Time to test your knowledge of SEC football

Alabama coach Nick Saban speaks to media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days on Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Alabama coach Nick Saban speaks to media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days on Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Believe it or not, most of the country is about to be in the deepest part of the dog days of summer, as far as football goes.

Last week's SEC media days may have whetted appetites, but now it will be 13 days before practice starts and there won't be much football news during that time, especially after this week when sound bites become stale.

Reporters Tom Murphy and Bob Holt will continue their series that features every SEC school, so that helps us at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and we also will continue our usual Hog Futures series that focuses on the Razorbacks' newcomers.

The SEC handed out more than 1,200 credentials last week. So with that in mind, the question is: How well do you know the SEC? The following is a short trivia contest about the SEC, and the answers will be published in this space Wednesday.

1.) Twice during his career as an SEC coach, Nick Saban has finished a season by losing his last two games. How did his teams do the next year, and how many national titles has Saban won while coaching in the SEC?

2.) Who in the SEC once said, "We want to act like we're No. 2 and try to catch up. How are we going to be creative and think outside the box?"

3.) Which of these four schools has never won or played for the conference football championship? (Note: The conference championship game was added after the league's expansion in 1992.)

A. Mississippi State

B. Vanderbilt

C. Kentucky

D. South Carolina

4.) The Heisman Trophy was named after John Heisman, who coached at one SEC school during his 37 years as a head coach. Name that school, and the school he left it for.

5.) Outside of SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, who is considered the most powerful man associated with SEC football?

A. Nick Saban

B. Steve Spurrier

C. Gus Malzahn

D. Jimmy Sexton

6.) A former Alabama receiver has long been known as the father of the modern pass route. Name him.

7.) Currently, eight SEC head coaches have won more than 65 percent of their games in their careers. After one season with Kentucky, Mark Stoops (2-10) is the only SEC coach with a losing record (Vanderbilt's Derek Mason has not coached a game as a head coach yet). Of the current SEC coaches, who has the most overall career victories and who has the highest winning percentage as a head coach?

8.) Arkansas native Bear Bryant became a coaching legend at Alabama, where he won six national championships. Name the other three schools where he served as head coach.

9.) The Arkansas Razorbacks play in Reynolds Razorback Stadium, which has a capacity of 76,000. There are only four SEC schools with smaller football stadiums. Name them in order of their capacity.

10.) Three years ago, three SEC head coaches had played in the SEC. Steve Spurrier, who won the Heisman Trophy at Florida, is the only one who remains in the SEC. Who were the other two?

11.) What are the official school colors of the University of Arkansas?

12.) Arkansas was known as the Cardinals until this former coach dubbed them the Razorbacks. Name the coach.

13.) Which school's fans were so loud during a game that the noise generated registered as an earthquake on the school's seismograph?

14.) The SEC is known for intense rivalries such as Auburn-Alabama (the Iron Bowl), Ole Miss-Mississippi State (the Egg Bowl) and Georgia-Florida (the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party). What other conference rivalry is known as a "bowl" game?

15.) What are Vanderbilt's official school colors?

A. Black and blue

B. Purple and red

C. Black and gold

D. Anthracite and charcoal

Sports on 07/22/2014