SEC SCHEDULE

[Dan71268]

Why can't we alternate when we play conference teams? Such as always playing UT late in the year or Florida early? Can it be so hard to rotate when you play division teams? I'd love to get Florida later in the year for cold afternoon in Lexington.

 

[Jon(-24)]

Florida refused to play here late in the year, that's back when they were allowed to do things like that and the conference kowtowed. Same reason the Iron Bowl was played in Birmingham for so long, Bear Bryant refused to go to Auburn, the SEC said okay, and then it became a tradition. Florida refuses to come up here in the winter, conference said okay, now it's become a tradition. Hopefully we'll get to see Florida come to Lexington some November day, but I doubt it.

 

[Jon(-24)]

From 67-91 the florida game was 2-3rd week in November. We lost a lot more than we won but were competitive and did win some. Spurrier hired in 1990, game moved to September in 92, rivalry gets out of hand and we don't just drop a lot straight, we drop them in embarrassing fashion. SOS wouldn't bring his team up here, now not bringing the team up here is part of the way the SEC does things.

 

[vhcat70]

The spot on the schedule change occurred when SC and AR joined SEC. Yes, FL wanted game earlier and so parties agreed to do so then. As far as FL throwing a fit to get it changed is speculation/rumor/lore imo.

 

[DACats86]

You can thank CM for agreeing to move the game to earlier in the season, and also agreeing to play UF two years straight in the Swamp to "balance the schedule"...

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

To the OP, I hear you, but there actually HAS been some variation in scheduling times over the last few years. A few examples:

-We played Candy at home in September last year (traditionally play this game in Sept)
-We play UT at home on halloween this year (has always been the last game or the next-to-last game).
-We played the Tebow gators (gameday game) in mid-october in 2007 the game after we beat LSU. It is true, however, that we have never played in Gainesville past September since the scheduling change in the 90s.
-South Carolina was played in week 2 this year, and it's usually in early to mid October.
-Mizzou is at home in late September this year, and has been in November the last two years.