Beating the SEC

[irishog77]

Most SEC fans don't believe Auburn is awesome... they believe they were lucky. But they're there... and that's all that matters. And if they do beat Fla State, then they deserve the title. And unlike Notre Dame last year, I do think they have a solid shot at winning.

No and yes, to the bolded. I think most people acknowledge Auburn has been lucky, but then by virtue of them winning the sec, now think they are awesome. I sat at a table with 10-15 people at bar last night watching the game. Every single person was an "sec" fan, except me. Most were ut, a couple Alabama, and 1 Georgia and 1 KY fan. Every single person at the table (no exaggeration) said Auburn will rout FSU. Granted, most of them were chicks and/or casual fans, but most had no idea FSU was even favored. In fact, they were dumbfounded that a non-sec team would be favored in a championship game.

I warned my ut friends after the espn contract with the sec was reported-- be careful what you wish for. UT fans were convinced espn/abc cost Archie's boy the Heisman in '97. Now, with constant positive reinforcement from the espn network, sec fans have grown beyond delusional about their team (well, I mean the supposed main team of the 14 they cheer for) and conference.

One of the guys at the bar didn't know I was an ND fan, I guess he assumed I was a ut fan (or ___ sec team). When I finally broke the news to him that I was not pulling for Alabama, again- dumbfounded. He couldn't fathom that I was not pulling for the "sec," like the "sec" is a team. When he asked why I wasn't pulling for the "sec," I of course couldn't resist the opportunity to tell him, "I cheer for 1 team, not 14." He never even bothered to ask what team I liked (and I never bothered to offer the info either), the dude literally had no idea somebody might not be a fan of 14 teams.

I shit you not when I say that one of my good buddies (who is a huge ut fan), jumped up from the table and stormed off after AJ got sacked at the end of the game. He. Was. PISSED! I had to laugh! I'm not sure I've ever seen a Tennessee fan that mad after a loss. Except it was a loss...by Tennessee fans' biggest and most hated rival.

Sorry, Tommy, I know you've seen and heard a lot of this before-- I got carried away and long winded. My original point remains-- I don't buy, at all, that most sec fans don't believe Auburn is awesome. The rest of the post though was for others on IE who don't live in places like Nashville to understand what it can be like watching a general football game with people around you...or carrying on conversations about football with these people.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Conference pride is a huge thing in the SEC. But if fans take their blinders off and evaluate teams based on their play, the conclusion that Auburn is more lucky than great is the only logical conclusion they should have. As far as the game, who really knows. FSU hasn't been challenged. It will be interesting watching to see what happens.

As far as me and who I will cheer for.... well, I just can't cheer for that "cow college." I hope they lose by 3 tds. Bad enough having to hear from them and how they beat us this year. Doing it while sporting a three dollar NC shirt two sizes too small would be almost too much for me to take.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm not trying to hate here, just being honest.... I wonder if this is the collective worst pairing in BCS title history... I don't know if either of these teams can be called 'great'... with that said I think FSU is probably better. FSU also hasn't been challenged once all year and played a joke of a schedule... if Auburn comes out and hits a couple of big plays early I could see FSU crumbling. I do think there is a real chance that no matter who wins they may very well be the worst BCS champion this side of 02 tOSU… not that it'll matter much.

 

[ACamp1900]

I also wonder if overall parity isn’t finally showing itself this year… I think the only arguably ‘great’ team was bama… and they lost two in a row. I also don’t know if this Bama team could have hung in there with the great teams of a decade ago… just ten years ago the gap between the top five and everyone else was massive… now I don’t think the gap between the top five and the teams barely in the top 20 isn't all that great. Point is I think cream is not what the cream used to be… maybe that’s good for cfb.

 

[Irish YJ]

I'm not trying to hate here, just being honest.... I wonder if this is the collective worst pairing in BCS title history... I don't know if either of these teams can be called 'great'... with that said I think FSU is probably better. FSU also hasn't been challenged once all year and played a joke of a schedule... if Auburn comes out and hits a couple of big plays early I could see FSU crumbling. I do think there is a real chance that no matter who wins they may very well be the worst BCS champion this side of 02 tOSU… not that it'll matter much.

