Why was Auburn ranked in the top 10?

[jwinslow]

Remember that LSU team that OSU struggled with in January? That LSU team only beat AU last year on the last play... and that same LSU team, Lost to Kentucky, and Lost to Arkansas. The difference in the level of competition in the SEC isn't that great. Auburn still has a chance to win the SEC, and it wouldn't be surprising for it to happen (or Alabama, or LSU, or UF, or UGA)...

How'd bama do in January? How bout Arkansas?

To honestly think that the SEC's middle of the road also ran would dispatch the champ from another conference as being a forgone conclusion is kidding yourself. I like the upper teir of the SEC vs the Upper tier of other conferences, but no way in hell am I going to say a team like Miss. St. would seriously comete for the Big Ten title. That just ain't gonna happen.

The second tier teams play all the time, and they're always a dogfight.

Florida's win over OSU (who is supposed to be a fraud) was only their second win in 6 tries against the big ten.

Pretty average Wisconsin, Penn State and Iowa teams give your next-tier teams all they can handle, stevenbr. There's zero justification for the coat-tail riding syndrome of the SEC. Their league is clearly the best around, and can produce the best variety of top teams, but those below the BCS simply do not back up the hyperbole they are adorned with these days.

Sure, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama COULD rise up to the level of LSU. But most of the time they do not, and their presence in the SEC!!!1!!1!1 routinely treats them as though they are.

 

[stevenbr]

Really? LSU wasn't hampered that year with injuries? They didn't get anybody back to play OSU? They weren't fully rested and playing with the knowledge that it was their last game?

Same jerseys, not the same team.

LOL... you're right.

Hopefully, they were better. We expect our team and coaching staff to improve throughout the year. Bowl games do lead to some teams getting rest, etc. Sometimes, to even get better than they were the year before.

diff expectations at OSU?

 

[ScriptOhio]

Apparently at one time you could have bought this one of a kind collector's item for $6500:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-AUBURN-TIG...ryZ24548QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

2004 AUBURN TIGERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RING 10K - eBay (item 110213005261 ... - College Football

 

[jwinslow]

LOL... you're right.

Hopefully, they were better. We expect our team and coaching staff to improve throughout the year. Bowl games do lead to some teams getting rest, etc. Sometimes, to even get better than they were the year before.

Getting a potential top-10 draft pick back from suspension isn't coaching or development. Getting a top-5 selection healthy after a major injury isn't either, among other top players healing up.

Was this the only factor? Obviously not. But it played a factor. I haven't seen many here claim OSU was the better team either. Everyone else just choked enough to leave OSU & LSU as the least unworthy squads out there. I think both (and maybe 06 as well) have trouble with the top-3 from 2005.

diff expectations at OSU?

Are you here to debate or flame?

 

[Nutriaitch]

I didn't mention Miss State,

No, but I did.

and you and I both know that Miss State is not a "mid-level" SEC team.

finished 6 out of 12 in the SEC last year. Can't get much more mid-level than that. Beat Auburn last season, and was within 1 point of them again this year.

We were discussing Auburn.

Annually the MOST overrated team in the SEC.

 

[xcrunner]

Beat Auburn last season, and was within 1 point of them again this year.

Oh come on, Auburn almost doubled their score.






....





Sorry, it's just so rare that both of those statements are true..

 

[Nutriaitch]

Oh come on, Auburn almost doubled their score.






....





Sorry, it's just so rare that both of those statements are true..

that and Auburn literally GAVE them all of their points.

 

[BUCKYLE]

And let's be honest here, their coach has ridiculously huge ears, kind of looks, and sounds like Ross Perot, and his name sounds like a Dr. Seuss fabrication. He's a tool. :p

 

[stevenbr]

Getting a potential top-10 draft pick back from suspension isn't coaching or development. Getting a top-5 selection healthy after a major injury isn't either, among other top players healing up.

Was this the only factor? Obviously not. But it played a factor. I haven't seen many here claim OSU was the better team either. Everyone else just choked enough to leave OSU & LSU as the least unworthy squads out there. I think both (and maybe 06 as well) have trouble with the top-3 from 2005.Are you here to debate or flame?

LOL...

if you care to recall... I was commenting on IronColonel's desire to for OSU to play Auburn in a bowl game, "for the hilarity of it."

Sorry that my post was confusing enough to stir up debate about rest, coaching, injuries, mid-levels, etc.

But I do admire your loyalty to IronColonel, and to your fav team, as well.

I take back everything.... and although I won't pray for you guys to get to play Auburn in a bowl game, I'll hope for it too... just for the hilarity of it.

It would surely be a treat. Better than some boring matchup with midlevel Pac10 team. (there's only one upper level pac10 team, right?)

 

[TheIronColonel]

Right, because there's no difference between the top SEC team and Auburn

No no, he's right. Auburn is just as good as '06 Florida, '07 LSU, and '08 USC. They're just lying in wait, hoping to lull a team into sleepwalking into a bowl game. I mean, what's more plausible: they suck, or they've got a season long plot to put a surprise beatdown on someone?

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Does it matter? History has proven that if OSU is playing an SEC team in a bowl, OSU will automatically lose. It's happened in the past, so it sure as hell will happen forever in the future. That's just logic.

:2004:

 

[stevenbr]

ouch... that stove is HOTTTT.

ouch.... dayum, that stove HOTTTT!

I pray to God that something happens so I can touch that stove again!!

I love that sensation!!

 

[TheIronColonel]

Yeah, it turns out that stupid makes a pretty good fuel for fire. Who knew?

 

[jwinslow]

...missed earlier post

 

[jwinslow]

ouch... that stove is HOTTTT.

ouch.... dayum, that stove HOTTTT!

I pray to God that something happens so I can touch that stove again!!

I love that sensation!!

Are you here to debate or flame?

So apparently the answer is yes.