Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

Home › Columns

Pennington: SEC suffers from bad case of ordinary

By John Pennington
Originally published 06:05 p.m., November 2, 2007
Updated 06:05 p.m., November 2, 2007

"Some guys are Romeos. Others simply do the best they can. I'm just your average, ordinary Joe." - Travis Tritt

A couple of weeks ago I wrote in this space that in a year like 2007, perhaps parity should change the way we view SEC football teams and their records. The standings are jumbled (especially in the East), upsets are plentiful (if they're even considered upsets anymore), and the last month of the season promises even more of the same.

But after watching two more weeks of up-and-down play from just about every team in the conference, I've come to a different conclusion.

"Parity" doesn't best describe the SEC in 2007. "Average" does.

For years, SEC teams have beaten up on each other leaving only a couple of 2-loss-or-fewer teams standing at season's end. But the battles among the big boys was great football to watch. And even the middle-of-the-pack teams would dominate their non-conference schedule.

This year, instead of seeing good teams outdueling one another in this league, I'm seeing flawed teams that find ways to lose.

Take Kentucky's six turnovers versus Mississippi State. That wasn't a "rising up" by the Bulldogs, it was a "falling down" by the Wildcats. Take Florida's defensive collapse against Georgia or the fact that they don't have a running back to speak of.

Or take the whole Tennessee-South Carolina game in which two teams tried desperately to hand victory to the other squad. Penalties, fumbles (some with happy bounces), overthrown passes. Tapes of last Saturday's game won't be going in any time capsules.

Some folks will say that every conference is jumbled this year, and that's true to an extent. But the SEC has long been the bully on the block. And this year, they're not. That's why I think this league has suffered not so much from parity, but from a bad case of ordinary.

Take the league's non-conference record as an example. 32-5 looks pretty doggone good, doesn't it? Now adjust for inflation. Take away the 27 wins versus non BCS-conference schools and you'll see that the SEC's victory total has been inflated greatly.

Here are the non-BCS teams that SEC schools have knocked off: Houston, North Texas, Chattanooga, Florida International, New Mexico State, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee State, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Carolina State, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Richmond, Eastern Michigan and Miami of Ohio.

Troy and Tulane have lost twice each to SEC foes, Western Carolina three times (does this qualify them for a cut of the SEC's bowl revenue?).

That leaves the SEC at 5-5 versus schools from BCS leagues. The wins came over Oklahoma State (5-3), Louisville (5-4), North Carolina (2-6), Kansas State (5-3) and Virginia Tech (6-2). In fact, LSU's home victory over the Hokies has to qualify as the SEC's biggest win in 2007.

The losses to BCS institutions came against California (5-3), Florida State (5-3), South Florida (6-2), Missouri (7-1) and West Virginia (7-1).

More than likely there will be more SEC surprises in November. More than likely, the SEC will finish around .500 in their bowl games. And more than likely, the SEC will be better next year (with less parity and less average).

But this year? It looks ordinary to me.

"I've been beaten down and broken, forsaken by the fallen." - The Distrakted

Tim Tebow really is incredible. He can run like a tailback and throw like a future All-Pro. He's Superman minus the cape. And so on and so on.

How can I write that after a game in which Tebow's banged up shoulder affected his play? Don't I realize that it's been proved that Urban Meyer's spread option system will get his quarterbacks killed in the SEC?

Sure I realize that. But here in Knoxville, we're never going to see the beat-up Tebow. Neither will Tennessee's coaches.

Nope, we're all going to see Tebow at his healthiest, at his most dangerous.

Tennessee fans have for years bemoaned the fact that the Florida game is too early in the season. They want to see it moved until later in the schedule. After all, an early season loss to Florida means playing catch-up year after year.

Well, now you can add another reason to the list. Meyer's system calls for his quarterback to run quite a bit. And the linebackers in the SEC aren't the same as the linebackers that Utah's Alex Smith used to run against in the Mountain West Conference.

Meyer's quarterbacks are going to get hit. And after several games of getting hit, they're probably going to be banged up by the time the leaves start to change. If that's true of Tebow, who's built like a linebacker, then you can imagine it will always hold true.

But since the Vols play the Gators early in the season, more than likely, they won't be facing a nicked up Tebow. They'll still see Superman. Unless there's a freakish play, the Western Carolinas and Florida Atlantics of the world aren't going to put a hurt on the Boy Wonder.

