Recently it was revealed that Auburn had paid Arkansas State $1 million to guarantee their game in 2010. The big-spending beat must go on in major college athletics but one million dollars for these gimme games is sort of a magical threshold.Worse, it's evidence of Auburn going back to its bad habits. At times the Tigers have played USC, Georgia Tech, South Florida and Kansas State in non-conference games this decade with Clemson on the 2010 slate, but they're absolutely addicted to these tomato cans. That 2010 schedule also includes Louisiana-Monroe and Chattanooga which isn't even an upper division program.
The upcoming 2009 season promises dances with Louisiana Tech, Ball State and Furman wrapped around a home date with West Virginia. One step forward, three steps back.
Auburn of all programs should know better, having been left out of the 2004 BCS Championship Game in part due to their questionable non-conference schedule of Louisiana-Monroe, Citadel and Louisiana Tech. They're in no danger of threatening for a championship this year but still, this is stupid and they're paying a premium for it.
The Sagarin Predictor ratings placed Arkansas State 108th among college football teams last year, behind 14 lower-division programs as well as most of the first division. Thats not the pool Auburn, even at 5-7 last year, should be swimming in. There are more than enough upper-level MAC, Mountain West and WAC teams to defeat while actually working up a sweat. Plus its better for college football with so much of the national debate focusing on scheduling.
It can be done, and it won't cost them a million dollars.
(Via College Football Talk)
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ark State beat Texas A&M last year!
You think Ball State (12-2 in 2008) is a cupcake? Did you actually watch any football last year?
Arkansas State beat Texas A & M last year. Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama the year before last. There aren't too many guaranteed cupcakes.
Arkansas State took the then Top 10 Texas Longhorns to the wire before dropping a heart breaker and the following year beat Texas A&M.
Since the Red Wolves did not roll over for Texas and Texas A&M, I doubt they will roll over for Auburn!
Man, why don't you try doing some research before making yourself look like an idiot. ASU beat Texas A&M last year at College Station and I'm pretty sure Auburn and A&M are comparable as far as talent goes right now.
And Ball State, a cupcake? Really, did you even watch a game last year?
You should not be allowed to write anything else regarding college football. Stick to writing about gardening or a Dances with the Stars review, something you know more about.
Read all the above, and also consider that any top 20 program(pick a conference) has at least one or two of these games. Ask Michigan about App State, or Alabama about La. Monroe. If you have to know why such an amount was paid? I'll clue you,and it happens every day. Several years ago, Auburn had a game scheduled, basically on a handshake/small buyout deal with a smaller school. At the last minute (JULY) Oklahoma came in and offered the school that "million dollars" to switch, which they did. Auburn was left scrambling for a last minute fill in. From then on, Auburn (and most major schools) are left to "bid" for non conference games. If you had bothered to look, there is also a HUGE buyout if Ark State cancels the deal. It is what you have to do to firmly schedule opponents these days. It is also the main way that small schools build their programs up(see Buffalo). So, if YOU think a million is a huge payout?, I suggest you check what all the top 20 teams are paying each of their "cupcakes". I think you'll find Ark State's payday may be a little higher than average, but by no means outrageous, and then shut the %^&* up! If you don't like Auburn, just don't write about Auburn. You make it sound like Auburn is the only school to ever do a deal like this. Your dribble was stupid, uninformed, and smells like BAMMER love (do you have a man crush on Saban)...WDE
Somebody's not doing their homework. Cupcake games are fun but Auburn just doesn't have many of them anymore. Is a million too much? Yep!