No SEC team has been in the Title hunt this year and never will be simply because the media wants to see USC-Texas-VT succeed and will position those teams however they have to to get the BCS game to turn out the way they want it. They were talking about these teams in February. It's not like playing in the hardest conference in the country is going to change their minds. Pessimistic I know, but reality is what it is. I've come to terms with it. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!
I really don't think that we would try to claim a national championship, because this would not be the first time that has happened to us. I believe that it happened twice for Bear. I don't think that the true "Bama" fan believes that we will be playing in the Rose bowl this year. I think that we are just proud of our team, and we've supported them thru the bad, and shouldn't be criticized because we're supporting them now.
I would beg to differ. LSU's loss to Tennessee was quite damaging. From my outsider's view, LSU had been getting as much press as Texas early on... and more press than VT. If LSU had won the Vol game, especially by the lead they had built up at one point, they would right there in the rat race behind fUSC... and perhaps ahead of VT. I would also suggest that this is not an outstanding year for the SEC top to bottom... at least not by your normal standards... and the claim that this is "the hardest conference in the country" may not hold as much water as it historically does. Quite frankly, Alabama has not been all that impressive during their undefeated run and may be ranked higher than they deserve... time will tell. Auburn didn't help the conference with their loss to GT, which in turn hurt LSU when you beat Auburn... sad but true. To suggest there is some kind of media conspiracy to keep an SEC team out of the top 3 is.... well, you get my drift. LSU will be the highest ranked team in the SEC by season's end... and the Tennessee loss will prove more damaging than any media bias... just calling a spade a spade.
VT had already moved ahead of LSU before the LSU - Tennessee game had taken place. Also, while top to bottom the SEC might not be as impressive as in the past I would take our top 6 over any other conference's top 6 any day.
Your observations are accurate. Not that this affects the rankings, but, had LSU been able to play their games as scheduled, we would be undefeated and #3 in the rankings and in the BCS. Unfortunately, stuff happens ad we are out of the NC race. I will be ecstatic with a Sugar Bowl victory and a record of 12-1. Right now, Bama is the obstacle, after next Saturday night's formal scrimmage.
I would expect nothing less. I'm sure folks in the ACC and Big Ten think their top six are as good as anyone's, too. I just think conference teams have to go out and do it to give fans the right to claim it. Tennessee's loss to ND at home last year hurt the SEC... no doubt about it. Auburn's loss to GT this year was also not good for bragging rights. It's no different than Texas going into OSU and winning... that hurt Big Ten bragging rights big time. If you want to claim that "any time, any place" thing, it helps to have recently kicked the crap out of your top OOC match-ups.
Should we be fortunate enough to win out, there will not be any "People's Championship" for Bama. We have way too much pride to act like the barners. The hay ride parade through downtown Opelika was just soooooooooo cute!! Made the boys feel just like Cub Scouts again.
