Top 7 Programs

[su4c]

I still remember the "discussion" on here last season about the top program in the nation.

Well, here's Colin Cowherd's take:


USC: Seven straight years in the top ten. Get over it haters, they are 4-0 versus the SEC, treat the Big Ten like a speed bag and in big games, seem to elevate their play significantly. Even in their only bowl loss in eight years, they led Texas by 12 in the fourth quarter. Since there is no other top 12 program west of Texas, they pick and chose the top talent from a ten to twelve state region. Nobody else has that luxury in the sport.


Texas: I have a soft spot for the Longhorns. Classy coach, classy fans. Because Austin isn’t a one dimensional cow town, many of their fans, have a broader perspective too, which is often lacking in college football. They are the state school of Texas, enough said. When it comes to running backs and defensive backs and wideouts, their back-ups could start for many other top 25 programs. Elite athletes, in all sports, are in abundance in Austin.


Oklahoma: If you judge the best in the biggest games, this program has slipped in the last five years. The Sooners have been out coached by West Virginia and Boise State in recent years. Arrogance is part of the reason and here’s why: With their athletes, their spread offense can overwhelm lesser opponents. It leads the several blowout wins and creates a feeling of overconfidence. It’s the Mike Tyson syndrome. They got into virtually every big game with a warped sense of perspective and reality, as do their fans, leading to great disappointment.


Ohio State: Take the good with the bad. Jim Tressel is both a rigid and successful task master and an offensive coach, stuck in the 70’s. Too often the Buckeyes take a lead and play not to lose. Or come in with a game plan, built too heavily weighted on field position and clock management. Today’s game is about velocity, multiple weapons, risk taking, spreading the field. Watch the New England Patriots offense for a lesson. Watch the Buckeyes, and you get a sense that you should be watching from a black and white TV. Flashy and fleet QB Terrell Pryor should help change two things: more offensive explosions and more BCS wins. Expect both.


LSU: People just don’t understand how many athletes Louisiana has. Let’s cut to the chase here, poverty and desperation surrounds this state. Sports can get you out. Combine that with a staggering obesity rate and what do you get? 300 pound 17-18 year olds coming out of your ears. No program seemingly has more top defensive lineman than LSU. They have excellent overall athletic depth, second only to USC, coached by the underrated and unconventional Les Miles.


Florida: Urban Meyer’s intense recruiting work has paid off. Nobody has more speed at the crucial positions. Combine that with efficient quarterback play and excellent in-game coaching, and you have a recipe for national titles. Meyer, I’m told, can find the Florida high school athlete tedious. Frankly, the public school system in this state is undeniably awful. Meyer has also been the beneficiary of an aging head coach at FSU and instability at Miami. That said, he’s the most intense and detail oriented coach in the sport. Added note: Love the coach, but the denim-shorts wearing fan base is as myopic as they come.


Virginia Tech: Why can’t this program ever seem to land elite quarterbacks? Save Michael Vick, it’s been one mediocre dude after another. Defense and great special teams, only get you so far. Bud Foster is one of the top d-coordinators in the game, and they do put out a ton of top DB’s. Yet, to win more big games, they have got to elevate their quarterback play, to the level of USC or Florida. It’s the only thing holding them back.


Honorable Mention: Penn State, Oregon, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia

http://www.theherdsword.com/2009/06/30/the-top-7-college-football-programs-in-america-2/

[pied]

Pretty astounding not to see Florida State/Miami/Notre Dame not up there, but it is hard to argue with the list. Va Tech seems to be the only one I might bother to question.

[cajun]

unconventional Les Miles

Dumba## more like it...BUT, he's ours...

http://smileydatabase.com/smilies/543.gif

[farmerfan]

Pretty astounding not to see Florida State/Miami/Notre Dame not up there, but it is hard to argue with the list. Va Tech seems to be the only one I might bother to question.

Same here, seeing Va Tech on the top seven had me scratching my head. Seeing Alabama in the honorable mention list shocked me too. Alabama has had a few nice teams in the plast 10 years but nothing that was too great until last year pre-sugar bowl

[cajun]

USC is 16-10 all time against the SEC..Good thing they won that 4 in a roll...:mad:

9/2/2006 @ Arkansas (10-4) W 50 14
9/17/2005 vs. Arkansas (4-7) W 70 17
8/30/2003 @ Auburn (8-5) W 23 0
9/2/2002 vs. Auburn (9-4) W 24 17
1/1/1987 vs. Auburn (10-2) L 7 16 @ Orlando, FL Citrus Bowl
12/28/1985 vs. Alabama (9-2-1) L 3 24 @ Honolulu, HI Aloha Bowl
9/29/1984 vs. Louisiana State (8-3-1) L 3 23
9/10/1983 vs. Florida (9-2-1) T 19 19
9/11/1982 @ Florida (8-4) L 9 17


:D

[FootballCrazy727]

Good list, but I have a hard time agreeing with anything done by Cowherd, considering he's probably the biggest ***** in sports radio.

[DrEdward]

Brilliant insight by the herd in his selection of the Hokies. I don't believe it either, but he is correct in the realm of QBs in Blacksburg.

[Firebird]

USC is 16-10 all time against the SEC..Good thing they won that 4 in a roll...:mad:

9/2/2006 @ Arkansas (10-4) W 50 14
9/17/2005 vs. Arkansas (4-7) W 70 17
8/30/2003 @ Auburn (8-5) W 23 0
9/2/2002 vs. Auburn (9-4) W 24 17
1/1/1987 vs. Auburn (10-2) L 7 16 @ Orlando, FL Citrus Bowl
12/28/1985 vs. Alabama (9-2-1) L 3 24 @ Honolulu, HI Aloha Bowl
9/29/1984 vs. Louisiana State (8-3-1) L 3 23
9/10/1983 vs. Florida (9-2-1) T 19 19
9/11/1982 @ Florida (8-4) L 9 17


:D


Good thing big daddy has the 1980s to fall back on. SEC is really "big daddy" in this case, in that he's just talking about the past....

[KT2000]

Brilliant insight by the herd in his selection of the Hokies. I don't believe it either, but he is correct in the realm of QBs in Blacksburg.

VT runs an archaic offense. Frank Beamer is Sweater Vest pre Ted Ginn-Terrelle Pryor when it comes to offense. I give him all the props in the world in defense and special teams, but that offense is what keeps the Hokies from contending. VT just isn't attractive for top notch QBs and that's why they get stuck with raw dual-threat guys.

Even when Vick was on campus, the offense was absurdly simple. I remember listening to Beamer and Vick not long after the Florida State game, and they were talking about how the light turned on for Vick. Vick said he was given a package of essentially 8-10 plays every week and was told to "do his thing."

