Alabama coach Nick Saban turns down Wisconsin's home-and-home offer

Dan · Jul 3, 2012, 08:06 PM

Cowards

Quote:

Alvarez, who handled scheduling when he coached the Badgers from 1990 to '05, said Bielema countered with an offer to play a home-and-home series with the Crimson Tide -- no specific years were discussed -- but that Alabama coach Nick Saban declined.

http://host.madison.com/sports/colle...a4bcf887a.html

256ILLINI · Jul 3, 2012, 09:11 PM

Great news. Saban wanted to play at Soldier. How embarrassing would that have been if Alabama played there before Illinois did?

BluesBro · Jul 4, 2012, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

Great news. Saban wanted to play at Soldier. How embarrassing would that have been if Alabama played there before Illinois did?

He just wants to play at Soldier Field to make a Chicago-area recruiting trip. And Bielema would enjoy it, too. Screw that. Go play at Lambeau!

GilThorpe · Jul 4, 2012, 08:14 AM

strange thing is, 'Bama could play Ball State at Soldier and sell the place out, mean while we would be lucky to sell 50,000 playing them there.

Tenacious D · Jul 4, 2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilThorpe

strange thing is, 'Bama could play Ball State at Soldier and sell the place out, mean while we would be lucky to sell 50,000 playing them there.

Yep. Amazing what winning does for a program.

It will take at least a decade of consistent winning by the football program before Illini fans really & truly take notice away from the basketball program and fully support it.

It took decades of losing that has caused this current condition, and it will take a long time to gain it all back back too.

GeorgiaIllini · Jul 5, 2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenacious D

Yep. Amazing what winning does for a program.

It will take at least a decade of consistent winning by the football program before Illini fans really & truly take notice away from the basketball program and fully support it.

It took decades of losing that has caused this current condition, and it will take a long time to gain it all back back too.

Its frankly remarkable Illinois still has any fans. Maybe is because its the same state that brought you the Cubs. In any event, you are right on.

IlliniKat91 · Jul 5, 2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaIllini

Its frankly remarkable Illinois still has any fans. Maybe is because its the same state that brought you the Cubs. In any event, you are right on.

Which other in-state team are we gonna cheer for and watch? Northwestern? :rolleyes:

Botb9 · Jul 6, 2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaIllini

Its frankly remarkable Illinois still has any fans. Maybe is because its the same state that brought you the Cubs. In any event, you are right on.

This is a bit overstated coming off two consecutive bowl wins -- no matter how we got there. It's not like we were winless.

That said, I agree with the original sentiment. Alabama is a football power. Illinois just isn't right now. Until it is, playing at Soldier Field has just as much potential for embarrassment as it does for progress.

dgcrow · Jul 7, 2012, 12:36 PM

What'sa matter, Nick? Chicken?

256ILLINI · Jul 7, 2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgcrow

What'sa matter, Nick? Chicken?

I don't know if you have noticed, but Alabama plays 1 non conference game a year against a top team at a neutral site. They play Michigan at the Dallas Cowboy's stadium this year

He's not going to commit to a two year contract where each team plays at home once

This is about staying in the public's eye and always being one of the biggest non conference games all year.

And in my opinion, Alabama would absolutely destroy Wisconsin. They'd be stupid to play Alabama more than once

dgcrow · Jul 7, 2012, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

I don't know if you have noticed, but Alabama plays 1 non conference game a year against a top team at a neutral site. They play Michigan at the Dallas Cowboy's stadium this year

He's not going to commit to a two year contract where each team plays at home once
his is about staying in the public's eye and always being one of the biggest non conference games all year.
And in my opinion, Alabama would absolutely destroy Wisconsin. They'd be stupid to play Alabama more than once

Yes, I have noticed. They never play a non-conference game against another top team in that team's stadium.

256ILLINI · Jul 7, 2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgcrow

Yes, I have noticed. They never play a non-conference game against another top team in that team's stadium.

No, but they do plenty of that in the SEC, wouldn't you agree?

dgcrow · Jul 7, 2012, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

No, but they do plenty of that in the SEC, wouldn't you agree?

Of course. But that's not the topic of discussion.

fightingillini18 · Jul 7, 2012, 04:21 PM

Didn't Alabama just finish a home and home with Penn St?

dgcrow · Jul 7, 2012, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightingillini18

Didn't Alabama just finish a home and home with Penn St?

You are correct. My bad - forgot about that. So Saban was willing to play Penn State in University Park, but is not willing to play Wisconsin in Madison. (Or perhaps the PSU home and home was scheduled before he became Alabama's coach?)

dgcrow · Jul 7, 2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgcrow

You are correct. My bad - forgot about that. So Saban was willing to play Penn State in University Park, but is not willing to play Wisconsin in Madison. (Or perhaps the PSU home and home was scheduled before he became Alabama's coach?)

And on further checking, I see where right now Alabama has a home and home scheduled with Michigan State in 2016 - 2017.

BZuppke · Jul 9, 2012, 11:45 AM

Alabama's rivalry with PSU dates back to the Bear Bryant years. It is not frequently played, but has a story behind it.

Jul 3, 2012, 09:11 PM	#2
256ILLINI Banned Posts: 453	Great news. Saban wanted to play at Soldier. How embarrassing would that have been if Alabama played there before Illinois did?

Jul 4, 2012, 08:14 AM	#4
GilThorpe Location: Hinsdale Posts: 854	strange thing is, 'Bama could play Ball State at Soldier and sell the place out, mean while we would be lucky to sell 50,000 playing them there.

Jul 7, 2012, 12:36 PM	#9
dgcrow Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 1,460	What'sa matter, Nick? Chicken?

Jul 7, 2012, 04:21 PM	#14
fightingillini18 Posts: 118	Didn't Alabama just finish a home and home with Penn St?

Jul 9, 2012, 11:45 AM	#17
BZuppke Location: Plainfield Posts: 153	Alabama's rivalry with PSU dates back to the Bear Bryant years. It is not frequently played, but has a story behind it.