Could the SEC be the only conference that plays college football in 2020? Paul Finebaum doesn't think that would happen
Would the Southeastern Conference really go it alone this fall and be the only conference that plays college football?
Paul Finebaum doesn’t think so.
We all know the importance of college football in the South but when it comes to playing in the fall, the SEC Network host believes the league would like to see at least one other conference take the field in 2020.
During a recent appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Finebaum was asked if the SEC would go it alone if need be in the fall.
“I don’t think they will. And I know what the reputation is, I live down here, but I think the SEC would certainly, let me use a NASCAR phrase here, like to have a drafting partner,” Finebaum said on the show. “They don’t want to be alone. And I think you could see several conferences do it and some not but I don’t think you’ll only see the SEC play college football this year.”
While Finebaum didn’t mention any other league by name here, the ACC seems like a logical partner for the SEC considering the two share much of the same geographic footprint. The Big Ten and the Big 12 also appear open to playing the upcoming college football season, if possible.
When it comes to playing the upcoming season, two key points for Finebaum centers around the ability for campuses to open up to students fans and the ability to host fans in the stands this fall.
“I think to start, I do not believe that college football will be played this fall unless there are fans in the stands and most important Dan, students on campus,” Finebaum shared. “I know we’re not gonna try to make college football sacrosanct here, we all know what it is, but I think the people that run these universities, the college presidents, are not going to take that type of hit. They’ll do almost anything for money, that’s been proven time and time again, but I think the look would be so bad.
“I’ve spoken to countless commissioners and athletic directors and coaches and while there may be a desire and a need to play to stay afloat, I don’t believe the overwhelming majority of colleges will play unless I can get students back. And I’m not talking about online. And that is why, now that the draft is passed and ultimately the Michael Jordan documentary will move on as well. I think the biggest sports question, moving into the next four to six weeks is going to be college football, because it is a mystery. It’s not like the NFL where you can quarantine and get the players to sign waivers, it’s real and I’ve had parents and players call me on the air and say, ‘I’m not letting my son play unless there are students on campus.’ It is a really intriguing question.”
That’s another interesting point made by Finebaum, with the clock ticking down closer to a decision date, the world will be eagerly awaiting a decision from college football this summer when it comes to playing the 2020 season.
Oooh goodie. Another what Paul Finebaum thinks article. You guys are completely incapable of original thought, aren’t you?
Considering the fact that he is unquestionably more knowledgeable than 99% of the other talking heads, yeah I’ll listen to him.
You’re kidding. He’s probably the biggest moron on the air. The worst part is that he’s a pompous know it all who believes his sophomoric opinions are substitutes for fact. But that’s why he has the microphone- ESPN knows there’s no better way to boost ratings than to get a quack like Finebaum on the air to stir the pot. Bob Knight couldn’t have been more right when he said sports journalism, as a profession, was a step or two above prostitution.
No doubt in my mind that that is a real possibility. The SEC seems to have the “Us then everybody else” mentality when it comes to football. What might even sweeten the deal is if some, if not all of the other power five conferences, decide not to play this fall, is the money from TV rights the SEC would bring in. I’m an SEC fan, but that doesn’t mean I won’t turn off Florida vs Missouri to watch the Red River Showdown. The classic games that make football so entertaining would be severely missed if only the SEC were to play this season. I think the best bet for College Football is to find a solution where at least the majority of conferences, Power and Group of Five, are ready to play and start the season in October at the latest.
I see no chance of the SEC going it alone. None.
Well look at it this way. If the SEC does go it alone there will be some fine football played and watched by the fans albeit possibly just from our living rooms. With no cupcake teams from other leagues to play these games would be great to watch, if not better, and also show the SEC commissioner that we should drop 2 of the 4 out of conference games off our schedules. Woo Pig Sooie…..Go Hogs.
Alternative to fresh football: the Rick plan.
For the description of “the Rick plan”, let me take a hypothetical televised “event” involving UGA vs. UF. First, the network (CBS, etc.) builds a library of drives that each team has had against the other over the last, say 30, years. The libraries for each team are culled so as to have the same number of stalls, field goals, and touch downs. In other words, each time has equal statistics regarding points scored using the two culled libraries. Then the “event” begins with a simulated coin flip (or celebrity coin flip of some sort). The teams then take turns by randomly selecting from each culled library. The selected drives form the simulated game. An external to each clip, but cumulative score board is kept, which reflects total amount of time used in the drives, and a cumulative score.
Will football fans be interested? YES, at least ones like me. The event includes the chance to see great athletics, it has an unknown outcome until the game is over (which is what kills replayed games, in my opinion) and it will be a chance to bring back former football heros in a way that is meaningful and enjoyable, and of course, you can gamble on it.
Does anyone out there agree this might be a reasonable substitute if new football games cannot be played?