I'm sure you already know this, but there are 12 teams in the SEC. The
league consists of two divisions, the East and the West.
Much has been said the past several years about the strength of this
conference. Many believe that year in and year out, from top to bottom
there is no stronger conference in the land.
I would have to agree with that line of thought.
You may agree, or you may not.
But I am sure that we can all agree that SEC fans are among the most faithful, stubborn, arrogant, pig-headed (no offense to those in Arkansas) and rowdy in the country.
I am not here to offend any group of fans from any particular school in
the SEC. I am blessed to be able to call many fans from rival schools my
friends.
Some are even family. I had no choice in that matter.
But I am here today to say what must be said. Fans from each of these
12 teams believe for the most part that their team is the best.
They blindly follow that team and cheer them on, win or lose.
Sometimes the facts get in the way of a great argument.
Officials can ruin a perfectly good evening in October with a bad call or two.
Injuries can come at the worst possible time. Blame is found and given.
Sometimes the blind fan cannot see everything. They may not see the bad or the ugly. They may or may not even be able to see the good.
But that too is ok. I am here to help with that. Sometimes it takes a third party to tell you the whole story. To point out what you may not know, or what you choose to just ignore.
So here you go SEC fans, like it or not, the good, the bad and the ugly for all 12 teams.
I will break this into two parts. Part 1 will cover the West. Look for part 2 (The East) next week.
Please feel free to add anything I may have missed, or to just add your own. After all it is your team we are examining.
Part 1 The SEC West
Alabama (6-0, 3-0)
The Good: The first half of the Georgia game.
Bama beat Georgia in Athens like a stray bulldog found at Michael Vicks old house. Bear Bryant must have been present, because everything went right for the Tide.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The Bad: Passing offense.
Nit-picking just a little here, but JPW and the Bama passing game are ranked 11th in the league. With Julio Jones as a target, this could improve as the year goes on.
The Ugly: Have you noticed the outdated wardrobes?
Alabama fans are pulling everything out of their closet that has an "A" on it. Please, do us all a favor and go to Bama Fever for some new shirts and hats.
Ask for Cameon, she will help you update your wardrobe.
LSU (4-0, 2-0)
The Good: A very balanced offense.
Over 800 yards rushing and passing. Scott, Lee and LaFell look like a nice trio.
Ryan Peri-a-who?
The Bad: Struggles at Auburn and at home against Miss State.
Auburn put up 21 on the Tigers, after managing only a field goal against Miss State.
The Ugly: Any Les Miles presser.
Les is rapidly moving up the list of annoying head coaches. Tiger fans may love him, but the rest of us are so annoyed!
Less of Les would be nice.
Auburn (4-2, 2-2)
The Good: This defense can play with anyone in the league.
Tuberville has a very talented defense. Allowing only 11.2 points per game this is a defense that can keep you in any game.
The Bad: Quarterback play.
Auburn QB's are 11th in passing efficiency and 10th in overall passing offense. If Chris Todd is the man and the spread is the answer, don't look for much improvement.
The Ugly: Did someone mention the spread?
The Tony Franklin spread offense?
Best seller you say?
By now I am sure Auburn fans miss the old "smash mouth" football the Tigers use to play. Not to worry, I hear "The Spread Offense for Dummies" is in stock at most major bookstores.
Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2)
The Good: The Rebels went to the swamp and toppled the mighty Gators, 31-30.
A great win for first year Coach Houston Nutt. The Rebels celebrated an impressive win.
Tim Tebow cried.
The Bad: How about following a great win with a loss at home to the Gamecocks?
I think Houston Nutt may have cried after this one.
The roller coaster ride is now open. Rebel fans can ride for free.
The Ugly: Pass Defense.
Opponents are completing 66.5% of their passes against the Ole Miss defense. That number puts them dead last in the SEC in pass defense.
So tell me again how Florida explains how they lost to the Rebels.
Arkansas (2-3, 0-2)
The Good: Michael Smith and Casey Dick.
Both are putting up good numbers, giving Petrino and his offense a chance to put up some points. Despite the good effort, the Razorbacks are only averaging 17 points a game.
The Bad: Alabama pounded Arkansas at home, 49-14.
Did Georgia miss the game film from this one?
It couldn't get much worse could it?