[cajun]

Good thing big daddy has the 1980s to fall back on. SEC is really "big daddy" in this case, in that he's just talking about the past....

What he's talking about is:

Colin Cowherd USC: Seven straight years in the top ten. Get over it haters, they are 4-0 versus the SEC

Whoopy do!....LSU is 4-0 against the Pac 10 and has 2 national titles...BUT, because USC is 4-0 against Auburn and Arkansas that's another reason USC is the Top Program evidently....

Since 2000 both LSU and USC have been ranked in the Top 25 7 times each...

Why should I get over it?

Colin Cowherd also says Since there is no other top 12 program west of Texas, they pick and chose the top talent from a ten to twelve state region. Nobody else has that luxury in the sport.

Sheesh, bow down to USC, I guess if that's the way this guy sees it....Maybe USC will elevate their play significantly against some of these lesser teams out west and win 12 national titles in roll...

[cajun]

AND, on top of it...

The greatest underachieving program there is USC-who is also considered the "Top Program in the Nation" can solidify that position by treating the Big Ten like a speed bag at the end of the year in the Rose Bowl...

:mad:

[cajun]

Brilliant insight by the herd in his selection of the Hokies. I don't believe it either, but he is correct in the realm of QBs in Blacksburg.

Gumps vs Hokies should be a great game this year!...Looking forward to that one...

Rumor has it LSU will be playing North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff Classic in 2010...Would be sweet if it happens..

Dandy Don ( LSU fame and website) says it's pretty much a done deal...I haven't seen anything though except some talk...

[Firebird]

BUT, because USC is 4-0 against Auburn and Arkansas that's another reason USC is the Top Program evidently....




More than LSU can say!!

[cajun]

More than LSU can say!!

Yeah, past two years we have slipped vs Arkansas...Normally a tough game anyways most years...

LSU vs Arknasas since 2000
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
11/28/2008 vs. *Arkansas (5-7) L 30 31 @ Little Rock, AR
11/23/2007 vs. *Arkansas (8-5) L 48 50
11/24/2006 vs. *Arkansas (10-4) W 31 26 @ Little Rock, AR
11/25/2005 vs. *Arkansas (4-7) W 19 17
11/26/2004 vs. *Arkansas (5-6) W 43 14 @ Little Rock, AR
11/28/2003 vs. *Arkansas (9-4) W 55 24
11/29/2002 vs. *Arkansas (9-5) L 20 21
11/23/2001 vs. *Arkansas (7-5) W 41 38

Florida vs Arkansas since 2000
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
10/4/2008 @ *Arkansas (5-7) W 38 7
12/2/2006 vs. *Arkansas (10-4) W 38 28 @ Atlanta, GA SEC Championship
10/2/2004 vs. *Arkansas (5-6) W 45 30
10/18/2003 @ *Arkansas (9-4) W 33 28

Georgia vs Arkansas since 2000
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
10/22/2005 vs. *Arkansas (4-7) W 23 20
10/23/2004 @ *Arkansas (5-6) W 20 14
12/7/2002 vs. *Arkansas (9-5) W 30 3 @ Atlanta, GA SEC Championship
9/29/2001 vs. *Arkansas (7-5) W 34 23
9/30/2000 @ *Arkansas (6-6) W 38 7

Point is...Auburn and Arkansas are not on Colin Cowherd's list...LSU, Florida, Georgia and Alabama are mentioned...So, saying USC is 4-0 against the SEC to justify his position is weak-very weak....Now USC clubbing Ohio State and Michigan every year means something because that's the best the Big 10 has to offer at least it was...

If USC was 4-0 against LSU, Florida, Georgia and Alabama in this time frame than sure-4-0 against the SEC looks good...

[farmerfan]

Yeah, past two years we have slipped vs Arkansas...Normally a tough game anyways most years...

LSU vs Arknasas since 2000
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
11/28/2008 vs. *Arkansas (5-7) L 30 31 @ Little Rock, AR
11/23/2007 vs. *Arkansas (8-5) L 48 50
11/24/2006 vs. *Arkansas (10-4) W 31 26 @ Little Rock, AR
11/25/2005 vs. *Arkansas (4-7) W 19 17
11/26/2004 vs. *Arkansas (5-6) W 43 14 @ Little Rock, AR
11/28/2003 vs. *Arkansas (9-4) W 55 24
11/29/2002 vs. *Arkansas (9-5) L 20 21
11/23/2001 vs. *Arkansas (7-5) W 41 38

Florida vs Arkansas since 2000
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
10/4/2008 @ *Arkansas (5-7) W 38 7
12/2/2006 vs. *Arkansas (10-4) W 38 28 @ Atlanta, GA SEC Championship
10/2/2004 vs. *Arkansas (5-6) W 45 30
10/18/2003 @ *Arkansas (9-4) W 33 28

Georgia vs Arkansas since 2000
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
10/22/2005 vs. *Arkansas (4-7) W 23 20
10/23/2004 @ *Arkansas (5-6) W 20 14
12/7/2002 vs. *Arkansas (9-5) W 30 3 @ Atlanta, GA SEC Championship
9/29/2001 vs. *Arkansas (7-5) W 34 23
9/30/2000 @ *Arkansas (6-6) W 38 7

Point is...Auburn and Arkansas are not on Colin Cowherd's list...LSU, Florida, Georgia and Alabama are mentioned...So, saying USC is 4-0 against the SEC to justify his position is weak-very weak....Now USC clubbing Ohio State and Michigan every year means something because that's the best the Big 10 has to offer at least it was...

If USC was 4-0 against LSU, Florida, Georgia and Alabama in this time frame than sure-4-0 against the SEC looks good...

Georgia 1-0 vs PAC 10 going to make it 2-0 this year :notworthy:D
Georgia also 1-0 vs Boise St ;)

[cajun]

Georgia 1-0 vs PAC 10 going to make it 2-0 this year :notworthy:D
Georgia also 1-0 vs Boise St ;)

No doubt..Georgia clubbed Boise St in 2005 48-13..

Back to that idiot Colin Cowherd..

The reason he mentions USC being 4-0 against the SEC is because:

Winning one national title and clubbing the Big 10 sounds weak for the Top Program in the nation-should have a better resume ..(lol)

Little tidbit...

