- Jun 11, 2014
- 173
- 64
Founding Member
People may not remember but the SEC was not always known as the best conference. As a matter of fact, there was a time when some people thought the BIG 10 was the best conference. Other people only cared about the schedule a football team played, not the conference associated with that team (ie Southern Cal [USCw]). Lets take a trip down memory lane and see how the Florida Gators put the SEC on the map.
Back in 2006, OSU was ranked from start to finish as the number one ranked team in the country during the regular season. At the end of the season they played Michigan in an epic battle. Of course we all know OSU came out on top. After that game was played, people thought those two teams were the best in the country. Thus, after the game, there was a serious debate about those two teams playing again for the national title.
Luckily, Florida had another game to play and prove they were deserving of a shot that year after the OSU/ Michigan game was played. That's because the SEC had a conference championship game but the BIG 10 did not at the time. After Florida beat Arkansas for the SEC title and USCw lost to UCLA it gave Florida a chance to get into the discussion of playing for the title game instead of a rematch between OSU and Michigan.
Ironically, the BCS computers gave Florida and Michigan the exact same numbers (oh the days of the BCS..lol) that weekend. Therefore, the final decision came down to a human vote. Even though, I am not a fan of the way Urban Meyer left Florida, I will give him credit for the masterful campaign he went on to get Florida in the title game that year. He told any media outlet who would listen that Florida played a tougher schedule than Michigan (even though it was an unpopular opinion at the time). Meyer simply said, "Florida belongs because the other team had their shot. We went 12-1, and I think the country wants to see the SEC champion against the BIG 10 champion." Subsequently, the human voters gave Florida the nod over Michigan despite the BCS computer tie. That moment was the start of the change in perception of the SEC.
Just two years prior to that moment an undefeated Auburn team did not get the opportunity to play for the 2004 national title. Yep, you read it correctly, Auburn went undefeated just two years prior to the Florida/OSU game in 2004 and did not get the opportunity to play for a title that year. Conversly, from 2006 to the end of the BCS era, the SEC champion was automatically put into the title game. As a matter of fact, the SEC championship game was known as an unofficial "semi final title game" after 2006. Similarly, these days the SEC champion typically makes the playoffs. Why? Because the perception of the SEC was changed on the night of Jan. 8, 2007 (after Florida destroyed OSU).
Yep, that night changed the perception of the SEC for good. Again, prior to that night, OSU was the best team in arguably the best conference. Thus, Florida did not deserve to be given an opporunity let alone be on the same field according to many experts prior to the game. Sure, Florida was 12-1 but they were winning ugly (memories of the USCe vs Florida game comes to mind [love the Moss cock block though]). However, we all know that night Florida not only beat OSU but did it in beat down fashion. So much so that it changed the perception of the SEC forever.
Again, it all started with Meyer using the conference schedule as leverage to get a shot in the title game and prove that even though Florida won ugly, it was the better team.
Do you remember what some of the Florida players said after the game?
Ryan Smith: "The quality of teams we played versus the teams they played it really showed"
Jarvis Moss: "I do not know who they played other than Michigan. The scoreboard showed tonight what the SEC is all about"
Reggie Lewis: "The SEC was the toughest and was the number one conference in the land"
In my opinion, these comments aided in the perception change.
After the game, media outlets changed their tune and said that Florida had speed in the trenches that OSU could not match up with. Many went further and said that the SEC in general has speed and quickness along both lines throughout the conrefence.
After that game the SEC went on to dominate the rest of the BCS era and win seven straight titles. However, none of that happens without Florida changing the perception of the SEC. Again, just two years prior to that title gamr an undefeated SEC team (Auburn) was left out of the title game. After that game, the perception was changed forever.
I just wanted to have a diccussion on this subject because I think it is interesting. I also feel that nobody gives Florida enough credit for putting the SEC on the map (probably due to Bama's recent dominance). What are your thoughts on the subject?
Back in 2006, OSU was ranked from start to finish as the number one ranked team in the country during the regular season. At the end of the season they played Michigan in an epic battle. Of course we all know OSU came out on top. After that game was played, people thought those two teams were the best in the country. Thus, after the game, there was a serious debate about those two teams playing again for the national title.
Luckily, Florida had another game to play and prove they were deserving of a shot that year after the OSU/ Michigan game was played. That's because the SEC had a conference championship game but the BIG 10 did not at the time. After Florida beat Arkansas for the SEC title and USCw lost to UCLA it gave Florida a chance to get into the discussion of playing for the title game instead of a rematch between OSU and Michigan.
Ironically, the BCS computers gave Florida and Michigan the exact same numbers (oh the days of the BCS..lol) that weekend. Therefore, the final decision came down to a human vote. Even though, I am not a fan of the way Urban Meyer left Florida, I will give him credit for the masterful campaign he went on to get Florida in the title game that year. He told any media outlet who would listen that Florida played a tougher schedule than Michigan (even though it was an unpopular opinion at the time). Meyer simply said, "Florida belongs because the other team had their shot. We went 12-1, and I think the country wants to see the SEC champion against the BIG 10 champion." Subsequently, the human voters gave Florida the nod over Michigan despite the BCS computer tie. That moment was the start of the change in perception of the SEC.
Just two years prior to that moment an undefeated Auburn team did not get the opportunity to play for the 2004 national title. Yep, you read it correctly, Auburn went undefeated just two years prior to the Florida/OSU game in 2004 and did not get the opportunity to play for a title that year. Conversly, from 2006 to the end of the BCS era, the SEC champion was automatically put into the title game. As a matter of fact, the SEC championship game was known as an unofficial "semi final title game" after 2006. Similarly, these days the SEC champion typically makes the playoffs. Why? Because the perception of the SEC was changed on the night of Jan. 8, 2007 (after Florida destroyed OSU).
Yep, that night changed the perception of the SEC for good. Again, prior to that night, OSU was the best team in arguably the best conference. Thus, Florida did not deserve to be given an opporunity let alone be on the same field according to many experts prior to the game. Sure, Florida was 12-1 but they were winning ugly (memories of the USCe vs Florida game comes to mind [love the Moss cock block though]). However, we all know that night Florida not only beat OSU but did it in beat down fashion. So much so that it changed the perception of the SEC forever.
Again, it all started with Meyer using the conference schedule as leverage to get a shot in the title game and prove that even though Florida won ugly, it was the better team.
Do you remember what some of the Florida players said after the game?
Ryan Smith: "The quality of teams we played versus the teams they played it really showed"
Jarvis Moss: "I do not know who they played other than Michigan. The scoreboard showed tonight what the SEC is all about"
Reggie Lewis: "The SEC was the toughest and was the number one conference in the land"
In my opinion, these comments aided in the perception change.
After the game, media outlets changed their tune and said that Florida had speed in the trenches that OSU could not match up with. Many went further and said that the SEC in general has speed and quickness along both lines throughout the conrefence.
After that game the SEC went on to dominate the rest of the BCS era and win seven straight titles. However, none of that happens without Florida changing the perception of the SEC. Again, just two years prior to that title gamr an undefeated SEC team (Auburn) was left out of the title game. After that game, the perception was changed forever.
I just wanted to have a diccussion on this subject because I think it is interesting. I also feel that nobody gives Florida enough credit for putting the SEC on the map (probably due to Bama's recent dominance). What are your thoughts on the subject?