Stanford is known as an academic school, with stricter standards for admission than many other universities across the nation.

Therefore, Stanford players are proud of that tradition, including DT Harrison Phillips, who made a strong statement when comparing Stanford to the SEC.

As you can see in this video on NFL.com, Phillips compares the Cardinal to SEC schools, but makes one very big statement about Stanford making sure players get their degrees:

“Stanford, when I committed, was coming off a season where they were ranked fourth in the nation, Rose Bowl champions, Pac-12 champions,” he said. “I believe they had eight players drafted. They’re almost like a football factory, kind of like the SEC is, except they get you your diploma.”

Analyst Charles Davis, who played at Tennessee, immediately cut Phillips off, citing his two degrees from Knoxville.

Phillips then backtracks, saying he was simply talking about Stanford’s reputation as the “Ivy League of the West.”

Still, that sort of talk isn’t going to make any SEC players at the event in Mobile this week very happy.