Dear Lord. This is just not that big of a deal, it's not 2006 anymore. Look around the SEC, and now that we are 3 years into this thing, I see more weakness at the top, and more teams in the middle. The problem is, we're not one of those teams in the middle. But it's not because of budget, it's because our coaching has sucked. There is definitely more parity now than before July 2021, it can't be debated. If Mike Leach is coach, we are 5-2 or 6-1 right now and all is right with the world.
I wonder why some of you guys have regressed to that mindset. But then again, Arnett is operating like Croom, and that's what people parroted back then, to take up for Croom. And honestly, it wasn't really even true back then. Foglesong, Byrne and Mullen proved that.
Wake up. We aren't talking about winning national titles. We are simply talking about playing up to our talent level, round about.
Maybe you are the one who needs to wake up. We are still most likely Bama, Georgia, then LSU, then a big pack in the middle with Vandy at the very bottom. What, because Bama is having a year where they don't look as dominating, that's supposed to be proof there is parity? Hell, even in their down year they are 7-1 at this point. Not really reasonable to think Bama should reload every year...no exception, not even once-a-decade.
Ole Miss is Ole Miss, UK is in a bit of a rebuilding, though with NIL & transfers it's biting them in the butt as well. TAMU is doing what they always seem to do. LSU looks a lot like they have under Kelly...very good in areas, but glaring weaknesses that make them vulnerable, and/or inconsistent.
AU dealing with a new coach, new system after having a few years of bad coaching, but you know they're gonna do whatever it takes to get the players they need to turn it around. MIzzou having a better than expected year so far, but their schedule & the fact that they very easily could be 4-4 including a loss to MTSU makes them still suspect, IMO.
Pretty arrogant of you to presume those who don't share your opinion have "regressed". There is one OBVIOUS big change here and that's NIL & transfer portal. While it can greatly benefit teams like Ole Miss, AU, they are willing and able to spend. We are not. They have a chance to buy their way up the ladder...we don't.
What I suspect is going to continue & grow is Ole Miss spending finally putting one of the 2 Mississippi SEC teams in control dominating recruiting and leaving us in their rear-view. They won't just buy players away...their results will get them their pick of the underrated Mississippi talent we have long relied upon. The ones who may not cost much more than a roster spot.
I'm not saying the coaching is good. I am saying the switch in offense is a HUGE one, especially for our O-line and QB, so we should not be surprised we are struggling there.
What I fear is what happened to USM eventually happening to us. Unable to recruit well enough to compete with OM...falling farther and farther behind. That said, I'm not going to get too worked up on it because I've already lost a ton of interest in mercenary, semi-pro football.
