Gators a Victim of their Own Success?

There has been a lot of gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair in recent weeks about the play of the Florida Gators. I’m as guilty as anyone. I’ve thrown some things at the TV after every red zone miscue. I know we can play better. But let’s stop and look around for a minute. The Gators can clinch the SEC East this Saturday with a win over Georgia and a Tennessee win over South Carolina. This is with still two games left! I know we all pooh-pooh winning the East.

We’re supposed to do that, right? Well, yes. But let’s stop and think a bout this for a second. This is the 18^th year the SEC has been split into two divisions. So that is up until this year 17 SEC Championship Games which means 34 participants. Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and South Carolina have never been. That’s one third of the conference that has NOT ONCE been to the big game. Mississippi State has been one time. Arkansas has been twice. All of them resulting in losses. Half of the teams in the SEC have not won the big game.

So who’s been winning them then? Auburn has won one time. In 2004. That’s it. 1 for 17. Tennessee has won twice. They won in 1997 and 1998. And that’s it. Auburn has played in three of them and UT five. LSU has won three times out of four trips. Georgia has two wins in three trips. To all of these schools, winning their division and getting to Atlanta is still a big deal. Why? Because it doesn’t happen all that often. Entire classes at these schools come and go without ever going once.

Now let’s look at Alabama and Florida. Alabama has made six trips to the championship game. They have two wins. That’s a record only slightly better than Tennessee. You think of Bama as being a school that doesn’t get too excited about winning the West? I’m not so sure. Why is their record so poor? One reason. Florida. They have played the Gators ALL SIX times they’ve been. They are 2-4. Florida has not only been to those six and won four, but also three others. Both of Arkansas’ visits resulted in losing to UF. And so did one of Auburn’s.

That’s nine times in 17 years folks. Over half of the 17 SEC title games have had UF in them. So while we yawn at our 7-0 record and clinching yet another trip to Atlanta, think about how Kentucky would feel to have our team. Or Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, MSU, or anybody else not named Alabama. Those other schools would be absolutely giddy right now. Remember WHY it’s Great to be a Florida Gator.

About Jim: Thank you to the senior class of 2009!

Related posts:

1. SEC Media Day Picking Florida Gators as SEC Champs
2. Week 4 College Picks – October 3
3. Where Have All the Rivals Gone?
4. Tennessee, You Deserve This
5. 2009 Florida Gator Football Schedule