- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Why did the SEC win Nati's at an average rate until 2003, then won 15 of last 20?
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:08 pm
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:08 pm
What changed? Posted this on SECR, got no response, so want to post here.
My opinion is the best players would leave the state until 2003. Ed Reed, Marshall Faulk, Reggie Wayne, Warrick Dunn, Travis Minor, Brock Berlin, JD Booty, Arnaz Battle, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning. All the best players seemed to go to blue bloods like: Notre Dame, Michigan, USC, Nebraska, Ohio State, Florida State, Miami, Texas, OU, Bama. Only 1 of which was an SEC team around 2003 to 2006.
Did the SEC start pouring more money into coaching and facilities? What changed these kids mind starting around 2003?
My opinion is the best players would leave the state until 2003. Ed Reed, Marshall Faulk, Reggie Wayne, Warrick Dunn, Travis Minor, Brock Berlin, JD Booty, Arnaz Battle, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning. All the best players seemed to go to blue bloods like: Notre Dame, Michigan, USC, Nebraska, Ohio State, Florida State, Miami, Texas, OU, Bama. Only 1 of which was an SEC team around 2003 to 2006.
Did the SEC start pouring more money into coaching and facilities? What changed these kids mind starting around 2003?
8
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:15 pm to Saunson69
Nick Saban
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:26 pm to TankBoys32
Bama fans don't understand. Bama is not more special than the other blue blood programs. Nick Saban was special.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:29 pm to Saunson69
Considering 7 of those 15 was Saban, I’m gonna say Saban is the answer. Not only for his own wins but he put pressure on other SEac teams to get better and spend more money just to try and keep up.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:33 pm to Saunson69
SEC took paying players under the table to another level with bag men & car dealerships, jewelry stores etc. Got ahead of the facility arms race compared to other conferences, and after Nick Saban deal with LSU they were able to attract elite coaches with outrageous salaries. Also hate Verne, Todd, Brad, and Gary all you want but having that CBS prime time game helped tremendously with kids not from the south. Unless you were Notre dame and had nbc the SEC had CBS all to themselves while the other conferences were juggling between ESPN, ABC, Fox etc.
This post was edited on 1/2/25 at 7:43 pm
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:39 pm to Saunson69
couple things
but the BCS in ‘98 was a huge plus for the SEC.
prior to that things had to go right for the SEC Champ to win a Natty.
wasn’t often that they would be matched with another team in the running for a title.
so both would win their bowls but the champ would go to some of those other schools.
once the SEC started playing (and beating) those other teams, the narrative shifted and the SEC started getting a lot more recognition.
the true turning point was the ‘06 season.
nobody really gave Florida a chance against tOSU.
it was a forgone conclusion that whoever won the Michigan/OSU game that year was best in country.
then Florida absolutely throttled them.
then we did it again the next year.
so by ‘08 SEC teams were now being given the benefit of the doubt.
and they kept delivering when given the shot and usually against former media darlings.
Florida over OU
Bama over Texas
Auburn over Pac 10 champ
but the BCS in ‘98 was a huge plus for the SEC.
prior to that things had to go right for the SEC Champ to win a Natty.
wasn’t often that they would be matched with another team in the running for a title.
so both would win their bowls but the champ would go to some of those other schools.
once the SEC started playing (and beating) those other teams, the narrative shifted and the SEC started getting a lot more recognition.
the true turning point was the ‘06 season.
nobody really gave Florida a chance against tOSU.
it was a forgone conclusion that whoever won the Michigan/OSU game that year was best in country.
then Florida absolutely throttled them.
then we did it again the next year.
so by ‘08 SEC teams were now being given the benefit of the doubt.
and they kept delivering when given the shot and usually against former media darlings.
Florida over OU
Bama over Texas
Auburn over Pac 10 champ
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:46 pm to TankBoys32
Spurrier took the SEC out of the Stoneage, then it was game on
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:57 pm to TigerintheNO
quote:
Spurrier took the SEC out of the Stoneage, then it was game on
a “stoneage” team beat the tar out of Spurrier in the National Title game in ‘95
Posted on 1/2/25 at 8:34 pm to TigerintheNO
quote:
Spurrier took the SEC out of the Stoneage, then it was game on
The SEC was still pretty disrespected until 2006-2007. See the 2003 split bullshite and undefeated Auburn left out in 2004. The back to back dismantling of Ohio State changed everything.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 8:40 pm to DallasTiger11
quote:
The SEC was still pretty disrespected until 2006-2007. See the 2003 split bullshite and undefeated Auburn left out in 2004.
yep even in ‘05 all the talk was USC going for the 3-peat. not even bringing up the split.
‘06 when Michigan and OSU played with both unbeaten all the talk was that was the true championship game.
there was even murmuring of trying to get a rematch in bowl.
quote:
The back to back dismantling of Ohio State changed everything
yep.
