@kelly_32 you are absolutely right. There is prize for beating UVA but loose that game and you are no longer the talk of the town (in a good way or bad)
BEAT PURDUE
Yep. Risk reward
but if we can't beat Virginia we don't belong in the conversation anyway
Would beating a UVA team this year, who had a losing record last year, really do much for our strength of schedule? Enough to counter losing the money from an extra home game?
well, by buying out of the UVA game, you start $500K in the hole. Cigs a standup guy, honor the commitment you made as a program, and then adjust afterwards. I accept he's the guy to make the call, I'm just saying as a fan, I don't like it. I thought it was a legit criticism of us last year that we ducked Lville, and that criticism is only fairer and will get louder with doing it again, against UVA??? Our performance vs ND didn't help. Beating a P5 team will always help SOS more than beating Kenn St, and if it doesn't then the formula needs adjusting. And, if we'd played Lville last year and lost? So what, we're IU, we've been expected to lose to P5 schools, and generally have. So, what, we'd have been 10-3 last year vs 11-2 (and of course, getting bumped from the CPF might've meant a bowl win too). Still would have been an amazing and unprecedented year, and I think we'd have likely beaten LVille last year. I get the 9 conf games and if this is how it has to be, then so be it, I'm just saying it's a bad look to duck the only P5 precon game we've had, for 2 years running now. IMO, UVA was about the perfect P5 precon team to schedule: one that is probably not going to be great. I still think 1 opponent like that (or a UK or Lville, etc...) would make a much better schedule for fans. If he truly wants to get the program where he says, Cig shouldn't be sweating an LVille or UVA.
Would beating a UVA team this year, who had a losing record last year, really do much for our strength of schedule? Enough to counter losing the money from an extra home game?
well, by buying out of the UVA game, you start $500K in the hole. Cigs a standup guy, honor the commitment you made as a program, and then adjust afterwards. I accept he's the guy to make the call, I'm just saying as a fan, I don't like it. I thought it was a legit criticism of us last year that we ducked Lville, and that criticism is only fairer and will get louder with doing it again, against UVA??? Our performance vs ND didn't help. Beating a P5 team will always help SOS more than beating Kenn St, and if it doesn't then the formula needs adjusting. And, if we'd played Lville last year and lost? So what, we're IU, we've been expected to lose to P5 schools, and generally have. So, what, we'd have been 10-3 last year vs 11-2 (and of course, getting bumped from the CPF might've meant a bowl win too). Still would have been an amazing and unprecedented year, and I think we'd have likely beaten LVille last year. I get the 9 conf games and if this is how it has to be, then so be it, I'm just saying it's a bad look to duck the only P5 precon game we've had, for 2 years running now. IMO, UVA was about the perfect P5 precon team to schedule: one that is probably not going to be great. I still think 1 opponent like that (or a UK or Lville, etc...) would make a much better schedule for fans. If he truly wants to get the program where he says, Cig shouldn't be sweating an LVille or UVA.
I don't buy the SOS issue because every team out there is playing 3 cupcakes in their non-conference. SEC gets an extra non-conference game to play a real opponent due to only have 8 conference games.
There's no reason for IU to stick their neck out with a harder schedule when most other schools are doing the exact same thing. People are just pissed that IU made the playoffs instead of their team.
But yes, as a fan, harder games are more entertaining.
@tammany and I'm fine with that... if we didn't already have an agreement in place with UVA, and LVille before that. Doing it twice, makes us look really bad and gives legit fuel to the fire the SEC and media types are going to try and burn IU with. Like I said, I've been an IU fan for 50 years. Winning or losing vs UVA isn't greatly changing how our season is viewed. If we'd lost at Lville last year and it knocks us out of the playoff, guess what? It is still one of the best years ever for IU football and maybe we win a bowl game and still go 11-2. Making the playoff was great, but if all we ever do is get in and lose the first game in uncompetititve fashion, I'm OK with not being in and still going to a really good bowl game. I'm just saying I think it was unecessary to bring criticism on us for a game that I still think we're likely to win. Play it out and then adjust your schedule as you need to from there on out.
