He actually said they weren’t the best something like ‘four or five SEC teams could have competed with Ohio State,’ which isn’t as bad. From what I can tell, it’s just an article of faith among SEC players and fans that the league is the best and toughest every year by far. Probably true this year. Moss also said OSU wasn’t the best team they’d played all year, considering the results…
One interesting statistic that has been largely overlooked during this bowl season:
In bowl games held in the University of Phoenix Stadium, teams wearing Blue and Orange are 2-0 over teams wearing Red and White.
Meaning that the Arizona Cardinals should immediately rename themselves the Glendale Bluebirds. 
This hatred was made known to me in mid-November 2000 when I saw a student banner at Neyland Stadium that said, “The Electoral College: Another Florida school we hate!” 
Heh. One more reason to love the SEC: EVERY game is a grudge match. 
I saw one of my favorites when I went to a Vandy/Tennessee game in Nashville. A sheet had been painted and hung from the outside wall of one of the dorms.
Its message: “Orange on back, red on neck, ain’t worth a sheet”.
The SEC is by far the strongest conference in the country from top to bottom. At least five SEC teams were in the top 25 this year, with three of them in the top ten. Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and LSU each knocked at least one of the other three teams out of contention for the national championship. Plus, you have the fratricide of the SEC championship game, while the Big Ten refuses to play one.
Ohio State and Michigan were very good this year. But who do you think would win between the fifth or sixth best SEC team vs the similar team from the Big Ten?
I agree. I was trying to say I think that’s an article of faith every year.
And I think it’s true every year.
(full disclosure…I grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas)
But I think the facts bear me out.
Don’t forget what happened when the Bears played on MNF this year…
Went to UF from 1996 - 2001, fell in love with footbal (college and pro).
(My dad is a Michigan alum so the polling made me very nervous–if Michigan played UF, I wouldn’t know who to cheer for! :D)
Wow. Awesome. I wasn’t expecting UF to do this well at all–my prediction was that OSU would rule the first quarter, UF start mounting a comeback, end up within a scoring drive during the third quarter, and fall apart in the fourth.
Although, of course, it kind of sucks to be Urban Meyer now. How the heck do you top this?
Still, Orange and Blue rules.
(BTW, Buckeye fans, apparently in the olden days, the school colors were something more of a marigold and blue…sound familiar? :D)
Well, let’s take a look shall we?
SEC-01 v Big10-01 (Florida v. Ohio State) - SEC wins
SEC-02 v Big10-02 (Arkansas v. Wisconsin) - Big10 wins
SEC-05 v Big10-04 (Penn State v Tennessee) - Big10 wins
So, head to head, the Big10(sic) wins 2-1 unless you count the Florida win twice
Big10-03 Michigan - played USC (PAC10-01) and got spanked
SEC-03 LSU - treated Notre Dame (IND) like a baby seal during fur season
SEC-04 Auburn - won a close one against Nebraska (Big12-02, should have been 03)
Big10-05 Purdue - got frozen by Friedgen and Maryland (ACC-05)
SEC-06 Georgia - amazing comeback win against Virginia Tech (ACC-03)
Big10-06 Minnesota - a defensive showcase, but Texas Tech (Big12-05) wins 44-41, The FED publicly worries about “point inflation”
SEC-07 Kentucky - beat Clemson (ACC-05)
SEC-08 South Carolina - forgot to bring the defense, but outscored Houston (USA-01)
Big10-08 Iowa - loses respectably to Texas (Big12-03)
SEC-09 Alabama - lost to Oklahoma State (Big12-08), finally realized Bear Bryant died 23 years ago
Big10-07 Indiana - somehow not invited to one of the 1.45x10[sup]8[/sup] bowl games despite almost having a winning record
Big10-09 Northwestern - overlooked despite winning a full one third of their games
SEC-10 Mississippi - didn’t play
Big10-10 Michigan State - didn’t play - newflash, they sucked
Big10-11 Illinois - made Michigan State look good
SEC-11 Vanderbilt - didn’t play, but didn’t finish in the cellar - it’s a resurgent Vandy!
SEC-12 Mississippi State - you’re kidding, right?
Against other opponents, the BIG10 goes a stunning 0-4. The SEC goes 5-1, but to their credit, they wanted to send Vandy to play Ok. State which might have made them a perfect 6-0.
Draw your own conclusions…
Hey, screw you! We beat MSU in Lansing!
Not to mention putting a hell of a scare into OSU. Florida probably used our game tapes to put together that upset.
Any port in a storm, eh?
I agree (biased for sure), but its hard to justify Ohio State having to beat Michigan 2x to win the title. That just doesn’t make sense to me.
(Of course, in 1996, the Seminoles had to play Florida 2x, and lost the National Champion ship game. We really need a playoff system).
Well yeah…but here you go slandering our good name in an unflattering comparison with those Nancys. A guy’s gotta draw the line somewheres.
Can you tell basketball season is starting?
Eat It Izzo!
you’re absolutely right, they should only have to get their asses kicked by UF once to lose it. given the performances of UF and UM post-season, I am truly astounded that we’re even discussing that craptacular match of number twos.
By going to the NFL, failing at that, and then taking over a 2nd rate SEC team, like Vandy or one of those Mississippi schools.
Please. 
<–Dawgfan
I can’t see any sane NFL owner hiring a guy whose bread and butter is the Spread Offense as his new coach.
Unless Daniel Snyder is hiring.
Like I said…