FU taking them to the woodshed opened some eyes.
they didn’t just beat them, they broke them.
LSU doing it again the very next year finalized that shift in thought.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:09 pm to Jim Hopper
I agree. Most days there was very little competition at 2:30.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:10 pm to Shaun176
quote:
Bama fans don't understand. Bama is not more special than the other blue blood programs.
The first part is true, but….
quote:
Nick Saban was special.
This is wrong, and is proven by his history.
Nick Saban had one season with fewer than three losses at LSU. I don’t believe what he did at Bama would have been repeated had he somehow overcome the NFL itch and stayed at LSU.
Simply put, he wouldn’t have had the REC, the SEC office and the ESPN media-jihad behind him but for the fact he was at Bama.
There’s an old saying about Bear Bryant, that “ He take his and be yours, and then take yours and beat his”. No one ever said that about Saban. He won by bringing every advantage he could to the playing field, starting with having more talent. But it also helped he had the SEC officials, commissioner, schedule maker, ESPN talking heads, NCAA commissioner and many others serving him.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:11 pm to Shaun176
quote:
Bama fans don't understand. Bama is not more special than the other blue blood programs.
The first part is true, but….
quote:
Nick Saban was special.
This is wrong, and is proven by his history.
Nick Saban had one season with fewer than three losses at LSU. I don’t believe what he did at Bama would have been repeated had he somehow overcome the NFL itch and stayed at LSU.
Simply put, he wouldn’t have had the REC, the SEC office and the ESPN media-jihad behind him but for the fact he was at Bama.
There’s an old saying about Bear Bryant, that “ He take his and be yours, and then take yours and beat his”. No one ever said that about Saban. He won by bringing every advantage he could to the playing field, starting with having more talent. But it also helped he had the SEC officials, commissioner, schedule maker, ESPN talking heads, NCAA commissioner and many others serving him.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:25 pm to Jim Hopper
quote:
SEC took paying players under the table to another level with bag men & car dealerships, jewelry stores etc. Got ahead of the facility arms race compared to other conferences, and after Nick Saban deal with LSU they were able to attract elite coaches with outrageous salaries. Also hate Verne, Todd, Brad, and Gary all you want but having that CBS prime time game helped tremendously with kids not from the south. Unless you were Notre dame and had nbc the SEC had CBS all to themselves while the other conferences were juggling between ESPN, ABC, Fox etc.
Under the table and car deals notwithstanding, the remainder of what you said is the answer. Nick Saban, not because of what he did at Bama, but the contract he was able to get, even at LSU, changed what the other SEC schools started offering. The CBS deal by far had the biggest impact. National sports journalists for any sport will tell you, exposure, exposure, exposure is KEY.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:32 pm to lsusa
quote:
Nick Saban had one season with fewer than three losses at LSU. I don’t believe what he did at Bama would have been repeated had he somehow overcome the NFL itch and stayed at LSU.
that’s the great unknown
Nick was still learning and developing his craft at LSU.
Alabama got him right as he was hitting his peak.
there really is no way to know he wouldn’t have had that same type of peak here.
Hell, even Les would likely have at least one and maybe multiple Natty’s just with Nick not being in the division.
so who the hell knows what Saban could have done here.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:32 pm to lsusa
quote:If this was true then why didn’t any other bama coach have similar success like Saban? Don’t be foolish, the man is the greatest college coach ever and brought LSU football back to life and had he stayed LSU probably has 6-8 more titles during his career.
Nick Saban had one season with fewer than three losses at LSU. I don’t believe what he did at Bama would have been repeated had he somehow overcome the NFL itch and stayed at LSU. Simply put, he wouldn’t have had the REC, the SEC office and the ESPN media-jihad behind him but for the fact he was at Bama.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:34 pm to lsusa
This is one of the worst posts I’ve seen on tRant
Saban was primed to rip off three straight natties when he left for the Dolphins. Doubt he falls off any after that
Saban was primed to rip off three straight natties when he left for the Dolphins. Doubt he falls off any after that
Posted on 1/2/25 at 9:35 pm to Saunson69
Arms race. The top teams spent money on facilities and hired the best coaches. Saban, Meyer, and others.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:03 pm to Saunson69
BCS and championship games. Prior to that a big 10/pac 10/acc school could win a title without having to play an SEC squad.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 12:03 am to Jim Hopper
quote:
If this was true then why didn’t any other bama coach have similar success like Saban? Don’t be foolish, the man is the greatest college coach ever and brought LSU football back to life and had he stayed LSU probably has 6-8 more titles during his career.
It’s a nuanced point - I don’t deny Saban being great. That would be foolish. But as I say in my post he did so by bringing every possible advantage to the field, that included eventually being at Alabama where he had the REC and other advantages that went with it.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News