I can understand the frustration that fans of other teams in other conferences feel when they have to endure the constant stream of self promotion and general hubris coming from SEC teams and fans. I can almost hear the sigh now, following last night's title game victory over Ohio state by an SEC team for the second consecutive year.
While some fans undoubtedly are "****" not all of them root for South Carolina. I'm referring to those who like to jump around cyberspace shouting "we're better than you" just for the sake of putting someone down or inflating their own vicarious egos. But then there are those SEC fans, which I am, who do make a point of promoting the SEC as the best conference in the nation for more practical reasons.
Consider, hypothetically, that the SEC hype is true. Think of the effect that has on the ranking of SEC teams. If within your conference are 3 or 4 teams that are consistently in the top 10 and several more that are top 25 with the potential to be a top 10, then you are playing a very tough schedule. With top talent throughout the conference, you have to play against the fastest runners, the hardest hitters, the smartest play callers week after week. Think about the Florida-Michigan game. Michigan won, and rightly so because they outplayed Florida in that game. Now what if Michigan had to play Florida 4 more times over the next 4 or 5 weeks? I think it would be considered quite an accomplishment if Michigan went 5-0 against Florida in 5 weeks. I don't think it would be likely. Well, there are at least four other teams on par or better than Florida in the SEC (Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Auburn) and several that are have the potential to be on the same tier if they could find consistency (Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama). There is no lack of talent in those teams. This is the gauntlet that an SEC team must run. And the fear that is deep down inside SEC fans is that a one loss SEC team will be denied a chance to play for a national title because two teams from conferences that have a less rigorous schedule go undefeated. It's the same logic that kept Hawaii out to the national championship game this year (and rightly so). After all, they were the only undefeated team in the nation heading into the bowl season. They still did not get a shot at the title because their schedule was so weak. SEC fans would like to use that reasoning inversely so that maybe one loss SEC team should be considered over an undefeated team because their schedule is so strong. It's a legitimate fear. After all, it wasn't that long ago an undefeated SEC team did not get to play for the championship, despite the schedule strength.
Now, why should you take this from the hypothetical to reality? Why should anyone accept that the SEC is so strong? Here's a few stats I find interesting:
1. 2007 National Football League opening day active rosters: SEC- 263 players (led all) , ACC- 238 players, Big Ten- 234 players, Pac-10-183 players, Big 12- 176 players, Big East-84 players.
2. The SEC had five of its schools with 30-or-more-players on NFL rosters. No other conference more than one school with 30 or more NFL players.
3. Miami (46) has the most active players, followed by OSU (44) then FSU (41). Those are good programs. And I would never argue that there are no good teams in other conferences. Notice these are/were in difference conferences. Continuing the list, next is: Georgia (37) Tennessee (36) LSU (33) Florida (31) Auburn (30) etc... All in the same conference, along with Alabama (21) South Carolina (19) Ole Miss (17) Miss St (17)...you get the idea.
4. The SEC in BCS bowl games has 15 appearances. They have and 11-4 record in those appearances. Big 10- 16 appearances (8-8) Big 12- 14 appearances (6-8) Pac 10- 12 appearances (8-4) ACC- 10 appearances (1-9) Big East 10 appearances (6-4)
5. Since 1998 (beginning of BCS) SEC teams have played for a national championship 4 times. They are undefeated, 4-0 when playing for it all.
So all we're asking is that you have a heart. With the exception of a few insecure loudmouths, I think the in-your-face SEC chest thumping would cool off if there was more reassurance from the college football community at large (media in particular) that there is recognition of the talent level and difficulty inherent in playing within the SEC right now, and consideration of that when ranking teams nationally.
Julie Henderson
Alison Preston
Did You See That?
College Football Top 25 Review
Comments (29) Add A Comment
Haven't heard any thumping coming out of Florida this year.HAHAHAHAHA.
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
great blog. agreed with everything and you really put the argument thatthe SEC is tougher into prospective.
Jagator
Gator Country, FL
Total Comments (943)
Gator fans you didn't show anything to prove SEC Superiority except how slow yor DB's were trying to keep up with the much faster Michigan receivers. As long as the coaching staff opens up the play book I will stack Michigan's talent up against any team in the SEC or any team in the country .
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
For a blog that staes why SEC fans won't shut up, It sure is pretty quiet............
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
OOPS typo States why SEC fans
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
as a michigan fan for 35 years, i have always admired the excellence of all college football programs. The problem most fans outside the SEC have is that every SEC fan i know has the opinion that ANY SEC team, no matter the record, would win a championship in every other conference, and that is IGNORANT! If you go 3-5, 2-6 in conferenceplay, then you cant play! As a MICHIGAN FAN FIRST, and FOREMOST, i will always BELIEVE my team will win, but when they lose, i blame THE TEAM, and i do not complain about having to play the conference schedule, or the non-conference teams that they play! TRUE MICHIGAN FANS will always give the opponent respect, but they will not use the "but we have to play @ Michigan State, or @Ohio State as an excuse for a poor conference record! MICHIGAN has always played a schedule that takes them all over the country, and teams like Florida NEVER LEAVE THE STATE for any non-conference game, using the SEC scedule as an excuse! PLEASE!! Ole Miss?, PLEASE! Vandy? PLEASE!! How about Mississippi State, or Alabama, or South Carolina! PLEASE excuse me while i worry about any MICHIGAN TEAM in the past 20 years playing any SEC team with 6 wins! MIGHIGAN MEN 41, Florida 35! GO BLUE!!
