Shocking Developments in Journalism #15385: Paul Finebaum Writes Something Idiotic

by Gamecock Man on Jun 10, 2025 5:32 PM EDT in News

Want to look at expansion through new eyes? Well, looky here: Paul Finebaum, otherwise known as Finebammer or Finebarner depending on the day of the week, thinks USC and Arkansas are a drag on the SEC and should be kicked to the curb. What's that, you say? Finebaum is an idiot? How shocking. And this from the same guy that said a week or two ago that Stephen Garcia was the worst QB in the history of the SEC. I guess he wasn't paying attention to that guy 'Bama threw at us back in 2004.

This probably doesn't dignify a response, but why not. Here are five reasons why you should disagree with Finebaum. Add more in the comments section if you like.

5. Neither the Hogs or Gamecocks are SEC thoroughbreds, but neither are the conference's doormats, either. If we stick to football, then it's worth noting that both have been more successful over the past decade than Vandy, Kentucky, and the Mississippi schools. Heck, Arkansas has played in three SEC championship games. That's not too shabby.

4. Getting away from football for a minute (I doubt Finebaum is in the habit of this), it's worth recognizing that both the Hogs and Gamecocks are among the conference's elite in baseball, typically making the postseason every year.

3. Anyone that wants to argue that the SEC as a whole isn't stronger now than it was in 1991 is crazy. Expansion to 12 teams has been great for the conference, helping it to galvanize its fanbase across a large part of the country and in turn produce stronger, more lucrative programs. Heck, if the SEC hadn't taken the first step almost 20 years ago, would we be talking about Pac-16s today?

2. USC and Arkansas have unique mascots. The rest of the conference, save a few schools? Not so much.

1. USC and Arkansas run clean programs. The two in Finebaum's state? Not so much.

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Read More: paul finebaum, Stephen Garcia (QB - South Carolina), South Carolina Gamecocks, Arkansas Razorbacks, Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers

Comments

If he doesn't like us maybe the SEC should have offered FSU or Miami instead.

Oh wait…

We’re not the best programs in the country. We’re the best programs in the country that wanted to join the SEC in the 90s.

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 10, 2025 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

I'm glad to see the Gamecocks on the same page as us Razorbacks.

I don’t think either of our programs have ever finished dead last in the SEC in any sport.

by dxf04 on Jun 10, 2025 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

Eh. Check out what we did in 1999.

But overall, I think you’re right. Both schools run a variety of relatively successful programs. Both have good baseball. USC has never been great in football but has been a consistent bowl-eligible team for the past decade. Arkansas is similar on the gridiron and occasionally has had even more success. The Hogs won a national title in hoops; USC isn’t very good there but is probably better than Auburn, Ole Miss, and Georgia. I could go on. I’m not really sure why Finebaum posted this article. It’s even more ridiculous than his usual drivel. Makes me really want to bring the hurt to ’Bama this year, I can tell you that.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Jun 10, 2025 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

This brings up an interesting question. How do the universities rank overall (sports-wise)? One can try and argue total sports success (Sears/Directors Cup style), or just success in the major ones.

For example, the USC athletic dept. website had this interesting note after the 2001-2002 season:

“If you take what are considered to be the four major revenue-producing sports in NCAA 1-A athletics - football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball - and tally up points that those four sports accumulated in the 2001-02 Sears Director’s Cup standings, the University of South Carolina would rank third in the nation and would lead all Southeastern Conference schools with 197 points. In the final Sears Director’s Cup all-sports rankings for the 2001-02 season, South Carolina registered an all-time program best with an 11th place finish. "
http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072402aaa.html

by VA Libertarian on Jun 10, 2025 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder if we've finished that high since. The very early 2000s were highwater years for USC athletics all around.

Even if we haven’t, though, I doubt we’ve ever done too badly.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Jun 10, 2025 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m doing the research right now. We’ve finished above Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and Miss. State every single year as far as I can tell, and we’ve never been out of the top 25. One year Mississippi State was 109th, behind Furman of all places.

by VA Libertarian on Jun 10, 2025 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

*Top 50 I meant to say.

Also, we finish above Kentucky just about every year. They pretty much suck at everything other than basketball.

by VA Libertarian on Jun 10, 2025 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, if not for basketball, Kentucky would be worse than Vandy.

I don’t think Wildcats fans care, though, and I can respect that. As a basketball lover, I’d die to see the Gamecocks have consistent top 10 hoops teams. And, you know, not lose to Coppin State when we get to the tourney.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Jun 10, 2025 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions

"Yeah, if not for basketball, Kentucky would be worse than Vandy. "

That hurts…….j/k

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, is just a freight train coming your way...

by btcoop71 on Jun 10, 2025 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I remember us finishing 18th the next year.

But I might be mistaken. That was kind of a long time ago and before I cared this much about Gamecock athletics.

