Web posted January 1, 1998

By Andy Johnston
Staff Writer

TAMPA, Fla. -- The styles are contrasting as the weather in the two areas, yet the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences are developing quite a rivalry.

The two conferences, perhaps top to bottom the strongest in the country, have met 10 times in bowl games this decade, with the SEC holding a 7-3 mark, thanks to four victories in the Citrus Bowl.

The two conferences will meet in two bowls today. Wisconsin plays Georgia in the Outback Bowl (ESPN, 11 a.m.), and Penn State will take on Florida in the Citrus Bowl (ABC, 1 p.m.).

``I don't really get into comparing conferences,'' Georgia coach Jim Donnan said. ``The Big Ten certainly has great teams like Michigan and Ohio State and the SEC has some great teams like Florida and Tennessee. Both have great athletes. It's really hard to compare leagues, though.''

Even though Michigan is No. 1 and six Big Ten teams were selected to play in bowls this year, the SEC would appear to be the strongest conference. After going 5-0 in bowls last year, the SEC has five bowl teams for the second straight year, and is already 2-0 this year.

A more telling stat: This season, the SEC was 32-4 against non-conference competition, setting a NCAA record for the best winning percentage ever for a Division I-A conference. The Big Ten, on the other hand, trailed the Pac-10 and the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing 26-11.

Also, since 1978, the SEC has won or shared five national titles. The Big Ten has not won a national championship since Ohio State went 11-0 in 1968, and Michigan, the conference's most successful program, hasn't finished No. 1 since 1948.

The styles of play in the two leagues is also very different.

Teams in the SEC are built around speed and teams in the Big Ten are constructed around size.

``We're not used to seeing guys quite that big in our league,'' Donnan said. ``In our league, you've got some human jets you have to stop. We have to beat Tennessee and Florida and they have to beat Ohio State and Michigan. You have to recruit based on who you play.''

Only five Big Ten passed for more than 200 yards this season, compared to eight in the SEC, including two which passed for more than 331 yards a game. Four SEC teams threw for more than 3,000 yards; the Big Ten had none.

However, six Big Ten teams ran for more than 175 yards a game, compared to one in the SEC.

Purdue, which led the Big Ten in passing and total offense, is conference team most comparable to the SEC, Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. He compared the Boilermakers to Georgia.

``We've got a lot of different types of offenses in the Big Ten,'' Alvarez said. ``If you look at Purdue, they do a lot of similar things. It presents problems because it presents matchup problems, their skilled wide receivers against some of our secondary guys. And that's been a problem for us the last couple of years. Those type of teams create problems for us.''

NO SHOW: The Outback Bowl will be blacked out locally by ESPN. About 55,000 tickets have been sold and the figure needed to reach 63,500 by Tuesday afternoon for the blackout to be lifted.

``I'm not disappointed in the least,'' bowl director Jim McVay said. ``Our market is very competitive. There are a lot of distractions this year. We've made our budget.''

McVay was referring to Florida's appearance in Orlando's Citrus Bowl and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff success.

A LITTLE FAMILIAR: Georgia coach Jim Donnan was asked if he had seen much of Wisconsin and running back Ron Dayne prior to watching films to prepare for the Outback Bowl.

``I didn't get a lot of chances to see them, but coaches don't sit around watching Oprah Winfrey. Coaches watch football games,'' Donnan said. ``I got a chance to see them play. With the Big Ten on ESPN, you have chances to see them. Plus, I have a little personal interest in them. I know some of their staff.''