I agree, the dynamics have changed so drastically that Tennessee was able to capitalize on in the 90's. It was a very good time for us, it's becoming more and more clear Nebraska and Tennessee (Texas and Florida State not far behind) are stuck in the 90's glory days to find ourselves in very similar situations currently for the foreseeable future.
the money is completely different today than it was 30 years ago, the competitive level across the board, top to bottom is entirely different than it was back then.
everybody has money for coaches and facilities now due to the TV deals. so your doormats that you used to count on, aren't doormats anymore. and the middle of the SEC is capable of beating anyone on a "any given saturday"....and the top of the conference is as good as any teams have been.....in the history of college football.
i mean seriously...What Alabama has done the past 12-15 years is in the "all time" category of college football. What UGA is doing in recruiting is mirroring what Bama did in the mid 00's...CLemson is doing things that have never been done in the ACC, making waht FSU did in the 90's look like kids play.
that's not to say we can't ever.....it is to say that getting back to the level where you can compete year in and year out at that level is much, much harder today than it's ever been....aTm thought they could buy their way in, and outside of Saturday's game, they've been awful against top level compeition. LSU caught lightning in a bottle, and it's a good thing...cause they're no where near that level right now.
Auburn....nope.
FL...well, if FL was what FL thought they were, they don't lose that game Saturday.
(i say that on both of these programs believeing they're both closer than we are, so tifwiw).
bottom line....it's hard. it's made harder when you've had a 15 year period like we have, where you have more losing seasons than bowl wins....and more head coaches than wins over your top 2 rivals.....
and Saturday was a reminder of that, and that sucks for us as fans. it sucks for the team and coaches.
we find ourselves saying it every year..."we do still, in fact, have a long ways to go", and will continue to, until we finally beat somebody of consequence.
the good news....and this is good news....it wasn't all that long ago that we not only were we getting drubbed by fl, ga, and bama....we were in the middle of a lsoing streak to MO, VAndy, the SECw in general and USCe too...............we have at least put ourselves in to position to see those streaks end and start a couple of winning streaks again against those programs.
so despite the lack of progress at the top....progress has been made at the bottom and in the middle.....
how long does it take to take the next step? could take it this year still.
