TankTalk

It would be nice if I could convert this into an all-sports paper. But seeing as it is more of a hobby and been here for 20 years, doubt they will let me. But one day!!

Anyway, I miss doing what I used to do. This "real" reporting is for the birds. I guess it can be considered a stepping stone for getting something I like down the road here in middle Tennessee.

Talking about Rockwood doesn't even rile me up...getting old I guess.

UConn? They have a football team?

You learn something every day.

(Waits for a Women's Basketball comment)

And something else...do you think Florida State and Miami have not had chances to be members of the SEC (along with other schools)? They have. And they wouldn't even consider it. You want to know why? Because they knew it would diminish their national championship hopes in the future playing in a league that is much more competative week to week.

[Edited by TankTalk on 8/1/02 1:48P]

I will save my money and not buy the book this year.

The book in no way could compete with the information that one can get on CoachT.com. If you read close, the stories seem so canned and informal with the names changed from team to team. (That was not a mean remark, just an honest opinion)

Here, you get fans, coaches and even players who can give you all the insight you need on any given team in the state. Thanks Coach T for saving me some money! I will say this, however. Murphy should be commended for seeing how football crazy Tennessee is and publishing this book. It was a stroke of genius and the book was one of the best informational tools to me as a member of the sports media for years.

Until CoachT.com

[Edited by TankTalk on 8/1/02 1:25P]

Ah, takes more than that to rile me up, but nice debate is fun.

I think Miami is the only one who could compete each year for the SEC Title. The others are hit or miss each year, depending on fortunate developement of average recruits. I have no data in front of me to prove it, but after watching the game a year or two, I feel that the SEC is much more dominate than the Big East. Everyone loves throwing the bowl matchups out there, but you have to remember playing an SEC regular-season schedule is a little more rigorous than playing a Big East one. I feel the biggest flaw for the SEC is that when bowl season comes along, they have already beat the heck out of each other. And of course, it is a fact that is the what hurts the SEC when it comes to the national championship.

Having one week to prepare for Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Alabama (I know they are down, but trust me, enjoy it while you can Bama haters)and even the mediocre SEC teams is a big advantage compared to having four weeks or more to prepare for the seventh-ranked SEC team in the Music City Bowl.

[Edited by TankTalk on 8/1/02 1:19P]

I do agree with you about the money situation in college football. I personally hate the new uniforms for Tennessee, especially that grossly large stripe on the pants now.

However, to compare the Big East and SEC on the football field is a no-brainer.

Big East loses.

You do have Miami, a fine football program with multiple National Championships and an equally large number of off-field arrests. The rest of your league is well-kept and run well but not known as yearly contenders for the big one. The SEC product is much more visable and desired when it comes to bowl games, television and those big shoe companies because the SEC has been known as one of the most dominant football conferences in the nation for a LONG time. I will agree that the gap has got much more narrow with the SEC and other conferences. I do feel, however, that the SEC is still the best and most visable football conference in America.

Call me crazy.

But remember when you do, you will be calling most of the so-called college football "experts" around the nation crazy as well. It's just a fact, the SEC is known for it's brand of gridiron.

I would have to say Coalhill vs. Brushy Mountain...man, what an annual event.