Right, but Kevin Smith has gotten no hype whatsoever. He almost ran for 2500 yards and couldn't even get on the Heisman final ballot. He didn't even win running back of the year. Ron Dayne won the heisman trophy, left as college football's all time rushing leader, and went to a higher profile big 10 school so there are some differences in the two. When I watch Kevin Smith, I don't see someone who is ridiculously fast or strong but he breaks a lot of tackles and he gets to the end zone. I could see him being successful in the NFL if he played in the right system. Yes, it is hard to gauge his season because he played against weaker competition, but UCF is no powerhouse either. You can't just assume he's bad because of it, 2500 yards is amazing no matter what division you do it in because you are playing teams that are similar to your own.
Having watched Kevin Smith play for the last couple of years...my best comparison, and a pretty good one IMO, is to Keiland Williams playing in a non-BCS conference. Same style, speed, athletic ability, and build but playing against lesser competition and behind a less talented line.
That game didn't prove anything. I'm as proud of the SEC as anyone, but not to the point that I don't recognize that some years the SEC is overhyped. Last year the SEC had a .500 bowl record. It's easy to thump your chest after a victory and proclaim that it's asinine to imply that the SEC is overhyped, but where will you be if the SEC does turn out to have a losing bowl season?
A lot of people didn't give LaDainian Tomlinson any credit coming out of TCU... I bet they wouldn't admit talking $%^$ now.
