SEC West is the Biggest Fraud of All Time

[Legacy]

Great Comments

Great Comments

I've enjoyed reading the comments on this and admire the research some have put into this issue. At times, it seems this discussion has been a little testy, including the title of the topic. Personally, perceptions always seem to swing too far in one direction and then too far in the other direction.

As an Irish fan, it's hard for me to get into the conference-think. While I consider conference dominance to be a specious argument, I was as surprised as everyone at the outcomes involving the seven ranked SEC teams (2-5). Individual team matchups are the true tests, especially in this new era of non-playoff Selection Committee matchups.

What these matchups and the outcomes told me was:
- TCU absolutely belongs among the top teams with the destruction of Ole Miss, who I considered the second best SEC team
- Alabama's top defense gave up over 500 yds with 281 in rushing. Ohio State deserves the title shot. Defense wins championships.
- Georgia Tech really took it to Mississippi State, controlling the game, especially since the win against Georgia was so close. This was not just their scheme but their execution with a very talented QB. 452 yds of rushing offense averaging 7.41 yds per carry!
- Wisconsin showed up against Auburn after a humiliating loss to Ohio State and the loss of their head coach
- Notre Dame put together a great game plan against LSU, but Fournette is sick. I still don't expect ND to be ranked.

I know how difficult beatdowns are for a ND fan and how enjoyable upsets are. I'm sure other teams' fan have similar feelings. I don't know how much this is predictive of conference strength or future perceptions of teams by conferences.

Narrowing rankings to top ten or top fifteen is probably more accurate and fair. Regular season matchups between conferences as in college b-ball would be great. Extending Committee ranking matchups to another five bowl games regardless of conference contracts would be better for football fans. Getting rid of a FCS game in the regular season to accomodate an eight team playoff would be an improvement. But probably none of these will happen.

 

[woolybug25]

For reference, here is Tammy's implosion on Finebaum. It's an epic rant:

Tammy defends the SEC on Finebaum

Tammy is must listen to radio. Epic.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Tammy is must listen to radio. Epic.

I still don't know how much of Tammy's over the top stuff is real and how much is scripted, or at least intentional buffoonery to play to the audience. My guess is that most of it is intentional and just part of the show. I can't listen to her. Three minutes of her or any other part of Finebaum's show, and I've had all I can take.

 

[IrishinTN]

For reference, here is Tammy's implosion on Finebaum. It's an epic rant:

Tammy defends the SEC on Finebaum

Wow. And I will second Cackalacky's response that I get to listen to this stuff all year long. Especially those "SEC!" chants. Drive me nuts.

 

[Huntr]

Yeah, same here. I can't listen to finebaum. It's the same shit over and over and all of it nonsensical. It's like listening to people around here, only about the SEC instead of fsu. finebaum started out as the local B-ham radio guy covering Bama, then he blew up. Theres a dude like that here in Tally who focuses on all things noles. He and his callers may not be quite as bad as Tammy or Jim from Tuscaloosa or that ass who poisoned the trees at Toomer's Corner, but they aren't far off. Certainly just as delusional and just as monotonous.

 

[IrishLion]

"SEC fans" all over my facebook are starting to push back and say "if you don't like the SEC, just wait till March when UK wins it all."

Just the worst type of people.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

"SEC fans" all over my facebook are starting to push back and say "if you don't like the SEC, just wait till March when UK wins it all."

Just the worst type of people.

Too bad that I think they're right. UK is straight up sick and I hate it.

 

[IrishLax]

Too bad that I think they're right. UK is straight up sick and I hate it.

Go... Duke?

Unrelated... this is an oldie, but a goodie just reposted on ISD: Why SEC Isn't As Great In Football As You Think | ThePostGame

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Too bad that I think they're right. UK is straight up sick and I hate it.

And the only ranked SEC team. This thought process is identical to their (SEC fanboys) football one: One otherworldly team that does all the heavy lifting, and a bunch of clingers holding their coattails.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Go... Duke?

Unrelated... this is an oldie, but a goodie just reposted on ISD: Why SEC Isn't As Great In Football As You Think | ThePostGame

No. Go...Kansas.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I can't listen to Pawl very much these days. I try to catch Gary Danielson, Herbie, and a few other guests when they come on. I can't take the bat **** crazy callers. Luckily they calm down during the off season most years and Pawl actually gets some decent conversation going at times. Hopefully they do the same this time around.

