Just For Sandhusker

[Mike]

While other conferences talk, SEC shows it's the best

Posted: July 25, 2008
HOOVER, Ala. -- Urban Meyer was walking around the Wynfrey Hotel earlier this week, waiting for his moment in front of the annual cattle call known as SEC media days.

It's a long way from his first year in this circus, when the Florida coach knew nothing of the league and his head coaching experience consisted of four years in the MAC and Mountain West conferences.


"I was thinking as I walked in here," Meyer said. "There are nine teams that can win this conference championship. Nine. How do you even comprehend something like that?"

You pray for the other three teams, that's how.

Never in the long and storied history of the SEC has the league been this deep, this dangerous. In fact, the reality is this collection of teams is the best conference in the history of the sport.

There are five coaches who have won national championships, another who should have had the opportunity to play for one, and eight coaches whose salaries meet or exceed $2 million a year.

And then, there are the players. In 2007, the SEC had seven teams in the top 10 of the rivals100.com recruiting rankings. The last two years, an SEC team has finished first in those rankings.

And on and on and on.

"I've given up trying to find superlatives for this conference," said Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson, whose team is one of the unfortunate three. "It's a long grind every fall -- and not just for us."

Other conferences talk about NFL first-round picks (the ACC) or a particular team that has elevated the rest of the conference (Pac-10) or the league's history (Big Ten) or its potential (Big 12).

Meanwhile, in the SEC, they know they're better than you.

I sat in Rick Neuheisel's office earlier this spring, watching highlights of elite high school players on national signing day. UCLA had just landed a top-10 class, and hope was on the horizon. Then a highlight of heralded defensive tackle Omar Hunter, who signed with Florida, rolled across the screen.

"You want to know why the SEC is so good?" Neuheisel said. "Guys like that. They're all over that league."

Argue all you want about the strength of conferences. Compare teams and coaches and players from the Pac-10 to the Sun Belt and all points between.

Meanwhile, the SEC stays in its own little corner of the college football world, with its conference championship game that sells out before the first play of the season, its multi-million-dollar coaches and a reputation that never has been bigger, badder or better.

"I'm sure folks would want me to say the conference I'm in now is just as strong as any other," said new Duke coach David Cutcliffe, a longtime SEC head and assistant coach. "But we're all chasing the SEC."

Could be worse. Could be among those other three.

Matt Hayes is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.

[Sandhusker]

Looks like the writings of a first-year journalism student who has just taken a big gulp of the Kool-aid.

I remember hearing the sports writers tell how SEC Champ Tennessee and Peyton Manning were going to teach Nebraska all about a passing attack unlike anything they had seen in the Big 12. Nebraska won 42-17, wore out the back of Manning's jersey.

I recall how they said that a Big 12 team would have no answer for SEC Champ Florida's "Fun-n-gun". Nebraska won 62 - a whole lot less - shut that offense that tore up the SEC completly down and embarrassed the coach. Argueably the easiest game NU had all year.

Sorry, my friend, I've heard it before. Didn't buy it then, was proven right, don't buy it now.

[jigs]

ahhhh, the SEC. the only thing that makes a Husker fan look modest.

I believe the post game quote from Fulmer after the KSU / Tenn. bowl game was "they just took us out behind the wood shed for a good old fashioned beating"


hate to appear to be on Sandy's bandwagon, but He MAY be right.

[Mike]

Had a feeling that would fire you Big 12 boys up.

I wouldn't talk too big though. The huskers have dropped both of the last 2 SEC games they've played.

[Sandhusker]

[jigs]

rest easy, I still think NU blows goats, but the SEC is NOT the jem they think they are.......

[loomixguy]

Hey, Jigs...what's this I hear your man Prince brought in TWENTY SEVEN JuCo players this off season?

Is he on the hot seat so bad he needs to try to get results immediately or he's GONE?!?!

How many in-state kids did he recruit?

Jiggsy's gonna have an awful long drive home from Manhattan (Nebraska's second home, since they have won there SOOO many times in the past) again this fall!!!

FWIW, the SEC is only about half as good as they think they are.....

[Sandhusker]

If Prince brings in that many jucos in his third year...... what's that say about his recruiting?

[jigs]

that was his big sell, recruiting, and when he took Freeman away from the University of kNowledge, I thought he was probably a decent recruiter. but he has missed out on a BUNCH of guys we should have had.
I am not impressed with him, and he needs to get a bowl game this year, or the big wigs will be after him. needs to beat KU also.....

he seems to put more effort into coming up with a cool slogan for the year, than actual game plans, but who am I to judge?? I just shell out a few hundred bucks every home game I go to......

Snyder had a gift in seeing talent that others passed up. Terrence Newman, Darren Sproles, any linebacker from the 90's, Bishop, Roberson, the Lockett brothers..... Jordy Nelson. Prince just misses these guys.
Plus you throw in the way the SEC pays its players.....
plus, it is a bitch to recruit to Manhattan......come on, if you are a 19 year old kids, hormones a flowing, and you visit NU or KSU in the end of November, then go to a California or Florida school for a visit...... what way are you gonna lean??? Carhart clad midwestern gals, or thong wearing beach bunnies????

[Sandhusker]

Thats funny that you mention the carharts. I remember when spring came and girls would start laying out on the lawns around the girls dorms and you would suddenly see all the babes and wonder "Where the heck were these girls all winter?" because you sure didn't see many hotties in February.

[loomixguy]

Sorority Row, just south of Selleck and east of the City Campus Union was a good place to start "Observation Bikini". The Tri Delt house had a few show offs back in the late 70's-early 80's that I recall.

I think it was a requirement for girls living at Fedde (the Fedde Feeders) to wear Carharrts year-round!