The Ugly: Yes it can. Welcome to Texas Razorback fans.
Bobby and the boys got Long-horned, 52-10 in their historic rematch.
As a Falcon fan from Atlanta I say it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2)
The Good: Pass Defense.
The Bulldogs are 3rd in the SEC in pass defense. They are only giving up 153 yards per game. Opponents have only completed 46% of their passes.
The Bad: Losses at Georgia Tech (38-7) and at LSU (34-24).
State fans have not had much to cheer about this season. But at least the Bulldogs scored a TD or two.
The Ugly: The loss at Auburn.
Yes, the score really was 3-2. It was like watching a slow torture death. It was brutal! Both teams had so many chances to win.
A tie would have been appropriate.
So that takes care of the West. Digest it slowly, don't take in too much at once.
Yes we are the SEC, the best conference in all the land. Just ask any of us and we will let you know.
Sometimes we just need a reminder that even our beloved teams do have a flaw or two.
Check back next week for part 2, The East!!
comments (37) write a comment »
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about 1 month ago
Dawg I was a little shocked to see my name. Thanks for the mention though. Make sure they know I am located at the Galleria. :) I'll be glad to help anyway I can.
Great article! Another point to mention with Auburn...they went to a spread offense because it's what most high school teams use. So, high school teams can run it but Auburn can't. Not pretty.
ROLL TIDE,
Cameon
from about 1 month ago
Ouch !! I always use the same argument when people talk about Matthew Stafford throwing the ball so hard the UGA receivers are having trouble catching it..... but his High School receivers in Texas never had this problem? hmmmm
Thanks for the read. Hope you get a few sales out of it!!
from about 1 month ago
My girlfriend is a hairstylist at Belk in the Galleria, I'll send her your way and if you need your hair did ask for Mary on the top floor of Belk.
from about 1 month ago
Haha. Its funny how small of a world it is. Just tell her to come in sometime and ask for Cameon. I work again Thursday. :)
from about 1 month ago
Cameon, Coming from the great state of Alabama I can tell you this. You make sure you are stocked up on jean shorts and tank tops while you have Saban. Just be careful that the bandwagon doesn't tip over before the end of the season. You are right on one point... It's a high school offense! RIP Tony Franklin.
from about 1 month ago
Nah. I'll be needing something colder for the cold weather at the Championship games. :)
If your implying that I am a bandwagon fan you would be sadly mistaken. I'm an Alabama fan through and through and that will never change. I take it as a "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" kinda thing. Plus, I love watching football period.
I think Tubby made a terrible mistake firing Franklin. If they had given the spread a chance to work and not gotten all worked up because they lost a few games they could have had them something.
ROLL TIDE!
Cameon
from about 1 month ago
No, I'm not implying that you are a bandwagon fan but you must admit that the bandwagoneers are loose. It's funny 2 years ago at the Alabama high school championsips all orange and blue now it's like going back to the 1970's.
from about 1 month ago
OH! Haha. Actually its funny that you mention the bandwagoners because my latest article is on that.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/65295-closet-bama-fans-were-never-in-style-and-never-will-be
There's the link if you'd like to check it out.
You would be VERY correct about the bandwagoners and that is why I wrote the article.
about 1 month ago
Nice work, Dawg.
I think most 'Bama fans would explain, "It's not old... it's tradition!" There's a reason they haven't changed those uniforms since God handed down the Crimson jerseys to Moses on Mount Sinai. (Shame it was left out of the Bible... more important things to worry about I guess. 'Whole 10 Commandments thing was a big hit - Crimson jerseys got lost in the hype.)
Maybe they'll take a hint from Georgia, and do a "Houndstooth-Out" night. (Problem is, under current precedent they'll then get thrashed by some upstart league rival on national television. Probably better to leave it alone.)
from about 1 month ago
I knew those jerseys were old, but I didn't know they were THAT old!!
Thanks Mike.
from about 1 month ago
Ha. Mike I'll agree with that comment. Maybe if Georgia had been more worried about the football game they were playing than the fashion show they were displaying they might have won that game. And if Alabama didn't have a heck of a team this year.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, if the worst thing we have on Bama is their uniforms, it could be a long year for the SEC.
