Ol’ Mizzou

As rumored on Saturday, the University of Missouri was named the 14th member of the SEC on Sunday. Actually, rumors began to circulate when ESPN announced several weeks ago that the move of both Texas A&M and Missouri was ‘imminent.’

Over the past several weeks, there has been what I would characterize as a relatively tepid response to Mizzou’s inclusion into the SEC based on the articles, comments, and message boards that I’ve read recently.

Why the cold shoulder?

The State of the SEC East as Source of Frustration on Rocky Top

What’s really the most galling about the fall of the Vols’ fortunes is the timing of it all.

The SEC is Going to the Dogs

With Sunday’s announcement that Texas A&M is officially joining the Southeastern Conference, it made me think ahead. Eventually, my inkling is that the conference will go to 16 schools. That means three more universities would be added.

With a sweet-16 sized conference, how will the SEC continue to partition itself for the purpose of deciding its champion? Will it be two divisions of eight? Or will they go to a radical four divisions of four to add two more post-regular season games? If they go to the four divisions of four, I see Tennessee being grouped with Georgia, Mississippi State, and newcomer A&M. Why?

Double Vision

There is no debate about who are the best two teams in the land. And, there is no debate about who is the best college football player in the land.

Auburn vs South Carolina in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game, and Oregon vs Oregon State in The Civil War clash in Corvallis.

Read what happened, as it happened, as the Ducks and Tigers took their final step in anticipation of facing each other for glory.

Cam Newton: Oh, the Humanity!

The knashing of teeth is audible to a level that will drive the most sound-sensitive folk absolutely crazy.

The curious case of Cam Newton is reaching a zenith of self-righteousness on the eve of the SEC championship game Saturday in Atlanta where Newton will lead Auburn against the upstart Gamecocks of South Carolina.

The Table Never Lies

The Top Dog Proposition

I read Eddie Dzurilla’s article at Bleacher Report, posted January 22, 2010, titled SEC, ACC, Big 12 …Get Rid of Your Playoffs. His thesis is that conference championships should be settled not by championship games, but by all of the conference teams playing each other and letting “the top dog be the champion.”

This of course isn’t a new idea. I most recently heard it presented by none other than James Carville when he was interviewed by Tony Barnhart on CBS this past Fall. Carville is passionately for the idea that the entire season should be nothing other than conference games (Carville is a passionate LSU and SEC football fan). He is opposed to all non-conference games. I especially get a chuckle when Carville would say that LSU should not be playing schools like “Ooo La La.”

Anyway, Dzurilla argues that under the idea: (1) all conference teams play all other teams in their conference; and (2) there would be no conference playoff (championship) games, and in the Big Ten, no floating byes. Thus, in the SEC, ACC, and Big 12, the conferences would not be split into divisions.

The Crimson Tide Drown the Gators for the SEC Crown

Recap /   Box Score /  Play-by-Play /  Drive Chart

Your 2009 SEC Champions: The Alabama Crimson Tide. AP Photo

Alabama made 26 first downs to Florida’s 13, and converted 11 of 15 3rd-down conversions (11 of 15!) to Florida’s 4 of 11. The Tide’s rushing yardage swallowed the Gators’, 251 to 88 yards (63 of Florida’s 88 yards were Tebow’s). Alabama’s unheralded passing game equaled Florida’s touted Tebow-to-Company wrecking crew, 239 to 247 yards. And the Crimson Tide had possession of the ball twice as long as the Gators, 39:37 to 20:23.

Total domination.

This was simply Alabama’s best game of the season and Florida’s worst. By far on both accounts. But why?

Perhaps Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin was correct when he humorously postulated earlier this week that both teams had great players but Alabama’s were better coached. Perhaps.

Calciopoli Southern Style?

On our Saturday morning post, Breakfast Before Memphis, I referred to the $30,000 fine handed to Urban Meyer as reported in Dr. Saturday’s article, A brief history of the SEC’s descent into ref-related absurdity. The good doctor recounted the litany of questionable calls that have been widely publicized, spawning a conversation that has resulted in opinions ranging from “bad officiating is an unfortunate part of the game” to “the fix is in.”

Some who gravitate toward the latter end of the opinion spectrum don’t do so because they think that gambling forces are hidden in the weeds. Their premise is more sinister: the conference would like to guarantee that Alabama or Florida will play in this year’s BCS championship game in Pasadena.