Would beating a UVA team this year, who had a losing record last year, really do much for our strength of schedule? Enough to counter losing the money from an extra home game?
well, by buying out of the UVA game, you start $500K in the hole. Cigs a standup guy, honor the commitment you made as a program, and then adjust afterwards. I accept he's the guy to make the call, I'm just saying as a fan, I don't like it. I thought it was a legit criticism of us last year that we ducked Lville, and that criticism is only fairer and will get louder with doing it again, against UVA??? Our performance vs ND didn't help. Beating a P5 team will always help SOS more than beating Kenn St, and if it doesn't then the formula needs adjusting. And, if we'd played Lville last year and lost? So what, we're IU, we've been expected to lose to P5 schools, and generally have. So, what, we'd have been 10-3 last year vs 11-2 (and of course, getting bumped from the CPF might've meant a bowl win too). Still would have been an amazing and unprecedented year, and I think we'd have likely beaten LVille last year. I get the 9 conf games and if this is how it has to be, then so be it, I'm just saying it's a bad look to duck the only P5 precon game we've had, for 2 years running now. IMO, UVA was about the perfect P5 precon team to schedule: one that is probably not going to be great. I still think 1 opponent like that (or a UK or Lville, etc...) would make a much better schedule for fans. If he truly wants to get the program where he says, Cig shouldn't be sweating an LVille or UVA.
The offset on the $500K is we get a home game that brings in $3M+, which we need. And we paid the buyout so we did technically honor the contract, but that’s a tongue in cheek comment and I get your point.
I don’t think you can discount the risk of losing to UL last year and the impact that could have had. Making the playoff is a much bigger deal than a bowl in terms of prestige and exposure. The margins are so thin to make the playoff I don’t think we can be dismissive about non-con scheduling.
In terms of fans, I get they like a P4 non-con, but they also like maximizing our postseason potential.
At the end of the day, I don’t think our moves in the non-con and whatever “look” that’s given us this summer is going to matter in any material way. We’re going to get judged on this B1G season, notably @Oregon, @PSU, and @Iowa. And we’ve got to hold serve at home, Illinois especially won’t be easy. These are the games that 95% dictate where our program is.
We won’t agree on this, not a big deal. This is just one point of view.
Making the playoff was great, but if all we ever do is get in and lose the first game in uncompetititve fashion, I'm OK with not being in and still going to a really good bowl game.
We were one spot away from a home game, which we might have won (would have been an easier opponent, I forget who, Boise?).
But, we drew ND, and we didn't play well against ND, who was really good and made the final.
But, it was helluva experience and we learned a lot. It's pretty common for teams to get beat several times before they break through. We may never break through, but I'd rather get the shot vs. play a bowl that players are sitting out and the opponent is Mizzou or Iowa St or whoever is ranked #20.
I don’t buy the SOS issue because every team out there is playing 3 cupcakes in their non-conference. SEC gets an extra non-conference game to play a real opponent due to only have 8 conference games.
Not every team out there... First 2 I checked:
OSU opens with Texas.
Oregon, plays Oregon St and OK St
Like I said, I think the "ideal" is 1 P5 opponent (doesn't have to be high level, but a UVA, UK or LVille to me would be great), 1 weaker in state and 1 cupcake. And, if it has to be 3 cupcakes, so be it, but if we're having a "Bowl/playoff-worthy year" we're still going 3-0 vs what I'm proposing 9 out of 10 times. My gripe is ducking UVA entirely and paying out of pocket to do so. Live with it and it's probably a W anyway, then adjust as needed. I think the bad press is what's not worth it. Just my opinion.
@tammany just to clarify, for the last time, my gripe is buying out of the UVA game. I think it's a bad look after ducking LVille, which was attributable to another coaching regime. Bite your tongue, play UVA and then schedule how you feel you need to after that. I would also prefer not to see us play 3 cupcakes, but accept that SD and CC are who needs to make that call. I just think ducking UVA was a mistake, and I hope going forward, we don't do it again.
Am I the only fan who thinks it was a legit shot? Dumb, but legit. I thought it was a big mistake buying out of the Lville game and can't believe with Cig in charge we did that with UVA. UVA is a pretty average P5 program, and to cancel with them, I think it looks bad and opens us up to legit criticism, as we faced last year. As it was, I think we beat Lville last year and would probably beat UVA in these games. Admittedly I'm a bandwagon football fan, and am sure there's a valid reason, but I'd have rather seen us honor the games we had on the books, and Cig adjust to his scheduling strategy going forward. Didn't we talk about adding ND to our schedule? I'd like for our precon to be 1 P5 oppenent, hopefully a "name" or rival like Lville, UK or ND, 1 cupcake and another IN or team with regional interest, ie: BSU or ISU ideally, or like a Bowling Green, Kent St, etc...
It's not whether or not we'd beat them, it's the fact that playing on the road at Virginia serves no inherent purpose. It's not a home game, it doesn't boost or help your SOS/resume; it's a no-win situation any way you slice it. In this current climate, a B10 team does not need to be playing on the road against an inferior opponent from an inferior conference all while the SEC plays 8 conference games.
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