Alabama AD Greg Byrne eager to protect sacred rivalries, shoots down in-state non-SEC games
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New Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne met with the media Wednesday in Destin while attending the Southeastern Conference’s 2017 spring meetings. Among the topics discussed by the Crimson Tide AD were the importance of college rivalries as well as Alabama’s future non-conference scheduling.
Judging by his Wednesday comments, Byrne fully understands the importance fans place on annual rivalries and will support any move to protect those games in the future.
“When you talk about the impact that rivalries have on college athletics,” Byrne said, “that’s one of the most special parts of intercollegiate athletics… I think it’s important to keep that in mind, how special rivalries are what it means to the fan base, what it means to the student-athletes and I hope we can make good decisions long term that have as positive impact on that as possible.”
While big rivalries may be important to Byrne, playing in-state teams outside of the SEC apparently aren’t much of a concern. Based on some of his other comments, don’t look for the Crimson Tide to be playing UAB, Troy or any other Alabama-based school in non-conference play anytime soon.
Alabama AD Greg Byrne says he doesn’t foresee Alabama scheduling in-state schools for non-conference games.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) May 31, 2017
Should the Tide help support in-state schools and their athletic budgets or does Alabama stand to benefit nothing from such games? Judging by Byrne’s comments, Alabama must believe the answer is very clear.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
