2008 SEC Discussion

[TheIronColonel]

I'm nothing if not obliging. SOS rankings Per Sagarin:

2007
LSU: 11
OSU: 53

2006
LSU: 20
OSU: 38

2005
LSU: 50
OSU: 2

2004
LSU: 46
OSU: 35

I honestly don't think that information is pertinent to this discussion, though. The point is this: OSU gets criticized for playing Washington because they're "soft", so why shouldn't LSU get the same treatment? I'm nothing if not reasonable; LSU's conference schedule has recently been tougher than OSU's. That has no bearing, however, on the quality of their non-conference opponents. If Washington sucks when OSU plays them, shouldn't they suck when LSU plays them 2 years later? Unless Jake Locker turns into superman in the next 2 years (unlikely), I don't see how any objective fan wouldn't subject LSU to the same treatment.

Just a point of information, LSU now has Washington, Notre Dame, and Idaho on the non-con slate for 2009. Hardly a murderers' row, but better than pummeling Troy, Louisiana-Monroe, and Tulane.

[Shivvy77]

Don't forget the powerhouse Louisiana-Lafayette "Rajun Cajuns"

[Oh8ch]

I just spent two weeks doing extensive research in Stassen focusing on SEC in-conference games and the results are staggering.

If you look at conference games only in the past 25 years the SEC as a whole has never been above .500 in any of those years. Not even once.

I will get back to you when I finish with the Big Ten.

[Taosman]

If LSU lost 2 games in a very good year for them, how many do they lose without much in the QB department? 4?

[sandgk]

1072 Wins, 1077 losses 21 Ties Period 1983 - 2007 SEC vs. SEC

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

I just spent two weeks doing extensive research in Stassen focusing on SEC in-conference games and the results are staggering.

If you look at conference games only in the past 25 years the SEC as a whole has never been above .500 in any of those years. Not even once.

I will get back to you when I finish with the Big Ten.

Originally Posted by sandgk

1072 Wins, 1077 losses 21 Ties Period 1983 - 2007 SEC vs. SEC

[415Bradley]

Originally Posted by sandgk

1072 Wins, 1077 losses 21 Ties Period 1983 - 2007 SEC vs. SEC

Circular reasoning finally catches up, then says "The SEC has a winning record against itself"

Or perhaps some overtime ballots from West Palm Beach need a recount

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by Taosman

If LSU lost 2 games in a very good year for them, how many do they lose without much in the QB department? 4?

They don't need a good quarterback to win with their overall athleticism and speed on both sides of the ball. They need a Jay Barker don't-turn-it-over type q.b. I see them losing to either Auburn or Satan, and the Butt Sniffers game is a toss up. The second or third loss is at the Swamp.

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by TheIronColonel

I honestly don't think that information is pertinent to this discussion, though. The point is this: OSU gets criticized for playing Washington because they're "soft", so why shouldn't LSU get the same treatment? I'm nothing if not reasonable; LSU's conference schedule has recently been tougher than OSU's. That has no bearing, however, on the quality of their non-conference opponents. If Washington sucks when OSU plays them, shouldn't they suck when LSU plays them 2 years later? Unless Jake Locker turns into superman in the next 2 years (unlikely), I don't see how any objective fan wouldn't subject LSU to the same treatment.

I am with you, and I was just trying to come up with what the reason is for the different treatment. While you guys do not accept the "SEC is tougher to play in than the Big-10" theory, the fact that you do not accept it (let alone the fact it might not be true) is not a bar to those with that perception coming to that conclusion.

Do not mistake me pointing it out as me adopting that theory. I just think that the last two years have done nothing to stop the talking heads that question your schedule. I mean, look at the 2005 line up. It makes no sense to question you......unless they are of the "SEC - strong; Big-10 weak" camp. Then it does make sense to ignore LSU's adding them and criticize y'all using their tortured logic, i.e., one does not have to apologize for cupcakes on your sked if you have a kick ass rest of the season. To me - it makes sense that those who put down the Big-10 and who faun over the SEC would let LSU get a "pass" for playing the mighty Gators and Poodles.

Is it stupid? Yeah. But you asked how they could do that, and I said why they could. Messenger. Me. No shoot-y. Get tossed by the Trojans and the nonsense will not go away for years. This is a critical year for Buckeye football in my mind. Absolutely critical for national respect. And again, I do not advocate that, but I think that it is a very real thing. You CANNOT get jumped by USC, and you CANNOT lose to an SEC team in the BCS Championship game this year if you want to be there again - even with an undefeated schedule - for the next four or five years.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

Just pointing out the irony that, due to the 1991 time of entry into the SEC of Arkansas and South Carolina, the win-loss-tie over that 25 year period is assymetric and also sub-500.

Originally Posted by 415Bradley

Circular reasoning finally catches up, then says "The SEC has a winning record against itself"

Or perhaps some overtime ballots from West Palm Beach need a recount

No hanging chads - just late ballots - and a losing record amongst the present members over a 25-year stretch.

[Gatorubet]

ESPN - SEC coaches hoping for early signing day in late November - College Football


DESTIN, Fla. -- If the majority of SEC head football coaches have their way, the recruiting period will be split into two different signing days.
The coaches voted by a 9-3 count Wednesday at the SEC spring meetings to add an early signing day in late November. This 24-hour period for prospects to sign early would fall on the Monday before the contact period begins, which during a normal year would come during the week of Thanksgiving.

The next step is for the SEC's athletic directors and presidents to sign off on the proposal and then sponsor it on a national level. Most of the coaches agree that it would probably be at least a year before an early signing day would go into effect, and that's assuming the proposal passes.

[Nutriaitch]

Originally Posted by TheIronColonel

OSU gets criticized for playing Washington because they're "soft", so why shouldn't LSU get the same treatment?

at least in the eyes of USC fans, LSU is viewed as choosing a puss team from the Pac-10.
of course these are the same guys who said LSU got lucky to play a horrible Notre Dame team in the Sugar Bowl (after '06 season), only a onth after USC crushed a SOLID Notre dame team.

[ScriptOhio]

Re: The coaches voted by a 9-3 count Wednesday at the SEC spring meetings to add an early signing day in late November. This 24-hour period for prospects to sign early would fall on the Monday before the contact period begins, which during a normal year would come during the week of Thanksgiving.

Great idea, it works for basketball.

[TheIronColonel]

I'd be happy to see an early signing period adopted. I think it just makes sense.

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Bulldogs' Southerland out for start of season to heal stress fracture - College Football

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

Bulldogs' Southerland out for start of season to heal stress fracture

ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia senior fullback Brannan Southerland will miss the start of the season following surgery Friday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

Southerland suffered a fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot at the end of last season. He had surgery after the season but Georgia announced Friday night that tests this week revealed the stress fracture in a different location of the same bone.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Joe Johnson at St. Mary's Hospital.
Georgia director of sports medicine Ron Courson said Southerland will need about four months to recover.

Southerland has started 25 games. He led the team with 10 touchdowns in 2006.