Thoughts on Cignetti talking smack about the SEC?

Nothing to do with this generally, but I really, really don't like him. Cignetti is essentially just a much better version of a young Lane Kiffin. He's not funny. He's not goofy or lovable. He's just a smug, arrogant prick who likes to remind you of it whenever he opens his mouth. Spurrier was at least funny when he talked shite.

I mean, is he wrong?

The Big 10 has won three straight titles.

They are 4-0 against the SEC in the last three CFPs.

They outscored the SEC 137-54 in those four games.

We certainly were claiming superiority after winning three straight titles from 2006 to 2008.

I think he caught lightning in a bottle. I don't think he wins the Big10 this year. It will get difficult to completely turn over rosters every season like he is positioning himself to do.

I don't mind the talk. There are very few people in this world who can talk that kind of shite and consistently back it up. Think he comes back to earth this year and everyone will think he's rebuilding but he isn't. His teams will always be hit-or-miss.

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Plus, Indiana's schedule is an absolute joke.

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Ehh...they play what will likely end up being ~4 top 25ish teams

Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Washington

That's the same that we play- Georgia, aTm, Tennessee, LSU

Now, there is a big difference in the the next tier. Miss State, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Auburn are going to have a lot more future NFL players than Purdue, Minnesota, Northwestern and Nebraska

That's the big difference between the two leagues to me. All the talent in the big 10 is concentrated at the top. It gives them a stronger top of the league and a garbage bottom. The SEC is nearly the exact opposite which makes for a chaotic, tightly contested season but doesn't help in the playoffs when coming up against concentrated talent. The worm will turn back over, and I don't expect the B1G to go on anything close to the dominant run the SEC was on in the mid 2000's

Going slightly off topic but the biggest thorn in our side isn't anybody in the B1G, it's Miami being willing to spend. Saban owned that area. Cooper, Ridley, Turner, Jeudy, Surtain...if those guys were seniors in HS this year almost all of them would end up at Miami or Ohio State. We've been locked out of one of our most fertile recruiting grounds with their resurgence

Let him enjoy his sunset years. Once the shine wears off, his Saban tribute act will turn on him. It only works when you’re winning.

Basically that "In the Big Ten, we're not whining and crying like the SEC does. We get it done."

Instead of being rightfully proud of his team, he feels the need to throw shade at the SEC. Yes, the Big Ten has won the last 3 titles but he also conveniently neglects to mention:

Michigan cheated their gonads off with the sign stealing and Connor Stallions thing. If Bama had done what Michigan did, the NCAA would have ordered a nuclear missile strike on Tuscaloosa.

OSU spending literally $43 million on a roster. In today's economy, with inflation, that's probably $50 million. Hell, you could have a chimpanzee coaching a team with that much talent and win a NC.

Indiana brings in an absurd number of 5th and 6th year players. Yes, it's legal and I don't think that strategy would always work but it did last year.

So, to somehow claim that they're "superior" is BS.

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Plus, Indiana's schedule is an absolute joke.

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and they wont suffer one bit of punishment. the benefits of being in the b1g. if any of the top sec teams played this ooc schedule the talking heads would never shut up about it, forcing the committee to suddenly use sos in their rankings.

Pretty obvious NIL allowed rich teams to buy talent and flip the power dynamic on its head. Especially the BIG 10 teams that have deep pockets.

I think many are ignoring the elephant in the room: This is not some cyclical phenomenon but a changing of the guard because of money. I.e., the B10, and anyone else who has money, now has access to the talent pool that resides in the Southeast, which was the primary source of its superiority, in a way no one outside the South has had before. Previously, being the home state, tradition, development path to the NFL, facilities. were the drawing cards. Those things still matter, but to a far less extent, but as we all know, money is usually the primary motive. Outsiders may have to pay a premium, but some are able. Oregon, 2500 mi and a 38 hr drive away, with little historical success, has gotten the top player out of Alabama for the last 3 years.

It is unlikely to change. The B10 will not agree to rules that will lessen their advantage. And Sankey, if there was anything he could do, will find it easy to capitulate since the Jed Clampets, including his sweetheart, UT, as well as A&M, will insist the same.

I hate to say it, but the SEC glory days are likely gone forever and there is absolutely nothing they can do about it except pony up. At least Alabama may try, not because of the zealous fan base (except for their willingness to contribute money), no one really cares about that, but because football means so much to University at large in a very practical way. (Maybe more than any other P4 school.) Otherwise enrollment will drop and much of the out of state tuition will disappear. They have to do everything they can to support the football program. So, surely it won’t be because of neglect that Alabama would sink into irrelevancy, if it were to.

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Thoughts on Cignetti talking smack about the SEC?

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My thoughts are the Big 10 won the past 3 natties.

That's what we (the SEC) used to hang our hat on why we were "the best."

He can talk all he wants. He just took the equivalent of Vandy to a Natty.

Big 10 will have more money that just about all of the SEC schools outside of Texas.

Cignetti made us (Alabama) his bitch.