USC (12-1) beats Fresno St in 2005 50-42..
Oregon (10-2) beats Fresno St in 2005 37-34
Louisiana Tech (7-4) beats Fresno St in 2005 40-28...:eek:

What does it mean?...Nothing, but it's funny to look at..Fresno almost took out the best two teams in Pac 10...(lol)

Fresno State (WAC)
9/10 vs. Weber State (non-IA) W 55 17
9/17 @ Oregon (10-2) L 34 37
9/27 vs. Toledo (9-3) W 44 14
10/8 @ *New Mexico State (0-12) W 37 7
10/15 vs. *Utah State (3-8) W 53 21
10/22 @ *Idaho (2-9) W 40 10
10/29 @ *Hawaii (5-7) W 27 13
11/5 vs. *San Jose State (3-8) W 45 7
11/10 vs. *Boise State (9-4) W 27 7
11/19 @ Southern California (12-1) L 42 50
11/26 @ *Nevada (9-3) L 35 38
12/2 vs. *Louisiana Tech (7-4) L 28 40
12/31 vs. Tulsa (9-4) L 24 31 @ Memphis, TN Liberty Bowl

[farmerfan]

No doubt..Georgia clubbed Boise St in 2005 48-13..

Back to that idiot Colin Cowherd..

The reason he mentions USC being 4-0 against the SEC is because:

Winning one national title and clubbing the Big 10 sounds weak for the Top Program in the nation-should have a better resume ..(lol)

Little tidbit...

USC (12-1) beats Fresno St in 2005 50-42..
Oregon (10-2) beats Fresno St in 2005 37-34
Louisiana Tech (7-4) beats Fresno St in 2005 40-28...:eek:

What does it mean?...Nothing, but it's funny to look at..(lol)

Fresno State (WAC)
9/10 vs. Weber State (non-IA) W 55 17
9/17 @ Oregon (10-2) L 34 37
9/27 vs. Toledo (9-3) W 44 14
10/8 @ *New Mexico State (0-12) W 37 7
10/15 vs. *Utah State (3-8) W 53 21
10/22 @ *Idaho (2-9) W 40 10
10/29 @ *Hawaii (5-7) W 27 13
11/5 vs. *San Jose State (3-8) W 45 7
11/10 vs. *Boise State (9-4) W 27 7
11/19 @ Southern California (12-1) L 42 50
11/26 @ *Nevada (9-3) L 35 38
12/2 vs. *Louisiana Tech (7-4) L 28 40
12/31 vs. Tulsa (9-4) L 24 31 @ Memphis, TN Liberty Bowl

I was in Athens for the Boise game. First game I had taken my now SEC road trip buddy too. He got sick listening to me talk about SEC this and SEC that and hearing about the women that he decided to come out to Athens. He hates Boise too. We saw UGA pick off 5 of Zambrowksy
(sp) passes and cruise to something like 40 1st half points. It was awesome. My buddy got offended when we were talking to these UGA girls the night before and a Boise St fan saw his Aggie shirt and came up and interrupted him to ask him about A&M. Ii lost it then.

I have no problem wit USC at the top. I believe they have been the most consistent program in America. I think the Pac 10 better than people give it credit for too but thats just my opinion. As you can tell on the main board, not too many people think highly of my opinion. USC will be put to the test this year when they go to Columbus. They win that then they could be onto something special. I remember what happend the last time an OOC team went into the Shoe at night and beat the Buckeyes.

[cajun]

I have no problem wit USC at the top. I believe they have been the most consistent program in America. I think the Pac 10 better than people give it credit for too but thats just my opinion. As you can tell on the main board, not too many people think highly of my opinion. USC will be put to the test this year when they go to Columbus. They win that then they could be onto something special. I remember what happend the last time an OOC team went into the Shoe at night and beat the Buckeyes.

I don't have a problem with USC, well maybe I do, I guess...

Results versus AP Top 10 opponents:
USC's record against AP Top 10 opponents under Pete Carroll (2001–present)

Season Opponent Result Game
2008 #8 Penn State W 38-24 Rose Bowl
2008 #5 Ohio State W 35-3 regular season
2007 #7 Arizona State W 44-24 regular season
2007 #5 Oregon L 17-24 regular season
2006 #3 Michigan W 32-18 Rose Bowl
2006 #6 Notre Dame W 44-24 regular season
2005 #2 Texas L 38-41 Rose Bowl*
2005 #9 Notre Dame W 34-31 regular season
2004 #2 Oklahoma W 55-19 Orange Bowl*
2004 #7 California W 23-17 regular season
2003 #4 Michigan W 28-14 Rose Bowl
2003 #6 Washington State W 43-16 regular season
2003 #6 Auburn W 23-0 regular season
2002 #3 Iowa W 38-17 Orange Bowl
2002 #7 Notre Dame W 44-13 regular season
2001 #7 Oregon L 22-24 regular season
* National Championship game

You take away the Big 10 and Notre Dame-USC hasn't done much...Beat Auburn one year, that was pretty good...That same year USC beat Auburn 23-0, LSU beat Auburn 31-7, Georgia beat Auburn that year 26-7...

USC beat Oklahoma one year, that's good-LSU and Florida done the same thing...

[DrEdward]

VT runs an archaic offense. Frank Beamer is Sweater Vest pre Ted Ginn-Terrelle Pryor when it comes to offense. I give him all the props in the world in defense and special teams, but that offense is what keeps the Hokies from contending. VT just isn't attractive for top notch QBs and that's why they get stuck with raw dual-threat guys.

Even when Vick was on campus, the offense was absurdly simple. I remember listening to Beamer and Vick not long after the Florida State game, and they were talking about how the light turned on for Vick. Vick said he was given a package of essentially 8-10 plays every week and was told to "do his thing."

Frank essentially runs the same offense now as we did when Frank and I were playing together back in the 60s. Like Beamer, we were both very much influenced by Coach Claiborne's defensive focus and his observation that "they can't beat you if they can't score on you." So defense (special teams were part of the defense, save for kickoffs) has come first in Blacksburg for half a century now with a bit of a blip when Don Strock was heading the Hokie offense.

The Hokie faithful, while very grateful to Beamer for what he has done for his alma mater, are not real happy with the offense performance for the past several years. We all agree that it is the offense that holds Virginia Tech back.

[steeler 01]

What he's talking about is:

Colin Cowherd

Whoopy do!....LSU is 4-0 against the Pac 10 and has 2 national titles...BUT, because USC is 4-0 against Auburn and Arkansas that's another reason USC is the Top Program evidently....



Arkansas in 06 played Florida in the SEC title game. SC 50 Arkansas 14. Their worst loss to anyone else was 38-28 to Florida. SC almost beat Arkansas by the same amount of points as Florida scored on Arkansas that year(SC beat Arkansas by 36).:eek:

[pied]

I don't have a problem with USC, well maybe I do, I guess...

