Well, I mean I guess you could say that about anything... SMU stands a chance against USC with that argument.
What teams would show up. The USC team that thrashed Arkansas or the one that had so much trouble with Fresno St? What LSU team would show up, the one that thrashed Miami or the one that got thrashed by UGA? I think looking at each team's results it is fairly obvious that USC was a much more consistent team last year and would have beat us, by how much I can't guess.
I just don't think different teams show up? Same players and same coaching staff potna. You have to give credit to teams like Fresno St b/c they had a good game plan that week. USC had a great GP for the Hogs. If you have a great team and you choke it's the coach’s fault and the coaches fault only. He didn't get them boys prepared for that whipping. The players only do what their trained to do that week. Very rarely will a team just not show up, mark that as good old fashion poor preparation. Miles didn't get LSU ready for UGA. It wasn't Russell's fault b/c he didn't show up, it was the coach's fault b/c Russell went in that game less then 75%. Now had Miles started Flynn in the game I think we all agree that LSU would have won the SECCG. No such thing as "what team shows up and what team stays home". Going into a game w/your helmet on backwards is going to get you embarrassed. Ask Miami what we did them and why they lost? The most common answer is we weren’t prepared. Same team players and coaches just baaaaad game plan Buck.
The coaches take ultimate blame, but that doesn't mean that the players don't share in the blame. If any player is unprepared, that is their own fault along with the fault of the coaches. If it is an exception instead of the rule, most of the blame belongs to the player. And I don't agree that we would have won the SECCG if Flynn had started. The game didn't change much when he came in, why would it have if he had started? It was our defense that got blasted.
