This article is going to be a very brief prediction for the 2009 SEC West division teams. Starting with who I think will be the worst team in the SEC West.
Yes, I will be ranking the teams along the way, and I will probably get a lot of negative comments after the first 100 or so reads, but it's ok. I can take a couple of of rocks getting thrown at me, but it is the bad comments from Alabama fans that hurt the worst.
The bullets.
Please though, send negative comments, positive, or any kind of comment for that matter. You can even make up a type of comment for that matter. Ok, here we go.
No.6—Mississippi State Bulldogs
Now, this was a tough choice believe it or not. It could very well have been Arkansas by that six right now, but it's not and here's why:
Before you get all mad Dawg's fans, I am not going by favoritism. If you look at Mississippi State's season last year, they ended with an Ole Miss loss, and I do mean ENDED.
No conference championship, and no bowl game.
Their record of 4-8 was the worst in the SEC. Yeah, they did beat Arkansas, but they also lost to teams like Auburn, Kentucky, and Louisiana Tech. I do see Mississippi State being a much improved team from last year, set aside the fact that they had a horrible season in 2008, but they will not be in the conference championship.
Maybe a bowl game if they can get that win column to at least a six. Wins don't come easy when you are in the SEC, and to be Mississippi State in these days makes it even worse.
No.5—Auburn Tigers
Again, no favoritism here, but Arkansas did beat Auburn, and they won their final game of the season. Unlike an unpredictable Auburn team that lost to the No.1 team in the nation at the time, Alabama Crimson Tide. A blowout wasn't good enough for the Tide, so they went for the also unpredicted shutout. A 36-0 final score took the Tigers out of bowl contention. Their season didn't go as planned, as they went 5-7, and lost to teams like Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.
Tommy Tubberville's final season at Auburn, was his only losing season. Not the best way to cap off a very successful career at an SEC school. He hung six straight wins over the hated Tide, and had an SEC championship under his belt.
The surprise firing shocked fans throughout the nation, and the hiring of Iowa State head coach Gene Chizik gave everyone a little confidence.
Coach Chizik has coached at the University of Auburn in his career before, under the Head coaching of Tommy Tubberville. His Iowa State career didn't go as planned, but he is considered 'Back at home' by Auburn fans all over. This is why they are at No.5 in the SEC West.
No.4—Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorback's season didn't go great either. Their record of 5-7 was identical to Auburn's, but they were able to beat LSU in their final game of the season.
Many surprised faces could be seen in the stadium on that very day. Arkansas had not had a great season to that point, as they were 4-7 and looked to be going for 4-8, but the upset alert went off across the nation as they pulled off the win against the hated Tigers.
They should be a better team this coming season. They begin their season against their rival Texas A&M Aggies. Another upset may be on the horizon for the Razorbacks. We'll just have to wait and see.
No.3—Louissianna State Tigers
LSU got off to a good start last season, but the defending National champions just didn't have enough to claim successive titles.
Losses to teams like Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas really turned their season upside down. Though they did lose to hated rival Arkansas, they were able to beat Georgia Tech in the Chick Fil-A bowl in a surprising game.
The Yellow Jackets were on fire after beating Georgia in the last minutes in their annual rivalry. LSU, though, put that fire out in a hurry. The Tigers may be able to catch fire this year if they can win some key games. No telling what will happen with this team.
No.2—Ole Miss Rebels
No one saw the season they had last year coming.Beating the eventual national champions, Florida Gators, in the middle of the season, then beating the team that was also a big surprise in the Cotton Bowl, Texas Tech was just the beginning of the run that Ole Miss may be starting for the next decade or so.
They capped their season with an impressive win in their bowl game, that put them in the top 25 teams going into the 2009 season. This one game may have given them the hype to take them to a BCS bowl game this coming season.
Only time will tell.
