SEC fans, why?

[elderboy02]

(Putting on my body armor)

Why do fans of the SEC feel so proud of their conference? Many other people besides me, and a local sports talk show host think the same thing. All you hear about is how good the SEC is. And yes, the SEC is the best conference right now. But why do you have to root for all the SEC schools?

For example, I am a Cincinnati Bearcats fan, but that doesn't mean I go rooting for other teams in the Big East (West Virginia, Pittsburgh, etc.)

Oklahoma doesn't root for other Big 12 teams (Kansas, etc)

I mean, when Cincinnati was getting destroyed by Florida, I heard people chanting "SEC, SEC, SEC" I mean, who really cares what your conference is?

Ok, flame suit on.

[Tombstone]

Southern Pride...if you don't live down here you wouldn't understand.

[Volt]

Southern Pride...if you don't live down here you wouldn't understand.

Got to agree with him.. It cannot be explained if you were not raised in the SEC. It is a religion (and I'm not exagerating). One of the best/worst ass whipping I have ever witnessed was to an individual who made the really bad decision to bad mouth the Bear in Birmingham, AL. It just isn't done.

Every place has their little hang ups, in the South, we live and breathe for SEC football. To me a hogie, sub, grinder, etc is just a bunch of cold cuts on a long bun. My wife from Philly and Jersey has very big issues with what is served in VA. It is what it is.

[openendstraight]

I was born and raised in the south, and I don't understand it either. I, unlike other SEC school fans, do not cheer for other SEC schools no matter who they are playing.

[Tombstone]

I was born and raised in the south, and I don't understand it either. I, unlike other SEC school fans, do not cheer for other SEC schools no matter who they are playing.

There are exceptions to every rule.

[pnoon]

I understand the southern pride but, by that logic, southerners should be rooting for all southern teams (Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, to name a few). Not just the SEC.

[Tombstone]

Like i said....if you don't live down here you wouldn't understand.

[elderboy02]

I understand the southern pride but, by that logic, southerners should be rooting for all southern teams (Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, to name a few). Not just the SEC.

Exactly my point. :)

[pnoon]

I understand the southern pride but, by that logic, southerners should be rooting for all southern teams (Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, to name a few). Not just the SEC.

Like i said....if you don't live down here you wouldn't understand.

You haven't answered my question. I understand southern pride. But why just the SEC? Why not the other teams in the south?

We're smart folks here. Give an explanation a try.

[Clampdown]

I would disagree with the OP. I am a huge supporter of the SEC, but at the same time I can't stand the University of Tennessee. I don't like their head basketball and football coach. I will cheer any team if they are playing UT. Some of that comes from the fact UK has not beaten them in 25 years, but most comes from the a-holes in charge. In football I will cheer for the SEC because if they win then UK wins because of the shared money from bowl games and media rights. So its a win win situation for the conference members.

I'm not sure "Southern Pride" has anything to do with it in fact in my case. I have lived in the DC metro area, although its VA, we tend to not think of ourselves as being the south, so I have zero allegiance to the southern states. It has more to the fact that so many teams hate the SEC (in football Alabama and UF are hated for their success, and UK is hated for the fans that are absolutely insane, myself included to a degree). So I think we have this us against the world complex.

[elderboy02]

I would disagree with the OP. I am a huge supporter of the SEC, but at the same time I can't stand the University of Tennessee. I don't like their head basketball and football coach. I will cheer any team if they are playing UT. Some of that comes from the fact UK has not beaten them in 25 years, but most comes from the a-holes in charge. In football I will cheer for the SEC because if they win then UK wins because of the shared money from bowl games and media rights. So its a win win situation for the conference members.

I'm not sure "Southern Pride" has anything to do with it in fact in my case. I have lived in the DC metro area, although its VA, we tend to not think of ourselves as being the south, so I have zero allegiance to the southern states. It has more to the fact that so many teams hate the SEC (in football Alabama and UF are hated for their success, and UK is hated for the fans that are absolutely insane, myself included to a degree). So I think we have this us against the world complex.

