Ok, let me set the stage before everyone jumps on me. Prior to Alabama's loss to ATM, my perfect NT game was KSU vs Oregon. I didn't want Notre Dame getting in as we typically compete for a lot of the same recruits and their fans would be insufferable if they won or even got into the NCG. And I most certainly didn't want Alabama and the SEC to potentially claim another title. KSU, well they're not a big brand name program and we usually don't get into recruiting wars with them. Oregon, more of the same . . . except they have a lot more going for them.
So I was wholeheartedly rooting for ATM as they took down Bama. I was doing a little jig when I realized that there was a pretty solid chance that this NCG would be without any SEC representation. As I started to wrap my brain around this, a nasty little thought started making it's way around my mind. What would happen if two SEC teams finish with one loss and ranked in the top five? And it's entirely possible and maybe even likely that two SEC teams could finish the season with one loss and in the top five. Florida, Georgia, and Alabama won't face each other before the SEC CG. So we could see Florida and either Alabama or Georgia could finish without any additional losses.
There would be a lot of pressure to get one of those teams into the NCG, even if there were still at least two undefeated and eligible teams left. And what happens if the SEC gets left out and both of the SEC BCS teams demolish their opponents while the NCG is ugly or a blowout? Since they wouldn't be SEC teams, an ugly 6-3 game wouldn't be automatically labeled as the game of the century but would be viewed as those teams just weren't that great. There'd be even more noise clamoring that one of the SEC teams should've been in the NCG. And the SEC could be crowned AP champions despite not being represented in the NT game. At the very least, in the future there could be even more pressure for a one loss SEC team to get into the title game over an undefeated BCS conference team. And who here wants that? Especially when starting next year that undefeated team could be Ohio State.
This might not come to pass, the SEC teams could all stumble either before or in the BCS bowl games. I mean raise your hands if you honestly deep down thought that Bama would lose to ATM? I know I didn't. Sure I was hoping they could and I thought they had an outside shot at pulling the upset. But I thought that Bama's best chance to lose a game was against LSU, the SEC CG, or the NCG. Now I figure that it might be better if a couple of the undefeateds go down and Alabama, Florida, or Georgia get into the title game only to lose to say Oregon or KSU. There wouldn't be any noise about how the SEC should be in the title game or how one of them should be champions depending on how the NCG goes.
Auburn getting left out in 2004 triggered some controversy and helped future SEC teams get the benefit of the doubt. I don't want that happening again. I'd rather the SEC get their shot and come up short so that there wouldn't any more grumblings from SEC quarters. Next year Urban Meyer can kick some SEC butt, but I'll settle for Oregon or KSU doing that this year. What are your guys' thoughts on this?
Aahhh, no. Let the SEC worshipers cry en masse and roll about pounding their fists and kicking their feet. I laugh boldly at their suffering!!
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
Whoa
I agree w/ Cajunbuckeye... Tis better to ask the question 'what if' than to see the result and have it come up w/ an SEC victory. Let the fans complain all they will... They will know how we feel.
Cajun, I wouldn't mind if it were just SEC fans. But it's not . . . the national media is all about the SEC these days. And how much whining do you think SEC fans will do if they lose the NCG?
Perception is reality and a lot of the national media percieves the SEC as being the number one conference. This year they've got some top teams, but they're not strong top to bottom, but just look at how many SEC teams are ranked in the top 10. Five teams, half of the top ten are SEC teams. Heck, ATM could potentially jump into the top ten in the next set of rankings and give the SEC 6 teams. Why? Because they're in the SEC and they only have one or two losses each. There are plenty of other teams that have two losses or less that could be ranked in the top ten.
The SEC's reputation won't take a hit until they start losing some big games, and this year's NCG is as good a start as any.
I commented as such last Sunday. I agreed, it would be great to get an SEC team in there only to shit the bed against a superior K-State or Oregon. I started thinking mid-week that A&M could pull an upset (also factor in Bama's mental state following the emotional LSU game). LSU (I don't think a very great team...as always) exposed Bama - who had Bama played all season? So if almighty Bama wasn't as good as everyone had thought, who's left?
If everything holds an SEC team won't lose in this year's title game, which we all hope would be the watershed moment for the demise of the SEC. It just may not be a climactic moment...but instead a sort of slow crumble...like what's happened in our own conference.
I went to the prom by myself or I wasn't even invited to the dance. If I go by myself, I still might get to dance with a pretty girl, but if I set at home alone, crying in my room because I couldn't go.....
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
Lot of football to be played. We could have a repeat of the 2007 season, so one never knows who we'll end up with in the NC come 4 weeks from now. However, if things play out, the way it is right now, with 3 undefeated teams and a 1-loss SEC team, I wouldn't be surprised one bit at a scenario where an undefeated Notre Dame gets magically paired with a 1-loss SEC team in the Sugar Bowl and ESPin hypes it as the BCS NC part 2.... or the Real BCS NC.... Split NC in the BCS Era, when it isn't supposed to happen, anyone?
You say ND fans will be insufferable if they get to the national championship game but I only think it would be worse if they went undefeated and got left out. Best case scenario they get there and loose. Can you imagine all the obnoxious butthurt that would be going on if they got left out. Hopefully they just loose to USC and this doesnt become an issue.
I totally disagree with you. The BCS made an all SEC championship last year so this year there should be zero ecspecially if they have lost.
Im not gonna root for any sec team. I didn't root for A&M to win just hope that Bama lost.
O H I O is the Buckeye State
Aannnddd.... Extreme just nailed it. +1
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
Lotta football left to play, so who knows how it will shake out.
i want the SEC on the sidelines as karma for last years complete BS in putting Bama in over conference champ Ok State. Let the south cry and moan, gnash their teeth and rend their garments. Let their media lap poodles yap about the injustice of it all.
Karma.
^agreed. I do think the only team who could beat an SEC team would be Oregon. I'm hoping for a Kansas State- Notre Dame matchup with Bill Snyder getting his. I have no problem with Notre Dame and Michigan being top teams and recruiting well. In fact, I want them to be good.
Think about it. The SEC became dominant basically because Miami and FSU started to suck, and they started to lose ground in recruiting. If Notre Dame and Michigan would continue to be average how does that help tOSU?? Playing in a weak conference right now isn't helping us. In fact I would say you could blame our bowl shortcomings on playing weaker competition all year. I want Michigan to be a top tier team again, I root for Dantonio for turn Sparty into a top B1G team, and I don't want Penn State to suffer for the actions of a few idiots. Running a weak conference doesn't win you national titles. It gets you embarrassed in big bowl games and out of conference matchups. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate our mindset. I don't understand all of the hatred on this site, and fans wanting rivals to suck. We've seen what that does, it ruins conferences. I went to the tOSU-Michigan game in 2009 in Ann Arbor, I honestly think that was the only time in my life I've actually not been worried about a Michigan game. I actually felt wrong, the win felt less valuable because Michigan was a bad team and we knew it. Probably the only time in I ever felt like I just knew we would win without worry.... I don't want rivalry games like that, and I don't want to be a member of a mediocre conference.
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.