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I’m going down to Columbia, SC again and this time Georgia’s coming to town.

Honestly, is it Saturday yet?

Last November while in my second year of business school, I completed my college football tour with the South Carolina-Florida homecoming game in Columbia, SC. I was introduced to a proper SEC-style tailgate (moonshine included) and a more than decent football game … South Carolina outlasted Florida 17-12 to keep its SEC East title hopes alive, which were subsequently dashed the following week when the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Kentucky Wildcats 19-10.

Before this season began, I committed to returning to Columbia, South Carolina for the Georgia game and it’s safe to say that I made a very wise decision since South Carolina and Georgia both won last night. The Georgia-South Carolina rivalry has been contested since 1894 and has become so heated in recent years that sports writers have dubbed this annual game “New Fashioned Hate.”


Saturday’s game between the #5 Bulldogs and the #6 Gamecocks takes this rivalry to new heights. The October 6th contest is already being called “The Biggest Game in South Carolina 
History.” 

Both teams enter the game undefeated and both teams enter the game playing pretty darn good football. 

The Georgia Bulldogs roll into town as the third SEC team in history to score at least 40 points in each of its first five games in a season — not sure if that’s because they play good defense or bad offense in the SEC =). 

South Carolina has won its last nine-games in a row and has won 11 straight games against SEC East opponents dating back to last season. And the Gamecocks have won the last two meeting against the Bulldogs.




At stake is clearly bragging rights but far more important is first place in the SEC East. And the winner of this game will move into pole position for a place in the national championship game.

This game is so big that the original kickoff time of 1:00 pm eastern has been pushed back to 7:00 pm prime-time and I fully expect to take advantage of the additional 5 hours of tailgating time (see picture to the left).

ESPN’s College GameDay will be their first thing in the morning and my man Lee Corso better pick South Carolina and the Ole’ Ball Coach!

Now I just have to get through this work week!



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It really is the SEC and everyone else especially in the biggest games

***Warning, I’m about to rant all because of the Alabama Crimson Tide***

It pains me to say this … I’ve known this as fact for the last 7 years. I’ve known it since the BCS era began with Tennessee beating Florida State. Although top-heavy, the SEC is head over heels the best conference in college football. And if I am very honest, it’s not even close. I’ve been watching college football for a while now but what we are seeing right now is something else. The top of the SEC is stupid good!


Typically conferences and teams trade off their domination of college football. The 1970s were dominated by the Big Ten and the Big Eight. The 1980s were dominated by the Miami Hurricanes and the early 1990s were dominated by the Florida State Seminoles. Oklahoma, USC, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Texas have all had dominate runs, but what we are witnessing right now as college football fans is something different. In particular the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers ….

The very top of the SEC is sustaining their dominance year over year as evidenced by this year’s top 10 AP pre-season poll. The SEC has five teams ranked in the top 10 (#2 Alabama, #3 LSU, #6 Georgia, #9 South Carolina, and #10 Arkansas). As a conference, they have won 8 of 14 BCS national championships and have won the last 6 in a row. When you peel back the SEC’s performance over the last 14 years you start to realize that their success is a function of some very “simple” factors…. NFL-type talent, NFL-type coaches, NFL-type strategies

First off, SEC football is played in a region of the United States that has some of the best high school football talent. Currently, 15 of the top 25 high school programs in this year’s MaxPreps top 25 poll are from Southern states (I’ve included Texas in this primarily because the SEC recruits heavily in Texas). I’m not knocking the brand of high school football played elsewhere. California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan have all produced their fair share of Division 1 and NFL talent. But the old adage that speed kills is alive and well in Southern football talent. Those defensive ends and tackles that run as fast as wide receivers , those safeties that hit like defensive tackles but run like the wind, and those line backers that run as fast as safeties are all found in the South. Simply put, it’s the defensive talent in the SEC that sets their teams apart from the rest of America!


Secondly, SEC coaches and staff are paid more on average than the rest of the coaches and staff in the nation. The 12 SEC coaches and staff made an average of $5.98 million in 2011 with Alabama, LSU, and Florida, and Auburn paying well above $6.3 million in total compensation[1]. More specifically, of the 10 highest paid head coaches in the country (at public institutions) six were from the SEC[2]. Les Miles, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier, and Gene Chizik are all NFL caliber coaches with NFL caliber coaching staffs. Money talks plain and simple. If you pay more you will get better coaches. Better coaches plus high quality players equals better qualify programs.

And lastly, the brand of football played in the SEC is fundamentally the best way to win football games. Oregon, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, and a plethora of other teams have gotten away from the brand of football that wins the big game. Don’t get me wrong, I love the spread. As a former wide receiver, the spread otherwise known as fun ball is my type of style. But when you really think about it, football in general is a run first type of game. Strong running games and great defenses have always been the back bone of most championship teams. The old adage that defense wins championships is clearly alive and well in the SEC. Haters will say that the SEC defenses don’t face real offenses in conference. To that I say, ask the 2010 Oregon Ducks (lost to Auburn), 2009 Texas Longhorns (lost to Alabama), and 2008 Oklahoma Sooners (lost to Florida) to name a few what it felt like to run up against an SEC defense. Each of these teams had top 5 ranked offenses heading into the national championship games and each of these teams were held to their lowest outputs all season.

