In '98 everybody expected an apology from us...

[Xenomorph]

..for not having to play UT, UF or UGA to get to Atlanta. Hell, people practically accused us of scheming to have Vandy and UK as our permanent opponents, when in reality nobody wanted to play those two every year so we got stuck with them. (Heaven forbid Alabama not get to play UT on the 3rd Saturday of every October.) Everybody was so incensed that little MSU had been allowed to play in Atlanta that the format was changed to only have 1 permanent opponent.

So my question is... Anybody giving Georgia grief this year for not playing Bama, Arkansas or LSU and going to Atlanta in a year when their divison is ridiculously weak?

 

[Center Z]

But I give them no grief because I believe they will get demolished in the Championship Game. I think South Carolina got there last year in basically the same fashion. Just the way **** lines up sometimes. Maybe one of these days it will happen to us again, but Miles, Saban, and Petrino have to leave the division first.

 

[BudgetDawg]

that's a hell of a lot tougher than UGA playing OM, Auburn and us this season.

 

[Swampazz]

I am not 100% sure, but I think UK was our only permanent opponent just like they are now. I think we just happened to get to play Vandy that year. Not that it matters, but I dont think there has ever been 2 permanent cross division rivalries.

 

[Paperdawg]

That changed after the 2001 season I think.

Also, weren't 2 other teams in the West on probation in '98 and one had a better record than us?

 

[Xenomorph]

Arkansas with 6-2 just as we were.

But you're right in that SC was our other permanent opponent along with UK.

 

[maroonmania]

and THEN they changed it. Our permananents used to be UK and SC. Just so happened that Vandy rotated around so in 98 we had UK, Vandy and SC together. The SEC ALWAYS will change a rule if it appears a "have not" member of the league is getting any kind of advantage.

 

[Center Z]

I was trying to make the point that if your division is down, you don't have to be great to get to the title game. I do think 2010 USC beats 2011 UGA though.