{"product_id":"9781476703282","title":"How the SEC Became Goliath: The Making of College Football's Most Dominant Conference","description":"\u003ci\u003eHow the SEC Became Goliath \u003c\/i\u003ecovers the Southeastern Conference and how the league became dominant in college football, winning six straight national championships. Size matters. That’s why the SEC is Goliath, because the Southeastern Conference, top to bottom, has better coaches, better stadiums, better bank accounts, and better weather, but the real difference maker is the bigger and better players. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor six straight years the SEC has walked off with the big crystal prize and will not give it back. The talk of “big boy football” grinds on the Buckeyes, Sooners, Longhorns, and Ducks. All they can come back with is “Wait until next year.” Then next year comes and the SEC tribe is chanting in the closing minutes of the National Championship Game, “SEC, SEC, SEC!” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe national championship trophy has been in the South for so long it has sunburn. That is why college football is thick with the acrimony: SEC vs. Everyone Else. The dominance of the SEC has a lot more to do with the South’s culture than just the rock-’em, sock-’em of football played one day a week. The South lost the Civil War, and sociologists will tell you that there is still a regional angst, an “us against them” mentality, a spirit of “those damn Yankees.” It is not just about championships. The SEC is about culture and competitiveness. . . . \u003ci\u003eIt is about players.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e***\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow the SEC Became Goliath \u003c\/i\u003eprovides an inside look at college football’s most dominant conference. Four different schools in the SEC have won the last six championship titles: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlorida vs. Ohio State in 2006 \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJanuary 8, 2007 • The Zook-Meyer Gators embarrass the Big Ten. \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlorida 41 Ohio State 14\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSU vs. Ohio State in 2007 \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJanuary 7, 2008 • Unbeaten in regulation, the Tigers are good . . . and lucky. \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eLSU 38 Ohio State 24\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlorida vs. Oklahoma in 2008 \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJanuary 8, 2009 • One of the best teams in history, these Gators are all Meyer’s. \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlorida 24 Oklahoma 14\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlabama vs. Texas in 2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJanuary 7, 2010 • The Tide make it four in a row for the SEC.\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlabama 37 Texas 21\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuburn vs. Oregon in 2010 \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJanuary 10, 2011 • Cam Newton and Auburn cap a perfect season. \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuburn 22 Oregon 19\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlabama vs. LSU in 2011 \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJanuary 9, 2012 • Saban wins his third title and the SEC makes it six in a row. \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlabama 21 LSU 0\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Howard Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47130733412592,"sku":"9781476703282","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781476703282_p0.jpg?v=1763763980","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781476703282","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}