Balance of power shifting to SEC East?

#27
#27
The EAST better start hiring some better coaches if they want to catch up. Missouri didn't look for a proven coach, SC hired Muschamp (enuf said), Vandy went with a west coach assistant, and GA went for an assistant (we'll see how it turns out).
I do think LSU and Auburn will soon be looking for coaches but think they will look for a proven winner. Ole Miss may be looking and if so, they will probably start downward.
 
#29
#29
VFL-82-JP said:
Sure, there have been years that the East was better than the West.

In 1998, as most of us know intimately, Tennessee beat Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi State.

That same year, Florida beat Alabama, LSU, and Auburn.

While Georgia was beating LSU, Auburn, and Ole Miss.

Even Kentucky pitched in that year, beating both LSU and Mississippi State.

The East's overall cross-division record in 1998? 12 wins, 7 losses. Almost a 2-to-1 win record.

That counts as better.

The division did it again in 2008, but that one is less fun for Tennessee fans (we only beat Miss St), so I'll leave out the details.

Fact is, there were a lot of years when the East was better between 1992 and 2008. Some, we were just a little better; others more significantly ahead. It was a long period of balance, with years that went the West's way, and plenty that went the East's way, as well.

It's fiction (and defeatist fiction, coming from a fan of an Eastern school) to say that the East has "never been better" than the West.

East%20vs%20West%201992%20to%202015%20v2.jpg
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I will concede that there were some years, where top to bottom the East was better but not often.

However, it's the same old conversation that's been had.

I'll argue how bad Vandy and Kentucky are. Historically, South Carolina and Missouri are pretty bad as well.

Someone else will argue that Ole Miss and Mississippi State aren't much better than Vandy and Kentucky (which is a load of bull).

I am one of those who thinks things aren't going to change and there are threads all over the place that argue the same thing without directly saying it.

On a year in, year out basis....I don't expect the powers that be in the SEC East to play more than two ranked opponents in the division. The other four schools will annually struggle for bowl eligibility. So, the only way an SEC East schedule will ever look good is when (a) Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee are all good (b) a non-conference opponent is ranked and (c) help from the SEC West.

The easiest way to see it is by eliminating the top 3 schools in each division. If Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee cancel out LSU, Auburn and Alabama (and that's being generous).....the bottom four clearly favor the SEC West as a general rule.

I know I'd rather navigate S. Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky and Vandy instead of Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Texas A&M. It's a no brainer. Maybe there will be a year here or there where this would not be true, but for the most part, I have no doubt about this.

It's not even a question
 
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#30
#30
Iam4utalways said:
There are no "let's" around here for a dirty gator.

See you in Knoxville.
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Good grief. Lighten up man.
The troll brother Gator's been part of this dysfunctional family almost a decade. He's sorta like an adopted pet. No point in abusing him now.
 
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#31
#31
The East is weaker because it contains the basketball school, Vanderbilt, and a chronic underachiever in South Carolina.
Powerful East teams always mopped them up pretty good.

Recently, Tennessee has been down, Georgia is Georgia, Mizzou wasn't quite good enough, and Florida hasn't recovered from 2010.
But from 1993-2002, the East was perceived as stronger. Back then, Alabama was down, LSU was weak, and Auburn was mediocre. Florida and Tennessee, on the other hand, were powerhouses.

So it ebbs and flows. If Saban leaves the power will absolutely balance out, but Saban currently picks up the slack for the west with his dominant Alabama teams.
 
#32
#32
Not even close. When you have Vandy, USCjr, Kentucky and Mizzou it's kinda hard to make an argument.
 
#34
#34
fester said:
Good grief. Lighten up man.
The troll brother Gator's been part of this dysfunctional family almost a decade. He's sorta like an adopted pet. No point in abusing him now.
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Lawrence and 99gator are classier posters than most of the UT fans around here.
 
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#35
#35
DevilDoc said:
Lawrence and 99gator are classier posters than most of the UT fans around here.
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Not sure I'd say "most", but it's close. Those two and probably LawGator as well, are as good as any poster there is on VN. Period.
 
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