It hasn't happened since 1998...

You know, I read a comment yesterday somewhere that made me pause.  Since 1999, only one Eastern Division team has shown up to the Dome undefeated -- 2009 Florida.  That team got bushwacked by Bama that day.

 

1999 - Florida boinked a FG off the upright to lose in OT to Bama.

2000 - Florida lost inexplicably 47-35 (and it wasn't that close) in Starkville to an MSU team that went 4-4 in the league

2001 - UT lost at home to us after pulling off a miracle to take the lead with 47 seconds

2002 - We lost a heartbreaker to a terrible Florida team

2003 - We lost a heartbreaker to eventual national champion LSU in Baton Rouge, then lost to an even worse Florida team with a true freshman QB

2004 - UT lost 34-10 at home to Auburn

2005 - We lose to Florida with DJ out and to Auburn in the final minute...at home.

2006 - Florida loses at Auburn

2007 - UT loses to Florida 59-20 and to Bama 41-17...seriously

2008 - Florida somehow loses at Ole Miss (Eli Manning was already playing for the NY Football Giants)

2009 - Florida goes unscathed

2010 - South Carolina loses to Kentucky, Auburn, and Arkansas...and somehow wins the thing.  Boy, us and the Gators stunk that year

2011 - We lose to South Carolina in one of the craziest games evah

 

Strangely, the West has sent 2004 Auburn, 2008 Bama, 2009 Bama, 2010 Auburn, and 2011 LSU all undefeated to the dome.  2 of those 5 didn't come out alive.  I don't knwo what all that means, but it tells me that, for whatever reason, none of us (Florida, USCe, UT, or UGA) seem to be able to make it to the dome undefeated, so the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.  That South Carolina team is good.  Do you think it's good enough to beat LSU, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas back to back to back to back?  I don't.

 

We suffered a horrendous and embarrassing loss.  It's a long season.  We were 0-2 last year and led the best team in college football 10-7 at the half about 11 weeks later.  Get back to work.  Chances are everyone in front of us in the division will lose and we control what we do against one of them.  We're 12th.  4 of the 11 teams ahead of us are in our league.  3 are from the Big XII.  2 are from the Pac 12 and will probably have to play each other twice.  Finish the drill.  Finish 11-1 and let the chips fall where they may.  If the Cocks go 12-0 or 11-1, tip your cap to them as a fantastic team.

 

Just as a crazy side thought.  I've already been thinking about the craziness of Thanksgiving weekend.  If us, Florida and USCe all round robin each other and go into thanksgiving 10-1, we'd turn all our state rivalry games into de-facto conference games because BCS rank would determine the champion.  I like our chances there and I'd cheer harder for Clemson than I ever thought possible.

 

Alright, that's my mind-break football moment of the day.

 

Geaux Tigers!