fify:evil:

No, there's really not. That's why I'm planning on getting my degree and heading back north, or anywhere that's not the deep south. I love sports just as much, if not more than the next guy, but down there it's ****ing nuts. I was so pumped to go down there after they won the first national championship just a month after I accepted my scholarship to go there. And then the second title, the first while I was there, was pretty awesome. But after almost 4 years of being there, I'm completely burnt out and pretty turned off of NCAAF at this point, although I have to admit I'm part of a very small minority. Just the way the people handle it down there is so offputting and annoying it's completely ruined it for me. I really do think its because they have nothing else to do, no pro teams, etc.

Striker is a very atypical pass rusher though. He's basically a safety that blitzes every down.

Bama shoulda gave it to Derrick Henry on every play. Jacksonville boy was a man among boys in HS. Looked damn good last night.

I don't know that we would have beaten them, but I definitely believe that we would have had a much better chance than we did of beating Auburn.

Any Bama fan who roots for Auburn is a pussy. Take your disappointment like a man instead of hopping on your rival's bandwagon.

Now this is something every non-OU fan, no matter their conference affiliation, can agree on.

It's a simple concept. As a Florida fan, other SEC teams performing well in bowl games and winning championships is in the best interest of Florida. A strong conference gets the best recruits and the benefit of the doubt come bowl season. There's a reason a 1-loss SEC team always gets the nod over 1-loss teams from other conferences (see Auburn in the BCSCG instead of ohio state, Michigan State, Baylor or Alabama over Oregon & K-State last year or Alabama over Oklahoma State & Stanford in 2011).

Unlike other conferences, in the SEC you know that if you win the conference you're going to play for the national title.

No one's hopping on any bandwagons here. The thing I'm pretty sure everyone has failed to mention is that the teams in the conference share revenues from bowl wins and the cash flows generated, so its in our best interest to cheer for our fellow conference teams and further promote the SEC; essentially the rich getting richer.

This. I think this logic probably only applies to football with the way the current system is set up. With the SEC maintaining its dominance, you're assuring yourself the benefit of the doubt when being compared to teams from other conferences, and in a sport where one loss can end your season in many years, having that leg up means everything and maintaining that advantage is key, even if it means pulling for a rival school once in awhile. I don't think the 4 team playoff is going to have a huge impact on this, but if say they ever went to a 16 team playoff, I think some of this might fade away, but who knows with how deep that SEC pride runs right now.

810 just said the 3 biggest bowl favorites this year all lost by double digits.

[QUdouble =DaKCMan AP;10331151]It's a simple concept. As a Florida fan, other SEC teams performing well in bowl games and winning championships is in the best interest of Florida. A strong conference gets the best recruits and the benefit of the doubt come bowl season. There's a reason a 1-loss SEC team always gets the nod over 1-loss teams from other conferences (see Auburn in the BCSCG instead of ohio state, Michigan State, Baylor or Alabama over Oregon & K-State last year or Alabama over Oklahoma State & Stanford in 2011).

Unlike other conferences, in the SEC you know that if you win the conference you're going to play for the national title.[/QUOTE]

So do you think many MU or KUfans would have rooted for the opposing school to win a national title based on what you said? How about Michigan/OSU? If what the Bama guy said is true I don't ever want to hear about how great a rivalry that is again. I think most Missouri and Kansas fans would choose a winless season over their rival winning a national title in football and basketball.

It's a win-win situation.

I half-ass root for other Big XII teams in bowl games, so that if they win, it makes the conference look stronger as a whole.

If they lose, I get to laugh in their ridiculous, loser faces.

You also have to understand that the SEC used to be the conference that DIDN'T get the benefit of the doubt. The whole cheering-for-the-conference thing IS an effort to make the whole conference look stronger, so that debacles like 2004 Auburn not getting into the title game don't happen again. The SEC used to feel like outsiders, oft-spurned by northern snobbery. It's all very interesting sociologically. And, yeah, totally understandable one can find it annoying. But part of your annoyance is probably coming from a place of disappointment -- those southern schools and fanbases found out how to game the BCS system, and your conference didn't.

That said, the idea that SEC schools all root for each other is itself an overblown, exaggerated one. All it takes is a brief glance at SEC Twitter last night to see the pure delight in Alabama's loss, from other SEC school fans. SEC fans take pride in conference accomplishments and take joy in seeing rivals fail. Yeah, its having one' cake and eating it too, but so it goes.

What does that matter? I explained to you the reason why SEC fans want the SEC to perform well in bowl games and against non-conference opponents: more $$, better recruits, and the benefit of the doubt come championship time.

We don't really care if other conferences/schools 'get' it or not. The Big 10 hasn't had a national champion in 11 years. Michigan hasn't played for one in 16 years. Similarly, the Big 12 has had 1 national champion in the last 12 years.

Over that same time span the SEC has had 4 different teams win national championships. SEC fans realize that if their team wins the conference they will play for a title and that whomever represents the conference in the title game needs to win so that it stays that way.

That's more like you punching your brother vs another kid in the neighborhood punching your brother. It's ok if you do it, but if anyone does it they better look out.

