Now that other conferences have caught up, what do we do?

What comes around goes around my son. There will be changes in the SEC mentality starting with the superiority complex, then the SEC will be just fine.

weren't you guys leaving to start your own conference?

what do you mean "WE"?

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we

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SEC had a GREAT run.

Jon Solomon ?@JonSolomonCBS 1st time since 2008 season no Alabama or Auburn in national title game; 1st time since 2005 (Texas vs. USC) no SEC

The high school talent still exists in the southeast and many kids will want to play here. The overall QB play in the conference was due to catch up to many teams this season and it did. There may be a few programs around the country who can compete annually but there are no other conferences as deep.

The teams don't need to make knee jerk changes as most will be just fine. Major changes do need to be made in the SEC HQ. Move the HQ and hire officials who are devoted to promoting the entire conference instead of their home state.

Play a nine game conference schedule and get rid of the foolish permanent opponent "tradition" rule. Rotate around versus the other division to make the entire conference stronger.

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The common theme in the losses was that our defenses were all exposed. We have to go back to the formula that worked in previous years. More agressive, attacking D. We were all playing to much read and react D.

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The problem is that the rules that have changed favor Offense, with the targeting rule, you can't touch the QB, and etc. that defensive teams have had to dial it down from being so aggressive. The problem is that it's not going to change back

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They haven't caught up in recruiting, so we've still got that over them.

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You may be wrong. The other schools in Power 5 conferences are hiring outstanding recruiters, I am not a chicken little. I will say this thought, what Urban can do with the pick of the litter from the NE...and what he can do with a third string QB. Wow.

An outsider's opinion:

- I have argued the past couple of years that coaching attrition in the SEC has caused an overall dip in performance. It wasn't that long ago that the SEC had Saban, Meyer, Petrino, Spurrier, Richt, and Miles stalking the sidelines (five national title-winning coaches and another very gifted coach). Strong, Mullen, Muschamp, Fisher, Pelini, Malzahn, Smart, McElwain, and others were in the assistant ranks. I don't think the current coaching talent is quite up to what it was from 2006 - 2012. Other conferences are starting to lay down big money to match the SEC. The B1G has seriously upgraded its coaching talent across the board over the last few years, and Meyer/Harbaugh/Dantonio are as good a top 3 as anywhere in the country.

- QB play has been pretty bad this year across the board in the conference

- I no longer see vaunted front sevens that were the hallmark of the great SEC teams from 2006 - 2012 that just chewed you up and spit you out. The big 5 from the SEC West (Alabama/Auburn/MSU/Ole Miss/LSU) gave up an average of 315 yards rushing per game in their bowl games this year. That jumped out to me - that would have never happened three or four years ago.

- I do think some of the oversigning limits that went into effect in 2011 are starting to bear fruit a bit

The SEC is still the best conference, I think, but the PAC 12 is a damn close second, and the Big 12 is not far behind them. I moved from the South to the West coast in 2009 and remember being a little surprised by how good the level of play is out there and how seriously they took the sport. I thought they were getting to be comparable in 2012 or 2013, and they definitely are (especially the PAC 12 South) right now.

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Now that other conferences have caught up, what do we do?

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Go to church tomorrow if you prefer.
Go to work Monday.
Watch college basketball.
Profit.

Who cares???