Countdown to the 2012 Season

By Matthew Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Counting down to the 2012 regular season, from 100 to 0.

We are now just two weeks away from the first Saturday of the 2012 college football season.

To celebrate the rapid approach of what should be another fantastic college football season, let’s count the season down from 100 to 0 – Southern Pigskin style.

100 – Official distance, in yards, of the longest kickoff return in SEC history. The record is shared by nearly 40 players, including former Alabama star Ray Ogden, who is the man pictured in our photo gallery..

99 – Number of former SEC players to have been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

98 – Passes caught by former Wake Forest WR Kenneth Moore during the 2007 season, the highest single-season total in ACC history.

97 – Passes caught by former Vanderbilt WR Keith Edwards during the 1983 season, the highest single-season total in SEC history.

96 – Completion percentage for former Tennessee QB Tee Martin in a 1998 contest with South Carolina, highest single-game completion percentage in FBS history.

95 – Career touchdown passes for former NC State QB Philip Rivers, most in ACC history.

94 – Jersey number of former Maryland DT Randy White, who was voted by Sports Illustrated to be the greatest college football player to ever wear jersey No. 94.

93 – Points scored by LSU in a 1936 contest against Southwestern Louisiana, the highest single-game total in SEC history.

92 – Distance, in yards, of the longest punt in SEC history. The mark was set by former Ole Miss punter Bill Smith in a 1984 contest against Southern Miss.

91 – Jersey number of former Tennessee DT Doug Atkins, who was voted by Sports Illustrated to be the greatest college football player to ever wear jersey No. 91.

90 – Punts by former Maryland P Dan DeArmas during the 1991 season, the highest single-season total in ACC history.

89 – Distance, in yards, of the longest non-scoring run in ACC history. The mark was set by former South Carolina RB Ben Garnto.

88 – Distance, in yards, of the longest punt in ACC history. The mark was set by former Maryland P John Fritsch.

87 – Career field goals made by former Georgia K Billy Bennett, an FBS record.

86 – Years that have passed since the 1926 Rose Bowl, which has been dubbed “the football game that changed the south.”

85 – Number of scholarships awarded to FBS football programs. FCS programs are awarded just 63.

84 – Career rushing touchdowns by Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson, most in FCS history.

83 – Winning percentage in conference games by former Tennessee head coach Robert Neyland, the highest conference winning percentage in SEC history.

82 – Total offensive plays run by former Wake Forest QB Rusty LaRue in a 1995 contest against Duke, most in ACC history.

81 – Jersey number of former NC State WR Torry Holt. His number was retired by the Wolfpack in 1999.

80 – Career field goals made by former Maryland K Nick Novak, an ACC record.

79 – Extra points attempted by former Florida K Jonathan Phillips during the 2008 season, the highest single-season total in SEC history.

78 – Total offensive plays run by former Vanderbilt QB Whit Taylor in a 1982 contest against Georgia, most in SEC history.

77 – Number of Heisman Trophies that have been handed out in history. Current members of the ACC and SEC are responsible for producing 17 of those winners.

76 – Passes caught by former Boston College RB Andre Callender during the 2007 season, the highest single-season total for a running back in ACC history.

75 – Number of wins while at an SEC school for LSU head coach Les Miles, who is the active leader in winning percentage at an SEC institution (80.6%).

74 – Jersey number of former Florida DE Jack Youngblood and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Jack Youngblood.

73 – Jersey number of former Alabama OL John Hannah, who was voted by Sports Illustrated to be the greatest college football player to ever wear jersey No. 73.

72 – Completion percentage for former Kentucky QB Tim Couch during the 1998 season, the highest single-season mark in SEC history.

71 – Punts returned by Alabama during the 1946 season, the highest single-season total in SEC history.

70 – Passes caught by former Virginia TE Heath Miller during the 2003 season, the highest single-season total for a tight end in ACC history.

69 – Extra points attempted by former Florida State K Scott Bentley during the 1995 season, the most in a single season in ACC history.

68 – Career interceptions thrown by former Georgia QB Zeke Bratkowski, most in SEC history.

67 – Length, in yards, of former Arkansas K Steve Little’s FBS record-setting field goal.

66 – Number of All-American players from Auburn University.

65 – Career rushing touchdowns by Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards, most by a QB in FCS history.

64 – Wins compiled at South Carolina by former head coach Rex Enright, most in school history.

63 – Record for the most kickoffs returned by a team in a single season. The mark is held by four teams: Kentucky (2007), Auburn (2009), Ole Miss (2010) and Auburn (2010).

62 – Jersey number of former Georgia RB Charlie Trippi, who was the first player from the SEC to win the Maxwell Award.

61 – Number of years that the College Football Hall of Fame has been open. There are currently 829 players and 178 coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame.

60 – Distance, in yards, of the longest field goal in SEC history. The mark was set in 1982 by Tennessee’s Fuad Reveiz, and was equaled in 1984 by Georgia’s Kevin Butler and Florida’s Chris Perkins.

59 – Career interceptions thrown by former Virginia QB Scott Gardner, most in ACC history.

58 – All-time bowl appearances for Alabama, most in FBS history.

57 – Jersey number of former Tennessee LB Steve Kiner, who was voted by Sports Illustrated to be the greatest college football player to ever wear No. 57.

56 – Consecutive extra points made by Georgia Tech K Justin Moore last season, a single-season ACC record.

55 – Touchdowns scored by former Florida QB Tim Tebow during the 2007 season, the highest single-season total in SEC history.

54 – Rank of new SEC member Missouri on college football’s all-time win list. The Tigers have won 625 games during their history.

