In 2005, the media was all in a twist over Pac Ten offenses vs. SEC defenses. Rich Brooks’ quotes were taken from a Jake Curtis (San Francisco Chronicle) article – Pac-10 versus SEC: Point-counterpoint No surprise that Brooks is going to be loyal to his current conference, but he is in a unique position to have seen both styles of defense more than most. Anyway I think Brooks nailed it, but I am extending it to any conference not just the Pac-10. In particular it’s the quality of the defensive line - their size, strength, and speed. If you play against that week after week, it just takes its toll. If you go undefeated or make it to the title game from the SEC, it’s an amazing accomplishment.
One would have to play in each conference for at least one year to know such a thing. And even then it would be subjective.
People misinterprete the star system constantly. Those ratings only say that half of the teams in the SEC have true freshmen that can contribute immediately. 5-star = Can play as a true frosh 4-star = Can play as a RS frosh 3-star = Can play as a soph. And so on...
Yes, only a fool would think it's just as difficult for, say, Iowa, to go play at PSU, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State than it is for, say, LSU to go play at Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, or Auburn. Over the past five years, Iowa has played bowl games against Florida (twice), LSU, Southern Cal, and Texas. We still talk about how we were awed by the team speed, the number of 5 stars, and the great coaches we saw in our SEC games versus those wimps we played at USC and Texas. It's not just that the SEC has more good teams (agreed), it's that these teams are more physical. Being physical is a thing that teams like Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State have never grasped because they only recruit non-physical players. There's a lot of players in the Big Ten who could have played in the SEC, but they didn't want to get hurt.:wink:
I think the deep south has an awful lot of African-American and Confederate-American players who take this here game very seriously and play it hard and fast. Those granola-eating, tree-hugging surfer dudes out west sure are good-lookin', but football is a game to them. The Big-10 has entirely too many blond-headed, corn-fed farm boys that can pick up a tractor but can't outrun a silo. Or count to eleven, apparently. The south comes out low on a lot of lists in this country, but football ain't one of them.
Man, I agree completely... the passion down here runs deep... not sure where the roots are but I think you're standing on them.
You made me laugh out loud cause you are SO right about that -I thought the same and was one of the reasons I decided to jump in on that angle but I also don't like broad statements without factual basis and some of these were just that. I can handle any "My team is better at ....... if it's supported" and from any fanbase. It is sometimes fun to play the Devil's advocate though- I had True Grit ready to get in my azz last night.:lol: Actually I didn't touch Deek's post itself cause he's trying to be a "Good fan". :hihi: Another was because, in doing so, when you start citing "League Championships", that's a stretch. Some conferences don't have Conference Championship games. Playing every team in a conference is more defining of a Champ than our format in the SEC........we have no choice though, I understand. Props to Deek anyway. :thumb:
