in at least one way.

http://www.coachingsearch.com/component/...e-way.html

Sun Belt football has gained more and more respect as the 2012 season has gone on, even earning the nickname Sun Beast in some online circles, and Rick Stockstill thinks the league compares to the SEC, at least in one way.

"We are a lot like the SEC, and I don't mean that from a talent standpoint or anything like that, but in the SEC, you better come ready to play every day," Middle Tennessee State's coach said Tuesday on the Tim Brando Show on Yahoo Sports Radio. "It doesn't matter who you are playing, if you don't play, you have a chance to get beat. Our teams are so similar to each other. Who would have thought that FAU would have beat Troy last week? Who would have thought South Alabama would have played into the fourth quarter with Monroe Saturday?"

Stockstill's Blue Raiders are tied for second in the conference with a 3-1 league record heading into Thursday's game against Western Kentucky, which also is 3-1 in the league.......

I think throughout college football there is a parity that was not seen 10 years ago. Outside of 2-3 schools that are almost unbeatable and 2-3 schools that are dumpster fires, I think on any given Saturday any school could have another's number.

(10-30-2012 02:50 PM)Mgt2j Wrote:  I think throughout college football there is a parity that was not seen 10 years ago. Outside of 2-3 schools that are almost unbeatable and 2-3 schools that are dumpster fires, I think on any given Saturday any school could have another's number.

And even the dumpster fires can pull off the win. FAU snapped a 14 game Confrence losing streak dating back to 2010 and had only BARELY beaten a FCS team in Wagner.

(10-30-2012 02:50 PM)Mgt2j Wrote:  I think throughout college football there is a parity that was not seen 10 years ago. Outside of 2-3 schools that are almost unbeatable and 2-3 schools that are dumpster fires, I think on any given Saturday any school could have another's number.

Thankfully MT plays WKU on a Thursday.

I think it is fascinating how there is now such a small subset of truly great programs and atrocious programs with a vast in-between that comes down to who has their head screwed on that day, the weather, etc.

I know many think it is because of scholarship limits but 1991 was the last 95 scholie year. 1992 was played with a 92 limit, 1993 with 88 and since 1994 it has been 85. That's been the case nearly two decades now. We had no limit until 1973 and then it was 105 with a yearly max of 25 until 1978 when the limit went to 95.

Scholarship driven parity should have arrived much sooner.

(10-30-2012 03:54 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Scholarship driven parity should have arrived much sooner.

There are now 2 million bowl games each year, and nearly every game of every school in being broadcast somewhere.

Also, good coaches are staying longer at smaller programs as those schools find more money to keep them.

I think it is the level of training at the high school level coupled with more 7 on 7 football.

Used to be everyone knew who the freak of nature kids where and you had to guess which ones you could stick in the weight room and turn into top quality football players and then had to guess which ones had the motivation to work that hard.

Now those kids are pre-sorted. Most high schools have better training regimines than most colleges did 20 years ago. You aren't worrying about projecting physical ability any more, now you are only worried about whether they will behave, stay eligible, and fit into what you are doing. Recruiting is much simpler now because you've removed the physical element.

The other difference is 7 on 7. Today in states with 7 on 7 high school quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive backs will get more reps at a serious football high school before heading to college than players 10 or 15 years ago were getting before their rookie season in the NFL.

Most everyone can pass today and football has changed in fundamental tactics.

Used to be the core of the game was trying to get more of your players to a point on the field than the other team could. If they have four there and you have four blockers there as well, the back can gain yards. The freak of nature players were game changers, the guard who could take on 2 blockers, the linebacker who could tie up two blockers. The running back who could consistently break the first tackle. The Nebraska's, Alabama's, and USC's could win the trench warfare and win the game.

Today most schools play some form of spread. Individual match-ups rule the day. It is a vast set of one-on-one battles across the field. You can win 10 battles but if the QB can get the ball off in the face of a breaking line and hit the one back who has won his one-on-one battle they can get a big gain despite the fact you whipped them across the board. If the defense is spread out enough by the offense, that one guy winning his battle may well score because the nearest help is too far away to do any good.

That is a huge equalizer. The best talent is still more likely to win but the lesser team has a better chance than ever before.

(10-31-2012 09:14 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think it is the level of training at the high school level coupled with more 7 on 7 football.

Used to be everyone knew who the freak of nature kids where and you had to guess which ones you could stick in the weight room and turn into top quality football players and then had to guess which ones had the motivation to work that hard.

Now those kids are pre-sorted. Most high schools have better training regimines than most colleges did 20 years ago. You aren't worrying about projecting physical ability any more, now you are only worried about whether they will behave, stay eligible, and fit into what you are doing. Recruiting is much simpler now because you've removed the physical element.

The other difference is 7 on 7. Today in states with 7 on 7 high school quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive backs will get more reps at a serious football high school before heading to college than players 10 or 15 years ago were getting before their rookie season in the NFL.

Most everyone can pass today and football has changed in fundamental tactics.

Used to be the core of the game was trying to get more of your players to a point on the field than the other team could. If they have four there and you have four blockers there as well, the back can gain yards. The freak of nature players were game changers, the guard who could take on 2 blockers, the linebacker who could tie up two blockers. The running back who could consistently break the first tackle. The Nebraska's, Alabama's, and USC's could win the trench warfare and win the game.

Today most schools play some form of spread. Individual match-ups rule the day. It is a vast set of one-on-one battles across the field. You can win 10 battles but if the QB can get the ball off in the face of a breaking line and hit the one back who has won his one-on-one battle they can get a big gain despite the fact you whipped them across the board. If the defense is spread out enough by the offense, that one guy winning his battle may well score because the nearest help is too far away to do any good.

That is a huge equalizer. The best talent is still more likely to win but the lesser team has a better chance than ever before.

That bolded statement is huge. A team like Texas Tech with Crabtree or before that Welker, or Louisiana Tech with Patton this year, can isolate that guy in space and ovrcome a lot of shortcomings in other areas.

(10-31-2012 01:45 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  That bolded statement is huge. A team like Texas Tech with Crabtree or before that Welker, or Louisiana Tech with Patton this year, can isolate that guy in space and ovrcome a lot of shortcomings in other areas.

Patton is from LaVergne, TN, just up the road a few miles and in our county.

(10-31-2012 02:04 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-31-2012 01:45 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  That bolded statement is huge. A team like Texas Tech with Crabtree or before that Welker, or Louisiana Tech with Patton this year, can isolate that guy in space and ovrcome a lot of shortcomings in other areas.

Patton is from LaVergne, TN, just up the road a few miles and in our county.

I didn't know where he was from, I just know that he is BY FAR the most explosive player I have seen play this year. His YAC must be huge.

(10-31-2012 02:04 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-31-2012 01:45 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  That bolded statement is huge. A team like Texas Tech with Crabtree or before that Welker, or Louisiana Tech with Patton this year, can isolate that guy in space and ovrcome a lot of shortcomings in other areas.

Patton is from LaVergne, TN, just up the road a few miles and in our county.

If only he'd stayed close to home... Obviously, Ruston is much more exciting than Nashville?? lol. Okay.

Because as ArkStFan says recruiting has become easier (better trained and more visible players), the SBC has the ability to become a true SEC Lite. (a conparison wold be Big East and A-10 in MBB) The area from Texas to Georgia/Florida is the most fertile recruiting ground in the nation for football. You dont have to win the battle for 5 Star players. With the right coaches and facilities and winning the right 3 Star players fro your system you can still build a great program. I think that in the coming 18 or so months we will begin to see the light of what Benson and the Presidents have in mind.

From Suck Belt to Sun Beast. I like it.

Gotta hand it to Stock, that is catchy.

If Troy beats UT and/or FAU upsets Navy...OMG! Sun Beast!

I hope the refs call it a fumble!! Big call coming