Interesting read. I guess it’s just really the facts though.
In the mad dash for the Southeastern Conference to expand, it might be worth looking back 20 years to the last time the league went down this long and winding road.
When the league announced its expansion plans in 1990, once again Texas was the prettiest girl at the ball but rejected the SEC’s overtures. Florida State was seriously courted and chose the ACC instead. The SEC ended up with Arkansas and South Carolina. So how did that turn out?
Since 1992, when the league expansion went into effect, has either Arkansas or South Carolina really brought anything to the dance? Instead of expanding by two or four, some have wondered if a better way of handling this would be addition by subtraction - starting with sending Arkansas and South Carolina back where they came from.
Take Arkansas … please.
Paul Finebaum Column HeadThe Hogs did account for an NCAA basketball title in 1994 and a runner-up finish the following year under Nolan Richardson. But they really haven’t been worth a flip in the sport since. In the last 10 years, the Hogs have won a grand total of one NCAA tournament game. Now, Arkansas is known for winning titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track.
How about football? The Hogs have made three appearances in the SEC championship game - 1995, 2002 and 2006. The Hogs finished second in the SEC West in 2002 but Alabama was kept home because of NCAA probation. The Hogs are 0-3 in those title games, being outscored 102-34. Can you say not ready for prime time?
Arkansas hasn’t been a total embarrassment during its SEC football run - nor has it really brought much to the table. No BCS appearances. Mostly, mediocrity. In 18 seasons, Arkansas has only posted a winning divisional record four times, based on actual results and excluding games later forfeited.
Oh, let us not forget the much hyped Arkansas visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum in 2005. How did the mighty SEC rep do against the top-ranked Trojans? The Hogs were sl
You know this above most likely 98% of all of us here…you just like to stir the pot.
It is always about money.
Arky and USC weren’t about great athletics.
They were about expanding the Conference footprint for all the money they would bring in. Affiliation rights, TV rights, athletic endorsed apparel, ad-infinitum,…
The other two would have been better but their sandbox was more attractive then to play in.
OurKansas fell victim to Danny Ford from 1993-1997… 26-30 record… Yep, when ole Danny was under the watchful eye of an SEC team, he was a loser because he couldn’t cheat… The SEC is a stand up conference… Clemson stole that NC because they were in da woods and nobody knew what the heck was going on… Pretty similar to what is happening today with Dabo…
RBF
“Them that can brag without lying, let them brag.”
OurKansas fell victim to Danny Ford from 1993-1997… 26-30 record… Yep, when ole Danny was under the watchful eye of an SEC team, he was a loser because he couldn’t cheat… The SEC is a stand up conference… Clemson stole that NC because they were in da woods and nobody knew what the heck was going on… Pretty similar to what is happening today with Dabo…
RBF
“Them that can brag without lying, let them brag.”
OurKansas fell victim to Danny Ford from 1993-1997… 26-30 record… Yep, when ole Danny was under the watchful eye of an SEC team, he was a loser because he couldn’t cheat… The SEC is a stand up conference… Clemson stole that NC because they were in da woods and nobody knew what the heck was going on… Pretty similar to what is happening today with Dabo…
RBF
“Them that can brag without lying, let them brag.”
The butthurt still oozes forthFROTH.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
FIFY
RBF
“Them that can brag without lying, let them brag.”
Even if the column is 6 years old, what part of it, other than the number of years passed sin e they joined the league, is untrue?
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Multiple national titles and a runner up in one of the three major sports, division titles along with multiple other accolades that would have been mentioned based off of what was brought up. but you obviously know that. Unfortunately at the moment Carolina football is down now but it’s all cyclical. In the grand scheme with football and other sports much less time is spent at the peak unless you are the Alabama’s of the world which other than relatively brief periods neither Clemson or South Carolina will ever be close to unfortunately.