As the SEC Spring Meetings winded down, the 12 sports information directors of each school voted 1-11 (they couldn't vote for their own school) on where they would rank each school at the conclusion of the season. For the record, they picked the Gators 5th. South Carolina and Alabama are projected to meet in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.
The full poll results were:
- 1. Alabama
- 2. LSU
- 3. South Carolina
- 4. Arkansas
- 5. Florida
- 6. Georgia
- 7. Auburn
- 7. Mississippi State
- 9. Tennessee
- 10. Kentucky
- 11. Ole Miss
- 12. Vanderbilt
As Chris Low of ESPN points out:
Also carried out by the Birmingham News was the "category section" in which stuff like MVP, best leader, most underrated player, and various others.South Carolina received the maximum five first-place votes by the Eastern Division sports information directors. Alabama got four first-place votes in the West and LSU the other two first-place votes. SIDs weren't allowed to vote for their own school.
It is interesting to note that the only two Florida Gators chosen chosen were:
Jeff Demps as 2nd best athlete and Andre Debose as best kick returner. Not that I can argue for or against any of their other selections, but it does seem a bit odd that the 5th placed team only has two players listed.
Speaking of not that many players listed, the Gators only received one 2nd team player on the Birmingham News' 2011 Preseason All-SEC Team. The player chosen was defensive lineman Omar Hunter.
