I just find all the smack talking between SEC fans entertaining. For a conference that holds itself in such high regard, it’s kinda funny knowing none of their teams is going to play in the Rose Bowl this year because they can’t pass a Big 12 team in the standings.
There’s a stock answer to this, that we in the Pac-10 have polished and refined, in the years before USC’s domince: parity. All the teams in the conference play at such a high level, that no one can come out of conference play without 1 or 2 losses – but then we kick butt in the bowl games.
It’s not necessarily true, but it sounds good. 
As a fellow Pac-10 fan, I am familiar with this argument. However, while it most certainly was applicable to the Pac-10, I don’t see it as having any relevence to the SEC.
Nonsense. The SEC has 3 teams in the Coaches Poll top ten, tied with the ACC for the most. They have 2 in the AP which has Penn State over UGA (whatever?) giving the ACC the most in that poll. With the strenghtening of the ACC and the devolution of the Big Least to a mid-major, you certainly do have another powerhouse conference to join the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and PAC 10, but to suggest that there is no parity in the SEC ignores the facts. ACC still has a way to go though, once they start selling out games and playing on the weekend, they’ll get more fan respect.
I’d love to see the USC (or UCLA) play someone other than a Big 12 patsy in the Rose Bowl. Maybe if the team were not quite as good as 5-3 Notre Dame, they could even win without cheating.
Well, it’s just like last year, when USC and Oklahoma were the media darlings. This year it’s USC and Texas. Unless one of them loses, nobody else has a chance. The solution, of course, is a playoff, but that ain’t gonna happen.
IMHO Virginia Tech would have the best chance of beating USC but unless Texas loses, Va. Tech won’t get an opportunity to prove it. Unless UCLA beats USC, in which case the Rose Bowl will feature Va. Tech and Texas with UCLA standin’ outside lookin’ in.
As for SEC fans talkin’ smack, we’re good at it. It’s what we do.
Hey whole bean: I grew up a Gator fan, but by the end of my first day as an Auburn student, I’d found that Auburn represented the true path to Truth, Justice and the American Way.
You’ve got some hard feelin’s towards the Georgia folks, but I don’t worry about 'em too much. Cut ‘em a little slack for being brain deficient and it all works out. Can’t say the same for LSU and Tennessee people. Those two places got some real dipshits rootin’ for 'em.
I had a ball in Knoxville last year. Got involved with some UT fans that invited me to sit with them in their donor suite, with a big free buffet of gourmet food and all that shit. They ragged on me from the time we got in there and I was so wound up about the game I couldn’t eat before kickoff.
Then by halftime Auburn was ahead 24-0 and those folks had all left out. I went to the buffet and loaded up on steak, lobster, ice cream, cake, the whole works and ate through the second half of the game. Enjoyed that meal better than any I remember, with the final Auburn 34, Tennessee 10.
I think the polls are BS, frankly. Who has Alabama beaten to deserve to be ranked that high? Florida? Who did Florida beat? Tennessee? Who has Tennessee beaten? LSU? Who has LSU beaten? Well, you can count Arizona State, but they’re not very good, either. But, hey, if LSU does well against Appalachian State this weekend, that could make me change my mind. The SEC has a rep as a tough conference so they get ranked high on the polls, but they rarely play anyone tough outside the conference. I have to give credit to Texas for going up against Ohio State and beating them.
Of course, not that any of that’s any different then what USC or Va Tech has done this season, but at least USC took on Notre Dame (which is overrated this season). Since there will never be a playoff, they need to make a rule stating that you can’t be ranked in the top 10 in the BCS if you play a 1) 1-AA team (I’m looking at you, LSU) and 2) don’t play at least two non-conference games against other major conferences, with maybe the provision that any team ranked in the top 15 or something counts as a major conference team even if they’re Notre Dame or Boise State or something like that.
The Virginia Tech whose victories include traditional football powers like Duke, NC State, Ohio (not Ohio State), and Marshall? The two best teams they’ve played so far are Georgia Tech and Boston College. Georgia Tech couldn’t even manage a win against NC State and the toughest team BC has beat this year is Wake.
