Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I guess there are people who don't know this, but FSU was a random-ass independent in 1981.  They had just tasted success in 1980.  Sure, they were independent, but so is BYU today.  Their schedule sucks, too.

Here's what FSU scheduled in 1981 to get on the map.  In consecutive weeks:
@ 17 Nebraska
@ 7 Ohio State
@ Notre Dame
@ 3 Pitt
@ LSU

They went 10-2 the previous year, but they knew they weren't in the "in" group.  So they scheduled like that the following year.  They went 3-2 in those games.  They also played 13 Miami and 14 So. Miss later in the year, going 6-5.  But they earned respect. 

3 years later, they were ranked in the preseason and kept scheduling tough. 
1984: @ 4 Miami, 16 Auburn, @ 5 S.Carolina, 3 Florida
Of course, they played Memphis and Tulane and East Wherever, but they scheduled 4-5 big-boy teams, understanding that they had to in order to eventually get a seat at the table. 

The Bearcats have one good year and want it all.  Screw that.  Utah went 12-0 TWICE and was still left out.  So they were proactive and joined the PAC-10.  NOW if Utah goes 12-0, they're in the party.  NOW there is no doubt. 

• Kansas
• Auburn
• WVU
• Baylor
• Iowa

• aTm
• Oregon
• Michigan
• Washington
• Arizona
• UNC

The fact that you're still posting the same line of thinking is pretty wild.
Let me guess:  you're not easily swayed by reasoned argument and evidence.  AmIright?

I understand youse guys are having a helluva good time arguing 

but, we could just wait until Saturday night after the games have been played

Not chiding the man. He also had a different situation. He could actually schedule 11 games, not just four. And other teams weren't looking out to protect their playoff paths.

Let's put it this way. If you came to me and just said, the have nots ain't allowed. That I can live with. But this idea where we create more and more elaborate things. The 7-year FSU build? That's a relic of a different world. Teams that want to host a Cincinnati aren't that common. Bobby was great, but he could lose 3-5 games a year at a teachers college and not create issues.

This nonsense where we turn it into blame, that's silly as hell. You're saying, "Why isn't Cincy going 8-4 every year so some kids in middle school can play in the playoff? They haven't earned it." Just say they're not allowed. These things are out of their hands. They could be as good as the situation the players and for the most part coaches can possibly be, and they're not allowed in. They've done nothing to not "earn it." They just can't break in, and based on this year, they can't even help kids five years down the road with the fantasy approach.

This nonsense where we turn it into blame, that's silly as hell. You're saying, "Why isn't Cincy going 8-4 every year so some kids in middle school can play in the playoff? They haven't earned it." Just say they're not allowed. These things are out of their hands. They could be as good as the situation the players and for the most part coaches can possibly be, and they're not allowed in. They've done nothing to not "earn it." They just can't break in, and based on this year, they can't even help kids five years down the road with the fantasy approach.

Solid point regarding Bowden and the scheduling.  Teams were more willing to schedule tougher OOC then.  Bowden had the flexibility being an independent to schedule 5 tough road games but still get in 6 home dates that the AD budget probably required.  Fickell has at least 4 conference road dates to honor every year.  He can’t just schedule 4 additional road dates OOC and only play 4 home games a year.