SEC...SEC...SEC

[Snaggletiger]

Slow lunch time on a Friday.  Heard some discussion on sports talk radio about SEC being/not being the best conference, blah, blah, blah.  Thought I'd do a quick check because I'm bored and really need to be suing someone.  I posted a while back about the pre-season mag I like the best, which is Street & Smith.  My kind of meat and potatoes rag.  Give me heights and weights, returning starters, a few stats and quotes and I'm good.  One thing they do at the start of each conference preview is list each team in the conference and how many 3, 4 and 5 star players each team signed.  You not only get an idea of how each team did, but also the conference as a whole. 

The numbers, for about the 5th year in a row,(Since I've been getting that mag) are staggering.  The SEC signs more than double, sometimes triple the number of 4 and 5 star players than any other conference. Does that guarantee success?  Yeah, it pretty much does.  I know assigning a rating to a particular kid doesn't mean that will translate to success on this level.  However, you stockpile those numbers year in and year out, and you have to be coached by Gus Malzahn not to be at or near the top.  So, what is success at this level?  Nayshunal Champeenships, of course.  Ain't that right, Paaaawwwwwl.  Take a look:

In the last 25 years, the SEC has won 13 MNC's.

The SEC has won 10 out of the last 14.

During that 14 year span, 4 different SEC teams have won the title. Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Florida.

In those 14 seasons, the SEC has either won, been a finalist (AU in 13') or been a part of the playoffs every single year. 

During the last 25 years, 5 different SEC teams have won it.  Add Tennessee to the list above.


To me, the thing that goes hand in hand, is the level of recruiting in this conference and playing for the crystal.  Granted, Bama has been a top player buyin' gettin' machine.  But when teams like Auburn finish at or near the top 10 in recruiting every year, and rarely are better than 6th in the conference, it tells you how much talent is spread throughout this league.  And the fact that 4 different teams in the last 14 years have won it, pretty much solidifies our place on the throne. 

Everyone else can suck it! 




 

[Vladimir]

I posted a while back about the pre-season mag I like the best, which is Street & Smith.  My kind of meat




 

Thought Gay Times magazine show your kind meat.

[wesfau2]

Every other conference has to look back over a quarter of a century to stake a claim.  They're still getting spanked as soon as they walk on the field with a motivated SEC team lately.  The others are chasing the SEC for a long time to get to any sort of parity in achievement, much less a claim of superiority.

[Snaggletiger]

Every other conference has to look back over a quarter of a century to stake a claim.  They're still getting spanked as soon as they walk on the field with a motivated SEC team lately.  The others are chasing the SEC for a long time to get to any sort of parity in achievement, much less a claim of superiority.

No doubt.  The most impressive thing to me is the number of SEC teams that have taken, or played for the crown.  Everyone else is top heavy.  The Big 12 is Okie and the odd year with Texas. The Sooners are consistent contenders.  The ACC is Clemson the past 4-5 years.  But that league is always dominated by one program.  It's either FSU and nobody else, or Clemson and nobody.  Big 10 is THE Ohio State and the rest of the pack.  I believe Meatchicken shared one 20+ years ago.  Pac 12?  USC period.  The Ducks (They're just so fast) and Washington have fielded a few decent teams, but who really cares? 

I think you have 3 possible teams that could reach the playoffs and I have to put Bama as the favorite in the SEC with so much coming back on offense and several injured defenders returning.  Go Gaytah is getting a ton of buzz, with one model I saw putting them in the MNC game vs. Texas.  FUGA? Who knows, but their defense will be nasty.  Probably keep them afloat until they settle on a QB and the revamped O-line gets some games under their belts.  But fuck em' anyway.