I am glad to see this response. It has given me something to think about. Maybe it does have to do with the us against the world complex.

So I take it you won't be a fan at a stadium chanting "SEC, SEC, SEC" when a SEC team wins :r

[Parshooter]

If you root for a whole conference, your chances of cheering for a winner goes up 12 fold. Unless you are a Florida or Alabama fan (this year), you have nothing to cheer for but the conference.

[Tombstone]

The original question was why the SEC is so proud of their conference. Not why we don’t support the schools in the ACC. In the SEC we have a great amount of respect for the teams in our conference. The teams sweat and bleed with each other throughout the season. Comradery is what brings the teams of the SEC to support one another.

[Parshooter]

The original question was why the SEC is so proud of their conference. Not why we don’t support the schools in the ACC. In the SEC we have a great amount of respect for the teams in our conference. The teams sweat and bleed with each other throughout the season. Comradery is what brings the teams of the SEC to support one another.
Calling BS on this. Show me a Gator fan that would pull a Bulldog fan out of a burning building and I'll show you a traitor. There is NO love-loss between Fla-Ga, Auburn-Alabama, anybody-Tenn. And there is nothing wrong with this. There is a genuine hatred between bitter rivals. As an Ohio State fan, I know this first-hand with that team from up north.

[McSmokey]

The original question was why the SEC is so proud of their conference. Not why we don’t support the schools in the ACC. In the SEC we have a great amount of respect for the teams in our conference. The teams sweat and bleed with each other throughout the season. Comradery is what brings the teams of the SEC to support one another.

:tpd:

[Volt]

I understand the southern pride but, by that logic, southerners should be rooting for all southern teams (Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, to name a few). Not just the SEC.


Like I said - I can't. I was raised for the most part in LA so was a LSU fan most of my life, I still root for them. Moved to Bama where my Dad got his bachlors and masters at UAB, sister went to Auborn, my brother and sister in law went to Tenennesee, my cousin went to Georgia and is a Dawg, etc. No one ever said to me this is why, just was raised to pull for the SEC colleges. I know there is a lot of rivelry in college sports but have never seen/experienced it as compared to the SEC. It's sort of us against us and then whoever wins it's us against who ever :)

Could be in part the SEC still retains 10 of the original 13 from 1932, possibly the legacy and the rivelry????

But it as the OP posted. Having lived and worked in the Navy with people from all over the US, most everyone has a team to pull for but very few pull for the conference as a whole. As a side note, I am a Steelers fan ever since Terry Bradshaw went to the Steelers from LA TECH (not an SEC). I still pull for the AFC even if the Steelers don't make the playoff. Maybe I'm small minded :ss

[DrDubzz]

I think, in part, it makes the have nots feel better about themselves

I have heard nothing but SEC trash talk from my arkansas fans...

They feel as if they're being in the SEC legitimizes that they suck, I really don't get it at all. Cheering for your rivals is retarded. their success is bad for you, plain and simple

[icehog3]

Alabama beat my team, Florida. If Texas beats Alabama, my friends who are Texas fans start hypothesizing that Texas would have beat Florida. Maybe it makes no sense to some, but that's how I think.

[Smokin Gator]

As a rule I do pull for all of the SEC teams except Tennessee. IMO their program and last two coaches have zero class. As for Georgia... I still despise them with a passion because of all *ss whippin's they put on us over the course of my childhood and when I was attending Florida. I also can't stand Auburn... I still pull for all the SEC teams though (except the afore mentioned Tennessee) because of the pride I have in our football heritage. I firmly believe that the brand of football we play in the SEC every Saturday is MUCH better than any other conference. I think many others take pride in that as well. That is why you hear the SEC chants. That is why I was pulling for Bama. That is why I let Ritchie, Greg, and any other Bama fan on here know I was proud of them going into the game and that they would have my support.

