We're pretty lucky in Big 12 country when it comes to football. The entire experience--quality of play, traditions, fan fervor, tailgating opulence--is pretty high. The SEC, however, is at an entirely different level.
Take for example, their media days. Comparing conference strength is often a useless exercise, and trying to do the same with media days is no better. You'll find the SEC at the top there too. Nobody has the characters, the joie de vivre that they do down in Birmingham right now, and there are still two days left!
Check out this quote from Steve Spurrier: "I thought we had done something when we beat Clemson, but then Kentucky beat them in a bowl game." (Hat tip: EDSBS)
You see that? You see what he did there? Spurrier not only slammed his natural, blood-feud, non-conference rival he also got a dig in against a fellow conference foe. Brilliant! Not sure why it was Kentucky. Tennessee always used to be the Head Ball Coach's target and they're still pretty appealing in my mind.
In contrast, here's what Bill Callahan had to say about being picked behind Missouri:
"Personally, no, I don't agree with it. But I love our football team and I think they're capable of doing some great things...
...So I don't want to take anything away from Missouri, and I certainly don't take anything away from any of the competitors in the Big 12 North, as I was telling the writers out there earlier, hope springs eternal for everybody at this time of year. And it's going to be competitive. It's going to be fun and it's going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out."
But that's not fun is it? No digs were delivered, no egos bruised in the name of competition and I'm not saying that's wrong, it's just much less interesting. It's the difference between being from the Midwest and being from the South, that's all.
I don't write about the SEC in such terms very often, but I'd die to be there for this event. Luckily, AL.com is and if that's not enough coverage, you can also check out the SEC website.
And don't think that because Spurrier's already taken the mic that the fun is over. We still have Nick Saban, Les Miles, Phil Fulmer, and, of course, the immortal Ed Orgeron to go. I know the video is old, but I'll take every opportunity I can get to post it again because, well, it's funny.
I waited to watch the Florida pre-season news conference; Urban was late, so I went for a lunch time run.
The SEC coaches are a bunch of back biters with humerous news conferences. It does make for good theatre, yet drags the conference down with poor, internal sportsmanship.
SEC is going to be tough, Auburn, LSU, Flordia, all are going to be tough. Tenn, will also be in the picture. The Big 12, you have Texas, Oklahoma, Texas AM, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech that are going to be very competitive in the south. Then you will have Nebraska, Kansas State, Kansas, and Mo. I think Nebraska is going to surprize people this year, as well as Kansas State. Colorado is going to start playing some different ball this year, be a better team.
slshusker: Be it through Steve Spurrier or simple common sense, whatever the reason, I'm glad you'll be visor-less.
mattp908: Even though I'm a Nebraska fan, I fear I skew to the pessimistic side of things a bit too often so I hope you're right. Nebraska certainly COULD be a surprise national title contender. They should be favored in all but two games.
Or, they might not even win their division. Keller, while good (I think), is still new. It's sort of a unique situation.
Hiplains, having grown up in the SEC, and lived in Knoxville, there is no better place to live during the NCAA football season. Tailgating every Sat is so much fun, and people live and die for their team.
As you witnessed, the media weekend is a blast and just a foreshadowing of the season to come. Spurrier is priceless, but Saban is sure to raise a few hackles this season.
The SEC is best place for college football and smack talk because it can be backed up. If you have never been to an SEC game and done the tailgating before and after the game then you have never experienced college football. The best places to tail gate are LSU (food is the best in the country), Florida, Bama, Arkansas (great BBQ). During SEC rivalry game it is not uncomon to have 100,000 people just tailgating and not even going in the stadium...
Everyone, I have been saying it all year Nebraska will win the big 12, they will beat USC and they will be a top 5 team and I would not be surprised to see them in the NC.
hey i was thrilled as a oregon duck fan to see kentucky do so well,, why??? rich brooks the head wildcat!! coached at oregon andddddddd he was once an oregon state beaver!!!! GO FIGURE
bayoudog, I have a great friend who I worked with, DEA AGENT, who was a big OLD MISS fan. He told me about the tailgating at OLD MISS. Sounds like a very good time. He said people will show up the day before the game, cookouts, drinking, dancing and so on. Thankya for the comments about Nebraska, some things will have to fall in place with the defense for them to be good enough to be number one in the big 12, let alone playing for the national championship. I think they will beat Wake Forest by three points. USC coming to Lincoln, Nebraska, I can't ever rememeber them ever playing there. They are in for a treat. 80,000 fans sitting on top of you, yelling, screaming. Nebraska is a hard place to play in. But USC will find the fans friendly. If you don't believe me ask around. Do you know of any fans in America that clapp for and tell the other team, good job, at the end of each game, even if Nebraska loses. It part of our tradition to treat others as we would treat our own and I'm proud to be part of that tradition. I'v sat in the North Stands numerous times, during the tunnel walk for the visiting team I'v seen fans call out to indiviual players and to the team telling them how great they played and clapp for them as they leave the field and along the tunnel. It will be a great game between USC and Nebraska. Both teams deserve respect. This could be Nebraska's year, we'll just have to wait and see.
