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It started in Starkville with Mississippi State hosting South Carolina. The sounds of cowbells rang in the new SEC football season, and missionsecfootball.com was underway.
It ended three and a half months later with Florida and Arkansas, battling to become the best team in the conference. As the Gators stormed the field and celebrated, our job was done. Thankfully, we went out with a bang. A 38-28 UF victory. A wacky and exciting game that had seven points in the first quarter and 59 points in the final three. And it was the sound of the UF fans and marching band that ended the 2006 SEC season and our mission.
Glenn, Emily, and I enjoyed our time out here driving through the South. We need to thank all of the people in New York that made this possible and did a lot of the behind the scenes work that made our mission so successful. It was a great team effort that we'll never forget. Also, we need to thank the fans, SIDs, and all other people who we met along the way that helped us out.
As a way of saying goodbye, we've put together a "Best Of" list. Some categories were difficult and required an honorable mention. Others were considerably easier.
Enjoy.
Continue reading "The Best of Missionsecfootball.com" »
It's 5:25 PM as I write this story on Thanksgiving Day.
Usually right now I'm making my way back to the kitchen counter in Coral Springs, Florida for my second helping of ham (I'm not a turkey guy) and sweet potatoes. Then I'll sit my lazy and incredibly sleepy body on the family-room couch and watch the end of the Cowboys game. Then I'll get angry because the Cowboys are winning, and forget about it by heading over to a buddy's house.
And usually I wonder what the professional and college athletes are doing on Thanksgiving. Well, today I found out.
Continue reading "Thanksgiving on the Road" »
One more weekend of SEC football games to go. I took advantage of easy games last week to go 6-1. Anyone could have done that. Here's a real test. It's Rivalry Week!
Predictions for LSU at Arkansas and Mississippi State at Ole Miss are coming later.
Florida at Florida State:
Be careful, UF. Major upsets are abundant in this series' history. The Gators are much better than Florida State. Wake Forest shut out FSU in Tallahassee just a few weeks ago, but the Seminoles almost always bring their best for the Gators.
Continue reading "Picking SEC Games for the Final Time" »
The recent buzz surrounding the latest BCS release is that USC is in the driver's seat. That's obviously true, yet that's unfortunate, because the Trojans lost to an unranked Oregon State team while the Gators lost to Auburn. Nobody is going to question which team has played tougher competition.
Why, then, are the Trojans in a better position than the Gators? You'd have to think it has something to do with Florida's unconvincing wins over teams like South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Georgia.
But let's take a closer look. USC beat Washington State by six, Washington by six, and Arizona State by seven. Two of those three games were home games. Really, it must be about USC playing well in the last three weeks (outscoring opponents 100-19) while the Gators have struggled against their I-A opponents over that stretch.
Continue reading "Ohio State vs. ???" »
I am an SEC writer who graduated from the University of Miami in May. So you can imagine how many phone calls I received this morning when CSTV's Brian Curtis broke the big story on cstv.com.
In case you missed it, here it is: Spurrier Still Likely Headed to Miami
Spurrier is denying it right now. So is Miami.
I spoke to Jorge Milian, a UM beat writer from the Palm Beach Post this evening, and he told me that he spoke with UM Athletic Director Paul Dee. Dee said that Miami had not contacted Spurrier. According to Dee, UM has promised to wait until after the season to decide Larry Coker's fate, and it will stick to its word.
So who do we believe?
Continue reading "Spurrier to Miami? Are U Kidding?" »
I needed a good week to get my confidence back after a 3-4 performance picking games two weeks ago. I rebounded by going 4-1 last week. I underestimated Georgia.
So here are this week's predictions, excluding the Iron Bowl.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt:
"They're a better team when Erik Ainge is running the show. He gives them that passing game that sets up their running game." - Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson.
Ainge is probable for Saturday's game. Vanderbilt is no longer bowl eligible, so the Commodores will treat this game as their Bowl Game.
Continue reading "This Week's SEC Predictions" »
Several weeks ago, I gave my pick for the SEC's Most Valuable Offensive Player. I chose Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, and now I think that McFadden should not only be recognized as the best player in the conference, he should be considered one of the best in the country.
