SEC 2001
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Welcome to SEC Football Week, the SEC fan's source for SEC football information. The Week features weekly synopses of all twelve SEC powers, including game previews, predictions, big performers, and other information. Feel free to send in your comments, opinions, and predictions to [email protected].


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Countdown to Kickoff 2001:

Days: Hours: Mins: Secs:
Left before:
September 1, 2001, 12:00PM EDT

 


SEC 2000 In Review

2000 Season Synopsis
2000 Final Conference Standings
2000 Conference Awards

2000 Season Synopsis

A funny thing happened during the 2000 SEC football season. It all started pretty much as usual. Florida escaped Knoxville with a close win over the Volunteers on a controversial last-minute touchdown catch. But after that, things got weird.

First, Alabama, picked by most to repeat as SEC Champions, stumbled out of the gate, losing to a mediocre UCLA team. Meanwhile, South Carolina came storming out of the gate, winning it's first 5 games, including a shocker over Georgia. So then Florida goes down to Starkville, and gets hammered by Mississippi State. LSU loses in a huge upset to UAB in Death Valley, then comes back next week to defeat Tennessee, and drum Mississippi State. Auburn, on the shoulders of JC transfer running back Rudi Johnson, storms to the top of the Western Division, but is humbled by the Gators in Gainsville.

And all the while, Alabama continues to tailspin, but manages a win over the upstart Gamecocks. Arkansas, decimated by injuries, gets smacked by Tennessee, but rallies to make the Las Vegas bowl by beating contenders Mississippi State and LSU. The Bulldogs also drop big games to LSU and Ole Miss, and Auburn secures the West crown with a win over Alabama.

Back East, Georgia rebounds from the loss to South Carolina and ends a 9-year losing streak to Tennessee, but still can't overcome the Gators in Jacksonville. Florida wakes up after the MSU debacle and cruises to the East title. Vanderbilt defeats Kentucky, and the Wildcats go 0-8 in conference play.
 



But seriously ... what a year 2000 in the SEC! Florida recaptures the SEC crown, Auburn comes back to win the Western division, and how about the turnaround at South Carolina! In the Eastern division, 3 teams -- Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina -- were just one win (a win over Florida) from going to Atlanta to play in the championship game. In the West, Auburn held off a surge from surprising LSU to make its second appearance in the title game.

Despite the excitement that surrounded the SEC regular season, things were more bleak for the conference during bowl season. Sending 9 teams to the postseason (with 4 playing on New Year's Day or after), the SEC could only manage a 4-5 record. Still, the bowls were not without pleasant surprises, the most impressive of which was South Carolina's 24-3 victory over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl.

Final 2000 Standings

EastWest
1. Florida (10-3, 8-1) 1. Auburn (9-4, 7-2)
2. South Carolina (9-3, 5-3)   2. Louisana State (8-4, 5-3)
3. Georgia(9-3, 5-3) 3. Ole Miss (7-5, 4-4)
4. Tennessee (8-4, 5-3) 4. Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4)
5. Vanderbilt (3-8, 1-7) 5. Arkansas (6-6, 3-5)
6. Kentucky (2-9, 0-8) 6. Alabama (3-8, 3-5)

2000 Conference Awards

AwardEastWestOverall
MVP* Phil Petty, South CarolinaRudi Johnson, AuburnRudi Johnson, Auburn
Offensive Player of the Year Jarad Lorenzen, KentuckyRudi Johnson, AuburnRudi Johnson, Auburn
Defensive Player of the Year John Henderson, TennesseeFred Smoot, Mississippi StateJohn Henderson, Tennessee
Surprise of the Year South CarolinaLouisiana StateSouth Carolina
Disappointment of the Year KentuckyAlabamaAlabama
Freshman of the YearRex Grossman, FloridaLaBrandon Toefield, LSURex Grossman, Florida
Senior of the YearTravis Henry, TennesseeDuece McAllister, Ole MissTravis Henry, Tennessee
Coach of the YearLou Holtz, South CarolinaNick Saban, LSULou Holtz, South Carolina
Game of the YearTennessee (14) @ South Carolina (10),
October 28

*Yes there is a difference in being and "MVP" and a "Player of The Year". MVP is based on how that player contributed to his team's success during the season. Player of the Year may be awarded based soley on stats without regard to team accomplishments.