Alabama Football: All about Mercer and the value of playing the Bears
By Ronald Evans
This week, Alabama football has its annual tuneup for Auburn with FCS opponent, Mercer. Fans are not fond of these games but they serve a purpose for the Tide.
Nick Saban agrees with fan opinions about one-sided college football matchups. Nick believes Alabama football, and all SEC teams, should play nine or ten conference games. Nick’s additional belief is that Power Five teams should only play other FBS teams. He has even suggested Power Five teams should, if possible, only play Power Five teams.
There is very little support in the SEC and other Power Five conferences for Saban’s suggestion of schedule upgrades. That being the case, there is no chance Alabama football and Auburn future schedules will include a competitive game the week before the Iron Bowl.
Like many fans, we agree Saban’s scheduling suggestions would improve college football. We also recognize that Power Five versus FCS games bring value to both competitors.
In the summer we started a series rating the 2017 regular season opponents from Worst to Best. It was easy to choose Mercer as the worst. Mercer discontinued football at the start of WWII. The Mercer football program was revived in 2011 and entered play as a scholarship school in 2014.
Considering the long hiatus, Mercer has done fairly well building its program. Since joining the Southern Conference in 2014, Mercer is 22-21. In 2016, the Bears had a not-embarrassing 35-10 loss to Georgia Tech. Earlier this season, Mercer went to Auburn and only lost 24-10.
Shared value for both teams
Mercer will earn slightly more than $1 million dollars from its games against Auburn and Alabama. The Tide is paying the Bears six hundred thousand. Adding that kind of money to an FCS program budget is a huge boost in funding and building a program.
Additionally is the value to Mercer in recruiting. Players not being recruited to play in the FBS, love the opportunity to measure themselves against top teams. For many of the Bears, playing in Bryant-Denny Saturday will be the highlight of their college careers.
The game also meets needs for Alabam football. Starters do not have to play a grueling 60-minute game. Slightly injured players can be given a week off in hope of a return for the Auburn game. Key backups can work with the first unit for much-needed experience. This week, think J.C. Hassenauer, Tua Tagovailoa, Dylan Moses, Labryan Ray, Vandarius Cowan and several others.
What kind of game to expect?
A repeat of the 2011 game when FCS Georgia Southern’s rushing attack sliced up the Tide defense is not expected. And Mercer’s performance against what was then a struggling Auburn team was an outlier.
The Bears are a decent FCS team. In FCS national rankings, Mercer is No. 1 in Red Zone Offense; No. 14 in Turnover Margin; No. 27 in Scoring Defense; No. 38 in Team Passing Efficiency and No. 44 in Rushing Defense.
Will the Bears test the Tide? Maybe a little, maybe not much, either way, it does not really matter. Both teams will get what they need this Saturday.
Next: 30 Greatest Football Games in Tide History
The College Football Playoff committee announces its latest Top 25 on Nov. 14th. We will break down the top teams and consider which ones can make the Playoff field with a loss (or maybe even two losses) in the case of Auburn or Ohio State.