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 10, 2025 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, the early 2000s...

A time of unbridled optimism. People thought Holtz and Odom would join Ray Tanner and lead the Gamecocks to dominance in the big three.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Jun 10, 2025 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

This was actually before I went to Carolina, but I remember the success it was having then.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Jun 10, 2025 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Our 10 year average (99/00 - 08/09; 09/10 final standings not final yet) is 31.6, good for 7th best in the SEC. In the past 5 years, our average is 39.2, good for 9th best in the SEC.

Overall (Ten Year Avg.):
1. Florida (5.6)
2. Georgia (9.9)
3. LSU (15.3)
4. Tennessee (16.2)
5. Auburn (21.2)
6. Arkansas (29.5)
7. South Carolina (31.6)
8. Alabama (33.3)
9. Kentucky (42.1)
10. Vanderbilt (65.6)
11. Ole Miss (69.0)
12. Mississippi State (79.0***)

The PDF for the ‘05-06 Directors Cup rankings that is available online cuts off at 100, so Mississippi State’s average does not include this awful score and is dvided by 9 instead. If given at least a 100th place, their average goes to at least 81.1

Overall (Five Year Average):
1. Florida (5.4)
2. Georgia (11.2)
3. Tennessee (13.6)
4. LSU (15.4)
5. Auburn (21.4)
6. Arkansas (28.0)
7. Alabama (31.4)
8. Kentucky (36.6)
9. South Carolina (39.2)
10. Vanderbilt (58.8)
11. Ole Miss (63.8)
12. Mississippi State (98.25***)

The PDF for the ‘05-06 Directors Cup rankings that is available online cuts off at 100, so Mississippi State’s average does not include this awful score and is dvided by 4 instead. If given at least a 100th place, their average goes to at least 98.6

Other interesting tidbits:
-Florida finished 1st in the SEC 8 times; Georgia finished 1st twice
-Florida, Georgia, LSU, & Tennessee finished as the 1st-4th finishers in the SEC 7 times in 10 years.
-Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennesse, and Auburn were the 1st-5th finishers in the SEC 5 times over 10 years.
-Arkansas finished ahead of Alabama 7 times. South Carolina finished ahead of Alabama 6 times.

by VA Libertarian on Jun 10, 2025 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

For those curious...

2008-09:
3. Florida
9. LSU
18. Georgia
23. Tennessee
25. Arkansas
26. Auburn
30. Alabama
34. Kentucky
39. South Carolina
60. Ole Miss
67. Vanderbilt
100. Mississippi State

2007-08:
6. Florida
8. LSU
10. Georgia
16. Tennessee
20. Auburn
24. Arkansas
25. Alabama
36. Kentucky
48. South Carolina
59. Vanderbilt
68. Ole Miss
109. Mississippi State

2006-07:
6. Florida
7. Tennessee
12. Georgia
17. LSU
19. Auburn
31. Arkansas
32. South Carolina
33. Vanderbilt
43. Alabama
45. Kentucky
49. Ole Miss
120. Mississippi State

2005-06:
5. Florida
9. Georgia
14. Tennessee
20. LSU
21. Alabama
25. Auburn
28. Arkansas
33. Kentucky
43. South Carolina
64. Vanderbilt
75. Ole Miss
NR. Mississippi State*
*PDF of Rankings online only lists top 100.

2004-05:
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Tennessee
17. Auburn
23. LSU
32. Arkansas
34. South Carolina
35. Kentucky
38. Alabama
64. Mississippi State
67. Ole Miss
71. Vanderbilt

2003-04:
5. Georgia
6. Florida
11. LSU
14. Tennessee
23. Auburn
27. Arkansas
28. Vanderbilt
34. South Carolina
41. Alabama
45. Kentucky
64. Ole Miss
67. Mississippi State

2002-03:
7. Florida
12. Auburn
15. Georgia
18. South Carolina
23. LSU
27. Tennessee
29. Alabama
31. Arkansas
50. Kentucky
54. Vanderbilt
57. Mississippi State
96. Ole Miss

2001-02:
3. Florida
8. Georgia
10. LSU
11. South Carolina
12. Tennessee
19. Auburn
32. Alabama
35. Arkansas
36. Kentucky
63. Mississippi State
80. Vanderbilt
94. Ole Miss

2000-01:
3. Georgia
7. Florida
21. Tennessee
22. LSU
25. South Carolina
28. Auburn
36. Arkansas
37. Kentucky
46. Alabama
55. Ole Miss
68. Vanderbilt
80. Mississippi State

1999-00:
7. Florida
10. LSU
12. Georgia
20. Tennessee
23. Auburn
26. Arkansas
28. Alabama
32. South Carolina
51. Mississippi State
62. Ole Miss
70. Kentucky
132. Vanerbilt

by VA Libertarian on Jun 10, 2025 10:43 PM EDT reply actions