UL vs UF in 2012 $900,000

[NewsCopy]

 The number has started to appear around the country and, at first, took the breath out of some athletic directors. Several schools in the BCS conferences are starting to pay $1 million guarantees for smaller schools to play in their stadiums.

It's been a tactic for decades that smaller programs trying to build will command big paychecks to visit the superpowers, sometimes take a beating, but go home with a nice chunk of change. But that payout is starting to take a major bite out of the big boys' wallets.

Troy athletic director Steve Dennis said talks about future games these days have a "starting point" of $1 million for his football team to consider playing a non-conference game on the road.

"And we take it from there," he said.

For some, the worry isn't now -- it's down the road.

Florida is among the schools that years ago strategized to schedule four to five years ahead. It's certainly saved money when it came to non-league opponents. This season, for example, the Gators will pay their Sept. 5 opening opponent Charleston Southern $450,000. UF's second game on Sept. 12 is against Troy, a $500,000 payoff. Florida International, a third non-conference game on Nov. 21, carries a $425,000 price tag.

The rest of the story

BY DAVID JONES • FLORIDA TODAY • August 8, 2009

[cajunbam]

The last time we played the Gators, in 1996, I was able to go to that game at the Swamp in Gainesville. UF won the National Championship that year with Danny Weurfel......just saying...........

Anyway, that's an awesome payday!

[Tim LeBlanc]

The swamp is in Lafayette... just saying ...

[Zeebart21]

The swamp is in Lafayette... just saying ...

you would be correct.

Z

[MiamiCajun32]

I just don't see how any sunbelt program can turn down big pay days like this. So I think it is great. I am a big gator fan (alumnus) and cajuns fan so when they rarely play I pull for Cajuns to make it close, if possible.

I also think that the recruits want to play in games like this, even if it is challenging to win.

The downside is of course that getting blown out can affect momentum for sunbelt conference games, especially on defensive side of ball. But Gators are so good that most BCS teams get blown out by them so it should not be as much a negative to spirits if a blow out happens.

In my opinion, the best BCS teams to schedule are the top 10 teams in the country, who blow out teams regularly in conference games. The second best teams to schedule are the bottom BCS teams, because there is better chance to actually win games, but those teams don't offer same big payout unless it is major power that is in down years (Nebraska?).

[cajunbam]

you would be correct.

Z

DAMN....you guys are rough this morning..........Yes, I realize that. But if you want to show that you really know your stuff, when and by whom was Cajun Field nicknamed The Swamp?


Have a great day - Z and the boys.

[Boomer]

Young Faulkinberry--Mickey I think!!!!!

[DestinCajun]

According to the article the nonBCS schools are giving the "majors" the business.

Dadgum, it breaks my heart to this sort of thing!


"In fact, a bidding war seems to be breaking out. Smaller, non-BCS conferences such as the Sun Belt, Mid-American and Big South, are even starting to hold back future playing dates as long as they can -- so major programs hurting for games have to bid high. Schools that just a few years ago might have jumped at a chance to play at the Florida-type giants are starting to play it cool.