So UT fans have yet another reason to want to see that game moved. Whereas Georgia and South Carolina stand to benefit from always playing Florida late.

John Pennington hosts the Hall's Salvage Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       35 Comments

Posted by aj_vol on November 2, 2007 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why should anyone take this guy seriously? What are his credentials?

SEC 2007 = average?

Explain how an average SEC LSU team beat one of the "premiere" teams from the ACC, Va. Tech by more than 40.

Put any of the big time programs in the SEC this year and I predict the results would mirror Fla, Uga, TN, etc..

12 teams that are competetive doesn't make the SEC average. I would say just the opposite.

Posted by aspenvol on November 2, 2007 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What I'm seeing is mediocre journalism. And it didn't start two weeks ago. Back to the yearbook staff Mr. Pennington.

Posted by DarthVol on November 2, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just curious, what makes VT a "premier team"? Wins against ECU, ohio, william & mary, NC, Clemson, Duke and GT? Are they premier if the AP deems them good enough to place in the top 25? And for that matter, what are the credentials of those voters? (you brought it up) So we can play the *what if* game until you find a magic lamp complete with some wishes so that you can put what teams you want in the SEC. Until then we'll have to use what we see on the field as evidence. And frankly, I'm not sure anyone can say that the play they've seen out of ANY team in the SEC is as stellar as it has been.

Posted by murrayvol on November 2, 2007 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well Darth (excepting the early season LSU smackdown) V Tech was considered a premier team (ranked #8) by those nefarious voters until BC scored 2 TDs in the last 2:11 in Blacksburg. Don't forget the AP has us at 24 which is more or less premier and that with three biblical asskickings to our credit. And don't be surprised if the SEC's only truly premier team finds a way to lose in Tuscaloosa tomorrow.

Posted by slovog on November 2, 2007 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"SEC suffers from bad case of ordinary".

Penningtons' columns "suffer from his ordinary case of 'bad' " .

Posted by slovog on November 2, 2007 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Note the comment three posts ago from jwraymond1:

****"F our football team!!!! OUR BASKETBALL TEAM IS AWESOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

106-46 against the best D-2 team in America, LOL!

Hey Foolmer!"****

Nice sentiment towards the football team.

Posted by watchdog on November 2, 2007 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pennington: "For years, SEC teams have beaten up on each other leaving only a couple of 2-loss-or-fewer teams standing at season's end. But the battles among the big boys was great football to watch... This year, instead of seeing good teams outdueling one another in this league, I'm seeing flawed teams that find ways to lose."

Pity we've had to suffer through those lackluster matchups this year like LSU-Florida. Georgia and Bama in OT, too - yawn. Auburn beating Florida with a FG as time expired? Please, just wake me up for the Sportscenter highlights.

Someone, SEC big-boy or otherwise, has been "finding a way to lose" since overtime was adopted. There's another side to this glass-half-empty perspective of Pennington's; it's that pretty much anyone in this conference can beat anyone else.

We probably shouldn't bother paying attention to the Iron Bowl this year, either; it's just a couple 2 and 3 loss west division teams.

Except I sure as heck will. I expect I'll see a hard-hitting, leave-it-all-out-there fight featuring some of the greatest athletes in the country. And that's why the SEC will never be "average".

Posted by eefor10c on November 2, 2007 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wish I could say the same about the KNS sports staff but they have a way to go to even get to ordinary. "Sports Salvage show"--good luck with salvaging anything with Pennington. But with a leader like Adams no wonder the KNS sports section is so bad. I think its time for a change.

Posted by rootin4volz on November 2, 2007 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You're an idiot John Pennington. Scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to freakin' write this week, eh? What a dumb***.

Posted by newtonrail on November 2, 2007 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CRvol and "partner", JW, just cant't get over cluttering these posts with their Cut and Paste blogs. Sad.

Posted by why36knot on November 3, 2007 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yep the SEC is ordinary but not so is Pennington....Ordinarily, when some one is given a column to write in a paper and it is the only paper in town, the writer has something to say that is significant and interesting. I wish that were true of this writer but sadly he doesn't measure up to being even ordinary.
Ordinarily a writer has some degree of integrity but not so Pennington , he is not even have consistentcy going for him much less integrity.
Ordinarily I don't like to critcize the incompetent among us but in Penningtons case I am making an exception.
This was his best writing since I have been reading them and it is ordinary at best and I can't believe what I am reading.
Surely he doesn't get paid for this ordinary accumulation of statistics that is available to anyone who has a computer and takes the time to turn it on.

