[estephan500]

You likely already saw these, but Ted Miller has two good pieces up at the moment.  Aside from the good info and perspective, the guy has a fun, light writing style.

Cool interview with Derek Mason, which is a propos:
http://espn.go.com/blog/stanford-footbal...t-stanford

Good introduction to the Pac-12's nine conference game schedule issues:
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/...-5-disease

[estephan500]

You likely already saw these, but Ted Miller has two good pieces up at the moment.  Aside from the good info and perspective, the guy has a fun, light writing style.

Cool interview with Derek Mason, which is a propos:
http://espn.go.com/blog/stanford-footbal...t-stanford

Good introduction to the Pac-12's nine conference game schedule issues:
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/...-5-disease

[OutsiderFan]

On Mason, very good article.  Doesn't sound like he's leaving too soon.

On the 8 vs. 9 conference games issue, for the sake of the California schools, I think it makes more sense to put pressure on the other leagues to play 9 conference games.  I mean even if the Pac-12 were to go to 8 conference games, it's still a brobdingnagian advantage to the non-California schools, because they don't have to play the California schools as much and the California schools play each other every year.

For example, Oregon doesn't play USC next year.  Though they do play Arizona while Stanford doesn't, missing USC is such a gigantic advantage for Oregon over Stanford in terms of competing for the North crown in 2013 and it is never going to be accounted for in the BCS rankings, other than by a couple computers. 

[OutsiderFan]

On Mason, very good article.  Doesn't sound like he's leaving too soon.

On the 8 vs. 9 conference games issue, for the sake of the California schools, I think it makes more sense to put pressure on the other leagues to play 9 conference games.  I mean even if the Pac-12 were to go to 8 conference games, it's still a brobdingnagian advantage to the non-California schools, because they don't have to play the California schools as much and the California schools play each other every year.

For example, Oregon doesn't play USC next year.  Though they do play Arizona while Stanford doesn't, missing USC is such a gigantic advantage for Oregon over Stanford in terms of competing for the North crown in 2013 and it is never going to be accounted for in the BCS rankings, other than by a couple computers. 

[jayasena]

I'm torn on playing USC every year. Sure, it'll give us an extra loss when they are good. But when we are good, beating SC gets us tremendous respect. Just look at this year -- we went from #21 to #9 in the AP poll after beating SC. Let's face it, we are not a team that gets automatic respect (not yet, at least). So having SC on the schedule is not all bad.

UCLA, on the other hand, may be a whole different story if they become consistently good. Beating them don't have the cachet of beating SC but all the downsides of a tough conference opponent.

But I agree with OF's general premise on them. The better solution isn't to dumb down Pac-12 and Big-12 schedules, but rather to put pressure on other conferences to play fewer OOC cupcakes.

[jayasena]

I'm torn on playing USC every year. Sure, it'll give us an extra loss when they are good. But when we are good, beating SC gets us tremendous respect. Just look at this year -- we went from #21 to #9 in the AP poll after beating SC. Let's face it, we are not a team that gets automatic respect (not yet, at least). So having SC on the schedule is not all bad.

UCLA, on the other hand, may be a whole different story if they become consistently good. Beating them don't have the cachet of beating SC but all the downsides of a tough conference opponent.

But I agree with OF's general premise on them. The better solution isn't to dumb down Pac-12 and Big-12 schedules, but rather to put pressure on other conferences to play fewer OOC cupcakes.

[fullmetal]

I hope the recruits like our schedule.  They will most certainly get marquee TV time against marquee opponents.  And the implication is that the coaches think that they're good enough to play with the best of the best.

[fullmetal]

I hope the recruits like our schedule.  They will most certainly get marquee TV time against marquee opponents.  And the implication is that the coaches think that they're good enough to play with the best of the best.

[Redrum]

...and he probably doesn't even know it.

"I think it makes more sense to put pressure on the other leagues to play 9 conference games.  I mean even if the Pac-12 were to go to 8 conference games, it's still a of extremely large proportions advantage to the non-California schools, because they don't have to play the California schools as much and the California schools play each other every year.

Change the names, from "California schools"  to "SEC schools"  and it is precisely the self-reinforcing, circular delusion that grips SEC die-hards:  "Other conferences are p*****s (OK, OK..."have it easier") because we in the SEC have to play each other."  I live in SEC land and I have heard that argument  > a thousand times.

[Redrum]

...and he probably doesn't even know it.

"I think it makes more sense to put pressure on the other leagues to play 9 conference games.  I mean even if the Pac-12 were to go to 8 conference games, it's still a of extremely large proportions advantage to the non-California schools, because they don't have to play the California schools as much and the California schools play each other every year.

Change the names, from "California schools"  to "SEC schools"  and it is precisely the self-reinforcing, circular delusion that grips SEC die-hards:  "Other conferences are p*****s (OK, OK..."have it easier") because we in the SEC have to play each other."  I live in SEC land and I have heard that argument  > a thousand times.