SEC Dominance Continues With Auburn Title Win
Dave Curtis - SportingNews.com
Jan 11, 2011
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Amid the dignitaries on the post-game podium here Monday night was Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive, whose smile flashed as bright as anyone's.
The winners, and still champion and king of college football: The SEC.
Top-ranked Auburn's 22-19 victory over No. 2 Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game gave the mighty league a fifth straight national title (or, as they'd say at Toomer's Corner, "one for the thumb.") Until a team takes down the SEC representative, there's no argument over league bragging rights in college football.
"The record of the conference speaks for itself in championship games," AU defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. "It's such a grind to go through the conference season."
Like past champs, Auburn used a familiar, SEC-centric formula of stuffing the other team's run game. Oregon, which averaged 6.1 yards per carry this season, managed a mere 2.3.
Tigers junior defensive tackle Nick Fairley emerged as the evening's star, with three of his team's 11 tackles for loss. The night put him in an SEC fraternity – fellow members include Derrick Harvey, Carlos Dunlap and Marcell Dareus -- of conference big boys who saved one of their best games for the biggest stage. Bank on a profitable pro career for him.
"Fairley was dominant," Ducks receiver D.J. Davis said. "He's going to be one of the top draft picks."
The big plays from Fairley, as well as defensive linemen Mike Blanc and Nosa Eguae, helped slow the lauded spread-option, up-tempo Oregon offense. After struggling to score in two straight BCS bowl games, the Ducks might inherit the title once held by Ohio State – fantastic in conference, but too weak for a national crown.
That label only exists because of the SEC. Florida held Ohio State to 84 yards offense here in 2007 and kept Oklahoma, a 700-point scorer in 2008, to two touchdowns in that season's title game. Monday's effort added to the defensive dominance that has become the conference's championship trademark.
"At the end of the day," Auburn end Antoine Carter said, "the SEC is the best conference out there."
SEC dominance
2011
Auburn 22, Oregon 19
2010
Alabama 37, Texas 21
2009
Florida 24, Oklahoma 14
2008
LSU 38, Ohio State 24
2007
Florida 41, Ohio State 14
2004
LSU 21, Oklahoma 14
1999
Tennessee 23, Florida State 16
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