You're hating ....
They (FSU) may not have had the toughest schedule, but they beat a Pitt team that beat us, and was competitive throughout the year, throttled Clemson which is a top 10 team, crushed instate rivals Miami and Florida, and blasted a Duke team that should have beat A&M. Their margin of victory is over the top. Their D is quick and strong, their O dynamic. That said, I think Auburn can give them a game. Regardless, if you throw a decent SEC or Big 12 team on their schedule (assume FSU won), plus forget all the SEC is god's country BS, and everyone would be talking how FSU is a crazy good team. Throttling a good Clemson team should be enough for all of us to see the talent and performance....


By the way, I hate FSU in a big way. But give them their due. It's also nice to see someone other than an SEC team looking like a beast, even if it is the Semenoles.

 

[ACamp1900]

They are 'great' because they beat a Pitt team that beat ND??..... Irish Envy everybody!!!

 

[Irish YJ]

They are 'great' because they beat a Pitt team that beat ND??..... Irish Envy everybody!!!

That was just one point (for those who think we had the toughest schedule in the world...).

They are great because they are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, took care of business as they should, and throttled everybody on their schedule. What more could they do.... with the exception of leaving their weak conference, which we just semi-joined.

 

[ACamp1900]

That was just one point (for those who think we had the toughest schedule in the world...).

They are great because they are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, took care of business as they should, and throttled everybody on their schedule. What more could they do.... with the exception of leaving their weak conference, which we just semi-joined.

They have definately looked good against the challenges presented to them...

 

[Damion704]

This is funny as hell... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UG06P195BE

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Not exactly in line with the most recent discussion here but I think this is dead wrong. "Smashmouth Football" will remain and possible become even more advantageous in the next 10-15 years, IMO, as defenses become smaller and quicker to better defend the 5-wide spread proliferation. When everyone's small and fast, you can run right over them.

Unless, like OU did, they get up 2+ scores on you and make you play their game. OU dictated to Bama, and IMO that's why they won.

This was the point I was trying to make when I started this thread. 9 out of 10 times OU plays Bama, they would loose just by nature of the talent gap (not a single team has even touched Bama in recruiting in recent years). No matter what, every team on their schedule is at a disadvantage. But trying to beat them at their own game--smashmouth football--isn't going to work. Your only real hope is to get ahead early and play an attacking style defense. This is exactly what Oklahoma managed to do.

True, Oklahoma's defense gave up 31 points and 500+ yards of offense. But they did come up with big turnovers and kept McCarron uncomfortable in the pocket. They forced Bama to play Big 12 football. When Bama did play to their strengths, they made Oklahoma looks worse than we did last year, but they're not built to play from behind in a shootout.

This is relevant because I expect one of Alabama or LSU (two sides of the same coin) to be in the playoffs virtually every year. If we plan on playing playoff-caliber football, we have to expect to play one of them when we get there. Our star studded defense last year wasn't even close to be up to the task of stifling their power running game, so maybe we need to reconsider how do things.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

They are 'great' because they beat a Pitt team that beat ND??..... Irish Envy everybody!!!

They embarrassed a pretty good Clemson team in their own house, so you can't say they don't have a marquis win. I have also have been more impressed with Winston--in his rookie season--then I was watching Andrew Luck. They have earned the right to be considered the #1 team in the country.

 

[clashmore_mike]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eJOnMpkyTKw?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Bama, Auburn, and S Carolina will be there. And should. Maybe one or two more as well.

As far as what happenned... the SEC is having such an awful bowl season. LMAO

They are still going to finish with yet another winning bowl record. To think they are still not the best conference is amazing. And all those young players running around on the field for the SEC will be another year older and better come next season. Can't wait.

I agree that a nasty defense is the key to a championship. Bamas defense wasn't on par with the last two years with, like you said, the lack of shutdown corners. Shutdown corners are hard to come by especially when evaluating highschool talent. Recruit A & B could have the same measurable, speed, and quickness with only one being capable of being a lock down corner.

Who's Alabama got under center next season? Breaking in a new QB is never easy. Do you foresee a drop-off?

