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THE WEST IS WILD, BUT THE EAST IS MILD. SO WILL A ONE-SIDED SEC STILL DOMINATE THE PLAYOFF ERA? By Ryan McGee
Strolling off the field after a midseason scrimmage, Steve Spurrier points to a sign honoring South Carolina’s 2010 SEC East title, its only one since the conference split into divisions in 1992. “You know how long I’ve been around this league?” says the 21-year SEC vet, his tone that of a verbal wink. “I go back to when the East ran this whole deal. That was a while ago, wasn’t it? We’re getting closer, though.” That may be what the Head Ball Coach thinks, but it ain’t
what the numbers say. The East last won an SEC title in 2008, when Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow and Spurrier’s old team, Florida, beat Alabama and went on to win the BCS championship. Since then, the conference’s once-dominant division has become the little brother the West pushes around the yard after school. Through Week 8, the East had gone 106–32 (.768) in nonconference play over the past four-plus years, but it had a downright embarrassing 26–52 (.333) record against
the West in that span. This December will mark the 22nd edition of the sport-changing SEC title game, which the East won 11 times in the first 17 years. But the West has won the past four—and the past four BCS titles. “I guess if there’s some solace to be found, it’s that
everyone else loses to the SEC West too,” says Georgia coach Mark Richt. “But it’s still no fun.” Among the six original East teams (Missouri didn’t join until last year), the Dawgs have by far the best interdivision record since 2009, going 8–6 (.571), including losses in the last two SEC title games.
Missouri announced its East arrival with a win Between the Hedges.
Two years ago, they suffered a humiliating 42-10 beatdown to LSU. In 2012 they came within a few yards of defeating second-ranked Alabama.
TEAM TOTAL 3,303
EARL CAMPBELL RB TEXAS, 1974-77 1977 HEISMAN WINNER
HEISMAN 2013
STRIKINGLY SIMILAR EACH HEISMAN TROPHY IS THE SAME—13.5 INCHES TALL AND 25 POUNDS OF STIFF-ARMING BRONZE— BUT EACH WINNER IS UNIQUE. SO WE ASKED EARL CAMPBELL: WHO REMINDS YOU OF YOU? HIS ANSWER: SOUTH CAROLINA’S MIKE DAVIS. —Adam K. Moussa
Physicality “He can make something happen when nothing is there,” Campbell says of Davis, who has 23 carries of 10-plus yards, tied for most in the SEC. “He doesn’t waste time moving laterally; he runs north and south. He strikes you.” Versatility Davis isn’t just a strong set of legs, leading SEC backs with 17 receptions for 11.8 ypc. “He does a good job blocking, picking up blitzes and catching the ball,” Campbell says. “That is want-to and paying attention to detail.” Durability Like his Longhorns predecessor, Davis is a bell cow: 43% of carries go to the SEC’s leading rusher (126 ypg). “Like me, the more he touches the ball, the better he gets,” says Campbell, who led the nation with 1,744 yards in 1977. Drive Davis (5'9", 215) is two inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter than Campbell, but he’s come up big, tied for an SEC-best 10 rushing TDs. “The kid is driven,” Campbell says. “You know what you’ll get from him game in and game out.”
MIKE DAVIS RB
DAVIS’ TOTAL 1,080
PERCENT OF GAMECOCKS’ TOTAL YARDS
SOUTH CAROLINA, SOPHOMORE
32.7%
IN CRUNCH TIME AND ON THE ROAD, DAVIS DELIVERS AVERAGE YARDS
145.3
99.3 73.0 52.6
FIRST HALF VS. SECOND HALF
HOME VS. AWAY
ALL STATS THROUGH WEEK 8.
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ESPN The Magazine 11/11/2013
CLOCK WISE FROM TOP: KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES; JIM DEDMON/ICON SMI; TROY TAORMINA/USA TODAY SPORTS
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“These things run in cycles,” Richt says. “And anyone who is paying attention knows there’s been ground gained recently.” Of course, Richt spoke those words when his team was in the AP top 10, coming off a 44-41 win over Les Miles’ West stalwart, LSU, on Sept. 28. But by the end of October, UGa had been battered by its own, pushed to the brink against a rebuilding Tennessee team before losing to Missouri at home and (gulp) Vanderbilt. “Part of the problem is that we’ve asked Georgia to shoulder too much of a load,” says Vandy coach James Franklin. “What makes the West so strong is how it looks top to bottom.” And how does the East look? Well, Mizzou was, perhaps unfairly, dismissed as a Big 12 castoff, lost amid the instant success of Texas A&M. But in just their second season, the Tigers have emerged as the
favorites to win the division; if they do, it will mark only the second time that Florida, Georgia or Tennessee hasn’t done so. As for once-lowly Vandy, the Commodores are on pace to earn a fourth bowl bid in six years, after three in the previous 118. Add in the Vols’ recent momentum and the recruiting revolution at Kentucky (five 2014 ESPN 300 commits) and Richt may be right: There are the makings of an East revival. But does the tide of parity truly raise all boats, or does everyone sink to the middle? Just look to the West. If not for back-to-back late-season upsets in other leagues last fall, Bama doesn’t play in the BCS title game after being upset by the Aggies. On Oct. 19 this season, unranked Ole Miss halted LSU’s run at a West crown, and Auburn did the same to A&M. Ultimately, both divisions
are cannibalizing themselves, which could end up closing the door on the SEC’s dominance as college football enters the four-team playoff era. Then it will be up to a committee, not computers, to decide whether a one- or two-loss SEC team is more worthy than a one-loss, or even unbeaten, team from a weaker conference. “One of the biggest waitand-see elements is whether or not the committee will stick to its guns about schedule strength,” says ESPN’s BCS expert Brad Edwards. “You could make a strong case that it was more difficult for Georgia to go 11–2 or A&M and South Carolina to go 10–2 last season than it was for Ohio State to go undefeated. Now, will the committee leave out an undefeated team from a major conference for a one- or two-loss SEC team? I doubt it.” For now, the East is taking its chances.
.444
Over the past four years, the SEC East is 8–10 (.444) in bowls, while the West is 15–5 (.750). Neither the Gators nor the Dawgs, who meet Nov. 2 in Jacksonville, are in line for a BCS bid, only the sixth time in 16 years that neither will receive an invite. At least they have their own cocktail party.
FLORIDA CB LOUCHEIZ PURIFOY
GEORGIA QB AARON MURRAY
FROM LEFT: DERICK E. HINGLE/USA TODAY SPORTS; TODD KIRKLAND/ICON SMI
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