I would have to say a negative for Bama is depth. Saban admits as much. They have all SEC talent starting, but any significant injuries like UGA has had will hurt them. And that's why they have tended to suck in the latter part of each season...they just wear down.
As for Arkansas, I hope they never win another game. Petrino is more of a snake than Tubberville and Rich Rodriguez combined.
about 1 month ago
Btw, I meant to say Saban and Rodriguez combined. I actually don't mind Tubberville.
from about 1 month ago
If Ark never wins another game, then we have a new entry for UGLY!!
Thanks NR.
about 1 month ago
"As a Falcon fan from Atlanta I say it couldn't happen to a nicer guy."
well said my friend.
good analysis here. i look forward to part two.
this whole thing with the auburn spread has gotten ridiculous. i've heard a few sound-bites from tubberville saying he's butting in on the game-plan and trying to run the ball. it sounds to me like he needs to pull rank and make it happen because they are going nowhere fast.
from about 1 month ago
Funny how this spring all Auburn fans could talk about was the TF spread.... and now in October.. it's STILL all they can talk about....
Not what they expected/
from about 1 month ago
Bingo Daniel... are you ob Bobby Lowder's payroll.
from about 1 month ago
i am not.
but tubberville clearly decided, on wednesday, he had to stop the bleeding.
how many coordinators is that now??
from about 1 month ago
very prophetic daniel.
about 1 month ago
I would have to include Miss. State's season opening loss to La Tech as a notch below Ugly. How about Disgusting.
Also in the Ugly Department: Casey Dick's attempted tackles on Bama's DBs (on two pretty ugly INTs). Dude looked so foolish it was comical.
And my final Ugly addition: Red zone offense for Arkansas. These boys are moving the ball; they just can't score. It will change eventually, though.
Looking forward to the East wrap up. I'm feeling a pun on Smelley's name...
from about 1 month ago
Great additions Tim. I'm looking forward to the East as well. Should be fun.
about 1 month ago
les miles, annoying?? well maybe.
as long as he wins, he doesn't annoy anyone in Baton Rouge.....WAAHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
but while you're throwing stones can i put a "whiner" label on richt while we're at it??
fair is fair.
about 1 month ago
Now Justin, I am not throwing stones.... only pointing out what the rest of the country already knows, and what LSU fans need to see.
I thought Les's head would explode last year when the Michigan rumors were going around. He seemed at times to be one bad question away from a meltdown.
As for Richt.... the East will get full treatment next week. You are honestly the first person who I have heard label Richt a "whiner"..... that is usually reserved for Urban and Spurrier.
about 1 month ago
"Ryan Peri-a-who?"
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/60085-ryan-perri-who-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hat
I beat you by about 2 weeks on that little zinger.
Les is More!
about 1 month ago
That was an after thought. They have done so well without him. You can have the credit..... just make sure you guys stumble when UGA comes calling in a few weeks!!
Thanks
from about 1 month ago
I was at the last UGA/LSU game in Tiger Stadium..... best game I have ever been to.
Hopefully we will see a sequel.
about 1 month ago
I think "The Ugly" for Arkansas should have been their jerseys.. yikes.
about 1 month ago
Interesting takes...
I would say for Auburn - the lack of an identity on offense for "ugly". Also, can we just put all of Arkansas under "ugly"? I kid, I kid.
from about 1 month ago
Arkansas to upset Auburn this weekend, leaving the Tigers in sole possession of Ugly.
from about 1 month ago
Nice pick Tim !!
about 1 month ago
Good article Dawg, can't wait to see the East. And as far as the Bama wardrobe, got me on that one..lol
about 1 month ago
cant wait to see the part on the east....
about 1 month ago
This was great, and funny too. Less Les, updated wardrobes...loved it!
from about 1 month ago
thanks lisa. Always appreciate your feedback!! Look for part two next week. If the Dawgs lose to the Vols it could get ugly.
about 1 month ago
Great article Dawg!
Les Miles is sooooo annoying. Every time I see him, I'm expecting some fake motivating speech that falls short. But they are undefeated so far....I like Les much more than Crier though. Eat those gators, LSU!!!
from about 1 month ago
You just like Les more b/c you ain't played him in a while. =) Go Gators!!!!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
We destroyed them the last time we played. Bring on LSU!!!
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