+1

Especially when schools in the Big 10, ACC, etc. have a much easier path to an undefeated season.

I grew up a KU fan, obviously mainly for basketball. I can't see myself ever cheering for Mizzou in basketball, no way. And even being about to graduate from Bama, I still hate Mizzou WAY more than Auburn, so if it was Mizzou against FSU instead, I'm not sure I could do it. But, like I said I think NCAA football and basketball are two totally different scenarios. Conference reputation might get you a 2 seed instead of a 4 seed in the tournament, but you can still play your way to the title. In football, that SEC reputation is what guaranteed the 1-loss SEC champ the spot in the title game over all the other 1-loss BCS conference champions. There's a lot more at stake when it comes to football with the way its currently structured.

I don't agree with rolltide's estimate of 75% of Alabama fans rooting for Auburn. I live in Tuscaloosa too, and it is far more even in my experience.

Me? I'm rooting for Auburn. But this is because I don't hate Auburn. I'm a Bama fan by circumstance, and mostly because I teach some of the players. By rooting for Alabama I'm rooting for this community and for those students and for my friends and etc. If Bama loses? Oh well. If Missouri loses? I'm crushed.

What will happen after the BCS title game with Alabama fans is they will spin an Auburn win into some kind of narrative about how Auburn was the only team to beat Alabama during the season, so that makes Alabama look better. If Auburn loses? Alabama fans will delight in it, try to talk about luck and flukes and how Gus Malzahn can't win the big game and etc.

Wow. Crazy shit but I'm more of a hardcore fan I guess. It just wreaks of I'm a pussy but my dad can beat up your dad type shit. Weak and insecure. I wonder if there still isn't some civil war butt hurt still in effect.

I kinda look at it like this.

Obviously you don't want your conference to go 0 for whatever in these bowls.

Hell, I'd even be okay with someone besides Kansas winning the Big 12 this year. The league is so strong that it would be nice to have a rivalry build up.

Rivalries only work when both teams are playing at a high level.

That has been the problem with the KSU v ku rivalry in both major sports since the 90's. It's not been competitive for the last 20+ yrs.

Well boys, when the Buckeyes lose tonight, try not to be to harsh on the B10.

I think it's been the main issue between all the old Big 8 schools.

UNL-OU in football was good.

KSU had brief stretches with UNL and OU in football but not over time.

KU-MU in basketball had slight intrigue when Norm Stewart was the coach and obviously the mid-late 2000's in football.

Great rivalries played at a high level are actually very rare but when they are going it can be really fun.

The 2004 Auburn team doesn't agree with you.

Thanks for the note, simpleton. The 2004 Auburn team is precisely why the BCS Championship Game was created.

LOL.

Wrong as usual.

The day I root for Texas to win the BCS title is the day I root for Denver to win a Superbowl. Hell, I'm rooting for Mizzu tonight. Rooting for conferences is stupid. Not a **** will be given about NC State after FSU wins a national title.

This.

It adds to the lameness of SEC fans when they root for their entire conference.

I don't get why you don't (seem to) understand that, when the conference you're in does better as a whole, it's better for the individual member institutions.

How have teams like Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc. benefitted from the SEC's success the past few years?

My question is now that there is a playoff will SEC teams still pull for each other? Every major conference gets a shot now, correct? So a conference representative will not be left out.

$

A panel will select the 4 teams in the playoff. Conference strength (or perceived strength), for instance, possibly would have had Alabama in the playoff over conference winners Baylor and Stanford.

The SEC has won the past 7 national titles among 4 teams. Here's how the other teams have performed before and after (not including new additions TAMU & Mizzou).

Wins during the past 7 years:
Miss St - 48 (3 bowl wins)
Kentucky - 37 (2 bowl wins)
Vanderbilt - 39 (2 bowl wins)
Mississippi - 42 (4 bowl wins)
Tennessee - 43 (1 bowl win)
South Carolina - 62 (2 bowl wins)
Arkansas - 49 (2 bowl wins)
Georgia - 65 (4 bowl wins)

Wins the 7 years prior:
Miss St - 25 (1 bowl win)
Kentucky - 28 (1 bowl win)
Vanderbilt - 20 (0 bowl wins)
Mississippi - 42 (2 bowl wins)
Tennessee - 61 (2 bowl wins)
South Carolina - 48 (3 bowl wins)
Arkansas - 50 (1 bowl win)
Georgia - 69 (5 bowl wins)


4 significantly improved
3 pretty much stayed the same
1 significantly worsened

So 4 improved and 4 stayed the same or became worse.

Thanks for making my point.

4 improved
1 became worse

+3 for the conference

Thanks for proving you have no point.

ROFL You are changing your own math now.

What about the 3 that stayed the same (per your assessment)?

You can't describe a school as having "benefitted" if they have stayed the same (which means no improvement).

Let me help with your remedial math:

4 benefited = +4
3 remained the same = 0
1 worsened = -1

4 + 0 - 1 = +3

It helped half.

