We're going to have a good class no matter what!

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,762]

I doubt we're finishing with a top 5 class the way we've had some of these close misses down the stretch, but who knows, it's not actually NSD yet

[chimesAU 89]

This thread title makes me sad.

[Dual-Threat Rigby 8,762]

I agree somewhat. If our biggest rivals and competitors for the SEC championship have better classes than us then that will be a problem. Should we finish as a consensus top ten in the recruiting rankings then we will have recruiting enough talent to compete. After that it is all on coaching. The only caveat to that is if that top 10 finish is due to us loading up on O skill players, which with this O is to be expected. To miss on OL and DL would be a bad thing. It is about filling needs with 4-5 star talent (with a few 3 stars with potential thrown in) at positions of need. This why Cowart is our most important recruit in this class.

wde

Our rivals having better classes has never stopped us before.

Explain. We were definitely stopped this year. We have two SEC titles in the past ten years. uga has owned us on the field since 2005, spuat has 3 BCS titles and three SEC championships to our 1 and 2 respectively along with winning at least 10 games a year since 2008.. It is important to have good classes and good coaching on both sides of the ball. Gus largely addressed our weakness on the coaching staff this off season.

wde

I see what you're saying, and for the most part I agree, but you're stats are a bit wonky. The 2004 team won the SEC and had a very strong argument for a share* of the MNC. Then we won both again in 2010. Then in 2013 we won a third SEC title and came with 13 seconds of wining a third* national championship. That's three SEC titles, and as close as you can get to the three national championships without actually winning them. If the discussion is about championships over the last decade, there is almost no difference in what the turds accomplished and what we've accomplished.

WDE!

Yes there is. We SHOULD of been named at least co-champions in 2004, then when the NCAA retroactively stripped USC from their 2004 championship, we SHOULD of been named champions, BUT WE WEREN'T. We did win in 2010, but the 13 seconds from last season are irrelevant. It doesn't matter if we lost with 1 second left, or we lost 235-0. The simple fact is we lost.

We weren't champions in 04

We weren't champions in 13 (regardless of leading with 14 seconds left, we lost.)

Not to mention, we have finished with a losing record twice since 2008.

You really should take off the Orange and Blue glasses.

Back on topic, we will have a good class no matter what, but that will feel like a kick in the groin if we miss on some of the big fish, because with them, we have a great class.

That's pretty much exactly what I said. Seems to me the only points on which we disagree are the number of SEC title we've won in the last ten years and the overall quality of the class we have committed.

WDE!

SEC titles over the last 10 aren't up for debate. There have been SEC Championship games for more than 10 years. Whoever won those is the SEC Champion.

My disagreement was more about the statement that we are up there with Bama over MNCs. We just arent. We have played in 2 of the last 50 or so. They have won 3 in the last 10. Now I know that a lot of their championships are bogus. Without a doubt they would of claimed 2004 and 1993.

The overall class is looking good. It will be elite if we can pull the big fish left on our board. But we are top 15 so thats ok... I guess...

I know SEC title aren't up for debate. I'm correcting your stats. Sincerely, I'm not trying to be a D about it, but it's one of the cruces of your argument, and it's incorrect.

My issue concerning national championships is as follows: I believe very strongly that a team that won one outright, should have a share of another, and came oh-so-close to a third isn't all that far off of the team that won three, especially when in one of those years the the latter team didn't even win the division. (It's a significant note because we lost a popularity contest and missed the big game; they won a popularity contest and got a second chance against a then divided team starting their backup QB.)

Let me phrase it another way: If we're tallying these accomplishments and judging them as bodies of work, we are right on their heels and likely closer than anybody in the country. I suppose UF, and maybe Oregon and LSU are bunched up there too. That's rare company.

And I'm not disagreeing with the overall point you're trying to make about recruiting classes, coaching and results. For the most part I'm just trying to help you tighten up your argument.

Regarding the current class. Absolutely. Adding a few guys on NSD will take this class from great to elite. But if we go 0-for-7, I'll be more embarrassed than worried about our future.

WDE!

I don't know we always have to compare ourselves with Alabama, Alabama (unfortunately) got the God given blessings of having arguably the best coach ever. He kickstarted those championships and those titles and that winning mentality, we haven't had that potential GOAT yet, Alabama has two of them. We seriously cannot compare titles and the like until we get a GOAT caliber coach, because Auburn won't be kicked into a consistent winning mentality until then.