No.1—Alabama Crimson Tide
Considered by many the most surprising team in the nation last season. They started the season with an impressive win over the ranked Clemson Tigers, and then only four games later defeated the pre season No.1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs to show the nation that Bama is back.
Alabama kept the No.1 ranking for the longest consecutive weeks in 2008. They were also invited to play in their conference championship game.
Though they lost to the Gators, they were able to keep up. Losing by two last quarter touchdowns. If the game were only played in three quarters, Alabama would have been in the National Championship game.
It was a loss though, and gave Bama an invite to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
It was set, Alabama vs. Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Both teams were having stellar seasons. Utah looked to be the huge underdogs. In a nationwide vote, 92 percent said that Alabama would beat Utah. Apparently that doesn't mean anything as the 12-0 Utes went on to beat the Tide, 12-1. Utah then became 13-0, and were the only undefeated team left in the nation.
How's that for 2009 hype?
Alabama WILL have an improved team this season. I stated in one of my previous articles that we would have a weakness at our QB position, but I stand today saying that there will be not weakness.
After attending the A-day game I realized that it may be an improvement. These reasons are why I see Alabama starting the 2009 season at the No.1 ranking in the SEC West.
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Much has been discussed about Alabama's excellent recruiting classes. There has been lots of bragging, some people from rival schools complaining, and many people from around the SEC shaking in their boots.
The 2009 recruiting class that has been enrolling at the school this summer has stirred up much attention with names like D.J. Fluker and Trent Richardson.
I, for one, am so excited that for the first time in a long time we have extremely impressive talent that doesn’t even get the spotlight because of the other blue-chip talent that is coming in with them.
I want to concentrate on one player that I believe might make a bigger name for himself than some of the blue-chippers that have hogged the national spotlight thus far.
That player is Eddie Lacy.
All the Bama fans know exactly who I'm talking about. Even some fans from other programs know who I’m talking about from following recruiting for their own team.
For those of you who don’t know who he is, he's a 5'11", 210-lb. running back that has some very unique qualities. There was some doubt as to whether or not he would qualify. With news just last week that he has in fact qualified, the Bama backfield just got stronger.
Every highly recruited running back in America is going to be fast, athletic, and at least somewhat strong, but what makes the difference between a back that becomes a household name nationwide and a running back that becomes a distant memory? There are some tangible things that almost all successful running backs have in common.
You never see a top-notch running back get wrapped up during a play and just go down. A great running back's legs start pumping even harder and faster the moment that contact is made. They don't give up on a play. They are relentless in their drive to get that one extra yard.
After close review of Lacy's highlight video, he exhibits outstanding leg drive and never gives up on his play. If you want to see it in action, see his video on any of the recruiting sites and just watch the first play.
Another aspect that all great backs have in common is vision. You hear commentators mention vision regularly, but what does vision actually mean? It’s the ability to see a hole before the hole even opens up and being able to stay patient and hit the hole as soon as it opens.
Many times you’ll see a running back make an excellent cut that seems to be headed right for a pile, but just before the running back hits the pile of bodies a little crevice opens up, and he slips right through.
The best high school running back that I had the pleasure of watching was a master at this technique. He has made a living off of his vision. Most of you know him as Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.
Lacy shows this uncanny ability to hit holes that don't seem to be there several times in his videos. His jump-cut is one of the best, if not the best that I've ever seen. If you combine his ability to cut with his vision, you have dynamite in your backfield.
The last thing that most great running backs have in common is the ability to be hit hard and still somehow keep their feet. This is better known as balance. It is one of the most crucial abilities that a running back can own.
There is one guarantee for a running back in the SEC: You will get hit, often, hard, and from every direction. If you have no balance, you'll just be another third stringer.
Lacy shows off his outstanding balance in many clips of his highlight film. You can refer back to the same clip that shows his roadrunner-like leg drive. In that same clip he is hit from all directions but remains on his feet to take it to the house.