I can't explain it any better than that. If you are from the south and are a fan of an SEC school that is just how it is (for the most part).

BTW... I do pull for Florida State as well. Not a fan per say... I just want Florida football to do well. Miami, on the other hand... NOT!!!

[G G]

As a rule I do pull for all of the SEC teams except Tennessee. IMO their program and last two coaches have zero class. As for Georgia... I still despise them with a passion because of all *ss whippin's they put on us over the course of my childhood and when I was attending Florida. I also can't stand Auburn... I still pull for all the SEC teams though (except the afore mentioned Tennessee) because of the pride I have in our football heritage. I firmly believe that the brand of football we play in the SEC every Saturday is MUCH better than any other conference. I think many others take pride in that as well. That is why you hear the SEC chants. That is why I was pulling for Bama. That is why I let Ritchie, Greg, and any other Bama fan on here know I was proud of them going into the game and that they would have my support.

I can't explain it any better than that. If you are from the south and are a fan of an SEC school that is just how it is (for the most part).

BTW... I do pull for Florida State as well. Not a fan per say... I just want Florida football to do well. Miami, on the other hand... NOT!!!
What he said except put the Gators where he put Tennesee.:tu

[icehog3]

BTW... I do pull for Florida State as well. Not a fan per say... I just want Florida football to do well.

You're killing me, Brent! :r

What he said except put the Gators where he put Tennesee.:tu

:(

[King James]

I am an Iowa fan, but will root for Big 10 teams in bowls (except for Ohio State) because it raises the prestige of the conference if they have a good turnout in the bowls.

[rizzle]

(Putting on my body armor)

Why do fans of the SEC feel so proud of their conference? Many other people besides me, and a local sports talk show host think the same thing. All you hear about is how good the SEC is. And yes, the SEC is the best conference right now. But why do you have to root for all the SEC schools?

For example, I am a Cincinnati Bearcats fan, but that doesn't mean I go rooting for other teams in the Big East (West Virginia, Pittsburgh, etc.)

Oklahoma doesn't root for other Big 12 teams (Kansas, etc)

I mean, when Cincinnati was getting destroyed by Florida, I heard people chanting "SEC, SEC, SEC" I mean, who really cares what your conference is?

Ok, flame suit on.
I'll give you a take, but like others have said, you won't understand. And to borrow from you, flame suit on here as well...

First of all, I don't root for everyone in the SEC as there are bitter rivalries that have existed since long before my birth. Many teams in the SEC--I couldn't care less if they lost every game, but I do respect their programs and what they do and have accomplished. And when so many of those teams consistently do well it makes us all look good. And we are good. We're the best. Insert old saying--to be the best you have to beat the best.

That being said, this question generally comes from fans whose teams and conferences blow. How could you, as a fan of a team that blows, in a conference whose teams blow, be proud of that conference? You can't. And that's why this question even comes up. Jealousy and reality.

And to say there is no Southern Pride invloved would simply be a falsehood. Southerners, stereotypically and wrongly, get looked down upon by the rest of the country. You can argue that all you want but it's true and you know it. You WILL NOT look down upon us for our college football. And we will let you know that.

Why aren't we proud of ALL Southern schools? Hell, we just let Vandy hang around because somebody in the bunch needs some brains. :r

I'm gonna stop here... and I almost deleted this whole post. I could write a dissertation on it, but like has been said before, you wouldn't understand.

:tu

[krevo]

I'll be the first to say it.

At very minimum 50% of college sports "fans" aren't fans at all. ESPN's brought about a whole new hybrid of fairweather fan. I give the SEC credit where credit is due. They get good coaches, they recruit better than anyone else, and their fans are die hard about football.

However, to root for Alabama when you're supposedly a Florida fan is nonsense. Alabama just mopped the floor with Florida. Who the hell would want to support Bama because "they're in the SEC and it's my responsibility to root for my conference!" ?? I think there was a guy in another thread here who was actually from Gainesville :r:r cheering for Bama.


