ROLL SEC

The SEC (Southeastern Conference) is the greatest conference in football, and if you disagree with me, I won't be your friend. I love Alabama. I grew up on Alabama football and I remember the last championship like it was yesterday, so I guess I 'll just act like it was that recent. ROLL TIDE!!!

Wow, I sound really sarcastic writing that. Living down here in Alabama, and loving football, has led to quite a few conversations. The people down here love their football, especially the collegiate variety. I'm pretty sure the Iron Bowl (Auburn-Alabama) is bigger than the Super Bowl in this state. And in many ways it is a lot of fun. The games are neat to watch. That is, until I run into the fanhood. I can be quite the obnoxious fan, and I need to watch out, especially after watching Alabama fans especially. Their ability to talk trash is second to none. But their ability to win is second to Auburn. A fun joke I learned down here goes something like this...

How do you get an Alabama fan to stop being an alcoholic?
Paint his beers all orange and blue. He won't be able to touch them for 6 years.

I think I've been really worn down by the presumptuously cocky nature of a program that has been as successful as Illinois recently.

Then I try to tell them that Big 10 football is football too (Ohio State is not helping me), and I get an earful. Check out this little comment from ESPN.com

Since 2003, the SEC is 30-31 in out of conference games against BCS conference schools. Out of the 30 wins, only 14 came on the road. I believe a win is a win, but Georgia beating Ga Tech at Ga Tech and Fla beating Fla St in Tallahassee are not extremely impressive lately - that accounts 5 of the road wins. Georgia and LSU are the two schools that stand out in out of conference wins against BCS conference schools - though no big win has been away from Athens or Baton Rouge. By contrast since 2003, the Big Ten is 43-31 in non-conference games against BCS schools. 19 of the wins have been on the road. Similarly, the big wins are usually at home with the exception being my Buckeyes win at Texas in 2006. The SEC's win/loss OOC record against BCS schools suggests the SEC is like every other conference - great on the top, avg in the middle and pretty awful on the bottom. The one difference is defensive line play - not skill players, not DB's, not speed, it is the D-line. Very impressive. I presume this is why Tressel recruited and got the best OL this year.

Oh, and in defense of Ohio State, let's play the national championship in the midwest, so a Big 10 team can have a home game.

I'm not sure what the whole point of me writing this was, other than to get it off my chest. I'm really frustrated by that aspect of the south, and I can't wait until Illinois rises to the occasion. You know Zook has a chip on his shoulder, and he's ready to beat on a conference that he wasn't 'good enough' for.

ZOOK 'EM