Results versus AP Top 10 opponents:
USC's record against AP Top 10 opponents under Pete Carroll (2001–present)



You take away the Big 10 and Notre Dame-USC hasn't done much...Beat Auburn one year, that was pretty good...That same year USC beat Auburn 23-0, LSU beat Auburn 31-7, Georgia beat Auburn that year 26-7...

USC beat Oklahoma one year, that's good-LSU and Florida done the same thing...


Are those results season ending ranking or at the time?

[cajun]

Are those results season ending ranking or at the time?

At the time...

Auburn was 8-5 in 2003....2004 was the year Auburn went undefeated and got the shaft...

[pied]

At the time...

Auburn was 8-5 in 2003....2004 was the year Auburn went undefeated and got the shaft...

Seems to me that playing two top ten teams in the same season every year for 7 years, and having the success (13-3) USC has had has to be pretty much untouched.

[cajun]

Arkansas in 06 played Florida in the SEC title game. SC 50 Arkansas 14. Their worst loss to anyone else was 38-28 to Florida. SC almost beat Arkansas by the same amount of points as Florida scored on Arkansas that year(SC beat Arkansas by 36).:eek:

Whoopy do!

Speaking of 2006...

LSU in 2006 didn't play in the SEC title game and beat Arizona out of that rugged Pac 10 45-3....USC beat Arizona 20-3.....The most points Arizona gave up all year was 28...What's it all mean?

In 2006 Arizona smashed that "steady" Oregon 37-10 as well...What a joke....:rolleyes:

2006-Arizona (Pac 10)

9/2 vs. Brigham Young (11-2) W 16 13
9/9 @ Louisiana State (11-2) L 3 45
9/16 vs. Stephen F. Austin (non-IA) W 28 10
9/23 vs. *Southern California (11-2) L 3 20
9/30 vs. *Washington (5-7) L 10 21
10/7 @ *UCLA (7-6) L 7 27
10/14 @ *Stanford (1-11) W 20 7
10/21 vs. *Oregon State (10-4) L 10 17
11/4 @ *Washington State (6-6) W 27 17
11/11 vs. *California (10-3) W 24 20
11/18 @ *Oregon (7-6) W 37 10
11/25 vs. *Arizona State (7-6) L 14 28

[cajun]

Seems to me that playing two top ten teams in the same season every year for 7 years, and having the success (13-3) USC has had has to be pretty much untouched.

I guess it's how you look at it...

Examples:

2006 USC vs #6 (at the time) Notre Dame W 44-24 regular season
2006 LSU vs. Notre Dame (10-3) W 41 14 @ New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl

2002 #7 (at the time) Notre Dame @ Southern California (11-2) L 13 44
2002 Notre Dame vs. North Carolina State (11-3) L 6 28 Jacksonville, FL Gator Bowl


Anyways,

Alot of people expect Florida to win the national title this year-they could...LSU could win it, maybe Texas or Oklahoma...If one of those teams do win it I guess I gotta hear Colin Cowherd say USC is 4-0 against the SEC and uses the Big 10 as a speed bag when he crowns USC King again next year...

[pied]

It's a fun debate in my opinion, but I can't recall a lot of teams facing multiple top ten teams each and every year. it has to happen, I am tryying to think of some.

Texas faced top ou/Tech/tOSU, and went 2-1.

ou faced Texas/Tech/FL and went 1-2.

Likely happened in the SEC, but can't think of any off the top of my head.

[cajun]

It's a fun debate in my opinion, but I can't recall a lot of teams facing multiple top ten teams each and every year. it has to happen, I am tryying to think of some.

Texas faced top ou/Tech/tOSU, and went 2-1.

ou faced Texas/Tech/FL and went 1-2.

Likely happened in the SEC, but can't think of any off the top of my head.

Maybe I will research it...

I know in 2003 LSU beat Georgia twice-we beat them when they were #7 and we beat them when they were #5...Georgia ended up #6 that year...

1 -BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Matt Mauck threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Green with 1:22 left Saturday afternoon as 10th-ranked LSU beat No. 7 Georgia, 17-10.

2 -The No. 3 Tigers (12-1) ignored a hostile crowd and showed off all their weapons, dominating fifth-ranked Georgia 34-13 Saturday night to win the Southeastern Conference title for the second time in three years.

That right there is more impressive than anything USC has done...Say it ain't...:cool:

[farmerfan]

Maybe I will research it...

I know in 2003 LSU beat Georgia twice-we beat them when they were #7 and we beat them when they were #5...Georgia ended up #6 that year...

1 -BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Matt Mauck threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Green with 1:22 left Saturday afternoon as 10th-ranked LSU beat No. 7 Georgia, 17-10.

2 -The No. 3 Tigers (12-1) ignored a hostile crowd and showed off all their weapons, dominating fifth-ranked Georgia 34-13 Saturday night to win the Southeastern Conference title for the second time in three years.

That right there is more impressive than anything USC has done...Say it ain't...:cool:

I remember both those LSU games. The game in Baton Rouge was one for the ages. The 03 Dawgs were a really good team and yet again the UF bug still got us that year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOHUHshwriY

[farmerfan]

It's a fun debate in my opinion, but I can't recall a lot of teams facing multiple top ten teams each and every year. it has to happen, I am tryying to think of some.

Texas faced top ou/Tech/tOSU, and went 2-1.

ou faced Texas/Tech/FL and went 1-2.

Likely happened in the SEC, but can't think of any off the top of my head.

One thing I give to USC and Pete Carroll is they do not back down from anybody. Back in 04 they opened up the year by going to Washington D.C to play Va Tech in what was way more of a home game for Va Tech than SC. SC has traveled to Auburn, Nebraska and other places and will visit Columbus this year. They will travel anywhere and have done quite well when they have done so. As you said, their record against top 10 teams is pretty remarkable but then again there was a time people said that about OU and Bob.

[steeler 01]

One thing I give to USC and Pete Carroll is they do not back down from anybody. Back in 04 they opened up the year by going to Washington D.C to play Va Tech in what was way more of a home game for Va Tech than SC. SC has traveled to Auburn, Nebraska and other places and will visit Columbus this year. They will travel anywhere and have done quite well when they have done so. As you said, their record against top 10 teams is pretty remarkable but then again there was a time people said that about OU and Bob.

More teams should follow.

[steeler 01]

Maybe I will research it...

I know in 2003 LSU beat Georgia twice-we beat them when they were #7 and we beat them when they were #5...Georgia ended up #6 that year...

1 -BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Matt Mauck threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Green with 1:22 left Saturday afternoon as 10th-ranked LSU beat No. 7 Georgia, 17-10.