I wouldn't be caught DEAD ever supporting Oklahoma, Tech, or any other Big 12 school. Supporting your schools conference in bowl games and MNCs (because it's good for your conference) is treasonous.

[Smokin Gator]

What he said except put the Gators where he put Tennesee.:tu

Bite me!!!:D

You're killing me, Brent! :r

:(

I like girls!!!

[pnoon]

Just to clarify my position. I don't have a problem either way with someone rooting for their conference (or not). I just don't buy the explanation that it's "southern pride". The way I see it, to accept that explanation, those fans should be rooting for all teams from the south - not just the ACC.

[rizzle]

I understand your point Peter, and with me it certainly isn't "all about Southern Pride". But mainly within the SEC, the members are the flagship universities of their respective states and their red-headed step-brothers.

Florida State was a girls school actually invited to join the SEC at the last expansion. But then again, Auburn, still is a girls school. :r
Geogia Tech used to be in the SEC but left, as did Tulane and Sewanee.
Miami deserves to be flattened like the Orange Bowl was.
I'll pull for a lot of other Southern schools in neutral games if I have to pick a side.

I guess it just comes down to "either you're with us, or you're against us". Or something. And again, you're not going to understand so go have a smoke instead and leave us to our crazy idiosyncracies.
:r

[Volt]

... And again, you're not going to understand so go have a smoke instead and leave us to our crazy idiosyncracies.
:r

And that's the rest of the story :ss

[Tombstone]

Just to clarify my position. I don't have a problem either way with someone rooting for their conference (or not). I just don't buy the explanation that it's "southern pride". The way I see it, to accept that explanation, those fans should be rooting for all teams from the south - not just the ACC.

I guess you are baiting me for an argument....The SEC is the best conference in the south. It is comprised of the best teams, athletes, and coaches. It is for this reason that I support the SEC. It is a conglomerate of the best the south east has to offer. BTW I wouldn't expect anyone from California to understand southern pride.


And to say there is no Southern Pride invloved would simply be a falsehood. Southerners, stereotypically and wrongly, get looked down upon by the rest of the country. You can argue that all you want but it's true and you know it. You WILL NOT look down upon us for our college football. And we will let you know that.

:tpd:

[Starscream]

It's not that way in the ACC. We have plenty of southern pride, but Carolina fans sure won't pull for Duke fans. State fans sure won't pull for Carolina.

[pnoon]

I understand your point Peter, and with me it certainly isn't "all about Southern Pride". But mainly within the SEC, the members are the flagship universities of their respective states and their red-headed step-brothers.

Florida State was a girls school actually invited to join the SEC at the last expansion. But then again, Auburn, still is a girls school. :r
Geogia Tech used to be in the SEC but left, as did Tulane and Sewanee.
Miami deserves to be flattened like the Orange Bowl was.
I'll pull for a lot of other Southern schools in neutral games if I have to pick a side.

I guess it just comes down to "either you're with us, or you're against us". Or something. And again, you're not going to understand so go have a smoke instead and leave us to our crazy idiosyncracies.
:r
Ah, but I do. That is an explanation I understand.
I guess you are baiting me for an argument....The SEC is the best conference in the south. It is comprised of the best teams, athletes, and coaches. It is for this reason that I support the SEC. It is a conglomerate of the best the south east has to offer. BTW I wouldn't expect anyone from California to understand southern pride.


I'm not baiting you for an argument.
As for your last statement, that is based on ignorance. While I live in California, I am not from California. Where someone is from does not preclude their ability to understand something. And I certainly wouldn't generalize that, as a southerner, you wouldn't understand that.

[icehog3]

However, to root for Alabama when you're supposedly a Florida fan is nonsense. Alabama just mopped the floor with Florida. Who the hell would want to support Bama because "they're in the SEC and it's my responsibility to root for my conference!" ?? I think there was a guy in another thread here who was actually from Gainesville :r:r cheering for Bama.