Before I get all the hate mail talking about how Trent Richardson is going to be the greatest running back of all time, and that Lacy couldn't hold his jock, etc., etc., let me say this: I'm sure Richardson will be a huge asset to the Tide, but Nick Saban has always used a running back by committee.
I believe that Lacy could possibly steal the featured back spot.
The great news for us Tide fans is that no matter what, we are loading up with talent, and it seems as though the talent is going to keep rolling in. I'm a firm believer that competition in practice is very important to being a championship-caliber program.
That is our goal, and I believe that is where we are headed.
In my opinion, Lacy will help take us there.
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Teams in the SEC don't scare me as much as certain athletes. These are people who can singlehandedly steal a game. So, in no particular order, here are the five scariest people in the SEC.
Trindon Holliday, LSU
I hold my breath when I see him with the ball. If you give Holliday the smallest hole or you make the slightest misstep, you're left grabbing air.
Whether he's returning punts or kicks, catching passes, or lining up at running back, he's danger with a capital "D."
Holliday is the fastest player in college football, maybe the fastest ever. At 5'5" and 165 pounds—soaking wet—he's not going to run over anyone, but he will run away from everyone.
Why LSU doesn't use him more has always confused me; he's a touchdown waiting to happen. But don't tell Les Miles; I like him on the bench just fine.
Javier Arenas, Alabama
Arenas made a name for himself as a game-changing kickoff and punt returner. Now, he also prowls the secondary, and with amazing closing speed, what may look like an open receiver is now a picked-off pass.
Moreover, his quick blitzing ability and his thunderous hits make him scary.
At 5'9" and 198 pounds, Arenas attacks the ball carrier like a 290-pound defensive tackle. That makes Nick Saban scared, too. "He'll attack a huge fullback the same way he'll tackle a small receiver," says Saban. "But so far, he's always jumped back up."
Arenas is an all-purpose danger, and other teams should keep the ball as far away from him as possible.
Eric Berry, Tennessee
Just don't throw in his direction. That's the advice that coaches give their quarterbacks regarding Eric Berry, the 5'11", 210-pound junior strong safety.
And it's good advice. Last year, as a sophomore, Berry was tied for the lead among all defensive players for interceptions and broke the SEC record of return yards from INTs with 487 yards.
Before he leaves Tennessee, he will have broken the national record in interception return yardage.
If anybody has ever had NFL written on his forehead, it's Berry.
Jevan Snead, Ole Miss
In their history, Ole Miss has not had much team success, but they do have a record for having some memorable gunslingers.
Well, there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Jevan Snead.
Last year, the 6'3", 210-pound quarterback took an average team all the way to the Cotton Bowl. He threw for 2,470 yards last year, which included 23 touchdowns and 12 INTs.
Yes, Snead can have an average day from time to time, but the scary thing about him is, if he's hot, it's going to be very scary.
Tim Tebow, Florida
Ask a 5'7" cornerback if a scrambling Tebow with a head full of steam doesn't cause nightmares. Tebow can throw like a Heisman quarterback, run like a halfback, and be as hard to bring down as a fullback.
The 6'2", 238-pound quarterback usually gives more of a lick than he takes. But it's not his durability, passing ability, or running ability that makes him scary, although they certainly cause a chill to run down many a defensive coordinator's spine.
It's his leadership and his ability to seemingly will himself to victory.
Once Tebow is "in the zone," the game is usually no longer in doubt.
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I can't help but notice a certain sense of shame amongst the more, shall we say, "upper tier" Crimson Tide fans at having to be associated with fans that many of them feel are...how do I put it?
Oh I got it! Provincial!
Yea, that's a good word to use because it will make the degree-holding snobs feel just a little less judgemental—and the "redneck" non alumni fans that they are all so ashamed of probably won't understand what it means, anyway.
"Bammers"—as the uppity pin heads so affectionately refer to these hard working, hard partying, and perhaps not so well-spoken members of the Bama fanbase—have just as much right to unwind after a long week of fixing your toilets, building your houses, and doing whatever other job that you feel is beneath you or are too inept to do yourself.
