys would embrace the title and forever claim it as legitimate.

But, thank goodness, that's not how it's done anymore.

AH

*1936 -- first AP football poll,

Any benefit that received was miniscule. Alabama can tell you all about it.

I was going to let it end, but then I read this. I about died laughing. Do you remember posting it?
"Yes, I like that we are going to UTEP. For all of the players who will be contributors in 2012 that were not contributors previously the experience of travelling and playing in an environment other than the comforts of home is important. Our youngsters will get a chance to experience an away game against a lightweight opponent before having to travel to Lubbock where we have struggled the past 3 trips. Those road games will also help OU's players be more prepared to play in the RRS since the absence oif the comforts of home will not be unusual for any of them. "

What's that? Why is it important to learn to play outside the "comforts" of home? Seems you are saying there is a difference playing on the road afterall. I guess the difference is only "miniscule" to you when it is an SEC team getting the advantage. Too dang funny.

Who didn't think about what they posted?
"When a game is played at niether team's home stadium, playing away from the comforts of home is something both teams have to deal with. They basically offset unless one of the teams has a lot of players who have never experienced it before, which can be an issue early in the season."

What a load of garbage. Now you try to claim it only matters early in year because you were caught saying it mattered where they play. I am not sure why it is so hard for you to admit that it is an advantage for a team like LSU to play in New Orleans. Ask Stoops if he'd rather play LSU in Tulsa or New Orleans? According to you, it doesn't matter. Right! Tell me again who is not thinking. You better stay clear of Vegas.

Not arguing your point but I am under the impression that tickets are sold to both programs attending the game. So there is a fair estimate that the stadium is or should be 50/50. However, I get your point of LSU playing basically a home game. I also think that USC loosing to Texas in the NC game was in the favor of USC if we were to use your logic. Good teams win no matter where they are at IMO.
For the last decade or so the SEC has dominated the NC game in appearance I think. There is just no way around that fact. The only way for programs to change that gripe is you have to beat them plain and simple. I don't think the system is set up for them to win. I think the physical style of play along with outstanding recruiting (however they get that done) in that conference allows for stronger teams in the NC game. IMO only...

My initial point was there are a lot of factors why SEC has won, including the advantage of sometimes having home crowds in stadiums much closer to campus. I was at the LSU SB and Florida OB. Those were decidedly pro-LSU and Florida crowds. Nowhere near 50-50. I said in close games with evenly matched teams, that the crowd can make a difference. I would love to have played those games in KC. I would have thought that was pretty much common sense. But apparently, claiming the SEC has any advantage rubs some the wrong way. Apparently, not even losing an AA QB was any advantage to Alabama. Just an excuse. On that, I guess I differ from a few but I would bet the majority agrees with me.

If we were talking about one instance, maybe you'd be correct, but we're not. If the "road" teams manage to go 3-3 in the 6 games that fit this discussion (OU/USC can also fit since we had such a huge crowd advantage, but I digress) it strongly disputes any claim that the "home" teams had anything more tyhan a miniscule advantage. If you include the OU/USC game, where we had a much larger share of the audience than USC, then the teams with the "advantage" are actually 3-4. That's not a very good record for teams who you claim to have a large advantage.

I'm still laughing. It must be hard for you to place bets since you have to figure out who has the most NEW players. I'll stick to my belief that home field matters. You stick to your belief that NEW players matter and we can go our seperate ways. I'm a little tired arguing the same point anyway. It's been fun though. I wouldn't want you to place any bets for me but you could be my lawyer.

That's all well and good, but playing teams on their own home field is not what we've been talking about. Are you altering the topic?