re: Program of the Decade

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You can't clearly say one is better than the other because both have strong and weak points.

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You're talking about formats, I'm talking about the strength of the conference.

My point is that noone is suggesting an NFL/Pop Warner margin in conference strength. But considering the very thin margin by which SC has won many of those Pac 10 titles, it is entirely reasonable to conclude that if the Pac 10 were even a little bit tougher, it is unlikely they would have as many conference titles. Likewise, the margin by which LSU missed out on winning the West (and a shot at the SEC Championship) is so narrow in many years that it is very reasonable to conclude that if the SEC were even a little bit easier, it is likely we would have been in another SEC Championship Game or two (or three, etc.), thus greatly increasing the chance that we would have more SEC Championships.

That means that discounting the strength of conference factor while relying on achievements made by thin margins -- margins well within the reasonable range of that difference in conference strength -- is not taking an objective view of the comparison.

The problem with this whole discussion is that everyone thinks that we are a "better team" over time because we've had better seasons, as in we won more BCS Championships before this season than any other team. Truth is, we have not been the most dominant program this decade, and I don't think we can lay any claim to the team of the decade when we can't even follow up a championship ranked in the top 25.

Success to me is measured in wins and losses. That takes away any subjectivity for teams that play in different conferences. All the major players, LSU, UF, SC, OU, UT, & OSU play in BCS conferences and the level of competition is similar. Its not like we're comparing the SEC to the Mountain West.

From 2001-2008:

T-1. UT and SC .854 winning percentage
2. OU .824
3. OSU .813
4. LSU .781
5. UF .750

Also, USC, OSU and OU all have 7 BCS bowl appearances each.

4 teams have shown the ability to be more consistent than us, year in and year out. Now I can understand if LSU and UF get a boost due to the fact that an argument can be made that both schools belong in the conversation as an elite team because the SEC is 4-0 in BCS championship games during the same time period, but you can't say that UF and LSU are the most dominant programs of the decade without being biased.