Florida better than Georgia? You think Florida is better than Georgia will be? Is that because of Leak?
Florida must get rid of Ron Zook if they are to keep up with LSU. He is not the answer there. I think Georgia stands the best chance at being the 2nd best team after LSU. Tennessee 3rd and Florida 4th (because of Ron Zook).
Just returned from Nassau and have yet to offer my congratulations to LSU..!! You had a great year and were clearly the class act of the SEC..!! As a Georgia fan, I expect the Dawgs to be your toughest opponent next year. 19 or 20 starters will be back. The very young OL will be more mature. And I doubt that Zook will survive. He has yet to beat FSU or Miami and the instate rivalry issue within Florida is very significant. But for now, just enjoy that NC Crystal Trophy!
Re: Florida better than Georgia? It will be between UF and UGA in 04. The cocktail party could decide the East.
First of all congrats on your NC. This was one of many Gator fans cheering the Tigers on. Secondly, this is one Gator fan who believes that Zook will be our coach for a long time. Thirdly, UGA fans are not allowed to comment on a team that OWNS them! (14 of the last 15, and Zook is 2-0). Miami is back off the sked next year so our sos gets much easier. Our young team gets some more seasoning and we'll see LSU in Atlanta!
I gotta agree with you 100%. This is how the SEC will shake down next season. You can book it. SEC West 1. LSU 2. Arkansas 3. Alabama (my choice for surprise SEC West team next season) 4. Auburn 5. Ole Miss (biggest dissapointment 2004 season) 6. Miss State SEC East 1. Florida (Leak has outstanding season in 2004) 2. Georgia 3. Tennessee 4. Kentucky (surprise 2004 team) 5. USC (Holtz crashes and burns in 2004) 6. Vandy
Fine with me if Zook stays. Zook will only keep Florida in the average range, and will allow Georgia to play in Atlanta again. Zooks record: 16 - 10 Richts record during the same two years: 24 - 4 (including an SEC Championship, two bowl victories and two top 10 rankings) And this year was a rebuilding year for Georgia. Once again, keep Zook..!!
I think UGA will be the strongest contender to LSU for future conference championships over the next couple of years. Richt has recruited well and his teams (unlike most teams) have athletes that can play at LSU's level. Richt is also one of the better overall coaches in the SEC, and one of only a few that have any chance of matching up with Nick Saban in a coaching battle. Florida has also recruited well, but I think it will be difficult for UF to achieve consistency under Zook's management. They will always be dangerous and capable of beating any team on a good day, but they will have games like their recent bowl game where they do not perform anywhere near their capability. UF will be like the proverbial box of chocolates because you will never know what you will get. Although they were both pretty good this year, I think Ole Miss and Arkansas are losing too many good players to seriously compete for a conference championship next year. Nutt and Cutcliffe are competent coaches though, and will probably have their teams back in the mix for 2005. Tennessee always has some talent around, but it is really starting to look like Phat Phil has lost control of that program and the inmates appear to be running the asylum. They have nobody around to fill the void that will be left by Casey Clausen's graduation, and even if they did, Fullmer can recruit, but IMV he simply isn't in Saban's or Richt's league as a gameday or game preparation coach, and there are also serious questions about his ability to lead and motivate his players. Auburn consistently has great athletes, but until they figure out how to put a balanced offense on the field, they will have trouble competing with LSU and UGA for top conference honors. Bama has great tradition, but it does not matter in 2004 that the Bear was a dominant coach in the 1970's. The effects of the NCAA scholarship limits are only now becoming apparent. Since Shula did not have the chance to go through a full cycle of recruiting and Spring practice last year, it is too early to tell whether he will be able to compete with the better coaches in the SEC. However, nothing I have seen to date indicates that he will be among the SEC's elite coaches. For obvious reasons, it would be astonishing to me if Vandy, Kentucky, South Carolina or Mississippi State were able to make any sort of run at a conference championship over the next couple of years.