2 -The No. 3 Tigers (12-1) ignored a hostile crowd and showed off all their weapons, dominating fifth-ranked Georgia 34-13 Saturday night to win the Southeastern Conference title for the second time in three years.

That right there is more impressive than anything USC has done...Say it ain't...:cool:

In 04 SC went to D.C. and beat Va Tech(ACC champion, but were not ranked at the time of the game), beat a top 10 team in Cal, and to finish the season, trounced OU in the Orange Bowl. Not barely beating them 21-14.;)

[steeler 01]

Whoopy do!

Speaking of 2006...

LSU in 2006 didn't play in the SEC title game and beat Arizona out of that rugged Pac 10 45-3....USC beat Arizona 20-3.....The most points Arizona gave up all year was 28...What's it all mean?

In 2006 Arizona smashed that "steady" Oregon 37-10 as well...What a joke....:rolleyes:

2006-Arizona (Pac 10)

9/2 vs. Brigham Young (11-2) W 16 13
9/9 @ Louisiana State (11-2) L 3 45
9/16 vs. Stephen F. Austin (non-IA) W 28 10
9/23 vs. *Southern California (11-2) L 3 20
9/30 vs. *Washington (5-7) L 10 21
10/7 @ *UCLA (7-6) L 7 27
10/14 @ *Stanford (1-11) W 20 7
10/21 vs. *Oregon State (10-4) L 10 17
11/4 @ *Washington State (6-6) W 27 17
11/11 vs. *California (10-3) W 24 20
11/18 @ *Oregon (7-6) W 37 10
11/25 vs. *Arizona State (7-6) L 14 28



Oregon finished 5th in the Pac 10 that year. One of their worst seasons in recent time, but they did beat the big 12 champs OU in the regular season.

[steeler 01]

USC (12-1) beats Fresno St in 2005 50-42..
Oregon (10-2) beats Fresno St in 2005 37-34
Louisiana Tech (7-4) beats Fresno St in 2005 40-28...:eek:


Louisiana Tech took out Mississippi State last year(22-14)

[cajun]

In 04 SC went to D.C. and beat Va Tech(ACC champion, but were not ranked at the time of the game), beat a top 10 team in Cal, and to finish the season, trounced OU in the Orange Bowl. Not barely beating them 21-14.;)

Would that be the same Cal that was crushed by Texas Tech 45-31?...That's impressive...

Jason White (Oklahoma) 24/36 244 2 TD vs USC in 2004
Jason White (Oklahoma) 13/37 102 0 TD vs LSU in 2003

LSU held Oklahoma to 154 total yards...54 rushing...

USC held Oklahoma to 372 total yards....

Just another example of that no offense playing SEC winning a big game...

[cajun]

I remember both those LSU games. The game in Baton Rouge was one for the ages. The 03 Dawgs were a really good team and yet again the UF bug still got us that year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOHUHshwriY

We were lucky to win that one....

[steeler 01]

Would that be the same Cal that was crushed by Texas Tech 45-31?...That's impressive...

Jason White (Oklahoma) 24/36 244 2 TD vs USC in 2004
Jason White (Oklahoma) 13/37 102 0 TD vs LSU in 2003

LSU held Oklahoma to 154 total yards...54 rushing...

USC held Oklahoma to 372 total yards....

Just another example of that no offense playing SEC winning a big game...
SC 55 OU 19

LSU 21 OU 14

LSU also had to hold OU inside the 10 late in the 4th quarter to preserve their 1 td win. While SC was up 48-10 heading into the 4th.

You're LSU team is lucky SC didn't get a hold of them in 03. That 03 SC teams offense was easily better than the 04 one IMO, and their defensive line was just as nasty. Mauck would have been running for his life the entire game.

[cajun]

Domination!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56eB7FIaXnI

[steeler 01]

SC 55 OU 19

LSU 21 OU 14

LSU also had to hold OU inside the 10 late in the 4th quarter to preserve their 1 td win. While SC was up 48-10 heading into the 4th.

You're LSU team is lucky SC didn't get a hold of them in 03. That 03 SC teams offense was easily better than the 04 one IMO, and their defensive line was just as nasty. Mauck would have been running for his life the entire game.
1st and 10 at OKLA 39 Jason White (OKLA) pass across the middle complete to Mark Clayton (OKLA) for 3 yards. 14 21
2nd and 7 at OKLA 42 Kejuan Jones (OKLA) rushed left side for 9 yards.
1st and 10 at LSU 49 Jason White (OKLA) pass incomplete across the middle.
2nd and 10 at LSU 49 Jason White (OKLA) pass right side complete to J.D. Runnels (OKLA) for 13 yards.
1st and 10 at LSU 36 Kejuan Jones (OKLA) rushed left side for 8 yards.
2nd and 2 at LSU 28 Kejuan Jones (OKLA) rushed up the middle for 4 yards.
1st and 10 at LSU 24 Sooners timeout; 03:41 remaining 4th quarter
1st and 10 at LSU 24 Kejuan Jones (OKLA) rushed right side for 5 yards.
2nd and 5 at LSU 19 Jason White (OKLA) pass incomplete to the left side.
3rd and 5 at LSU 19 6 yard penalty on Tigers.
1st and 10 at LSU 13 Jason White (OKLA) pass incomplete to the right side.
2nd and 10 at LSU 13 Jason White (OKLA) pass incomplete to the left side.
3rd and 10 at LSU 13 Jason White (OKLA) pass incomplete across the middle.
4th and 10 at LSU 13 Jason White (LSU) pass incomplete across the middle.; turnover on downs. 14 OKLA 21 LSU

[steeler 01]

Domination!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56eB7FIaXnI

I wouldn't call having to hold a team with 2 minutes to go in the game, and them inside the red zone threatening to tie the game up domination.

This is domination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw4_4H83Pok

[cajun]

.
You're LSU team is lucky SC didn't get a hold of them in 03. That 03 SC teams offense was easily better than the 04 one IMO, and their defensive line was just as nasty. Mauck would have been running for his life the entire game.

That would explain California (8-6) putting up almost 500 yards total offense on USC in 2003 and beating USC 34-31...

Same California team in 2003 that was crushed by Kansas St and beaten by Colorado St..

[cajun]

I

This is domination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw4_4H83Pok

5 Oklahoma turnovers = domination

[steeler 01]

That would explain California (8-6) putting up almost 500 yards total offense on USC in 2003 and beating USC 34-31...

Same California team in 2003 that was crushed by Kansas St and beaten by Colorado St..

They put up 24 in regulation and another 10 in overtime.

They also put up 400 yards of offense in regulation and another 40 in three O.T.

