Why a 9 Game SEC Schedule Benefits Alabama

Yesterday I mentioned that the greatest battle in the Southeastern Conference (therefore in College Football) is the internal struggle to either move to a 9 game conference schedule or stick with the current 8 game format.

One of the biggest proponents for a 9 game schedule is Nick Saban, the head coach at the University of Alabama, while many of his conference counterparts want no part in increasing the difficulty of their conference slate. Even some Alabama fans I’ve talked to have mentioned that they fear another SEC game could derail the dynasty.

Allow me to ease your concerns. While I agree, a 9 game conference schedule would make it more difficult to Alabama to maintain its current success; I can’t help to think it would actually be the Crimson Tide’s greatest asset over its conference foes.

Stick with me on this.

At this moment in time Alabama has: a roster stacked with talent and a depth chart deeper than the ocean, the finest facilities, the best coaching staff in the country, and unprecedented on-field success in the modern era of college football.  And with all due respect to every wonderful college football program, right now there is no bigger brand in college football than the University of Alabama.

Some schools might have won some games or have some really good facilities. Some may even have a pretty good coach, but none have the engine running on all cylinders like the Alabama Crimson Tide. While others are trying to catch up to what Alabama and Nick Saban are doing, Saban is busy finding new ways to widen the gap.

And make no mistake about it, the gap is widening. Yes, there have been some flashes in the pan, but during the Saban era at Alabama there have been no other programs that have maintained the consistency Saban has.

LSU has come close, but let’s face it-they backed into a national championship game in 2007, losing two games, then went 8-5 the following year. They slowly rebuilt themselves and assembled a magical season in 2011, but have begun to slip and will likely continue to slip this season.

Of the countless former Alabama players that played under Saban that we here at 99.1 WDGM have had a chance to talk with, almost everyone says the same thing-if the team in Crimson and White reaches their potential, and there is not a team that can stop them. Now, of course that is easier said and done, but with the amount of handpicked talent on this roster, it is certainly possible.

Nick Saban is driving a Ferrari and other schools are driving Ford Mustangs-both nice cars. They can keep it close during an eight game schedule, but they know a 9 game slate will just allow Saban to further separate himself from the pack.