I dunno is I agree that the SEC is head and shoulders above every conference. I've felt LSU has been overrated the last few years and South Carolina can never real pull it off or live up to the hype. To be honest, Auburn reminds me of ND last year, a lot of luck. I expect them to lose 1 or 2 games next season. I don't think they've got the depth to continue on the roll they had this season.

 

[phork]

FSU wins this one going away. They played a joke of a schedule but throttled everyone on it. Unlike say ND of last year. Squeaking by such power houses as Purdue & Pitt.
When you are a good team this is how you beat the teams you should beat.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I agree that a nasty defense is the key to a championship. Bamas defense wasn't on par with the last two years with, like you said, the lack of shutdown corners. Shutdown corners are hard to come by especially when evaluating highschool talent. Recruit A & B could have the same measurable, speed, and quickness with only one being capable of being a lock down corner.

Who's Alabama got under center next season? Breaking in a new QB is never easy. Do you foresee a drop-off?

I dunno is I agree that the SEC is head and shoulders above every conference. I've felt LSU has been overrated the last few years and South Carolina can never real pull it off or live up to the hype. To be honest, Auburn reminds me of ND last year, a lot of luck. I expect them to lose 1 or 2 games next season. I don't think they've got the depth to continue on the roll they had this season.

If Coker from FSU enrolls then he will be the starter and Bama will be in great shape. If the Tide has to go with who they have there now, Sims would probably get the first look followed by Del Rio and Morris. Bateman just hasn't developed and Cornwell will probably redshirt since he is coming off his knee injury. No Coker = real concern for me.

Agree LSU has been somewhat overrated the last two years. I like Les but I would not want him coaching my team. He just seems to not get the most out of his talent. He better fix it quick. He is starting to lose some great players out of La to other schools.

Auburn should be ok next year. My concern with them is after a year a lot of teams will figure out that mickey mouse offense Gus wins. Unless he develops more wrinkles to it, I don't see the Tigers being any better than 9-3 next year.

 

[ickythump1225]

FSU wins this one going away. They played a joke of a schedule but throttled everyone on it. Unlike say ND of last year. Squeaking by such power houses as Purdue & Pitt.
When you are a good team this is how you beat the teams you should beat.

Yes but FSU's schedule excepting Clemson was made up of all Purdue and Pitt's. We didn't play a "joke of a schedule" last year or this year. FSU really only had to get up for 1, maybe 2 games and that was it. Their schedule would make Alabama blush.

 

[GoIrish41]

Yes but FSU's schedule excepting Clemson was made up of all Purdue and Pitt's. We didn't play a "joke of a schedule" last year or this year. FSU really only had to get up for 1, maybe 2 games and that was it. Their schedule would make Alabama blush.

Are you saying that Bethune-Cookman wasn't a difficult game?

 

[phork]

Yes but FSU's schedule excepting Clemson was made up of all Purdue and Pitt's. We didn't play a "joke of a schedule" last year or this year. FSU really only had to get up for 1, maybe 2 games and that was it. Their schedule would make Alabama blush.

Did you see what they did to Clemson? AT Clemson?

 

[IrishLax]

phork in his classic bored troll mode. No one thinks ND is as good as FSU... which has averaged a truly historic margin of victory over opponents this year... but he's going to act like that's a thing and relate the two teams to elicit emotional responses.

 

[Cackalacky]

Did you see what they did to Clemson? AT Clemson?

Well Clemson is atrocious in big games at home...they are like the NCAA "Munson's".

 

[phork]

phork in his classic bored troll mode. No one thinks ND is as good as FSU... which has averaged a truly historic margin of victory over opponents this year... but he's going to act like that's a thing and relate the two teams to elicit emotional responses.

My point was that great teams blow out teams like that. Is that false?

 

[swole1]

My point was that great teams blow out teams like that. Is that false?

No, FSU played the teams on their schedule and beat the crap out of them!

 

[ickythump1225]

Are you saying that Bethune-Cookman wasn't a difficult game?

No offense to the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats was intended.

 

[NCND]

NCAAF Let's go Seminoles! - ESPN