[steeler 01]

5 Oklahoma turnovers = domination

USC has nothing to do with causing those right?

Did you forget that 7 of LSU's points in the 2004 Sugar Bowl came off an interception return for a T.D.? With out that the game is a tie. Domination my A$$

Go to 20 seconds in the clip. That's what won LSU you the game. Far from domination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT2JTOciSZE

[cajun]

USC has nothing to do with causing those right?

Did you forget that 7 of LSU's points in the 2004 Sugar Bowl came off an interception return for a T.D.? With out that the game is a tie. Domination my A$$

Go to 20 seconds in the clip. That's what won LSU you the game. Far from domination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT2JTOciSZE

That's the trouble with you California people..You've got no concept of the game...

The score could have been much worse....I'll a take a dominating 21-14 win any day of the week-SEC Style!

What was Oklahoma's longest drive against LSU?...35 yards?...

"Frankly, it could have been far worse. LSUs vaunted defense was every bit as dominating as advertised. Freshman tailback and Sugar Bowl MVP Justin Vincent looked like a future Heisman candidate, rolling up 117 rushing yards and a touchdown while exhibiting a serious combination of strength and speed. And LSU wideout/return specialist Skyler Green was pure gas, notching the games first score on a 24-yard, first-quarter reverse and exciting on punt returns all night."

"Fact is, Oklahomas only scores were courtesy of its defense and special teams. Midway through the second quarter junior Brandon Shelby blocked an LSU punt to give the Sooners offense a first-and-goal at the Tigers 2; it still took the Sooners three plays and a defensive penalty to crack the goal line from there. "

"All told, White missed on his last eight passes of the game, chucked a pair of interceptions, and finished the game 13-for-37 passing for just 102 yards. His spotty play was a major reason Oklahomas offense, which came into the game leading the nation in scoring (45.2), managed fewer first-half yards (44) than LSUs Vincent recorded on the games first play a 64-yard sprint through the middle of the Oklahoma defense that set the tone for the entire game."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/jan/05/20040105-010140-8209r/

[cajun]

USC has nothing to do with causing those right?


That game was tied 7-7...When,

USC punted to Oklahoma and the Oklahoma kid tried to pick up the punt at the one and then fumbled at the two-USC had nothing to do with that kid trying to pick up that ball...After that it was one boneheaded mistake after another for Oklahoma....

[steeler 01]

That's the trouble with you California people..You've got no concept of the game...

The score could have been much worse....I'll a take a dominating 21-14 win any day of the week-SEC Style!

What was Oklahoma's longest drive against LSU?...35 yards?...



Should I bring up all of you're ludicrous statements you have made that have blown up in you're face? The Bama will win, just a matter of time before Utah crumbles, and a ton of other dumb *** statements. You're problem is you're homerism.

So a 21-14 win where one team is threatening to tie the game up at the winning teams 13 with 2 minutes to go is dominating, but a 55-19 win is less dominating.;)

I don't care what the score could have been, or what a journalist says. The bottom line is the score was 21-14 with OU at the LSU 13. With 2 minutes to go with a chance to tie the game up. Thats a close game.

[steeler 01]

That game was tied 7-7...When,

USC punted to Oklahoma and the Oklahoma kid tried to pick up the punt at the one and then fumbled at the two-USC had nothing to do with that kid trying to pick up that ball...After that it was one boneheaded mistake after another for Oklahoma....

1st quarter with 33 seconds left.

SC put up 24 points in the 2nd quarter. Are you blaming the muffed punt for those points to?:confused: SC scored more points on OU in one quarter than LSU's offense did the entire game against OU in 03.

[cajun]

Should I bring up all of you're ludicrous statements you have made that have blown up in you're face? The Bama will win, just a matter of time before Utah crumbles, and a ton of other dumb *** statements. You're problem is you're homerism.

So a 21-14 win where one team is threatening to tie the game up at the winning teams 13 with 2 minutes to go is dominating, but a 55-19 win is less dominating.;)

I don't care what the score could have been, or what a journalist says. The bottom line is the score was 21-14 with OU at the LSU 13. With 2 minutes to go with a chance to tie the game up. Thats a close game.

You can bring up anything you like...I could care less, Mr Objective..

steelerThat 03 SC teams offense was easily better than the 04 one IMO, and their defensive line was just as nasty. Mauck would have been running for his life the entire game.

You are not even a good "homer"...That's because you really have nothing to be a "homer" about....You are tied with the Big 10, ACC and Big East in national titles since the BCS...

It's always the same with you people...Like you said " Mauck would have been running for his life the entire game"...It's always "would haves", could haves", we can do this, we can do that-the list runs on....Bottom line?

Less talk and more walk....

As for your opinion on the LSU vs Oklahoma game?...I could care less about that too....Bottom line...LSU won the game...Sorry if it wasn't as pretty as USC's win....BUT, come on...USC is the most dominate program in the nation...Their "one" title proves that...

[steeler 01]

You can bring up anything you like...I could care less, Mr Objective..

steeler

You are not even a good "homer"...That's because you really have nothing to be a "homer" about....You are tied with the Big 10, ACC and Big East in national titles since the BCS...

It's always the same with you people...Like you said " Mauck would have been running for his life the entire game"...It's always "would haves", could haves", we can do this, we can do that-the list runs on....Bottom line?

Less talk and more walk....

As for your opinion on the LSU vs Oklahoma game?...I could care less about that too....Bottom line...LSU won the game...Sorry if it wasn't as pretty as USC's win....BUT, come on...USC is the most dominate program in the nation...Their "one" title proves that...

Two championships, and I've never said the SEC isn't the best conference, but their OOC games are pathetic. Tennessee, UGA, Auburn(This year) and Bama are the only teams taking on OOC opponents that can deal them losses(From the top programs in the SEC). The other teams not so much.

Florida hasn't left the state of Florida for an OOC game in 20 years or so. Since Florida State has fallen off, they don't have a good OOC opponent.

LSU the last 5 years has played these teams in their OOC games: ASU(Almost lost 35-31), 2x North Texas, 2x Appalachian State, Arizona(Fine), Lafayette, 3x Tulane, Fresno State(At home of course), Va Tec(Quality), Middle Tennessee State, La Tech, and Troy.

I'd prefer LSU vs USC, LSU vs Ohio State(At the shoe), LSU vs Penn State, LSU vs Michigan, LSU vs Texas, LSU vs Oklahoma etc..............

[steeler 01]

Two championships, and I've never said the SEC isn't the best conference, but their OOC games are pathetic. Tennessee, UGA, Auburn(This year) and Bama are the only teams taking on OOC opponents that can deal them losses(From the top programs in the SEC). The other teams not so much.