Stoops was just on Cowherd's show. Colin asked him about his "SEC propaganda" comment. Post-Sugar Bowl Stoops said he stood by his comment because he was just stating truth. He said the top 2 or 3 teams in the SEC are good, but the rest aren't, as all remaining teams were "0 for 31 against the top teams". He then added more to his argument by saying " What about missouri and texas a&m? Nobody talks about that. They were in the big 12 for a hundred years and didn't do anything. Now they go to the SEC and the cause problems over there. Why is that? Nobody talks about it, but that's a fact."

http://www.landthieves.com/board/sho...=1#post1581435

Bob bringing the hammer down!

Stay the same goes in the "not benefited" category, just like made worse.

So that is 4 benefited and 4 that were not benefited (either by staying the same or becoming worse).

Id say laughable non-conference schedules might have something to do with that

Bama Fan Phyllis Goes Off On Finebaum Over Cowherd’s Alabama Comments....

But PAAAAWWWLLLLLLLL!!!!

http://bustedcoverage.com/2013/12/18...-cowherds-pro/

OH. MY. GOD. Dude is ****ing laying it all out there.

Them's some big words. BIG ****ing words.

I'm not sure I disagree, but I'm not going to go to the media with it. Damn.

What are the chances he gets reprimanded? They can't even hint that the officials made a bad call, but he's essentially saying these teams get an unfair slant.

You sharing that link is no different than when ESPN talks up an SEC school, which you say you're so sick of. Every school has idiot sports radio callers. Why should Alabama's get special treatment to the point where they can be cheap content for sports blogs?

He is right.

I don't think its as cut and dry as he put it, but I do think things are evening out between the conferences.

Dubious. Missouri hasn't done anything in the SEC that they didn't do in the Big XII: lose in the conference championship game. TAMU, well, has a good head coach in Kevin Sumlin (and a mythical creature at QB to boot) who never coached the team in the Big XII. If you want to say that bowl games matter, Sumlin's TAMU completely obliterated Stoops' Oklahoma just last year.

Didn't he get hammered by A&M last year?

Has MU had a better season than this in your lifetime?

Only other season that compares is 2007. So it depends on whether you think the SEC is better than the Big XII or not, doesn't it. :D

MU was a kicker away from getting to a BCS game this year.

Were they in 2007?

And add the fact they have had, maybe, one comparable season in their entire existence in the B12.... And are near the top of the SEC in only their 2nd year in the conference?

Not sure I would say 2007 was better, but they are similar..both years MU was one half away from playing for the the National Championship.

Actually, we were one scheming AD and a Dan Beebe away from a BCS game. We had earned it based on ranking and head-to-head in 2007.

How many years did it take MU to reach this level of excellence in the B12?

It took 2 in the SEC...

Right, but we didn't just start over when we left the Big12.

Didn't take long to adapt to the SEC's superior level of play either...

That's a non-starter, your whole "2nd year in the SEC" thing. Pinkel had to build MU from the ground up, which took up a lot of the Big XII years. He has built a program that can do this every five years or so, and he got to take that program as is (with lots of senior/junior talent) to the SEC. This year's Mizzou team was going to make noise no matter the conference.

Hey. A&M won the Big 12... once... a hundred years ago. :D

And that noise was likely to be about the same volume.

Sitting in the pilot's lounge at Arlington Municipal 5 miles away from Jerry's World.



Please hold off on AIDS bombing the stadium.

But....


But....


But....

....


**** you. You ruin my fun asshole.

If it's a concentrated AIDS bomb, have at it.


I don't want the fallout blowing down here.

Its probably not right, but its called 7 National Championships son. And a sexy match up

Mizzou could be the first team to win the cotton bowl in each conference?

As a Big 12 member and tonight as a member of the SEC

Has this been done before or did anyone mention it yet?

Due to this historical feat, Mizzou probably shits the bed ROFL

Mizzou is better then OSU.


OSU is in this bowl due to turnovers and getting some home cooking. If Mizzou doesn't turn the ball over they will beat OSU.

If they do, has anyone won it as a member of both conferences?

Yes winning every 5 years when the other traditional powers are down.

Has anyone left the SEC and to the Big 8/12?


I don't think so.

Man, that's not even a good program ceiling and you still can't let MU fans have it? Have some pity.

Well, just saw on TV that Mizzou is wearing the gold uniforms tonight...I remember as a kid they never played well when they wore the gold unis....so OSU has that going for them I suppose. Hopefully MU bucks that trend tonight!

So why is the Cotton Bowl played at Jerry World, and the Heart of Dallas bowl played at the Cotton Bowl?

I think Pinkel has done a good job with the program. Its too bad a portion of the fan base continues to call for his firing.

The Big 12 is a 100 years old? I guess you learn something new everyday.

Geez...this Oklahoma State player they're going a story on has been through some major trials.

Here's hoping OSU beats Mizzou. This guy finally wins a big game after crapping the bed for almost a decade and all he can do is talk smack. How has the top of the Big 12 fared so far? 1-2 last I checked with Baylor and Texas getting beat handily. If OSU loses the top four teams in the Big 12 will be a combined 1-4.