Posts Tagged ‘Household Names’

Since its founding in 1933, the Southeastern Conference has been a powerhouse on the football field. Indeed, pigskin analysts are in near universal agreement that SEC football will remain a force to be reckoned with well into the future.

The reality is that throughout its history, SEC football has sported noteworthy and even championship teams from all of the schools in the conference. The fact is that the schools in the conference really are all household names across the country, in no small part due to the success of SEC football:

l Alabama

l Arkansas

l Auburn

l Florida

l Georgia

l Kentucky

l LSU

l Ole Miss

l Mississippi State

l South Carolina

l Tennessee – M

l Tennessee – W

l Vanderbilt

Within two years of the establishment of the conference, two SEC football teams were invited to bowl games. These early invitations set state for what would become a perennial presence of SEC football teams in major bowl games – a tradition that continues to this very day.

A mere nine years after the formation of the Southeastern Conference, Frank Sinkwich became the first SEC football player to receive the iconic Heisman Trophy. Yet again, this recognition and achievement during the early years of the conference was merely the beginning of a long line of SEC football players who would receive incomparable individual recognition.

Beginning in 1951, SEC football teams began a tradition of being named the Associated Press national champions. The first team to bring home that important designation was Tennessee. From that point in time onward, SEC football teams would continue to show a sense of dominance on the national stage. The talent of the players that were being field on teams throughout the conference drew a great deal of attention to the region.

The conference would have other teams designated by the Associated Press as the national champion throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Indeed, the tradition of success carried forward throughout the remainder of the 20th century and hard playing SEC football teams are being fielded into the 21st century as well.

From the ranks of all Southeastern Conference sports there have been designated over 20,000 All Americans since 1933. A good portion of those All Americans have arisen from the ranks of the SEC football teams. Moreover, since 1933, the Southeastern Conference has fielded about 170 national champions; as with the All Americans, the SEC football teams have played a significant role and have brought home more than their fair share of national championships. As has been noted previously in this article, this tradition of achievement shows no signs of abating in any way, shape or form.

Another aspect of SEC football that has garnered a great deal of national attention is fan support. Indeed, the fans of Southeastern Conference football teams are some of the most dedicated and committed in the country. The reality is that a person would be hard pressed to find any sports fans anywhere on the planet that exhibit the unbridled enthusiasm of those folks that back the Southeastern Conference football teams as well as other teams and individual athletes.

Outright Odds: 12/1
Group C Winners: 13/8

New coach Marco van Basten has proven to be a revelation off the pitch as much as he was on it since taking over the Dutch national team. Plucked from an obscure youth coaching role at Ajax where he kept his head down and had low responsibilities when Dick Advocaat quit after Euro 2004, van Basten has made this new-look Dutch team his own.

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be van Basten’s philosophy so while former well known favourites such as Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert have been given the chop, some of the best players the Dutch Eredivisie has to offer have come in to replace them.

Players such as AZ Alkmaar’s Denny Landzaat, Feyenoord’s Dirk Kuyt and Ajax’s Ryan Babel may not be household names yet but have all won the backing of the manager. Ajax have a strong representation in the squad, with John Heitinga, Nigel de Jong, Hedwiges Maduro and Wesley Sneijder, all under the age of 23, vying for a place in the starting line-up.

The faith shown in locally-based players along with more recognisable faces such as evergreen trio Edwin van der Sar, Edgar Davids and Philip Cocu and the likes of Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy has paid off.

The team are showing true team spirit and togetherness, unlike the inconsistent squads of the past and in qualifying notched up 32 points, the highest of any European side. Holland finished five points clear at the top of their group that also included bogey side Czech Republic and Romania, both of whom they beat twice. Surprisingly, the only country they didn’t beat was Macedonia who they drew with twice.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was in scintillating form during qualifying with seven goals in 10 matches and now back in favour at Manchester United, could be a good investment for the top goalscorer market.

The Dutch are always one of the favourites for the tournament but never quite manage it. They have reached the final twice, the semi finals and quarter final stages but never have enough to win it outright.

The team entering this year have little World Cup experience and it would be a big ask of this team to go all the way in Germany.

BetBonus.co.uk Recommendation:
Holland offer better value to win Group C than Argentina but a lack of experience throughout the squad means they cannot be backed to win the tournament outright. Ruud van Nistelrooy could be a good each-way investment for the top goal scorer berth on his debut at the finals.

Holland to win Group C @ 13/8
E/W Ruud van Nistelrooy as top goalscorer @ 16/1