Much like the play on the field, the SEC has a strong collection of uniforms. Yet, the Mizzou Tigers have the least traditional of the bunch. Strange shoulder styling and loads of extra accents make these the busiest in the conference. The black and white road digs shown here aren't all that bad, but the home yellows are completely absurd.
Much like ranking everything else in the SEC, from top to bottom, the uniforms in this league are excellent. Case in point, Arkansas ranking 13th. A few years ago, the Razorbacks went to a much edgier, much busier look that most college football purist don't like. As far as new-look get-ups go, however, the Hogs are as good looking as anyone's — with the exception of the black ones, which look completely ridiculous.
South Carolina has always had a strange looking uniform compared to the rest of the league. The bizarre lines and edgy styling don't conjure up an image of a traditional SEC champion. And as time goes on, the Gamecocks seem content to actually ADD to the piping, shoulder trim and pants. The helmets are awesome looking but the jerseys could use some work.
The white tops and white helmet shown here are downright nasty — like, in the way a great pitcher is filthy. The new look helmet and jersey were a huge success last year and a huge step up from the traditional all black and gold helmet/jersey/pants combination. If this look was the every Saturday outfit for the Dores, this uniform might be one of the league's best.
There is a reason that Ole Miss make some adjustments to their uniforms. The home blue tops and grey pants were lacking and would have ranked 13th on this list. Yet, the slight tweaks appear to have worked as NIKE designed nearly a dozen new combinations for Ole Miss. The navy blue and white combination is really slick looking and is a big improvement on the grey and red/blue combo. The key to the redesign is the Rebels uniforms aren't too busy and overwhelming like most new designs.
When Hail State looks good — like the one shown here — they look really good. The matte helmet and simply styling looks amazing and very clean. Is the giant "Mississippi State" on the chest a bit disatracting? Sure, but it's really the only negative to the redesign of what used to be a very simple and boring Bulldogs uniform.
Sometimes simple and plain a exactly what looks good. The subtle touches of accent around the collar and shoulders are so subtle that, from a distance, fans can't ever see it. The team rarely uses a third color, giving the Wildcats a distinctive old-school feel. The black alternates look horrendous but the white road tops with blue shoulder pads look pretty solid.
The Swamp is a vicious place to play for opposing teams but it will never be confused with a fashion show. The bright orange and royal blue is one of the most gaudy combinations in the nation. That said, the uniforms are classic and have been unchanged for decades. Strangely enough, however, the Gators have arguably the SEC's best and worst alternate uniform. The white helmets with a blue "F" combined with shoulder stripes are one of the top alternates in the nation. However, this and especially this are downright hideous.
For some teams busy and edgy can work. For others, traditional and simple is the way to go. Auburn's uniforms have remained largely unchanged for what seems like their entire existence. The classic "AU" logo is perfectly simple and the color scheme isn't overwhelming. The blue home tops and white road tops mixed with tiger-striped white pants is an SEC stalwart.
The color is gaudy for sure but what makes Tennessee's uniforms stylish are their simplicity. The two-tone white and orange combination has classically survived decades of uniform tweaks. No matter how many bad alternates crop up (like these ugly duds), the Vols always return to their simple home orange tops and traditional white pants (shown). With the addition of the new orange pants, this get-up has only gotten better.
It's plain and fairly simple but Georgia shouldn't be messing with a good thing. The bizarro alternates used against Boise State two years ago aside, most every UGA outfit has been strong. The black and red stripes on the pants add the perfect amount of color and the ordinary and classic tops and helmets have worked for decades. And when it comes to black alternates, a team with black in its primary color scheme can always pull it off better than those who have to force it (looking at you Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Mississippi State).
It's about as classic as a uniform can possibly be. Hell, even the team mascot is named after what the team looked like on the field way back when. The plain numbered helmets are fan favorites and the clean two-tone look will never go out of style. Programs like Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State and Alabama should never change their simple, classic and traditional style.
The old Aggies digs were solid and few tradition-laden programs should ever change their classic style. But the Texas A&M uniform update from last year was extremely well received. The bevelled numbers, simple contrasting shoulder and pant stripes, and matte helmets look awesome. It is a risky proposition to update a classic style and few do it well, but the Ags hit a home run with their redesign.
Purple and Gold may seem like a bizarre combination but there is little doubt that these awesome duds aren't one of the best uniforms in the nation. The classic shoulder stripes were well ahead of their time and withstood the test of time while the trim is minimal and simple as well. The helmets accent the whole outfit perfectly with simple style and traditional design. Even LSU's alternates are awesome.
