<p>There is another reason why SEC schools are excelling at football - commitment to their football program.</p>
<p>The powerhouse schools have made a very conscious decision to develop their programs, invest in their facilities and make their football team a priority.</p>
<p>This is true with the possible exception of Vanderbilt, but even they promote a competitive program, they just don’t have the resources nor do they want to invest the funds…which is understandable.</p>
<p>Every team in the SEC wants to win a national championship, that is their goal, that is their mission. They aren’t happy with being 7-5 and playing in a bowl game.</p>
<p>Other conferences don’t have that collective commitment. In the B10, there are 4 teams that share a commitment to win a national championship, in the Big East 1, PAC 10has 2/3, B12 has 3, ACC has 3. </p>
<p>I know what many of you are thinking, “What are you talking about? Every school wants to win a national championship!” Yes, that is true, but few teams actually put the investment into getting it, few spend the money, few develop the right staff.</p>
<p>SEC likes winning. Their alumni donates to win, not to go 7-5 and play in the Pinstripe Bowl.</p>
<p>The idea that they are slow and non-athletic is just not supported by any facts. Wisconsin’s OL was known for both it’s size and athletic ability getting big guys into the LBs before they could move to the ball. Main problem is they don’t “look” athletic to some people because they are big strong and white. The SEC’s only real advantage is that they have few rules that really get enforced and a better pool of local talent. Go read the articles about how they over-recruit and then run-off players who were not living up to expectations. Academics–not really. And pay for play–probably more than just Cam Newton.
Since the current coach took over in 2005 UW has won bowl games with southern powers Arkansas, Auburn and Miami. Hardly getting rolled over.</p>
<p>It’s not just speed, but offensive philosophy. The pro-style offense that is a favorite in the B10 is starting to die. Programs can put up bigger numbers with lesser talent in the spread.</p>
<p>If you are a 4-Star Offensive recruit/speed demon, do you want to run for 3 yards a carry or get the ball in space, break a single tackle and rack up stats?</p>
<p>Take a look at the two teams playing in the national championship, Oregon V. Auburn, both speed teams that run out of the spread.</p>
<p>Also, don’t fool yourself thinking B10 teams aren’t doing pay for play.</p>
<p>Yes, that speedy Oregon team looked real good last year getting spanked by OSU. Recruiting rankings are nice but don’t win any games. JJ Watt Wisconsin’s AA DE was a 2* player. UW’s QB and Unitas winner another 2* player. Gabe Carimi AA LT-3<em>. John Moffitt All American guard 2</em>.</p>
<p>And stats–which team had THREE RBs roll up around 1000 Yards each this year? (And one was from Fla.)</p>
<p>^ You are naive if you think teams from all conferences aren’t engaging in some sort of under the table payments. It happens in every conference, at every major team. </p>
<p>Please, don’t start lecturing about how teams perform in bowl games, especially don’t do it by using OSU as an example, who is an absolute national joke in bowl games. </p>
<p>tOSU is currently 0-9 against SEC teams in bowl games, so I wouldn’t use them as a good example of the mighty B10.</p>
<p>Firstly, UMichigan shouldn’t have been in a bowl game this year. But that’s the system we have; win at least half your games and you get invited to a bowl, particularly if you have a program with a successful tradition, if not a successful current season.</p>
<p>Interesting comment about Nebraska and its entry into the Big Ten. I’m not sure that Nebraska ever put much effort into recruiting in the state of Texas once they realized the returns were minimal. Their skill position players all seem to come from the mid-Atlantic region in recent years. Particularly New Jersey (Penn State territory). Also, UN has a very loyal network of alumni who give them the heads up about high school talent outside of Nebraska. Nebraska had [maybe still does have] a tradition of taking overlooked players, particularly linemen, and turning them into studs. Now that they’re in the Big Ten I see Nebraska having even better recruiting results in the west and midwest.</p>
<p>*This is true with the possible exception of Vanderbilt, but even they promote a competitive program, they just don’t have the resources nor do they want to invest the funds…which is understandable.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>I don’t get this. Investing money in a top football program RETURNS dollars to the school.</p>
<p>Being a southern california girl, I grew up a USC Trojan fan. USC was not a highly ranked school not too many decades ago. It invested in football and the returns paid back in dividends and in rising rankings. As the money came in (from sports and happy alumni), the school was able to use the money to improve the school…bring in better profs, offer more scholarships, etc.</p>
<p>The money a school gets for having televised football is amazing…literally millions. The money schools get from licensed spirit wear is not peanuts, either. </p>
