In another post, I mentioned that Missouri would be in the same league as Kentucky and Vandy (for a while).

It got me to thinking how the Razorbacks experience in the old Southwest Conference compared to the SEC.

This isn't totally a "apples to apples" comparison because of several factors but it's still interesting.

The three best coaches at Arkansas at the end of the SWC era were Broyles, Holtz and Hatfield...here are their winning percentages:
(the percentages listed are for conference games only)

Hatfield.....78%
Holtz........73%
Broyles......70%

The three best coaches during the SEC era are Nutt, Petrino and Ford...here are their winning percentages:

Nutt.........53%
Petrino......44%
Ford.........41%

The SEC is a tough place to make a living and A&M and Missouri (if they get invited) are going to have some growing pains.

This post was edited on 10/6/11 at 11:48 am

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Posted by Greg09Ag

Third Coast yuh heeeeard

Member since Sep 2011

3168 posts

Posted on 10/6/11 at 12:10 pm to adono

This is a given. We'll get our asses beat next year no doubt. Especially given the huge amount of seniors we'll be losing. But we'll also be in the first year of Sherman and Co recruiting so we'll get to see over the next 2-3 how he fares. The only way is up.

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Posted by molsusports

Member since Jul 2004

37515 posts

Posted on 10/6/11 at 12:19 pm to adono

If we make the assumption that MU is coming (not a safe assumption) they will be around a .500 team in SEC play over the next few years. The last five years they have averaged just short of 10 wins and just under 4 losses a year - the SEC is a better conference but the Big 12 is hardly bad - and for people who have not been paying attention MU presently has a future head coach as an offensive coordinator (MU's last three starting QBs are all in the NFL today)

A&M I think might be slightly worse than that in the short term - but has the potential with the right coach in place to be a real power in the SEC. They might flail around for 10-20 years before they find the right coach tho

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Posted by Indiana Tiger

Member since Feb 2005

4139 posts

Posted on 10/6/11 at 12:44 pm to adono

A&M has great potential. The only thing that will stop them imo is that wierd arse culture. They have to figure out a way enhance and promote the positive, more romantic aspects of the core culture (e.g. duty, honor, loyalty...), and a way to minimize publicly at least, the sausage making aspects that are really wierd and turn off a lot of people.

As far as MO is concerned, I posted the following earlier:

quote:
MO should be competitive, but they will have to completely reinvent themselves and that may take some time like SC. They will have to make a big time commitment to facilities upgrading and their recruiting strategy will probably have to drasticly change.

Right now they have 2 games a year in the state of TX that they use to maximum advantage. Depending on div lineups they could end up with no permanent annual game there. They need an OOC game there, but a quality opponent that would give them exposure may be difficult to come by depending on who the Big 12 picks up and Big 12 vindictiveness.

I think they need to test the appeal of the SEC to midwest recruits, as they would be the ideal gateway school to the SEC from the western BIG area. If they are put in the East, they will have to focus more on Florida.

All of facility investment and recruiting strategy changes will take time and on the field results will probably suffer. However, if MO is committed, eventuallythey will be very competitive and not mediocre. To paraphrase one columnist, their choice is going to a strong stable conference and not compete for championships or stay in an unstable conference and not compete for championships.

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