I am far from an SEC homer in fact I’ve been one of the biggest SEC hater for some time. Primarily because their fans chant the following at their games: “S-E-C, S-E-C, S-E-C.” I am also certain that this eventual dominance will ebb (especially once Nick Saban and Les Miles retire). But after what I just witnessed in this Michigan-Alabama game I have to pay proper respect to college football’s pre-eminent conference (at the moment). I guess I have finally “accepted” it and the rest of the haters should too.


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Brian Nwokedi’s Sports Bucket List … The Making of my Ultimate Sports Year.

Now that I am officially 28 and I am 3 days from rejoining the work force, I thought I’d end my “summer retirement” with a list of the top 10 sporting events I plan on attending before I die (or before I turn 40)! Note that this bucket list leaves off some worldly events like the FIFA World Cup, the Summer Olympics, and the UEFA European Football Championships, all of which I would clearly like to attend given the opportunity, but I hope you all enjoy it nonetheless! And if any of y’all want to accompany me on any of the sporting events or donate to the Custom 2025 Sports Bucket List fund I’m clearly down LOL …!
   
1. The Rose Bowl National Championship Game in the new Playoff Era
Sport: College Football
When: January 1st
Location: Pasadena, California

Also known as the Granddaddy of Them All, simply put there is no greater bowl game than the Rose Bowl. Played every year on January 1st since 1902, the Rose Bowl represents college football’s ultimate tradition. With the new era of the BCS changing to a 4-team playoff starting in 2014-15 season, I want to attend the first ever 4-team National Championship played at the Rose Bowl. Let’s hope my Texas Longhorns will be there!


2. The Super Bowl
Sport: Professional Football
When: End of January, Early February

Location: Rotates, but ideally Cowboy Stadium, Arlington, Texas


Simply put, there is no bigger show in all of American sports, and to be honest, there may not be a better sports day than Super Bowl Sunday! My ideal Super Bowl scenario would clearly be the Houston Texans vs. the Dallas Cowboys in Cowboy Stadium and with the way my Texans are finally trending, I better start saving my money!

 3. El Clásico
Sport: Professional Soccer
When: annually in March or April
Location: Barcelona, Spain or Madrid, Spain

What more can you ask for: the two largest cities in Spain with two of the best teams in the world and two of the best players in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. When Real Madrid and FC Barcelona get together, hundreds of millions of people watch and wait!

4. Catch Amen Corner at The Masters
Sport: Professional Golf
When: First full week of April

Location: Augusta, Georgia


Otherwise known as “Amen Corner” the 11th, 12th, and 13thholes represent the most treacherous part of the August National Golf Course were Masters have been lost. I’m looking forward to seeing the presentation of the green jacket in person.

5. The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
Sport: Thoroughbred Racing
When: First Saturday in May

Location: Louisville, Kentucky 


Considered the ultimate mark in horse racing, I’m just looking forward to enjoying the pomp and circumstances, partying, and the hats, and the bourbon.

6. The Football League Championship play-offs
Sport: Professional Soccer
When: May
Location: United Kingdom

This is a series of playoff matches that are contested by the teams finishing 3rdthrough 6th in the Football League Championship table. At stake is the final promotion slot into the Barclays Premier League with the winner gaining an approximately £85 million


7. The FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
Sport: Professional Soccer
When: May
Location: London, England

Where to begin … Well the Football Association (FA) Cup has been held since 1872 and is the oldest association football competition in the world. Secondly, there are no seeds, which allow clubs of all stripes to compete and afford lesser clubs to play the role of “Giant Killer” Lastly, the New Wembley is simply immaculate! It’s as if it’s been erected to the footballing gods! Now in the most ideal situation, it would be Chelsea vs. Manchester United but only time will tell. Plus, do I really need another reason to go back to London? Maybe I do (see #8)


8. The Championships, Wimbledon
Sport: Professional Tennis
When: Late June to early July

Location: Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton, United Kingdom


The oldest tennis tournament in the world Wimbledon is the mark of tradition. Played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 1877, this grass court tournament is by far the most prestigious of all tennis Grand Slams. Give me some great tennis and some strawberries and cream!


9. The Open Championship
Sport: Professional Golf
When: The weekend of the third Friday in July

Location: Scotland or England


The oldest of the four major championships in professional golf, the Open takes place on a proper links course and has by far one of the best trophies in all of sport … the Claret Jug! If I can choose, I’d love to catch the Open at The Old Course at St. Andrews quite simply because this is one of the oldest golf courses in the entire world and the “home of golf.”

10. The Game
Sport: College Football
When: Last weekend in November

Location: Columbus, Ohio or Ann Arbor, Michigan


In 2006, Ohio State and Michigan entered their final regular season game unbeaten and ranked #1 and #2 respectively. This game was the first game of the 21stCentury to be dubbed the “Game of the Century” and it lived up to the hype with the Buckeyes beating the Wolverines 42-39. Last October, I had the opportunity to finally catch a UM game at the Big House, and let’s just say … I’m trying to do that again real soon and what better game to see than “The Game.”

On an aside, I still believe that Michigan would have won this game had Chad Henne not missed Mario Manningham on an out and up route in the second quarter … D. Bickel, you know what I’m talking about!