Over the past six seasons SEC fans have grown louder, cockier and in some people's opinions more obnoxious.
But they have good reasons to brag. For the past six seasons the SEC has produced the BCS National Champion and last year the title game featured two teams from the conference. The SEC has shown that they are the top dogs in college football, so how will two newcomers fare in their first season as members of the Southeastern Conference?
Texas A&M and Missouri have both left the Big 12 and will try their hand in the SEC but are they up to snuff? The thing about the SEC is not just that you will have to play tough games but rather the grind that you face on a week in and week out basis.
Let's take a look at both school's schedules and see how they will fare in the SEC.
Texas A&M
The Aggies will get an early test with their first SEC game when Florida comes to town. Dates with a tough Arkansas team and Ole Miss await before the Aggies open date.
After the bye week is when the Aggies will truly feel what an SEC schedule is like. A&M will get the LSU Tigers at home before going on the road to play Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama. Les Miles will have the Tigers geared up in hopes of making another title run, Auburn is tough defensively and looking to rebound after a disappointing 2011 and Mississippi State has an electric offense that can score on anybody. Then if you survive those three games the defending National Champion Crimson Tide await you.
This gauntlet may be too much for the Aggies to handle this season but it will give them a taste of what they can expect when playing football in the SEC.
Missouri
Like the Aggies, Mizzou will get their first taste of the SEC when Georgia comes to town in week two. The Dawgs are one of the early favorites to win the SEC East and have a Heisman hopeful in Aaron Murray. After hosting the Dawgs and Arizona State the Tigers will travel to play the 'Ole Ball Coach and what could be the best rushing attack the SEC has to offer in South Carolina. The UCF Knights could play the upset role in the next week as the Knights will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 with Miami transfer running back Storm Johnson leading the way.
Vandy and Alabama will visit before the open week and things don't get much better after that. Back-to-back road games at Florida and then Tennessee will provide two tough tests for the Tigers. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Neyland Stadium are two of the toughest venues to play at in the country and both Vol and Gator fans alike will be waiting to welcome Mizzou to the conference. Syracuse and a trip to Kyle Field round out the schedule.
The Aggies are in a very similar situation to the 2011 Florida Gators. A new head coach, offensive and defensive schemes and a new quarterback. The Aggies will be switching to a 3-4 defense and that could take some time to work out. The Aggies are going to struggle through their first season in the SEC, especially with that gauntlet in late October/early November.
Mizzou's spread offense is being questioned. The same way that Urban Meyer's was before he took over at Florida. While Missouri's road may be easier than Texas A&M's it remains to be seen if James Franklin's body will hold up in a difficult SEC gauntlet. Franklin underwent off-season shoulder surgery and missed most of spring practice.
Think of the SEC as a fraternity. Missouri and Texas A&M are legacy pledges. You know they're already going to be in the fraternity but you're going to haze them a little bit extra. Both teams will take some bumps in their inaugural seasons but should deliver some surprises along the way.
It may take time but both of these teams will be good enough for the SEC. Missouri is a little more equipped to succeed early than A&M is but both schools will be helped in recruiting by throwing around the SEC name. Both Texas A&M and Missouri will become contenders in the SEC. Just not this season.
link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1261795-sec-media-days-are-texas-am-and-missouri-good-enough-for-the-sec?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=sec-football
But they have good reasons to brag. For the past six seasons the SEC has produced the BCS National Champion and last year the title game featured two teams from the conference. The SEC has shown that they are the top dogs in college football, so how will two newcomers fare in their first season as members of the Southeastern Conference?
Texas A&M and Missouri have both left the Big 12 and will try their hand in the SEC but are they up to snuff? The thing about the SEC is not just that you will have to play tough games but rather the grind that you face on a week in and week out basis.
Let's take a look at both school's schedules and see how they will fare in the SEC.
Texas A&M
The Aggies will get an early test with their first SEC game when Florida comes to town. Dates with a tough Arkansas team and Ole Miss await before the Aggies open date.
After the bye week is when the Aggies will truly feel what an SEC schedule is like. A&M will get the LSU Tigers at home before going on the road to play Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama. Les Miles will have the Tigers geared up in hopes of making another title run, Auburn is tough defensively and looking to rebound after a disappointing 2011 and Mississippi State has an electric offense that can score on anybody. Then if you survive those three games the defending National Champion Crimson Tide await you.
This gauntlet may be too much for the Aggies to handle this season but it will give them a taste of what they can expect when playing football in the SEC.
Missouri
Like the Aggies, Mizzou will get their first taste of the SEC when Georgia comes to town in week two. The Dawgs are one of the early favorites to win the SEC East and have a Heisman hopeful in Aaron Murray. After hosting the Dawgs and Arizona State the Tigers will travel to play the 'Ole Ball Coach and what could be the best rushing attack the SEC has to offer in South Carolina. The UCF Knights could play the upset role in the next week as the Knights will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 with Miami transfer running back Storm Johnson leading the way.
Vandy and Alabama will visit before the open week and things don't get much better after that. Back-to-back road games at Florida and then Tennessee will provide two tough tests for the Tigers. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Neyland Stadium are two of the toughest venues to play at in the country and both Vol and Gator fans alike will be waiting to welcome Mizzou to the conference. Syracuse and a trip to Kyle Field round out the schedule.
The Aggies are in a very similar situation to the 2011 Florida Gators. A new head coach, offensive and defensive schemes and a new quarterback. The Aggies will be switching to a 3-4 defense and that could take some time to work out. The Aggies are going to struggle through their first season in the SEC, especially with that gauntlet in late October/early November.
Mizzou's spread offense is being questioned. The same way that Urban Meyer's was before he took over at Florida. While Missouri's road may be easier than Texas A&M's it remains to be seen if James Franklin's body will hold up in a difficult SEC gauntlet. Franklin underwent off-season shoulder surgery and missed most of spring practice.
Think of the SEC as a fraternity. Missouri and Texas A&M are legacy pledges. You know they're already going to be in the fraternity but you're going to haze them a little bit extra. Both teams will take some bumps in their inaugural seasons but should deliver some surprises along the way.
It may take time but both of these teams will be good enough for the SEC. Missouri is a little more equipped to succeed early than A&M is but both schools will be helped in recruiting by throwing around the SEC name. Both Texas A&M and Missouri will become contenders in the SEC. Just not this season.
link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1261795-sec-media-days-are-texas-am-and-missouri-good-enough-for-the-sec?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=sec-football