Looking for you and a couple others to rep the SEC today!

[lawgator1]

I doubt seriously that a recruit makes a decision on going to a team based on one game, especially a season opener.

 

[Hacksaw]

I get that, 83. It is a good counter-argument.

On the other hand, there's an argument that cuts both ways that goes, "just win and everything else will work itself out."

So one side uses that argument to say, "we don't need the SEC to be respected, as long as we win every game, we'll get to the playoffs and have every opportunity we need to be #1."

The other side uses that same argument to say, "it doesn't matter how good the other teams are, we will see great success on the recruiting trail as long as we just keep winning."

Both arguments are good, they work.

So really, the whole "do you root for other SEC teams" question comes down to this: do you see the SEC as a family, a bunch of brothers that you'll fight with in the back yard, but stand beside against outsiders? or do you see the SEC as a collection of all those teams you hate the most?

I see it as a brotherhood. Some brothers I like more than others, but I'll support them all when outsiders come knocking.

I think that's a nice sentiment, but I don't really feel that way. There is a much more logical, less touchy-feely reason to not want to see SEC teams lose non-con games: the reputation of the conference we play in.

There are only 4 spots in the current CFB playoff format. A committee decides which four teams are the most worthy. Some teams with equally good records will be left-out, because of poor SOS or because they are viewed as being from a less-competitive conference. I want Tennessee to be back on top. And that does NOT mean the top of a conference that routinely gets beat in non-con match-ups. I don't ever want us to be left-out of the playoff at the end of a great season.

As you said, winning takes care of recruiting. And we have recruited well in years when we did not have a great record.

 

[Gary10ec1]

Thanks for the thread LG. Can’t wait to get last years stench off of our program. See you in a few weeks and GBO!

 

[KBVol]

I guess (know) I'm old school but I root for conference rivals in these openers. Pays off for everyone in the long run. So good luck to you, Auburn, and 'bama today. Hope you take a big step forward!

You’re counting on THIS TENNESSEE team that just finished up 0-8 in the SEC to rep for the conference today?? Dicey, awfully dicey proposition Law.