 

[T Town Tommy]

No. Go...Kansas.

I think Kansas can make a pretty good run. They have the talent... just need to put it together. But UK is gonna be a tough out. Dare I say... Ess E Se..... nevermind.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Go... Duke?

Unrelated... this is an oldie, but a goodie just reposted on ISD: Why SEC Isn't As Great In Football As You Think | ThePostGame

Also, I think the SEC dominance is a more recent phenomenon. Going back to 1998 evens the numbers out quite a bit. This is the link Rocket posted earlier that I think is really solid.

SEC Bias: Why the Southeastern Conference Earns More Hype than Other Leagues - One Foot Down

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I think Kansas can make a pretty good run. They have the talent... just need to put it together. But UK is gonna be a tough out. Dare I say... Ess E Se..... nevermind.

Kansas is solid at times. UK dismantled us and we had a really bad loss to Temple. But there are flashes of brilliance from Oubre and Alexander. But I won't clog up this thread with basketball.

 

[irishtrain]

You will never here me say they are frauds-what they are is the best minor league pro football teams in the country who's schools have 85 ( or more ) guys on campus to make $$$ and win football games. What I am happy to see is a shot in the @#$ at their arrogance after losing all these games the last few days. Remember this is a conference that wanted 3 teams in the last 4 to assure their position and $$$$$$. College football wins on this one and more to the point college football guys win or at least make a statement on how and why they are on campus. We cant turn back the clock and the cat is now out of the bag on semi pro football but it did me a world of good to here the excuses and see their arrogance get a slap in the face. When they beat my Irish like they were Prattville High School and had both teams in the BCS championship game the year before the rest of college football woke up-what the hell is going on down there-its called minor league pro football with no regard to why these guys are on campus but to win a football game. College boys just beat your #@@.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

The playoff couldn't have started at a better time. Without them, Alabama plays FSU in the title game. No way an undefeated F$U team doesn't get in at #2. Alabama would've curb stomped them and the $EC crap would've lived on.

 

[Booslum31]

The playoff couldn't have started at a better time. Without them, Alabama plays FSU in the title game. No way an undefeated F$U team doesn't get in at #2. Alabama would've curb stomped them and the $EC crap would've lived on.

Good call...you are so right.

 

[phork]

I think FSU matches up better with Alabama, it would have been closer I think.

 

[GoldenDomer]

I think FSU matches up better with Alabama, it would have been closer I think.

Consolation game?

 

[DonnieNarco]

I want to see Arizona and Virginia Tech play a "we defeated the champs" game.

 

[GoldenDomer]

I want to see Arizona and Virginia Tech play a "we defeated the champs" game.

Arizona big time. VT's season ended that night.

 

[T Town Tommy]

You will never here me say they are frauds-what they are is the best minor league pro football teams in the country who's schools have 85 ( or more ) guys on campus to make $$$ and win football games. What I am happy to see is a shot in the @#$ at their arrogance after losing all these games the last few days. Remember this is a conference that wanted 3 teams in the last 4 to assure their position and $$$$$$. College football wins on this one and more to the point college football guys win or at least make a statement on how and why they are on campus. We cant turn back the clock and the cat is now out of the bag on semi pro football but it did me a world of good to here the excuses and see their arrogance get a slap in the face. When they beat my Irish like they were Prattville High School and had both teams in the BCS championship game the year before the rest of college football woke up-what the hell is going on down there-its called minor league pro football with no regard to why these guys are on campus but to win a football game. College boys just beat your #@@.

What you know about Prattville High School train?

 

[irishff1014]

The media makes the sec out to be the monstet. Yes there are some coached that make statements backing their conference. As many said this wasn't the usually Bama team. Mississippi, Mississippi state, Texas am were giving way to much credit in the begining. I know this isn't going to be a fan favorite but just like ND was at the begining. Our brining part of the schedule was junk. Michigan turned out to being a huge pile of trash. Everyone expects ND to be good the media likes that to be wrong so they can bash ND. But even the guys in the broadcast booth for the bowl game were saying really positive things about ND.