<p>Schools get more apps when they have a good football team. That helps them be able to become more selective with admissions. </p>
<p>Vandy has hidden behind the mantra of “smart boys can’t play good football” for too long. Stanford and others show that that doesn’t have to be the case. I think Vandy may be realizing that it can and should have a better program. Hopefully, the next coach can make that happen. </p>
<p>I agree…Big Ten is waaayyy over rated…you can take middle of the pack SEC team and they will walk all over the Big Ten #1…Ohio State may make a game of it but Arkansas is strong…</p>
<p>USC’s rise had little to do with football or they would have been better in the 60’s-70’s when they had a powerhouse football teams too. What changed was they starting hiring top profs and giving scholarships to anyone with high SATs. That’s how they changed their academics.</p>
<p>I see both sides of the Vandy situation. The gains mentioned by USC (which I agree don’t have all that much to do with football) are not needed at Vanderbilt. Yes, it would be nice to have a competitive team, but since they are in the SEC, there is a huge gap to bridge. </p>
<p>That said, it is tough on the players and the community for Vandy to be such a doormat in SEC football, and I really do hope the new coach and the new (supposed) commitment to the program by Vandy’s administration can help. Basketball sure holds its own, but that’s a different animal.</p>
<p>Vandy should consider switching to the Big 10 next time it expands. Much more in common with B10 academics and more level playing field where they might be more competitive recruiting in Midwest and Northeast.</p>
<p>^^ That would be horrible. SEC sports is integral to Vandy (and Nashville). There are SO many fans from all the SEC schools in Nashville who go to the Vandy games (all sports- but especially football and basketball). I don’t see Vandy going to the Big Ten. There are too many established rivalries here.</p>
<h2>Vandy should consider switching to the Big 10 next time it expands. Much more in common with B10 academics and more level playing field where they might be more competitive recruiting in Midwest and Northeast. ~ Barron</h2>
<p>You can’t just join a conference, you need to be invited and the B10 wants nothing to do with Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>If the B10 expands again, it will most likely be Rutgers, Syracuse or Maryland. But either way, I think expansion is over for awhile.</p>
<p>I don’t get this. Investing money in a top football program RETURNS dollars to the school.</p>
<p>Being a southern california girl, I grew up a USC Trojan fan. USC was not a highly ranked school not too many decades ago. It invested in football and the returns paid back in dividends and in rising rankings. As the money came in (from sports and happy alumni), the school was able to use the money to improve the school…bring in better profs, offer more scholarships, etc.</p>
<p>The money a school gets for having televised football is amazing…literally millions. The money schools get from licensed spirit wear is not peanuts, either. </p>
<p>Schools get more apps when they have a good football team. That helps them be able to become more selective with admissions. </p>
<p>Vandy has hidden behind the mantra of “smart boys can’t play good football” for too long. Stanford and others show that that doesn’t have to be the case. I think Vandy may be realizing that it can and should have a better program. Hopefully, the next coach can make that happen. </p>
<h2>SEC football rocks ~ Mom2collegekids</h2>
<p>They can only do so much. They can’t fill 90,000 + stadiums or compete in recruiting, not even in their own state.</p>
<p>Every conference has their doormats, Vanderbilt’s best hope is to have a better than average team every 4 years when they have a team full of seniors.</p>
<h2>Vandy belongs in the ACC. And Clemson or FSU could go to the SEC. ~ SChmaltz</h2>
<p>SEC doesn’t want FSU, Florida has alot of power within the conference and they don’t want a second Florida school to compete against.</p>
<p>ACC has no expansion plans, and if they did, they certainly wouldn’t kick out one of their best football programs in FSU, that would be crazy. Their addition of Virginia Tech, Boston College and Miami really hasn’t been successful. Their conference championship game hasn’t created much buzz and Virginia Tech is the only one to have any success.</p>
<p>Besides, Vandy makes more money in the SEC, they are pretty happy with the situation they have…moving to ACC = less money.</p>
<p>The SEC as a whole is very content with their conference. They have a new TV deal that pays per head, so any new addition would mean a smaller pot for each time. The only reason they would expand is if PAC10 or B10 jumped to 16 teams, which I don’t see happening.</p>
<p>People need to understand that you can’t just switch conferences. Conferences have clauses that require schools to payout money if they jump ship, plus you need to have an invite to change conferences and that only happens if you bring some added value.</p>