Wolverine Pride
Jacksonville, FL
Total Comments (92)
Michigan wins 1 game and they go crazy. Give me a break.
Gungho
Total Comments (34)
Gungho: Excuse me who has the most wins in college football history, Michigan, I rest my case. GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
hey its their first bowl win in like 4 years. I can give them a break on this one. You beat Florida! congrats. now move on just like you did after losing at home to App. State. Every michigan fan (and trust me, i know a lot) brings up the fact that they have the most wins of any program when you talk to them. In my oppinion, Michigan fans are worst than the entire SEC fanbase combined. They win a bowl game and now want everyone to kiss their **** and say the SEC sucks, the Big-10 is just as fast. The fact of the matter is that if Michigan was in the SEC and had to play good (not decent or mediocre) teams 4 or 5 weeks in a row after losing an opener to a DII team, they would be lucky to end up with less than 5 losses. They would get ripped apart.
Now, since you guys beat my Gators and since I have part of my in-laws from Michigan, I have to listen to this until next season. Well I have 2 words for my in-laws and to the rest of you Michigan fans that want to gloat about your first bowl win in 4 years over a 3 loss team......
Appalacian State
GO GATORS and GO SEC!
Jagator
Gator Country, FL
Total Comments (943)
ONE WIN? How about 869 WINS, #1 ALL-TIME!! 1 WIN? How about
Wolverine Pride
Jacksonville, FL
Total Comments (92)
see what i mean, every one of them
Jagator
Gator Country, FL
Total Comments (943)
ONE WIN?, how about 869 wins, #1 ALL-TIME! ONE WIN?, How about MICHIGAN 38, Florida 30 in the Outback Bowl following the 2003 season!
Wolverine Pride
Jacksonville, FL
Total Comments (92)
After all the SEC fan base cramming how much faster their conference was for the past year. Just sit back and take it like a man Fla isn't fast, actually they are very slow. You will be hearing from me and all of the Meechigan Nation til and if you can redeem yourself next year. By the way I never said the SEC sucks, I happen to think the SEC is a very strong conference.That being said I would stack a well coached Michigan team against any SEC team or any team in the country.
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
Like I have said in many posts Michigan 18-5-1 vs SEC alltime............GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
Florida is slow? no, Florida just has a very young and inexperienced secondary with only 1 senior. the rest are sophmores and true freshmen. Florida's defense didnt show up for game (except on Mike Hart's fumbles) and their offense was to overcofident. The offensive line, which has been great this season, played like hell.
Wow, 2 fumbles in one game for a guy that hadnt fumbled in, was is 2 seasons almost? i cant remember. both inside the 5 yard line. I admit, the game shouldnt have been as close as it was but saying Florida is very slow is just ignorant.
Jagator
Gator Country, FL
Total Comments (943)
Being a freshman is no excuse ,every team has freshman players. Hve you seen Mr. Devine at WVU now thats fast. Just wait til you see Sam Mcguffie next year. That being said this is all in fun so lets not get too angry okay....
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
trust me im not angry, You forget I am used to this kind of talk. I have Michigan fans in my family. I know its all in fun. I enjoy this kind of talk.
Jagator
Gator Country, FL
Total Comments (943)
as a matter of fact, one of them is coming over this saturday to watch to Jags take on the Pats. He's a Detroit fan turned Jags fan, living in Jax for 12 years and the constant sucking of the Lions will do that to you.
Jagator
Gator Country, FL
Total Comments (943)
Speaking of Jax I was stationed at Ft. stewart a few yrs back had tons of fun in Jax. St. Augustine also holds a special place in my heart.
MICHIFAN64
Total Comments (222)
You know, I keep hearing a lot of noise and excitement about beating Florida this year, likely since they were NC last year. But Georgia beat Florida this year too and were not even good enough to win their division in the conference as many non-SEC fans are quick to point out. So let's not get too worked up. And I would wait til next year before I really talked smack if I had lost at home to Appalachian State.
Look, there are some great teams in every conference. Except the WAC. After the Hawaii beat-down I feel justified for that little swagger. Michigan has traditionally been a good team and I enjoy their football history, heritage, and dedication. Ohio State is the same. Nebraska and Texas have great traditions- as do USC and Penn State. I don't think a 6 and 5 SEC team would -in most circumstances- would beat a top team in another conference like Ohio St. this year or USC. But top to bottom I don't think there is a conference that is as difficult to go through undefeated or with only 1 loss. LSU validated this point to some degree last night by being a two loss team (both losses to SEC teams) which handled Ohio State by two touchdowns. An Ohio State team that has consistently beaten Michigan the past few years but is 0-9 now against SEC teams. People didn't think Florida deserved to be there last year against and undefeated Ohio State. Florida had one loss (to another SEC team playing through the tough schedule) and look at the result against Ohio State. I'm just asking for recognition that one loss in the SEC is as difficult or more difficult (especially with a conf. championship) than going undefeated in most other conferences.
bnb
Total Comments (18)
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