Posted by VolsFan17 on November 3, 2007 at 1:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The SEC's non-conference record will be a bit better when Georgia beats Georgia Tech, Florida beats Florids State and South Carolina beats Clemson. Wait until the end of the season to write crap like this. The SEC is by far the best conference in football. No questions. Period. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know a thing about college football. The reason SEC teams' non-conference schedules are somewhat weak is because their in-conference schedule is already harder than any other conferences' schedules. Some teams go the whole season and don't play a single ranked team (Ohio State) and are applauded for it. Pathetic.

Posted by pdhuff on November 3, 2007 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks, John, for calling our team (particularly defense) ordinary. That's the best accolade they'll receive from anyone. Kudoes!!

Posted by buddylroe on November 3, 2007 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I take everything I read from most reporters with a grain of salt regardless if the person is a local or national writer. Because every reporter has some bias that will come out in their reporting, regardless how hard they try not to show it. My questions is I see alot of hate against Pennington. We can say his writing is poor, etc, etc, but there is alot of dislike for him. Why is that? I am not for or against him I just wonder why? Is it because alot of the Kool Aid Drinkers dion't like him being critical of Coach Fulmer, or the Fulmer haters feeling he isn't hating enough? just wondering. Thank you all for any feedback.

Posted by sbcheek on November 3, 2007 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There's those stupid song lyrics again.

Posted by west_tn_volfan on November 3, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Man, why is there so much hatred when the guy just stated an opinion? I think the sec is down a bit too. Yeah, LSU is great but their coach is their weak point and most people know we are down. If we are not, how did we lose to Cal,Fla,and Ala the way we did? Ole Miss has a terrible record but in most of their sec games, they have been close but when they played at Mizzou they were wiped out. Same goes for Miss. State. They were absolutely wiped out by W.Virginia. So big deal we're down a little this year I still don't see the reason for all the hate directed at the guy for writing it. I guess it's just the personality of some to lash out at anyone they disagree with or don't understand.

Posted by CrankE on November 3, 2007 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

KNS suffers from a bad case of the ordinary. From their annual, "Johnny Majors is still mad about being pushed out" story, to the softball "what COULD be wrong with UT Football" stories, to their mediocre fact checking department, even to aspiring columnists using obscure song lyrics. Perhaps KNS suffers from an ordinary case of the bad.

Posted by 55Vol on November 3, 2007 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pennington is a donut shop waiting to happen

Posted by C123456 on November 3, 2007 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

11 SEC team can become bowl eligible. Yeah, that's ordinary...

Are the donuts hot, JP?

Posted by scvolalum on November 3, 2007 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Reality should reveal to us that, in spite of all the chronic crying about Coach Fulmer, et al, the UT coaching staff will remain intact at least until the end of the regular season. What if UT somehow "miraculously" lands on top of the SEC? Please correct me if I'm wrong in recognizing there are some truly bright spots within this program. 'Not suggesting that there aren't numerous blemishes in the overall performances, but which one of you crybabies (not mentioning you obvious culprits by name) has a clue about actually playing SEC football? Is Florida not 5-3? Look at SC, Kentucky and Vandy playing some of their best football-------------ever. As of last week UT is currently sitting atop the SEC East. Here, now, some of you are so outright negative-----you're criticizing the journalists. I'm just a retired old Vol alum who loves our Vols and football in general. Quit being so anal and negative, add some Black Jack or Turkey to that Orange Kool-aid and enjoy the rest of the season---then on to basketball. GO VOLS!

Posted by IPOrange on November 3, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, technically, scvol, UT is not currently sitting atop the SEC East because Georgia has more division wins. But I know what you mean. Win out and we win the SEC East. Harder said than done, but hey, a true fan is a fan no matter what happens.

Go Big O!

