The SEC Is Weak(er)

but the difference between the “haves” and the “have nots” is certainly the widest it’s been since the mid-1990s.

I want the SEC to be strong. When Bama beats these teams and wins the SEC, I want it to be seen as a major accomplishment, not like Boise winning the WAC. (A little extreme example, but same concept.)

If nothing else, Bama fans should recognize that we won’t be undefeated every year. If we want to be able to compete for the NC with 1 or 2 losses, we need the SEC to be the top conference.

But yeah, the SEC looked very weak yesterday. And I for one was not happy about it.

It’s too early for anything to be anything. Maybe the SEC is weaker or maybe this week was a statistical outlier.

….and our seats were right behind the UConn section, but it was mostly just locals (lot of Alabama and Auburn hats) who had gone to the game ‘cause “hey, football.” I wasn’t wearing anything team related, but the guy next to me was wearing an Alabama shirt and since I was rooting for UConn the whole game he assumed I was a UConn fan and asked me if I had come down for the game. He was very surprised when I said “no, I’m from here, I’m an Alabama fan” and wanted to know why I wasn’t rooting for the SEC and I told him "fuck the SEC, when we beat Texas they’ll be out chanting S-E-C! S-E-C! like they had something to do with it, but if we lose they’ll be pointing and laughing and telling us “stupid bammers the Bear is dead”! He just laughed and was like “yeah, probably” and started pulling for UConn. So yeah, the rest of the conference can suck on my butt if they think I am going to root for their team just because they are on our schedule a lot.

some of the teams are down, but others are on the way up. so the team most people had picked to finish last in the west pissed away a game to j’vill state. so what? kanasas lost to n dakota state. does that make the big 12 inherently awful too?

i think we could see USC and Georgia step it up this season, along with miss state and arkansas in the west. kentucky looks like another solid team who can beat any team in the conference and looks like a lock to win the music city bowl.

anyway, some of the more recent powers may be weaker this year (florida and lsu) but plenty of other teams are solid and could win 10 games and look to breeze through their OOC schedules ( GA, USC, UK, MSU, Arkansas)

We know, as of now, the following:
West
1.We know Cam Newton is probably pretty damned good, but Auburn’s defense is still teh suxors.
2. We know Ole Miss has a lot, lot, lot of problems, and they don’t just involve talent, opposition, or incredibly shitty in-game adjustments. It just seems that Nutt always brings the circus to town, and this team could implode or rally around him according to caprice. We also know that Stanley is probably a more capable player in that system right now than Masoli.
3. We know that Mississippi State can’t be taken for granted, especially on offense, as if they ever were. Year one to year two will show big gains, as Mullen has recruited well, and is cobbling together a 7-5ish, silly putty n duct tape team wit the talent on-hand
4. We know that LSUs biggest assets are three-fold, but they are all between the ears: Sanders, Crowton and Miles. Tenative, bone-headed, lacking adjustments, stubborn. All three fit this bill, and it shows with their team’s lack of play in the second half.
5. We know plenty about us: enough to scare us in some areas, reassure us in others, and just downright make us giddy in still others.
6. We know Arkansas has Ryan Mallet and an untested quantity on defense.

East
1. We know that UF has some problems on the o line, and with injuries to the secondary, can be burned through the air. We also know that Addazio/Urbz’s system has no running game unless it is directed through the QB (see also, 2006). We also know that the new kids have headcases amongst them, but that UF has some of the best talent in the country.
2. We know that South Carolina is doing their typical flirt with greatness we’ve become accustomed to under Spurrier. We also know that Garcia (surely) has to get better after 17 years in the sytem, and that Alshon is a beast. What we don’t know is how well this team fares both down the stretch and against teams with a defensive pulse.
3. Which brings us to Georgia. We know that Georgia has a potent 1-2-3 at WR/RBs, and the leagues’ best O line. We don’t know whether the 3-4 debut of Grantham was smoke and mirrors. The Sun Belt isn’t the best forum to test that. And, I dare say, after next week — irrespective of outcome — that we still won’t know much about UGA-So.Car, except that one lost.
4. Kentucky: We know that Randall Cobb is one of the coolest players in all of the SEC and a true weapon no matter the position. We know that they beat a Strong team which played with more of a pulse than any time in the last two years. Other than that, we don’t know much about these guys.
5. Tennessee: I submit, based on the stat sheet and offseason lurking, that UT still has problems at QB, that the O line is still not very good, that a 100+ yard game by a RB against a bad 1-AA team does not a world beater make. We also know that there are key losses on the Dline, LB and — of course — secondary. However, this is the second year under the new offensive staff, so those gains, against East Popcorn State could be purely illusory (see So. Carolina above).
6. Norman is great. Norman is hurt. Vandy sucks, but still played NW as closely as Auburn did. So, either an improvement under Caldwell, or Auburn really, really friggin’ stinks.

I will gladly boast the SEC is the toughest conference, win or lose. But I do not inherently root for anyone…only the tide. The SEC needs to stay stong, however, so that we can keep the pundits at bay and send the SEC to BCS championship every year that is possible…or else they will start sending the Boises and TCUs every year.

Not that there is anything against those teams, but playing 8 to 10 ‘SJSUs’ per year should not write your ticket to the show. Until they play some stout competition year in and year out, Boise and Co. should be happy in any ‘other’ BCS game they land.

I wish Boise and TCU (or was it BYU) could have played Florida or a top tier ACC team last bowl season…and not each other. That would give them more credit for me.

Boise should play a home and home with Auburn…Since both teams are so fond of “creative” offensive schemes.