Eli Manning became the highest paid player in the NFL today. In an unrelated story Peyton Manning was seen standing on top of Lucas Stadium on the window ledge of Colts President Bill Polian.

I was on the phone with a friend of mine reminiscing about a recent deep sea fishing trip I just returned from and the many splendid moments that I had. The new friendships that were developed the rebuilding of old acquaintances and of course the cigars that were smoked the beers that were drunk and the fish that were caught and the "one that got away."

So after a hard days work back at the grind stone and getting back in the groove because frankly I wish I was still on that boat on the open seas breathing the fresh air, telling stories, laughing and just having a good time away from it all.

After the day began to slow its pace like an old man telling stories in the French Quarter of days gone by while talking on the phone I decided to open Fox sports and only to see an article about who will face USC in the BCS national Championship game in January 2010. Like a child with a fork it seems that some just cannot resist sticking that fork in the electrical socket to see if they will actually get a shock. Time-after-time, year-after-year, it's the same old story but with different characters wielding their fork.

I should not be shocked nor amazed by the knobbing love affair has the media with one Pete Carroll and his USC Trojans. He has done a fine job recruiting beating up the PAC-10 and taking home the PAC-10 championship and his one BCS National Championship. He deserves his due on that as does any coach that is able to achieve such high standards with the mighty ULCA Bruins across town always in their own right threatening for a national title in some other sport that has nothing to do with football.

But here we are in May and already USC is the "chosen one" to beat. It was at that moment I tossed my cookies on my Pete Carroll Voodoo doll.

While there are some that want to proclaim which conference is superior and in fact I have done just that to ruffle the feathers of my fellow bloggers because frankly I get a kick out of it. But it seems that The Associated Press has also got itself into the debate. A recent article published today across the nation sums up it up in one simple sentence or thought. "Others may have traditions, but in the South it's all about winning."

As a former Big 10 player I can say I love the Big 10 but I am also realistic about the overall conference as I am with the PAC 10, the ACC and Big East. As the article states the Big 10 is "three yards and a cloud of dust" while the PAC 10 is and I will borrow the phrase "USC and the Nine Dwarfs." Let's face it USC is the PAC 10 and the others are just window dressing. The only time they have any relevance is when USC's inevitable lose(s) to someone in the PAC 10. It happens almost every year and I see it happening in the foreseeable future.

The Big East is all about basketball, taking the pill down the court. Football is just a fancy side show for the basketball conference. The ACC has its moments but are they really relevant? It seems they are like the "Nine Dwarfs of the PAC 10" throwing in an upset now and then to make it look good. The Big 10 is old school with an old coaching sport methodology. Sure they are competitive but when is the last time they won anything? The same can be said for the PAC 10. While USC gets more than its fair share of hype and press clippings and yes they have three Rose Bowls in a row and frankly they should win everytime they play in it. It is like their birth right.

Because the SEC has been successful with 5 national Titles in the BCS era and with a possible three in a row. Throw that in with the fact that SEC fans band together during the bowl season in which supporters of other teams in other conferences fail to understand the tradition of the SEC and its winning ways. While we hate each other when we are foes we support each other when we face everyone else.

It's like we can call each other names and get into physical altercations, like family, but if any outsider attacks any of our brethren then you have just attacked all of us. We will stand up for one another like family until we face off next year.

Baton Rouge Police reported that an individual attempted to "egg" Coach
Les Miles' home last night.

The report stated:

An empty egg carton was recovered at the scene. Two eggs hit Coach
Miles house, 3 eggs went over his house and hit his neighbor's back
door, 2 eggs hit the houses of each of his next door neighbors, and the
remaining 3 eggs were found broken on the ground near the carton from
where the individual threw them. Looking at what was hit, police
officials say they are considering quarterback Jarrett Lee as the primary
suspect.

Some things to consider in the Florida vs. LSU tilt this weekend.

First you have the cool calm Urban Myer of UF Gators that has his team being mentioned in the BSC National Championship game if they can win out and win the SEC Championship Game. Myer is an excellent coach and recruiter. The problems that UF has this year are really simple. Not able to successfully run the ball on a consistent basis. The defensive secondary is suspect but not as bad as LSU's and you can run at the defensive front.

LSU's mad hatter Les Miles is frankly a huge risk taker but he just keeps whistling through the cemetery in the big games. LSU, like the Gators, are loaded with talent and good coaches. LSU's secondary is, in my opinion, not that stellar this year. That is why you do not see LSU blitz as much as they have in the past. They need the linebackers in coverage. The advantage that LSU has is they do have a running game and the offensive line is not as offensive as last year with more yellow being thrown on the field than the girls from Tri Sigma leaving their underwear in the stands.

With all this being said let's look at the stats and to be clear I hate statistics and the people that sit around and spew them like they are the Bible and all things shall become true because of them.

UF is 3-11-2 against defending national champs.

UF is 14-28-2 in 44 previous meetings with the defending SEC Champs.

LSU is 10-13-3 in Gainesville all-time, but has beaten the Gators three of the past four and four of the last six.

A win give LSU consecutive 5-0 starts for the first time since Nixon Administration (1972-1973)