Florida hasn't left the state of Florida for an OOC game in 20 years or so. Since Florida State has fallen off, they don't have a good OOC opponent.

LSU the last 5 years has played these teams in their OOC games: ASU(Almost lost 35-31), 2x North Texas, 2x Appalachian State, Arizona(Fine), Lafayette, 3x Tulane, Fresno State(At home of course), Va Tec(Quality), Middle Tennessee State, La Tech, and Troy.

I'd prefer LSU vs USC, LSU vs Ohio State(At the shoe), LSU vs Penn State, LSU vs Michigan, LSU vs Texas, LSU vs Oklahoma etc..............


Florida's OOC schedule

Charleston Southern
Troy
FIU
Florida State(Have been average for awhile now)

LSU's

I guess they want the state championship trophy.

Washington(Last place team from the Pac 10, equivalent to playing Mississippi State)
Lafayette
Tulane
La Tech

[cajun]

I'd prefer LSU vs USC, LSU vs Ohio State(At the shoe), LSU vs Penn State, LSU vs Michigan, LSU vs Texas, LSU vs Oklahoma etc..............

I'd prefer to see USC play in a "real" football league every year instead of that Water Polo League out west...I guess it's a wash....

[cajun]

Florida's OOC schedule

Charleston Southern
Troy
FIU
Florida State(Have been average for awhile now)

LSU's

I guess they want the state championship trophy.

Washington(Last place team from the Pac 10, equivalent to playing Mississippi State)
Lafayette
Tulane
La Tech

According to Colin Cowherd's list:...And, we know he's right because he has USC as the best program in the Nation...

When Florida won the title last year they beat these Top Programs
Oklahoma
LSU
Georgia
Alabama

When Florida won the title in 2006 they beat these Top Programs
Ohio State
LSU
Georgia
Alabama

When LSU won the title in 2007 they beat these Top Programs...
Virginia Tech
Florida
Alabama
Oklahoma

When LSU won their title in 2003 they beat these Top Programs....
Oklahoma
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Georgia

When USC won their only title in 2004 they beat these Top Progams...
Virginia Tech
Oklahoma

In 2005 when USC lost to Texas in the title game they beat these Top Programs
Oregon

In 2003 USC played these Top Programs
ZERO

So, basically, the hell with what you prefer or wanna see...

[cajun]

LSU the last 5 years has played these teams in their OOC games: ASU(Almost lost 35-31)

You say this like it's a big deal...2005?

If I remember correctly this was LSU's first game that season in 2005-the first game was cancelled and the ASU game was moved to Tempe, Arizona because refugees were using some of LSU's buildings as shelter....Those were not good days for the entire state...

Despite all of the distractions from Hurricane Katrina, LSU still managed to finish its season with an 11-2 record capped off by a 40-3 victory over #9 Miami in the 2005 Peach Bowl without its starting QB, JaMarcus Russell.

#5 LSU.....................0 7 0 28 - 35
#15 Arizona State......0 10 7 14 -31

What was #1 USC's excuse for falling behind Arizona State 21-3 at halftime and having to rally in the fourth quarter?...

"USC began the fourth quarter by forcing the Sun Devils into a three-and-out punt. Starting from their own 11-yard line, the Trojans drove down the field and took their first lead of the game, 24-21, as Leinart scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper. With just under nine minutes to play, the Sun Devil offense took over from its own 30-yard line and answered the bell. After Keller connected with sophomore tailback Rudy Burgess with a 24-yard pass, he found graduate tight end Lee Burghgraef on a one-yard bootleg pass in the end zone to give the Sun Devils the lead back at 28-24. But the Sun Devils were again unable to stop the rushing offense of USC and surrendered a 34-yard rushing touchdown to Bush, giving the Trojans a three-point advantage with 3:44 remaining."

#1 USC.................. 0 3 14 21 - 38
#14 Arizona State... 7 14 0 7 - 28

[steeler 01]

According to Colin Cowherd's list:...And, we know he's right because he has USC as the best program in the Nation...

When Florida won the title last year they beat these Top Programs
Oklahoma
LSU
Georgia
Alabama

When Florida won the title in 2006 they beat these Top Programs
Ohio State
LSU
Georgia
Alabama

When LSU won the title in 2007 they beat these Top Programs...
Virginia Tech
Florida
Alabama
Oklahoma

When LSU won their title in 2003 they beat these Top Programs....
Oklahoma
Florida
Alabama
Georgia

When USC won their only title in 2004 they beat these Top Progams...
Virginia Tech
Oklahoma

In 2005 when USC lost to Texas in the title game they beat these Top Programs
Oregon

In 2003 USC played these Top Programs
ZERO

So, basically, the hell with what you prefer or wanna see...

Top programs, but how many were top teams those years?


03 LSU championship schedule against top programs.

Alabama(4-9)
Florida(8-5 including a blow out loss in their bowl game to Iowa)
UGA(11-3, Good win)
Oklahoma(Bowl game)

I see one elite team from their regular season games against these elite programs.


07 LSU against elite programs

Alabama(7-6)
Florida(9-4 and beaten in their bowl game by Michigan. 3 of their 9 w's come against Western Kentucky, Troy, and Florida Atlantic. Not an elite team. Good win though for LSU.)
Va Tech(Good Win)
OU(Bowl game)




Even in strong years, no SEC team has to play more than 3 tough games vs other top SEC schools and that's rare. That leaves 9 much easier games... and as you would think, some of these so called gimme's within the SEC often upset the better teams. And so it is everywhere else. The difference isn't as big as you put it. Players get hit everywhere and pay for playing the game. That's the nature of the game. It's pretty rough most everywhere. Even weak teams have their hitmen that can hurt you, and they do. It's the nature of the game. Sure some teams are known to play a hard hitting game, but that kind of game isn't found just in the SEC.

Just for the sake of example, did you know that when USC played Texas in the NC Rose Bowl 4 years ago they were short 7 defensive starters in that game and were without them for most of the season? Is that a sign of rough or not? And how much rougher than that could the SEC possibly be? Not much if at all. The whole friggin game is rough.

Basically, I don't believe in scheduling more than one patsy per year maybe as a warmup. Aside from that, it makes the conference look soft because of it's unwillingness to play decent teams from around the conuntry -- not necessarily top teams, but decent teams at the very least.

The big problem I have with the SEC's approach is that it gives a false impression of teams being better than they really are because they win their first 4 games vs nobodies. Later on the pretenders are exposed but look at the harm that does to more deserving teams from elsewhere that sacrifice a justifiable rank because Auburn plays the Citadel and the win counts and makes them look better than they really are.

