SEC is BCS: Best Conference, Surely

Published Jan. 9, 2011 10:45 a.m. EST

foxsports

By JACK MAGRUDER
FOXSportsArizona.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The day after Tennessee won the first BCS national championship in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, mechanical difficulties forced an airplane loaded with Volunteers fans to return to the Phoenix airport shortly after takeoff.

When a TV reporter quizzed the passengers as they deplaned, one told it like this:

"At least we would have gone down No. 1," the man said.

That is Southeastern Conference football.

Twelve years and six national championships later, the SEC still can claim to be No. 1.

Only a fool or an uber-fan would argue.

Auburn (13-0) will attempt to become the fifth consecutive SEC team to lay claim to the national championship in the BCS title game against Oregon (12-0) on Monday night at University of Phoenix Stadium.

In Alabama time, that is two days A.C.