I'd love to see McFadden get invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. Find me a player in NCAA football that means more to his team's success than this Razorbacks workhorse.
Continue reading "SEC MVP? It's a One-Man Race" »
Okay, so after last week's terrible performance, three wins and four losses, I am back to pick this week's SEC action. Only five games are on the schedule, and I'll be predicting the South Carolina-Florida game on Friday.
Here we go.
Georgia at Auburn:
Continue reading "This Week's SEC Predictions" »
What did we learn on Saturday by watching SEC football games?
First of all, don't ever listen to my predictions. After going 3-4 this weekend with my picks, I'm going to have to step it up this week to gain your trust and my confidence back.
After I got over how poorly my picks turned out, I realized that Saturday was an incredible day of SEC football.
Our game (Georgia-Kentucky) was phenomenal, even if it was a little sloppy. Being up close to witness fans tearing down goalposts is something I'll never forget.
The game that was being billed as the weekend's best lived up to the hype. LSU-Tennessee provided us with some memorable plays (like Robert Meachem's touchdown grab), controversy (did JaMarcus Russell fumble?) and a finish that will be talked about for several years to come.
It certainly looked like Russell fumbled to me. But since I can't do anything about that, let me complain about something else.
Continue reading "What a Weekend" »
Here are my SEC predictions for this weekend, excluding the Georgia-Kentucky game which I will predict on Friday.
Last week I went 5-2.
Mississippi State at Alabama:
"Alabama is a typical Alabama team. They've lost some close games, but they've won some close games as well. The names and the faces may change, but the jerseys are the same." - MSU Head Coach Sylvester Croom
Key to the game for Mississippi State: Make big plays on defense and special teams. The Bulldogs are probably the most injured team in the conference. QB Michael Henig has missed practices, but should play. There are so many injuries on offense that it's hard to see MSU scoring a lot of points conventionally.
Key to the game for Alabama: Air it out. MSU has the second worst pass defense in the SEC, behind only Kentucky.
Prediction: Alabama wins easily.
Continue reading "This Week's SEC Predictions" »
We were sitting in the car a few days ago (we spend about 80% of our time sitting in the car) when Glenn made a comment that piqued my interest. It was just after the Florida-Georgia game, during which we saw Matthew Stafford of UGA and Tim Tebow of UF. Both are freshmen, and both will be making big impacts in the future.
Glenn said something to the effect of, "With those two guys and Mustain, the SEC is going to have some pretty darn good quarterbacks next year."
Very true, Glenn.
Those three freshmen will improve and should be fun to watch in 2007, but what about the rest of the conference? The SEC is set up remarkably well at that position next year. Let's take a team-by-team look.
Continue reading "SEC Quarterbacks Should Be Solid Next Year" »
Excluding the Georgia-Florida game, which I will predict on Friday, here are my SEC picks for the week.
Tennessee at South Carolina:
"We are one game better than we were this time last year, but Tennessee (is stronger than) they were last year," - USC Head Coach Steve Spurrier.
This should be a great contest. The Gamecocks are coming off a dominating performance at Vanderbilt, and the Volunteers struggled mightily vs Alabama. It's a night game, which makes it much tougher for the visiting team. When it's all said and done, this could be the best SEC game of the week.
Key to the game for Tennessee: Run the ball, and do it well. Foster and Coker had poor games last week, and SC's secondary is too good to assume Erik Ainge will be able to throw all over them.
Key to the game for South Carolina: Force turnovers. Ainge threw three interceptions last week. That's why the score was so close.
Prediction: Tennessee will pull out a close win behind another great second half performance from Ainge.
Continue reading "SEC Predictions..." »
Picking the top player in the SEC is tough enough, so I'm going to limit this to the SEC's best offensive player. I am also going to call it the Most Valuable Player, rather than Most Outstanding Player. So my selection reflects which SEC offensive player I think is most valuable to his team.
That player is Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
Continue reading "The SEC's Most Valuable Player So Far..." »
Southeastern Conference sports fans think they are passionate about their teams.
Turns out, they put their money where their mouths are.
"The SEC, in general, is the most rabid fan base you'll find out there."