53 – Years since LSU RB Billy Cannon won the Tigers’ first Heisman Trophy.

52 – Career sacks for former Alabama LB Derrick Thomas, most in SEC history.

51 – All-purpose plays for former Wake Forest RB John Leach in a 1993 contest against Maryland, the highest single-game total in ACC history.

50 – Rushing attempts by former Maryland RB Charlie Wysocki in a 1980 contest against Duke, most in a single game in ACC history.

49 – Career rushing touchdowns for former NC State RB Ted Brown, who is also the ACC’s all-time leader in rushing yardage.

48 – Passing touchdowns by the Florida offense during the 1995 season, most in SEC history.

47 – Rushing touchdowns allowed by the 1975 Virginia defense, the highest single-season total in ACC history.

46 – Kickoffs returned by former Auburn KR Demond Washington during the 2010 season, the highest single-season total in SEC history.

45 – Career punting average for former Wake Forest P Ryan Plackemeier, second-highest average in FBS history.

44 – SEC conference wins needed for South Carolina head coach to pass Paul “Bear” Bryant for the record of most SEC regular season wins.

43 – Total passes completed against the 1956 South Carolina defense, lowest in ACC history.

42 – Points scored by former Ole Miss RB “Showboat” Boykin in a 1951 contest against Mississippi State, the highest single-game total in SEC history.

41 – Consecutive passes without an interception Wake Forest QB Tanner Price would need to throw this season in order to move into the top five in consecutive passes without an interception in ACC history.

40 – Career sacks for former Virginia DL Chris Slade, most in ACC history.

39 – Combined victories for Appalachian State during the program’s run of three consecutive FCS national championships from 2005-2007.

38 – Consecutive games with a touchdown pass for former NC State and Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson, an FBS record.

37 – Total points scored by the 1963 Wake Forest team, the lowest single-season total in ACC history.

36 – Punts by Kentucky in a 1936 contest against Washington & Lee, an SEC record.

35 – Receptions needed for current Duke WR Conner Vernon to become the ACC’s all-time receptions leader.

34 – Yards per game averaged by the 1938 Alabama team, the lowest single-season average in SEC history.

33 – Number of SEC teams that have finished the regular season undefeated and untied.

32 – Combined number of SEC championships for coaching legends Paul “Bear” Bryant, Johnny Vaught, Vince Dooley and Steve Spurrier.

31 – Deficit overcome by Maryland in a 1984 contest with Miami, the biggest comeback in ACC history.

30 – Tackles by former Chattanooga LB Josh Cain in a single game against the Citadel, an FCS record.

29 – Yards per catch averaged by Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill last season, highest single-season average in ACC history.

28 – Career games with 100 or more receiving yards for former Elon WR Terrell Hudgins, most in FCS history.

27 – Consecutive field goals made by former NC State K Marc Primanti, an ACC record.

26 – Consecutive wins for Tennessee over Kentucky until the Wildcats topped the Volunteers last season. That number is the most consecutive wins by one team over a conference opponent in SEC history.

25 – Number of All-American seasons put together by Kentucky players.

24 – Consecutive completions for former Tenneesee QB Tee Martin, the longest streak in SEC history.

23 – Points scored by former Florida K Bobby Raymond in a contest against Florida State in 1983, the highest single-game total by a kicker in SEC history.

22 – SEC championships for the University of Alabama, most in conference history.

21 – Rushing touchdowns for former Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams during the 2009 season, the highest single-season total in ACC history.

20 – Number of times that an SEC team has led the nation in total defense.

19 – Passes caught by former LSU WR Josh Reed in a 2001 contest with Auburn, the highest single-game total in SEC history.

18 – Touchdown catches by former Florida WR Reidel Anthony during the 1996 season, the highest single-season total in SEC history.

17 – Touchdown catches by former Duke WR Clarkston Hines during the 1989 season, the highest single-season total in ACC history.

16 – Combined passing yards in a 1956 contest between Clemson and Maryland, the lowest single-game combined total in ACC history.

15 – National Coaches of the Year who have come out of the SEC.

14 – ACC championships for Clemson, most in conference history.

13 – Passes intercepted by NC State CB David Amerson last season, an ACC single-season record.

12 – ACC titles won by former Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden, more than any other coach in conference history.

11 – Total ACC rushing champions who played at North Carolina, most of any conference school.

10 – Number of Heisman Trophy winners to come out of the SEC.

9 – Interceptions thrown in one game by former Florida DB John Reaves, most in NCAA history. His record-breaking game came against Auburn in 1969.

8 – Total touchdowns scored on returns by former Kentucky WR Derek Abney, an SEC record.

7 – Touchdowns scored on kickoff returns by former Clemson KR C.J. Spiller, most in FBS history.

6 – Consecutive BCS national championships won by teams in the SEC.

5 – Interceptions returned for touchdown by former Tennessee DB Jackie Walker, most in SEC history.

4 – Rank of Alabama in the All-Time Final Associated Press Poll, the highest ranking for any ACC or SEC program.

3 – Number of SEC players who have won the Bednarik Trophy: Georgia DE David Pollack, LSU DB Patrick Peterson and LSU DB Tyrann Mathieu.

2 – Number of SEC games which have gone into seven overtimes: Arkansas vs. Ole Miss (2001) and Arkansas vs. Kentucky (2003).

1 – Number of seasons in which the SEC has posted a losing record in non-conference play. The lone losing season came in 1979.

0 – SEC wins, in 37 games, for Sewanee, one of the original SEC member institutions.