Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

Jan 13, 2015, 9:26 PM

When you listen to SEC fans, they make it appear as though the period from 2006 to 2012 was the norm of college football history. In this duration, SEC teams impressively won seven consecutive national titles. While an amazing feat, several nearly simultaneous factors contributed to such dominance.

Recall that, from 1980 to 2005, only five national champions came from that conference (Georgia in 1980, Alabama in '92, Florida in '96, Tennessee in '98, and LSU in 2003). In this same time frame, The U won five national crowns, Nebraska three, FSU two, Oklahoma two, and The Real USC two. I'm not even counting the many times they participated in bowl games with national title implications.

Remember those powerful Hurricane squads, Bobby Bowden's dominating Seminoles, Tom Osborne's mighty Huskers, and Pete Carroll's untouchable Trojans? What happened to those dynasties during or shortly before the SEC Glory Era of 2006 to 2012? Miami fell off the map because of Larry Coker and scandals. Age finally caught up with Bobby Bowden and FSU consequently began a decade-long lull. The man who followed the legend of Osborne was unable to imitate him. The Real USC became mired in NCAA improprieties and Pete Carroll bolted for the NFL after the 2009 season.

In other words, the national competition was dwindling (or had already dwindled) away by the latter half of the 2000's. Other than the top SEC powers, virtually only Ohio State and Oklahoma maintained their national prominence.

Furthermore, in the mid-2000's, Alabama and Florida lucked up and attracted two excellent coaches in Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. Notice that five of the seven consecutive SEC national championships were won by these two men! While other national powers were falling apart, the Tide and Gators were hiring the hottest commodities in coaching. Note that both Alabama and Florida were wallowing in mediocrity before Saban and Meyer, respectively, came.

My point is not to undermine the traditional greatness of the SEC. Five national crowns from 1980 to 2005 is nothing to scoff at or ridicule. However, did "SEC Speed" only begin in 2006? Did unstoppable "SEC Defenses" only come about in 2006? Did the Deep South become a hotbed of recruiting talent only after 2005? I don't think so. Rather, non-SEC powers fell apart while two future coaching legends fell into the SEC's lap. The Southeastern Conference does not exist in a vacuum.

By the way, notice that no SEC school has won a national title in the past two years. What has happened during this time? Florida State has finally had a re-awakening as a program and returned to dominance. Also, Urban Meyer has had enough time to get most of his players and system together at Ohio State. In short, national competition is gradually beginning to increase again and the SEC is suffering from it.

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The more you make of it the more obsessed you look.

facts - everything has ebbs and flows - SEC is taking that downward trend and the timing is probably right, everyone is tired of them. That doesn't change the fact that the conference dominated for years.

Navy and Ga tech have multiple national champs but aren't considered in the discussion these days
Oklahoma had a nice run with Switzer then dropped off to nothing until stoops but still nothing lately
Bama went throught the ringer with multiple bad coaches and was nothing for years
Miami was something now nothing but rebounding with a potentially good coach
Ohio st got beat by usc 2 years in a row and were nothing special for years

Sure the sec had some good teams at the same time and from top to bottom many called it the elite conference in football and there are facts to back that up

Rather than fight it or call espn and others names for stating the obvious, why not wait for Louisville, Clemson, FSU, Ga tech, Miami, others in the ACC to take charge and get the national focus. Face it Ohio st and mich st and much may stay pretty good but the rest of the big ten is not going to be world beaters. The ACC has a chance to make a run

I agree the dominance was simply timing in that Tenn had been very good, LSU, Bama, and Florida, all had good runs and it made the conference look tough. Other facts are look at the bowls, SEC teams never play similar ranked conference opponents, they are always matched with a higher ranked team within its particular conference. Think chick fil a bowl when a #2 ACC team played a #5-6 SEC team and it was always a great game
#1 BCS
#2 BCS
#3 cotton
# 4 Citrus
#5 Outback
#6 Chick fil a

Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

Re: Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

You forgot to mention fraud poll fixin and the money train***

Re: Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

Re: Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

Speaking of obsessed...who is on their rivals board trying

they helped with inflated rankings and polls much like they

The SEC had a legitimate 4 years of dominance

Yea but Jimbo and Urban are both former SEC coaches....

Re: Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

The most impressive part of the SEC streak

I accidentally hit enter on my iphone

Re: The most impressive part of the SEC streak

Alabama and LSU would have both beaten Ok. St. Ok. St.

Re: Alabama and LSU would have both beaten Ok. St. Ok. St.

wrong. Ok St had a much better resume. look it up***

True but going forward, look for the PAC 12 and BIG to

Sorry but you're just wrong

Remember, potentially and actually doing it are a whole

Why stop there Joseph?

Ya know what?..

Arizona State is 50-1 to win it next year which is 21st

Without the playoff, very good chance the SEC

funny***

True.

Great sensible well thought out post,

Which year did the SEC not deserve a spot?

There's another half of that issue.

Can't argue with an SEC Kool Aid drinker.

Which year did you do anything to help?***

Re: Why the SEC Dominated for Seven Years.

Being rated in the top ten and having one ranked #1

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