That's according to Heath Price, the Director of University Services for the Collegiate Licensing Company.
"I think from a licensing standpoint, that holds true," Price said. "The SEC fans, as a whole, generate more royalties for our consortium of schools than any other conference."
Continue reading "SEC Spenders" »
Homecoming was really nothing special where I went to school, the University of Miami.
We didn't build floats, at least I don't think we did. I don't remember any Hold 'Em tournaments, and I certainly don't recall any chicken eating contests, because I would have been all over that if it existed.
So the experience at Vanderbilt this week has been a lot of fun for me. It's like being part of a Homecoming for the first time since high school, and my high school didn't even have a football team. A Homecoming basketball game? Not nearly as cool.
Continue reading "A Day of Homecoming" »
Imagine being Vanderbilt left tackle Chris Williams. You're 6 feet, 7 inches tall, 315 pounds, and you're on a bus to Oxford, Mississippi where you'll soon be going face to face with the Rebels defensive linemen.
There must be a lot on your mind. You might be digesting the scouting report on your opponent, or you might just be shooting the breeze with your teammates. But not until you finish your school work.
"Actually, the Ole' Miss game a couple of weeks ago," Williams said, "I ended up having to finish a paper and email it in the hotel on Friday night before you're getting rest to play at 11:30 the next morning."
Continue reading "The Classroom Counts at Vanderbilt" »
It was every red-blooded male's dream night at Vanderbilt yesterday evening.
Eating contests. Boxing matches. And Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments.
Welcome to Fight Night, part of the Homecoming festivities this week at Vandy. Yesterday, we experienced the first ever Fight Night, as a few hundred students, both young men and young women, piled into a large white tent on Alumni Lawn to compete or watch the competition.
Continue reading "Fight Night at Vandy" »
There are many victims of the BCS.
The fans, the athletes, the coaches, and, of course, the SEC.
But it doesn't end there. Yes, it is frustrating to be, for example, a UF fan and see your team have to play at Tennessee and Auburn, and host LSU before the BCS standings even come out. Imagine, though, being a West Virginia fan right now. Your team is undefeated, but currently behind a one-loss team in the standings.
Continue reading "My Perfect Postseason" »
Our Journey So Far...
By Glenn, Emily, and Adam
Forty-five days, 17 weeks, and nine games into Mission Southeastern Conference Football... we're halfway through the season, and we've seen some of the country's biggest games and rivalries, and most importantly, the fans that make the experience worthwhile.
Our journey began at the Georgia Dome. We sat on the same field where the East will battle the West for the SEC Championship on Dec. 2. Then we were off to find out which teams will be there.
Continue reading "Reaching the Halfway Point" »
Where I'm from, a lot of people like to hate on the Gators. I know it was easy coming into the season to look at UF and think, "They're not as good as people think they are."
Maybe you thought Chris Leak was overrated. A career underachiever.
Urban Meyer was great with Utah, but this is the SEC.
Continue reading "Can't Hate the Gators Anymore" »
It's hard to disagree with Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive when he says, "This league is just tremendous."
Here are some SEC accomplishments by the numbers:
- Six SEC football teams currently rank in the top 25.
- Two SEC basketball teams made the Final Four this year, with Florida winning the championship.
- 1.6 million people attended the conference's baseball games last year.
- 5.6 million people attended SEC football games last season (that's 97.5% stadium capacity).
"When you take that kind of attendance and you couple it with the passion and the interest and the outstanding competitive ability of our teams in football," Slive said, "I mean, it is unique."
Continue reading "SEC Commissioner Mike Slive" »
On a desk in the football office of Creekside High School sits a stack of letters from some of the elite football colleges in the country. Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia, the list goes on.
We are in Football Coach Kevin Whitley's office. These letters have been sent to this northern Georgia high school intended for Whitley's defensive back, Eric Berry. The point is to keep Berry updated on what's happening on campus. There has to be close to 40 in the pile.
"What is this? Letters from the entire month?" we ask.
"Oh no," Whitley says, "This is all from Friday."
