Football: Shaw is disappointed SEC stuck to eight-game conference schedule

SFGATE ^ | May 1, 2014 | Tom FitzGerald

[Enterprise]

While football teams in the Pac-12 and the Big 12 play nine conference games each season and the Big Ten is about to follow suit, the Southeastern Conference recently announced it will stick with eight conference games.

Stanford coach David Shaw is not happy about that, especially now that there will be a four-team playoff beginning next season that will depend on a level playing field for each conference.

He said he was “more disappointed than surprised” by the SEC decision. “It’s bigger, I think, than most people understand.”

[Enterprise]

Stanford has spoken. So let it be written, so let it be done.

[ilgipper]

I am not an SEC alumni, but eight games of SEC games is the equivalent of 12+ Big Ten or PAC 10 games. An Ohio State or Stanford MIGHT have 3-4 games a year in the conference that pose a real challenge. SEC team have 6-7 per year minimum.

[DoodleDawg]

Stanford has spoken. So let it be written, so let it be done.

They have a point.

[RayChuang88]

I actually agree with you. Between Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU and South Carolina, they’re all potentially top-caliber teams. And even the “lesser” teams in the SEC aren’t pushovers in recent years, either.

[Resolute Conservative]

They just want more tv time and stretch the season another month or two for revenue.