Why should better teams need to climb a ladder that even the weaker SEC teams aren't required to do? Aren't they just riding on the past and people's attitudes and perception instead of quality? And what does this cost many teams in the rest of CFB?

Look at Utah for example. They were VERY fortunate to be #2 in the end because they weren't even ranked at the start. Had they been ranked higher and some SEC pretenders ranked lower, perhaps they'd have gotten into the NC undefeated and a pretty deserving team too. They crushed the SEC's #2 team that nearly got in.

In the end, the schedules and the bias that goes along with that unfairly rate many SEC teams when not righteously deserved. If they went out and proved themselves like everyone else does vs the rest of CFB, I'd have nothing to criticize and the SEC wouldn't need to make any excuses or explanations, even in years when they are not up to snuff.

But to say we are good because we play each other and that's enough is a circular argument. There's no way to verify how strong they really are when they only play teams within their own conference who must also be good because they beat another so called good team, once again in the SEC. How can anyone really compare and get an accurate picture of how the teams really rate when there's no way to compare them using games vs other teams from elsewhere? Is there any better way to tell other than interconference play?

How many people kissed off Utah in their bowl game because Alabama was the 2nd best team in the SEC? ... and of course all the superman mystique that goes with it. They even whupped the Tide much worse than Florida did. But will Utah and their other worthy opponents from the MWC benefit from that next season, and the year after... even in light of the fact that the SEC plays mostly patsies, Utah will pay, unfairly and so will quality teams from other so called weaker conferences, not because of a perceived weaker SOS, but because there's no way to compare when the SEC stays home and passes FL International and the Citadel around like a cheap *****.

SEC teams will again get more credit than they deserve anyway and the "Utah's" from elsewhere will suffer for it, unfairly. Maybe that has something to do with the SEC's poor record vs the Pac-10. They are consistantly ambushed by these perceived weaker opponents from the Pac-10 who aren't really as weak as they were made out to be. I'm not trying to toot my horn by saying that, but a 7-11 W/L record vs the Pac-10 means something, doesn't it? Maybe it means that a lot of SEC teams' reputations are built on hype instead of performance because they have nothing to compare themselves to but each other. And that costs other teams in the polls and in their bowl opportunities, unfairly.

There sure is a lot of hype and ego when the SEC is in the discussion, not just quality football that is superior to everyone else. There are just too many exceptions to that idea that shoot it down so logically there must be something to it. The only solution is for SEC teams to provide for a real comparison to the rest of CFB by playing outside the conference vs other BCS schools much more than they are doing now.

[cajun]

Even in strong years, no SEC team has to play more than 3 tough games vs other top SEC schools and that's rare. That leaves 9 much easier games... and as you would think, some of these so called gimme's within the SEC often upset the better teams. And so it is everywhere else. The difference isn't as big as you put it. Players get hit everywhere and pay for playing the game. That's the nature of the game. It's pretty rough most everywhere. Even weak teams have their hitmen that can hurt you, and they do. It's the nature of the game. Sure some teams are known to play a hard hitting game, but that kind of game isn't found just in the SEC.

Yawn!

Just for the sake of example, did you know that when USC played Texas in the NC Rose Bowl 4 years ago they were short 7 defensive starters in that game and were without them for most of the season? Is that a sign of rough or not? And how much rougher than that could the SEC possibly be? Not much if at all. The whole friggin game is rough.

Yawning!

Basically, I don't believe in scheduling more than one patsy per year maybe as a warmup. Aside from that, it makes the conference look soft because of it's unwillingness to play decent teams from around the conuntry -- not necessarily top teams, but decent teams at the very least.

Yawn!

The big problem I have with the SEC's approach is that it gives a false impression of teams being better than they really are because they win their first 4 games vs nobodies. Later on the pretenders are exposed but look at the harm that does to more deserving teams from elsewhere that sacrifice a justifiable rank because Auburn plays the Citadel and the win counts and makes them look better than they really are.

Yawn!

Why should better teams need to climb a ladder that even the weaker SEC teams aren't required to do? Aren't they just riding on the past and people's attitudes and perception instead of quality? And what does this cost many teams in the rest of CFB?

Yawning!

Look at Utah for example. They were VERY fortunate to be #2 in the end because they weren't even ranked at the start. Had they been ranked higher and some SEC pretenders ranked lower, perhaps they'd have gotten into the NC undefeated and a pretty deserving team too. They crushed the SEC's #2 team that nearly got in.

Yawn!

In the end, the schedules and the bias that goes along with that unfairly rate many SEC teams when not righteously deserved. If they went out and proved themselves like everyone else does vs the rest of CFB, I'd have nothing to criticize and the SEC wouldn't need to make any excuses or explanations, even in years when they are not up to snuff.

Yawn!

But to say we are good because we play each other and that's enough is a circular argument. There's no way to verify how strong they really are when they only play teams within their own conference who must also be good because they beat another so called good team, once again in the SEC. How can anyone really compare and get an accurate picture of how the teams really rate when there's no way to compare them using games vs other teams from elsewhere? Is there any better way to tell other than interconference play?

Yawning!

How many people kissed off Utah in their bowl game because Alabama was the 2nd best team in the SEC? ... and of course all the superman mystique that goes with it. They even whupped the Tide much worse than Florida did. But will Utah and their other worthy opponents from the MWC benefit from that next season, and the year after... even in light of the fact that the SEC plays mostly patsies, Utah will pay, unfairly and so will quality teams from other so called weaker conferences, not because of a perceived weaker SOS, but because there's no way to compare when the SEC stays home and passes FL International and the Citadel around like a cheap *****.

Yawn!

SEC teams will again get more credit than they deserve anyway and the "Utah's" from elsewhere will suffer for it, unfairly. Maybe that has something to do with the SEC's poor record vs the Pac-10. They are consistantly ambushed by these perceived weaker opponents from the Pac-10 who aren't really as weak as they were made out to be. I'm not trying to toot my horn by saying that, but a 7-11 W/L record vs the Pac-10 means something, doesn't it? Maybe it means that a lot of SEC teams' reputations are built on hype instead of performance because they have nothing to compare themselves to but each other. And that costs other teams in the polls and in their bowl opportunities, unfairly.

Yawn!

There sure is a lot of hype and ego when the SEC is in the discussion, not just quality football that is superior to everyone else. There are just too many exceptions to that idea that shoot it down so logically there must be something to it. The only solution is for SEC teams to provide for a real comparison to the rest of CFB by playing outside the conference vs other BCS schools much more than they are doing now.

Yawn!



Move on to something else...

The SEC is 5-0 in BCS National Title games..

Your "one" team is 1-1...

Live with it...