Just because you don't understand it doesn't make it nonsense, Travis. :2

I have been a Gator fan for 28 years, I saw Alabama whip Florida in the SEC Championship game, and I still rooted for Alabama to beat Texas. Partially out of pride in the SEC, partially because I didn't want to hear the Texas fans, if they won, think they could beat Florida by virtue of beating Alabama.

I save all my hate for Florida State, who I consider the bitterest of rivals, and for Michigan, because I don't like them. I don't have to hate Alabama just because they beat Florida in '09. ;)

[Tombstone]

Ah, but I do. That is an explanation I understand.


I'm not baiting you for an argument.
As for your last statement, that is based on ignorance. While I live in California, I am not from California. Where someone is from does not preclude their ability to understand something. And I certainly wouldn't generalize that, as a southerner, you wouldn't understand that.


You know us southerners... jus clinging to our guns n religion. ;)

[NCRadioMan]

It's not that way in the ACC. We have plenty of southern pride, but Carolina fans sure won't pull for Duke fans. State fans sure won't pull for Carolina.

I think it is, with one exception. Everybody tends to pull for everyone else, except the Tarholes. And the most Tarholes don't root for Duke.

I, for one, am an ABC'r. Anybody But Carolina. (that goes for NFL too!) :D

I totally understand rooting for your conference teams against other conference teams.

[Powers]

However, to root for Alabama when you're supposedly a Florida fan is nonsense. Alabama just mopped the floor with Florida. Who the hell would want to support Bama because "they're in the SEC and it's my responsibility to root for my conference!" ?? I think there was a guy in another thread here who was actually from Gainesville :r:r cheering for Bama.

:su

I'm the guy u were alluding to. Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, am a senior at the University of Florida and yes in fact, was rooting for the Alabama against Texas just as much as I was rooting for LSU against Ohio State last year. My fellow SEC BOTLs have made great points and i will reiterate them.

I rooted for Bama b/ca I believe, as an overwhelming majority of other SEC fans do, that the SEC is the best conference in college football BAR NONE. The includes the belief that the SEC plays consistently at a level superior to other conferences. In my mind, Bama is Florida's peer and equal. If Bama turned around and lost to Texas, Texas would look better than Florida. I root for other SEC schools because I know that those teams sweated and bled through the toughest conference in the nation, just like Florida did, and I want them to show their dominance over inferior conferences.

Southern pride has a large part to do with it because while there are obviously other Southern schools in other conferences, Southern schools in the SEC are in large part the BEST football school with the most tradition in their respective Southern state. And if you wanna open up Pandora's box that occurs when you get Southerners talking about the pride they feel for their own state, go ahead. State rights have been cherished along with sweet tea, apple pie and momma down here for a long time :r.

I digress.....fans of schools in the SEC root for the SEC in general b/ca they all have unique pageantry, passion and tradition. Even if people might argue with that fact, it is perceived that way in the South. And as the saying goes, perception is reality.

Mark Twain said it best:
"North, East and West are just directions on a compass.
The South is a place."

:tu

[The Poet]

It's not that way in the ACC. We have plenty of southern pride, but Carolina fans sure won't pull for Duke fans. State fans sure won't pull for Carolina.

Oh really? I'm not a Tar Heel fan - I am a Tar Heel, born and bred, matriculated and graduated, and with enough seasoning on me to take the larger view. I will pull for any ACC team over another conference, or in a bowl game or a tournament game, and as for in-conference I will pull for State or Duke or Wake or whoever else I need to win in order to help the Heels' standing. The only time I "hate Dook" or "hate Moo U" is when they play UNC. Some of my best high-school friends went to State, and some of my better friends at Chapel Hill came from Durham.

The above has nothing directly to do with the original SEC question, but it does apply to the general principle. Why is it wrong for school pride to extend to conference pride? When any team in "your" conference does well, it can improve your own school's program with the added exposure, status, reputation, and - dare I say it? - money.

