FanHouse Scheduling

South Carolina recently released many of its non-conference schedule dates for as far in advance as 2016. In addition to the yearly matches against Clemson, there's a mix of the interesting -- games against neighboring UNC, NC State, and up-and-coming East Carolina -- and the dreadfully boring. To the latter, the Gamecocks will have two matchups each against the likes of Wofford, Furman, and The Citadel.

I have to applaud USC for picking up games against other schools with "Carolina" in their name. They're recruiting against those schools and a loss won't help Spurrier's cause in building the program up, while a win will likely be viewed as something they're supposed to do. That's especially true with East Carolina, who has a lot more to gain in that series than the 'Cocks do. Two of the games against ECU will be played in Charlotte, a move Steve Spurrier would admit is mostly for recruiting exposure.

At the same time, I have to roll my eyes at yet more I-AA scheduling by another SEC team. And right from the start, let me say that I understand scheduling is hard, I understand that South Carolina plays Clemson every year in addition to playing in the toughest division in college football, and I understand that these particular teams are in-state "rivals" who also have a lot more to gain from playing in Columbia than Carolina has to gain from letting them. But I also understand that those games are guaranteed wins for Carolina, and that there are plenty of bad I-A ("Bowl Subdivision," whatever) teams out there that could be substituted. At least DI-A teams have a full allotment of 85 scholarship players to field, as opposed to the 63 that I-AA teams are limited to.

Or is it Hula partner? Or Haka partner? Whatever, the Hawaii football program needs a 13th opponent but threw in the towel a few days ago.

The University of Hawaii has failed to add a 13th opponent and will play a 12-game football schedule this season, officials said Friday.

The schedule includes seven homes games, including two against Division I-AA opponents. Because of an exemption, the Warriors are allowed to play 13 regular-season games.

"After a long and exhaustive process that included discussions with several schools, no team we targeted for a 13th game would agree to play at UH in 2007," Hawaii athletics director Herman Frazier said.

I have a feeling we may need to reference this in December when Hawaii is undefeated or something darn near it and people start grousing about their weak out-of-conference slate. We warned you, it's coming!

I realize travel's expensive lately, but certainly someone in D-I should have been willing to make the finest road trip in all of college football. Or maybe Hawaii was unwilling to play that special someone? Who knows.

It seems USC just can't say no to playing on the East Coast. In addition to the planned home-and-home with Virginia and Boston College, Syracuse seems to be next on the list. This home-and-home would be planned for 2010 and 2011.

The Syracuse games makes some sense as the AD at Syracuse, Daryl Gross, was a senior associate AD at USC and largely credited with pushing for Pete Carroll to be hired by the Trojans. The least the Trojans can do is come to Syracuse for a game.

It makes sense for Southern Cal to keep playing at least one game a year on the East Coast. They recruit nationally, and by playing in the East, they almost guarantee ABC TV coverage (the mouse monopoly has the TV rights to ACC and Big East home games) exposes them to recruits along the Atlantic Ocean. The PAC-10's deal with FOX Sports puts too many of their conference games on Fox regional sports channels that aren't as widely seen.

Previously at the Fanhouse:
Carroll Can't Get Enough of the ACC
UVA to take on USC