So why do some 'Bama fans feel the need to distance themselves from these people who are fans of the same team?
Will being associated with "those people" somehow undermine or lessen their accomplishments or stature in life?
Does this disdain stem from a deep seated sense of inferiority, or shame at being from a state the the rest of the country has told us is backwards, and that we should somehow feel less for even being born here?
Well I say, get over it and embrace the fact that you are from the south, and that there is really no better place, people, or football on Earth.
These people you try so hard to disassociate with not only support the same team as you, but they in fact support you in many ways.
So the next time you find yourself cringing at the sight of a cammo Bama hat, a pair of cut-off denim shorts, and a Budweiser, or you sigh at the sight of 2,000 crimson clad fans packed into a hotel lobby on a Wednsday afternoon:
Stop and think of the fact that you are probably a lot more alike than you are different.
Give em a loud "ROLL TIDE!" or a "Hell Yea!", and maybe even a high five, and be happy that you attended a school whose draw is bigger than just the amount of students it can graduate.
Or, just move to New York and leave the rest of us alone.
ROLL TIDE Y'ALL!!
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5. Recruiting, Spring Practice, Regular Season, and Postseason Means Football Year-round
Before the explosion of the Internet and web sites dedicated to recruiting and following specific college football programs, college football fans had to wait until the preseason special magazines would come out to feed our starving appetite for college football.
Now we have sites like Rivals.com, Scout.com, and thousands of sites focused on our specific football program. This gives fanatics a never-ending fix for college ball.
Personally, I hit bamaonline.com, bamamag.com, bleacherreport.com, and tidesports.com at least three or four times a day each just to read the latest on all things Crimson.
I used to get into NBA a little bit, and I would flirt with MLB. I see now that all I was doing was trying to occupy my mind while the excruciating days would slowly grind by during the offseason. I had to watch some type of sports, or I would go insane with the boredom.
Now that I have all this to keep me occupied, I’ve become the stereotypical Bama fan. Recruiting is year-round. I read about it every day, even during the regular season. After regular season is over, I spend weeks picking apart the upcoming bowl game—every aspect of it.
I read all I can find about weaknesses, strengths, and tendencies of each team. After the bowl game is over, recruiting is on full-tilt. Signing day is almost as important as the first game of the season.
I’m glued to chat rooms, television coverage, and websites all day in order to track player movement. After signing day, it’s time to look forward to spring.
Recently, my friends and I have started a tradition at Alabama’s spring practice.
We wake up early, travel down to T-Town, and spend the day on campus until the “A-Day” game kicks off. We get to see our first glimpse of the early enrollees. We also get to see the new starters and the candidates that are vying for playing time in spots vacated by graduating seniors.
4. Being Part of Something Bigger Than Yourself
We all have the need to be part of something bigger than ourselves. This need surfaces in different ways with different people.
It’s easy to identify with this thought, though. Everyone has been part of “the wave” in a stadium.
There is no logical reason for doing the wave. It doesn’t affect the play on the field; it doesn’t support the players in any way; and it doesn’t improve the chances of winning in any way.
We all stand up in synchronization because it’s amazing to see what tens of thousands of people can create when they work together. They create something bigger than themselves.
This is also what gives us goose bumps when we take part in traditional cheers that date as far back as the early 1900’s. There is nothing like screaming that cheer you’ve known since you were a young lad and helping to shake an enormous concrete stadium.
When 90,000 college football fans join voices in a cheer or just cheering to be loud, they can actually make it hard (if not impossible) for an opposing offensive team to hear.
When you become part of a crowd, it’s almost like you are part of this larger living organism that can even change the outcome of a game.
You might say, “Why is this any different than NFL or other sports?”
