SerpApi.Org
TAMPA, Florida – New Florida coach Jon Sumrall, who played at Kentucky, has been an SEC assistant for four years and a head coach at the Group of 6 level for four seasons, said there’s a “Power Two” and everyone else.
“In my opinion, there is a clear delineation: there’s the Power Two,” Sumrall said Wednesday before his appearance at SEC Football Kickoff Media Days. “I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I think there’s clearly the ‘Power Two.’
“I’m not knocking any league. And then there’s a couple behind that (the Big 12 and ACC) and the American’s right there. Like last year’s ACC champion was who? Duke. We beat ‘em (34-27) in Tulane.”
Sumrall was head coach at Tulane for the past two seasons, taking the Green Wave to last year’s College Football Playoff. He said the American Conference is the best of the Group of 6.
“You’re in a training ground. Memphis was always beating Power 4 teams. You know what I mean? It was like, they beat them every year. It didn’t matter if (Ryan) Silverfield’s the coach or whoever (was), so that league is just so challenging. The length, the skill, it is a really good league. I think it’s a good breeding ground for quality players and coaches.”
Silverfield debuts as Arkansas’ new coach this year. Two other former American Conference coaches: USF’s Alex Golesh and North Texas’ Eric Morris were hired at Auburn and Oklahoma State, respectively.
Sumrall, who also was head coach at Troy for two seasons, said it’s not fair to assume all the Power 4 or Group of 6 teams are equal.
“I go back to the ACC champion lost to Tulane last year,” Sumrall said. “So let’s not act like (those guys don’t belong). Every time at Tulane when we ran up against a team from this league, it didn’t feel very good. But when we ran up against ACC teams, or we beat Northwestern (23-3) last year, I wasn’t real worried. When we went to the game, I looked across the other side and I thought we can win today.
“There are some differences, but let’s not act like all Power Four teams are alike and all G6 teams are alike. They’re all different. We’ve seen the likes of Boise and the Tulanes and whoever beat the Power 4’s. Now have those teams to this point, in the 12-team playoff had success? No. Does that mean they can’t have success? No, they can still have success. I’ve watched Power 4 teams get blown out in those (playoff) games too.”
Sumrall said he respects the football played at the Group of 6 level.
“(At Tulane) I walked into those games looked across their side and I think we’re better,” said. “And so now, I’ve also walked in those (SEC) environments and thought I don’t think we’re as good as them.”