The damage to Howard's Rock at Clemson was only the latest tarnishing of tradition
Clemson officials acknowledged this week that Howard’s Rock, the iconic touchstone Clemson players rub before running onto the field at home games, was damaged by vandals around June 2 or 3.
The perpetrators allegedly broke into the stadium, removed the glass casing and broke a piece of the rock, which has been a staple of Clemson games since 1966.
Texas A&M took a playful jab at Alabama at a fan event.
Considering it’s college football’s offseason, anything that happens on the news circuit is generally blown out of proportion.
However, it’s generally not a good idea to poke the bear. Right? Did the SEC miss the memo?
Well, the rest of the SEC certainly seems to be having some fun at Alabama’s expense this offseason. The Crimson Tide has claimed back-to-back titles and is the favorite to win in 2013. Yet, coach Nick Saban has been the brunt of the jokes by Vanderbilt’s James Franklin and Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis earlier this offseason.
Athlon gives its picks for the All-SEC team in 2013.
The 2013 college football season is just around the corner, and Athlon continues its countdown to kickoff with a look at our first, second, third and fourth All-SEC teams for this season.
All things considered, which SEC stadium is the best? The worst?
Fall Saturdays are special. Especially, in the South.
Small towns, huge crowds, tailgating, bands, cheerleaders and student sections are just a few of the reasons college football is the best sport on the planet. When campuses jump to life across the nation each weekend in the fall, college stadiums become a staging ground for history.
Is Georgia, Texas A&M or Alabama the best offense in the SEC?
The SEC is known for its defense. But let’s not forget about the players on the other side of the ball this year.
The SEC is home to the 2012 Heisman winner in Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, while Georgia and Alabama both averaged over 32 points a game in conference contests last year.
Considering all three teams rank among the best offenses in the nation, which team takes the title as the best in the SEC?
Can Kevin Sumlin lead the Aggies to a BCS bowl in 2013?
Texas A&M took the SEC by storm in his debut season, recording an 11-2 record and producing a Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Johnny Manziel.
After last year’s 11-win season, the Aggies are setting their goals even higher for 2013. Texas A&M is one of the top-10 contenders for the national title, and Manziel should be one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy once again.
One of the leaders of the Wrecking Crew defense, Holland became the program's all-time leading tackler when he ended his career with 455 total tackles (later broken). He led the team in stops twice with 155 tackles in 1984 and 147 in 1986. As a second-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, Holland went on to an excellent pro career with the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Packers, Aggies and Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.
Tank Lewis became only the fifth player in NCAA history to eclipse the 5,000-yard mark. His 5,012 rushing yards were a Southwest Conference record. He had two of the most consistent — and best — seasons in school history when he set the school rushing record with 1,692 yards in 1988 before coming back and rushing for 1,691 yards two years later. Lewis owns school records for rushing attempts in a season (306) and a career (909) as well as career rushing touchdowns (44). Lewis played three lackluster years for the Chicago Bears before a long line of poor decisions — and the fact that he "lost the love of the game" — caused his career to end prematurely.
You can bet quarterbacks knew exactly where Green was lining up on every play. He set the single-season sack record when he terrorized offensive lines and passers to the tune of 20 sacks in 1979. His 37 career sacks were also a school record for more than a decade. The All-American also owns the career forced fumbles record with 12. Green was a two-time all-conference performer who was selected with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Green went to two Pro Bowls.
Although he played only two seasons in College Station, Glenn quickly made an enormous impact on the Aggies program. He was an two-time All-American — and All-SWC — selection in both of his seasons as the lock-down coverman. Despite playing such a short period of time, Glenn is still all over the TAMU record book. His 20 passes broken up in 1992 remain a single-season record, while his 33 career PBUs and nine career interceptions — including one massive 95-yard INT return TD against Texas — remain in the Texas A&M record books. His runner-up finish for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back, remains the closest an Aggie has ever come to winning the award. The 1992 Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year was the 12th overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Glenn was a three-time Pro Bowler.
Adams started all three years of his career in College Station. As a freshman, Adams garnered freshman All-America honors to go with his SWC Newcomer of the Year award. He vaulted to first-team all-conference in his second season after 56 tackles and 4.5 sacks. However, Man Mountain's tenacity and downright nastiness got national accliam in 1993 when Adams led the Aggies in tackles for a loss (13), sacks (10.5), forced fumbles (5) and fumble recoveries (3). He also made an impressive 78 tackles from his interior line position. He was a consensus All-American and Sports Illustrated Defensive Player of the Year nationally. Adams, who also starred on the track and field squad, was inducted into A&M's Hall of Fame in 2001. He posted 169 tackles, 23 TFLs, 20.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles and was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
Arguably the most feared and productive defensive lineman ever to play for Texas A&M, Childress is the only post-1970 Aggie to be inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame. As a junior, Childress posted 15 quarterback sacks and 117 tackles and was as a first-team All-American in 1983. As a senior in 1984 he was a consensus All-America selection. He was also a two-time All-Southwest Conference pick. As a senior, he anchored an Aggie defense that ranked No. 5 nationally in pass defense (127.5 yards per game). That year, he recorded 124 tackles and 10 sacks. His 25 career sacks were then a school record for a non-linebacker, and his 360 tackles then ranked fourth on A&M’s career list.
