Michael Casagrande

1 week ago | al.com | Michael Casagrande

This is an opinion column. The hangover was real. Both Alabama and Auburn were coming off historic runs over the last few seasons. Matching Final Four runs, both hit No. 1 last season as their hoops brands eclipsed football disappointments. Auburn danced all the way to the national semifinal — a game further than Alabama traveled in its bid for a second straight Final Four. Then what? Both veteran-heavy rosters were hit hard by graduations, transfers and a few early exits to the NBA draft.

1 week ago | al.com | Michael Casagrande

Truly a debate that’s spanned years and now generations of SEC football coaches, the league is back in a familiar place. After two days of the SEC spring meetings, league commissioner Greg Sankey indicated they didn’t expect to leave the Sandestin resort with a resolution to future football scheduling models. Eight games? Nine? Good question. Again. How? This is truly an annual discussion that remains unresolved in a matter that could hold the key to future playoff models.

1 week ago | al.com | Michael Casagrande

This is an opinion column. Are we overthinking this? Not the whole spiderweb of existential threats up for discussion at this week’s SEC spring meetings. Some of that mess is upon us because of a lack of thought and institutional foresight on the part of the administrative forefathers. This is about the College Football Playoff and its ever-complicating models for participant selection. It’s late May and we’re deep into the orders of operations. We’re talking PEMDAS flashbacks.

1 week ago | al.com | Michael Casagrande

There are certain perennial matters of discussion at the annual SEC spring meetings. Cans get kicked down the road every late May/early June. Perhaps no topic regenerates annually more than the discussion around how many conference football games should be played. Eight or nine? It’s been eight since 2012 and the conversation around adding another’s evolved over the years.

1 week ago | al.com | Michael Casagrande

With no shortage of five-alarm fires scorching the college athletics landscape, one rose above the others in Kirby Smart’s mind. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the SEC spring meetings, the Georgia football coach became passionate about the biggest issue he sees facing the sport. He hears chatter about the league deciding between eight and nine-game conference football schedules. There’s talk about the future of the championship game.