Continue reading "Eric Berry - A Name You Should Not Forget" »
Former Florida Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel is proud of the Heisman Trophy he won in 1996. He's even prouder of the National Championship he guided UF to by defeating rival Florida State. But what he seemed most proud of are the young men at Desire Street Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Desire Street is a school for children who "some people would say are predetermined to fail." That's according to the school's Disciplinarian, Oscar Brown. DSA is home to students who struggled in the public school system. Many come from single-parent homes and need male guidance.
Continue reading "Desire Street Academy" »
After watching Williams-Bryce Stadium erupt in excitement last Thursday in Columbia, we headed to Baton Rouge and devoured crawfish casserole, chicken fried in hog lard, jambalaya, and other Cajun meals at the LSU tailgate on Saturday. So it seemed like a logical fit to meet Chris Warner yesterday. Warner, an LSU graduate, recently set out to write what he calls,"the most comprehensive book on SEC football history and tradition." It's called, "A Tailgaters Guide to SEC Football." A major focus of the book is what happens before the game - the tailgate.
Continue reading "Meeting the Tailgating Expert" »
Last year's Sugar Bowl was a great game. In West Virginia's 38-35 win over Georgia, we found out just how good Steve Slaton and Pat White are. We saw Bulldogs quarterback DJ Shockley guide his team back into the game time after time. 74,458 people attended a showdown between the Big East and the SEC.
It was fun. It was high-scoring. It was dramatic, and it was memorable.
But it wasn't in New Orleans.
Continue reading "Return to New Orleans - Sweet as Sugar" »
The Peabody Hotel in Memphis has stood for decades as a symbol of true Southern elegance and class; the crown jewel of fine hotels in the South. Thousands of guests come here each week to unwind, and experience what true luxury is all about. They also come to experience a unique tradition that has stood the test of time: the grand entrance of the famed Peabody Ducks to the lobby fountain.
Continue reading "SEC: Walking With the Peabody Ducks" »
As we head into week four of the college football season, here are three thoughts as conference play has kicked into high gear...
Continue reading "SEC: Sunday Night Thoughts" »
We're going to combine the Rocky Top Meter with the Mission: SEC Football Stat Meter...and come out with the new results. Here's what we have, as of 9:00 EDT here in Knoxville.
Continue reading "Tennessee: The Combined Rocky Top/SEC Stat Meter" »
During today's SEC Teleconference, Alabama's Mike Shula and LSU's Les Miles were asked why they love college football....
Continue reading "Why We Love College Football: Coach's Edition" »
The SEC Teleconference is wrapping up, and both South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier and Missisippi State head coach Sylvester Croom had praise for each other, and concerns about their own team.
Continue reading "Teleconference: Game Time Is Near" »
It's the start of Day 2 on Mission: SEC Football, so I think it's time we introduce the Mission: SEC Football Stat Meter. While on the road, the three of us will be tracking some statistics along the way just for fun. We'll have different categories as we go from city to city, but here's the first of many stat meter updates to come...
Continue reading "Mission: SEC Football's Stat Meter" »
It's been a busy day here for the three of us, and with Mission: SEC Football officially on the road, the excitment builds as we wrap up the first day from Tupelo, Mississippi.
Continue reading "Wrapping Up Day 1" »
9:30 am... I drag my lazy butt out of bed and meet Jean and Glenn in the Lobby of our hotel. We're ready for the adventure to begin... It's go time.
10:30 am... We arrive at the Georgia Dome a little early and goof around in the parking lot for a while. Then we wonder outside the massive dome following signs to the 'Administration Office.'
Continue reading "Day 1: It's on..." »
On December 2nd, all the spring practices, off-season workouts, and two-a-days will pay off handsomely for two teams, as they will take the field at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. With this in mind, the Mission: SEC Football team took a tour of one of America's greatest stadiums, and the site for one team to claim their stake in BCS glory.
Continue reading "Visiting the Georgia Dome" »
It's 9 am here in Atlanta, and we are officially set to begin Mission: SEC Football, CSTV's 14 week adventure through the heart of college football.
Continue reading "And So It Begins...." »
It's the dream of every college football fan, and starting August 29th, Glenn Anderson, Emily Melton and I are going to be living it for CSTV.
Continue reading "Welcome to Mission: SEC Football!" »
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