Posted by TurboFan on November 3, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The SEC is the toughest conference in America! Based on what? Pennington makes that point, the records against other conferences don't prove much. The only other measure are bowls and who goes to those are based on ticket sales as much as quality of team. The only way to prove anything is a round robin with every other conference which isn't going to happen. Yes, Ohio St has creme puffs all over their schedule. How do we know they are creme puffs? Such and such lost to such and such who lost to such and such. We know that relational equation doesn't work, look at the SEC East. We need a dang playoff! Who cares if SEC is the best or the worst, get a dang playoff and prove it!

Man, that was a waste of a rant.

Posted by IPOrange on November 3, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Did I really say "Harder said than done?" Man, who spiked my coffee?

Correction - Easier said than done.

Posted by scvols on November 3, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I do not want to play Flordia when they are down, I want to play them at their best. If we are not better then them, we should lose.

Posted by asleep on November 3, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN,

I think you may actually agree with me that Miles, not Fulmer, is doing the worst job in the SEC this year. My word, all that talent and losing to KY, struggling at home against USC, and, my guess, losing in Tuscaloosa! Alabama is just not that good. Barely bear AR, lost to GA, had to knock down a pass in the end zone to beat Houston, and yet, watch them take LSU to the edge, or maybe even win. I hope Michigan doesn't want him - the rest of the SEC is perfectly happy keeping him here. Does anyone think we could have come back on a Saban-coached LSU team in 2005? In fact, if we do get to Atlanta, is there another west team you would rather play? With Miles as coach, they might actually lose to us! A buddy of mine who played at Michgan under Moeller (and had MIles as his position coach BTW) says Carr is staying at least another year to protect his assistants. Hooray for the rest of the SEC! Go Vols!!!

Posted by tngeoff on November 3, 2007 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Pennington.

I am usually in sync with what you write. However, if tf this one wasn't somewhat tongue in cheek, then I respectfully disagree. The SEC, team for team has no peers.

Posted by volfans_1 on November 3, 2007 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another dumb a** so called article by John John . Hope the Sentinel paid you your milk money for the week John John. Stop taking up space on this site. You suck.

Posted by rootin4volz on November 3, 2007 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As to the song lyrics, Pennington, Chris Berman did it first, and will ALWAYS do it better. Your ideas about HOW to write your "articles" (i.e. with stolen modus operandi) are almost as bad, and juvenile, as the articles themselves.

Posted by flvol2 on November 3, 2007 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Knoxville News Sentinel Staff: it's past time for editing and banning. Comments like those of slovog and jwraymond1 are defamatory and offensive. We are discussing COLLEGE sports, and commentaries should reflect at least third grade writing ability. Please consider them as violators and delete them without posting. Thank you.

Posted by flvol2 on November 3, 2007 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Postscript to Sentinel Staff: Add volfans_1 to your list of rejects. Rather than writing like a Tennessee Volunteer, s/he sounds like an overgrown baby thrown out with the bath water.

Posted by volfans_1 on November 3, 2007 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

flvol2

Are you John John's wife, boyfriend or do you just have a man crush on him ? John John's so called " articles " are nothing more than a complete waste of time to read ,write or publish. I don't think it has anything to do with my being a Volunteer. Are you saying John John is a Volunteer ? I sure hope you are not that stupid ! Based on your name it looks like you probably live in Florida and are more than likely a Gator disguised as a Vol.

Posted by slovog on November 4, 2007 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If you are referring to what I wrote in this thread, flvol2, note that I was merely restating what jwraymond1 wrote in his first post. My restatement of his passage was in quotation marks and set apart by asterisks.

And whether you appreciate it or not, my writing ability surpasses that of a child who is in third grade. And it is at least as advanced as yours.

I would suggest that if you are offended by what a poster writes, either weigh in and give an opinion or pass it by. Either way is fine, but crying to the editors makes you appear weak.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on November 4, 2007 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This article is a load of malarkey.

The only team in the conference that isn't going to a bowl is Ole Miss.

Even at .500 against BCS opponents thus far, the season isn't over and that mark can (and is almost certain to) improve. The simple matter is that no other conference competes WITHIN the conference like the SEC with as much depth of talent. The other conferences have traditionally been top heavy with onsies and twosies beating everyone else up.

Sure, the top of the SEC may be a notch below what it traditionally has been, but the bottom feeders are 2 notches above. I'd say that makes the SEC very competitive and the toughest conference in the country hands down.

SEC BABY!

Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn:
Recent Vol videos

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.