[G G]

Mike, with that line about "Sweet tea, apple pie and momma" reminded me for some reason of Lewis Grizzard. Surely another southern icon.:tu

[Powers]

SEC fans are even crazy enough to build this and ride it to games. We call it the Alligator Quadralator. Thats me on the far left:

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/thegeneral320/10233_268872585067_709925067_890556.jpg

[King James]

You know us southerners... jus clinging to our guns n religion. ;)

Don't know why there is any reason to get rude. not everyone has to share your opinion. While you may root for the entire conference, others may find that to be odd.... guess what, thats okay ;)

[zmancbr]

I'm not sure why we root for our conference, but I do the same thing with the Big 12! I pull for every team in the big 12 to do well in bowl games except for Oklahoma... they can kiss my A$$!! :r I absolutely HATE that snake of a coach over at OU... if he wasn't there I might root for them more since I was born there... :D Why I went to Texas instead of being a Sooner fan idk...

Alabama beat my team, Florida. If Texas beats Alabama, my friends who are Texas fans start hypothesizing that Texas would have beat Florida. Maybe it makes no sense to some, but that's how I think.

Makes perfect sense to me Tom and that's exactly how I think most conference people see it as well... if Texas beats Bama, then we can say that Texas "would" have beat the Gators, etc... I have lots of friends who are Big 12 fans (living in Buffs country and close to the Huskers) and its a good rivalry, but when it comes to bowl games we all band together.

Another way to look at it is like this, if the Big 12 wins more, we get more air time on the Networks and more money coming into the conference. With more money comes more coaches to recruit which should improve the players in the conference and make it more prestigious. In short, whats good for the conference benefits the teams in that conference!

Hook 'em!! :D

[Starscream]

The SEC is the best conference in the south.

Not in basketball.:tu

[JE3146]

I'll give you a take, but like others have said, you won't understand. And to borrow from you, flame suit on here as well...

First of all, I don't root for everyone in the SEC as there are bitter rivalries that have existed since long before my birth. Many teams in the SEC--I couldn't care less if they lost every game, but I do respect their programs and what they do and have accomplished. And when so many of those teams consistently do well it makes us all look good. And we are good. We're the best. Insert old saying--to be the best you have to beat the best.

That being said, this question generally comes from fans whose teams and conferences blow. How could you, as a fan of a team that blows, in a conference whose teams blow, be proud of that conference? You can't. And that's why this question even comes up. Jealousy and reality.

And to say there is no Southern Pride invloved would simply be a falsehood. Southerners, stereotypically and wrongly, get looked down upon by the rest of the country. You can argue that all you want but it's true and you know it. You WILL NOT look down upon us for our college football. And we will let you know that.

Why aren't we proud of ALL Southern schools? Hell, we just let Vandy hang around because somebody in the bunch needs some brains. :r

I'm gonna stop here... and I almost deleted this whole post. I could write a dissertation on it, but like has been said before, you wouldn't understand.

:tu

I think back to the stories I was told when I was young. Years ago of when my parents were in college sitting in the empty stands in pouring down rain rooting for a team that barely won 2 games all season.

That is being a fan.

Maybe that's just something SEC fans "wouldn't understand."

:rolleyes:

[icehog3]

Makes perfect sense to me Tom and that's exactly how I think most conference people see it as well...

Thank goodness I am making sense to someone, Zach! :D :r

[Starscream]

Ahhhh, it's only a game. Everyone relax and enjoy some "Southern hospitality"! I'm not a fan of the SEC, but it's all in good fun. It seems as if the NFL and MLB (my two passions) aren't near as emotional as NCAA rivalries... I just can't get into college sports since I was in middle school. I was a MAJOR DUKE fan when they Three-peated back in the early nineties, but I had a reason to root for them back then. I could care less about any college team nowadays. (My college just started their football program last year and are Division II, which no one gives a flying fugg about). Go UNCP!!! :banger :banger

University of North Carolina at Pembroke Braves!!!!!!:wo:wo

[Powers]

Not in basketball.:tu

i of course meant the SEC was the best conference in football......which is the only sport that matters in the South

[Smokin Gator]

i of course meant the SEC was the best conference in football......which is the only sport that matters in the South

... except in Kentucky!!