My team (California) opens the 2006 season in Knoxville, and I’m seriously considering making the road trip. It should be a serious case of culture shock; but on the other hand, I’ve never seen 100,000 people in one place. Should be cool.
You think the polls are BS, huh? Here’s the heart of your post, "Of course, not that any of that’s any different then what USC or Va Tech has done this season, but at least USC took on Notre Dame (which is overrated this season). " For every “of course” there’s a “but” and for that “but” a “which.” What in the hell would you like, 119 team playoff? Who has USC beaten? Who has Va Tech beaten? Who has Texas beaten? Who has UCLA beaten?
SEC fans like SEC football. SEC fans are in the south, which is provencial by nature. We could give two shits about the Rose Bowl unless our team or our teams’ rival is in it. I watch the Big Ten games and the PAC 10 games, the ones on at noon or at like 9:00 at night, and I think damn cold weather and ugly haircuts (Big Ten) or who the hell picks a duck or a condom for their mascot (PAC 10). Kidding, college football anywhere is alright by me (unless it’s played on blue astro turf, and then it’s just weird)
you are the bizarro me! I grew up in bama and started cheeing for Auburn when my mom got her doctorate there in the early '80’s, the Bo years (prior to that I had been pretty unaware of football) Most of my family is Bama though. The best years fo my life in hogtown (92-99 – good years to be a Gator) changed that though
What I’d like is to force major conference teams to stop playing patsies in the beginning of the season and play at least two non-conference teams that might actually be a challenge. USC has beaten Notre Dame. Va Tech has beaten nobody of consequence. Texas beat Ohio State. UCLA has beaten no one of consequence.
This from a conference that includes mascots of chickens, algae, pigs and apparently ran out of ideas after ten teams and had to recycle not one, but two mascots? 
I agree, and I think you’re already starting to see this.
But they’re overrated, remember
algae? algae? . . . Ooooh, Bama – [nitpick] the tide isn’t their mascot, it’s their nickname - jersey color and all [nitpick] And how many gosh darn ways do Californians have to say bear?
Overrated, but they’re not a complete patsie. To compare, look at how 'Bama is challenging itself, I mean…Middle Tennesee State? Or Wisconsin going up against powerhouses Bowling Green, Temple, and UNC.
Compare to Hawaii’s non-conference schedule - USC, Mich State, and Wisconsin. Now that’s a worthy non-conference schedule.
Either way, it’s lame.
Hey, it’s not our fault we have an expansive vocabulary and like to show off.
One of the best things about college sports is team names. All the Volunteers & Sooners, Green Waves & Horned Frogs, Golden Gophers & Golden Bears --so much better than the lame Eagles & Lions you get in the NFL.
You’re argument is eating itself. Hawaii is to the their non-conference opponents what a La. Tech is to a UF. Hawaii wouldn’t have that “worthy” schedule if it weren’t for some team taking a weak opponent.
Not really. Like I said, I’m only talking two non-conference against other majors. Heck, at this point I’d be satisfied with one. Most teams have three or four total non-conference games, depending on the size of the conference. Plenty of room for mid-majors to find majors to fill their schedule.
The consensus on the discussion board where I hang out, is that the perfect non-conference schedule has A-B-C games. A = top 1 or 2 in a BCS conference; B = middle BCS, or top mid-level conference; C = cupcake. This gives you the proper mix of exposure, strength of schedule, and wins.
So Hawaii was playing way over their heads (2 A’s and 1 B). My Bears scheduled (through no fault of their own) 3 cupcakes, and any team that does so deserves the scorn they get.
how’s UF/FSU? remember Wyoming was supposed to be good and La Tech is our Hawaii. The rest - conference, incl. Bama #4, LSU #6, UGA #11 . . .
the problem comes when four of your conference games are also A games
Supposedly…
That’s my entire point. The conferences are so incestuous, the argument for teams from the SEC being ranked so high is, “Oh, they beat Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU.” Then you say, well, what makes you think those teams are so good? “Well, they beat Florida, Auburn and Alabama.”
So, you say that your conference games are A games, but how do you know? So long as people are padding with cupcakes outside the conference, you don’t know.