re: STOP with the SEC champs. Meaningless. USC claims the '03 title

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LSU was clearly not the champions of the SEC this year

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I wouldn't try to win that argument in court (not that you would be going to court to prove that...but you might try out of obsession).

You see, LSU plays in the Western Division of the SEC. In that divison, every team plays each other. They also play a few other teams from the Eastern Division of the SEC. You following me here...let me know if you get lost... LSU beat all the teams on their SEC schedule. Alabama beat all of the teams on their SEC schedule as well except for LSU out of the SEC Western Division. Since Alabama lost to LSU and they are both in the same division, LSU won the SEC Western Division. LSU then went on to play Georgia, the SEC Eastern Division Champion. LSU defeated Georgia in a blowout in the game entitled the SEC Championship. This game is played to determine the SEC football season champions. Because no SEC team beat LSU during the SEC football season, LSU won the SEC and they are the SEC Champions. Alabama could not be the champions of the SEC because they did not appear in the SEC Championship Game due to their loss at Bryant-Denny Stadium to LSU.

I would say that the evidence shows that they were clearly the champions of the SEC this year. (just as the evidence shows that Alabama was clearly the winner of the BCS Championship Game).

There is no evidence for your argument. However, if someone wanted to argue that you're a loser, there is plenty of evidence to support that claim.

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Which any reasonable person would say the OT win was a fluke. The real SEC champion was crowned on 1/9. Yes, we have the trophy, but as the OP says, but so does USC for '03. But few people recognize them as the best team in '03.

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Any reasonable person? That's the problem - you think you're reasonable.

LSU went into Bama's stadium and rushed for 50+ more yards (Bama's supposed strength), held their Heisman candidate running back to under 90 yards rushing and reached the red zone three times to Bama's one time. Fortunately for Bama, LSU ran out of time at the Bama 2-yard line before half and had to kick a field goal on 3rd down. And then Michael Ford stepped out of bounds on his way into the end zone in OT. Alabama never sniffed the end zone. The closest they got was LSU's 17-yard-line. The time of possession was almost exactly even. It ain't like they won on a Hail Mary. And let's remember that each team got the ball at the 25-yard-line in OT. Bama finished their drive at the 35-yard-line.

The SEC Champion is more about that SEC football season where SEC teams play one another for a few months. It is crowned in early December when a team makes it to the SEC Championship. Alabama did not make it there. They had a chance at home and LSU took it from them. Also, LSU did not slip up and allow Alabama back into the picture - not even one time. LSU played and beat the SEC Eastern Champion - Alabama did not get the opportunity to do that because of their loss to LSU.

And to be honest, during the regular season (where the SEC division champs are decided), LSU outscored their SEC opponents 280-67 to Bama's 271-67. LSU also beat Arkansas by the same amount of points as Bama and beat Florida and Auburn by even more than Bama. Those were the highest ranked SEC teams that both played. Bama did not play Georgia obviously (or not so obviously to some) because they didn't play in the SEC Championship. So there wasn't wasn't much difference between Bama and LSU during the season as some would like others to believe. LSU was just a smudge better during the regular conference season - just as they were when they beat Bama 9-6 in their house. The score is the only thing that matters.

LSU does have the trophy as you said. It's legit. Bama has the crystal ball. USC has a 2nd -rate trophy that nobody cares about from 2003, that's why people don't recognize them as the best that much. LSU played in and won the BCS Championship that year just like they played in and won the SEC Championship this year.

If there is a fluke, it's Bama getting to the BCS Championship when they didn't even win their own division. However, they got there and dominated so they won the BCS Championship just like LSU got in and won it with two losses (though LSU was the SEC Champion that year too!). $hit happens.

LSU = SEC Champions

Alabama = BCS Champions

It's a little strange, but simple when broken down for you.