As a 220-pound defensive end, Miller earned All-Big 12 Freshman honors. After nearly quitting the team after his freshman season, Miller bounced back under the new coaching regime and produced a solid season — now at weakside linebacker. As a junior, Miller was moved to the 'jack' position where his pass rushing skills shone brightly. His 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss led the nation, and Miller was named a first-team All-American. After his fourth position change in four seasons — now to outside linebacker — Miller posted 10.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs despite being slowed early on by a minor injury. The consensus All-American was named the Butkus Award winner as the nation's best linebacker. Miller was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
As a redshirt freshman, Manziel set the college football world on fire with both his arm and legs. He led the SEC in rushing with 1,410 yards (and 21 TDs) and led the nation in total offense with 393.5 yards per game. The Texas A&M quarterback led his team to 10 wins in a new league and claimed the school's second Heisman Trophy. He accounted for 47 total touchdowns and led TAMU to the biggest win of the season by any team over No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He capped his record-setting season by posting one of the greatest bowl performances in the history of Texas A&M, Cotton Bowl, SEC and Heisman Trophy history. He threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 229 yards and two more scores in a blowout win over Oklahoma.
Known better for his lock-down cover corner skills in the NFL, Hayes got his nicknames "The Judge" and "Lester the Molester" for his physical bump-and-run coverage. However, Hayes got his start on the gridiron as an elite ball-hawking safety at Texas A&M. His 14 career interceptions rank second on the all-time Aggie list, while his eight INTs during his final season in 1976 rank third all-time. Hayes was selected in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He would go on to five Pro-Bowls, two Super Bowl Championships and the 1980 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
The artist formerly known as "Fat" Nguyen turned his burly 5-foot-11, 240-pound freshman frame into a muscular, fercious tackling machine. Nguyen defined the terms hard-hitting and tough-nosed, leaving the A&M program with statistics that will be very difficult to ever duplicate. Nguyen won the Bednarik and Lombardi Trophies during his time in College Station as the nation's top defensive player. He also came a single vote shy of winning the Butkus Award — the closest vote in the history of the award. His 517 tackles are a school record, as are his 51 consecutive starts and 10.7 tackles per game. The four-year starter was a three-time all-conference selection and earned consensus All-America honors in 1998. Nguyen was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and is widely considered the best defensive player in the short history of the Big 12 conference.
1986: A&M held a tenuous 23-16 lead over Auburn in the Cotton Bowl when Auburn drove the ball 88 yards to the Aggie six-yard and looked ready to tie the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter. But Texas A&M’s defense stiffened, stuffing Heisman winner Bo Jackson four times to preserve the lead and key a 36-16 triumph.
Second-ranked A&M had lost seven straight and 16 of 18 toTexas, but the nasty Aggie defense and hard-running backs Bubba Bean and George Woodard keyed a thrilling, 20-10 win over the fifth-ranked Longhorns.
The Aggies were a pedestrian 5-4 when top-ranked, 8-0,defending national champion Oklahoma came to town for what looked to be a mere speed bump en route to another shot at the title. Freshman quarterback Reggie McNeal came off the bench to throw four TD passes in a 30-26 victory.
Number one Kansas State held a 27-12 lead at the beginning ofthe fourth quarter of the Big 12 title game, but backup QB Branndon Stewart, who had hyperextended his knee earlier in the game, led a comeback that forced overtime. In the second extra session, he completed a TD pass to Sirr Parker for a 36-33 win and the conference championship.
Although the Aggies had been a regional powerhouse, theyhadn’t gathered any credibility outside of Texas until the ’40 Sugar Bowl, when they took on Tulane on the Green Wave’s turf. Led by John Kimbrough’s 159 yards and two touchdowns, the last a game-winner from 24 yards out, A&M dumped Tulane, 14-13, to claim the national title.
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The SEC is known for its defense. But let’s not forget about the players on the other side of the ball this year.
Texas A&M took the SEC by storm in his debut season, recording an 11-2 record and producing a Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Johnny Manziel.