That is an easy one to answer. Anybody can tell you that a team or an organization is only as good as the parts that make up the team. In the SEC, and especially Alabama, fans are more passionate. They live for this stuff.
People around the country think we are crazy. The waiting list for season tickets for the Crimson Tide is somewhere around 50,000. You might say, “That’s only because of last year’s recent success or because of Nick Saban,” but there was a long waiting list even with Mike Shula was coaching, when they was little success except the “flash in the pan” that was his one decent season.
3. Rich Winning Tradition
All the time, I hear people say, “We have tradition," but what exactly does that mean? Even churches and Kiwanis clubs have tradition.
When used in reference to college football you often here people mention the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. What do these programs all have in common? They are winners.
They all have had down years and even down eras, but, overall, they are winning programs. They win championships, bowls, and league championships.
Even if 'Bama hadn’t whipped up on Miami in the ’92 championship game, I would have been a Crimson fan, but it did solidify my membership in the Crimson Tide Nation.
I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was then 12 years old. All I had heard was how 'Bama couldn’t keep up with Miami’s speed. I read the numerous quotes from Lamar Thomas stating how 'Bama wasn’t “man enough to play one-on-one coverage” and how nobody on 'Bama’s defense could keep up with his speed.
Not only did 'Bama demolish Miami in that Sugar Bowl, but Teague showed Thomas what speed was when he ran Thomas down from ten yards back.
Not only did he run him down, but he took the ball away from him and headed the other way in what became one of Alabama’s most-talked-about “Kodak moments” ever. That game was the cement that made me a die-hard 'Bama fan for life.
2. The Pageantry Surrounding College Football is Completely Unique
"Pageantry," you hear this word on ESPN on college game day about 20 times a week.
Many NFL fans probably don't recognize this word. Not that NFL fans aren’t intelligent enough, they just have never experienced it.
It’s the sound of the marching band playing that fight song you’ve grown up loving, the cheerleaders that actually lead cheers where all 93,000 fans (in Alabama’s case) follow along, and the fortunate people who have the money and time will leave home and live in an RV for the entire season following their team.
There is no way to describe the entire campus environment that happens on a game day. To understand it, you have to be a part of it.
The smell of delicious, grilled food is intoxicating. The camaraderie that you immediately have with someone wearing your team’s colors is amazing. The anticipation that comes with a big game makes the atmosphere electric.
I’ll never forget the first time I sat in Bryant-Denny Stadium and was part of the “ALA–" “BAMA” chant that is a weekly fixture at 'Bama games. It sent chills down my spine to be part of something that was so moving.
1. The Passion of College Players is Unmatched in the Pro Game
This is the reason why most of us college football fans eat, breathe, and sleep college football. You see it on their faces at the start of the game, after a huge loss, and after a big victory.
The look on the face a young student athlete, who has worked extremely to get to this point, says it all. It’s not about money. It’s not about free agency.
It’s about winning and making your beloved alma mater a successful program. In professional sports, you often see players, after a loss, laughing, cutting it up, or just acting like they just got through eating dinner with their neighbors.
Sometimes they are even cutting it up with players from the opposing team that just beat them. Yes, sometimes these occurrences happen because they’ve played with the opposing team before.
Here in lies a major reason for college football's supremacy.
Professional players jump from team to team, and in some cases, they switch teams on a weekly or monthly basis.
They aren’t loyal to their program, and their program isn’t loyal to them. It’s all about the dough. In college, some players who played together in high school become mortal enemies because they ended up at rival colleges.
Almost always, players who play for a given college program are lifelong fans and supporters. Many of these players contribute financially to the institution, and everyone has heard the saying, "Where a man’s treasure lies, there his heart lies also."
Often times, when professional players introduce themselves during a video roster recap, they seem more passionate about announcing what college program they played for than the team they are currently employed by?
If you need further convincing, just take a look at the face of an Alabama player or Auburn player when they have lost an Iron Bowl. For that matter, you can take a look at the fans!