[Powers]

... except in Kentucky!!

yeah but those loonies sided w/the North in the Civil War so i don't like to count 'em ;)

:r

[Smokin Gator]

yeah but those loonies sided w/the North in the Civil War so i don't like to count 'em ;)

:r

True that !!

[longknocker]

The South Sticks Together! BTW, I Attended A Texas/Baylor Game In Austin Several Years Ago & The Texas Fans Behind Me Agreed The SEC Is "The" Toughest Conference To Play In!

[Clampdown]

Not in basketball.:tu

But the SEC does have the greatest basketball program, end of story.

[Starscream]

i of course meant the SEC was the best conference in football......which is the only sport that matters in the South
The only sport that matters in the South is racing.;)
... except in Kentucky!!

...and North Carolina. College Basketball is huge here.

[G G]

I think back to the stories I was told when I was young. Years ago of when my parents were in college sitting in the empty stands in pouring down rain rooting for a team that barely won 2 games all season.

That is being a fan.

Maybe that's just something SEC fans "wouldn't understand."

:rolleyes:
I hate to disagree with that, but the gator fans know exactly what that's like. Granted it's been a while, but they know.:r


I got your back Brent.

[The Poet]

... except in Kentucky!!

Or North Carolina.

And since when is Kentucky in the South - except for Kentuckians, anyway. :D

[The Poet]

But the SEC does have the greatest basketball program, end of story.

There's no argument that Kentucky has won more games, but I think UCLA, Kansas, and UNC might argue that "greatest" aspect. There IS a difference.

[macpappy]

Three reasons.

1. It's called respecting your conference rivals. There are very seldom any easy conference games.

2. It's because the SEC is the best college football conference as proven by the number of BCS Championships SEC teams have won.

3. It's because we're tired of always having USC shoved to the top by the sports media because it's the glamour program and we're tired of always having freaking Notre Dame on the TV every weekend. Notre (when did we last have a winning season) Dame football is not a powerhouse.

And here's one more thing to consider:
"I can pick on my brother but if you pick on him, I'll whip you ..."
That's the attitude that I see a lot here in the south when it comes to football.

[Steelergar]

I was born in PA then raised in Raleigh and Pittsburgh and after high school moved back to the south for 10 years now and I'll tell you the SEC is a institution here(SC). Theres a big clemson USC rivalry here but even Clemson fans will admit the SEC is the best conference. Like people said above its a southern pride thing and the SEC is the cream of the crop conference of the south. You have to figure also that until recently there were not many NFL teams in the south so college football is king down here and for some reason college baseball is brodcast on local radio. And sorry but alot of people born and raised in SC think anybody north of SC is a yankee which I think is funny. And I bet they would think its funny someone from DC thinks their a southerner. To get into the southern pride thing I attended high school in Pittsburgh and College in the south and the American history lesson for the civil war and are very different between the two (as for reasons fought.

[Starscream]

its funny someone from DC thinks their a southerner.

:r:r:r

[Starscream]

To get into the southern pride thing I attended high school in Pittsburgh and College in the south and the American history lesson for the civil war and are very different between the two (as for reasons fought.
:tpd:
History is written by the winners, not the losers, so the Sothern cause has been very distorted. We're not all a bunch of racists and bigots down here.:tu

[Powers]

Three reasons.

1. It's called respecting your conference rivals. There are very seldom any easy conference games.

2. It's because the SEC is the best college football conference as proven by the number of BCS Championships SEC teams have won.

3. It's because we're tired of always having USC shoved to the top by the sports media because it's the glamour program and we're tired of always having freaking Notre Dame on the TV every weekend. Notre (when did we last have a winning season) Dame football is not a powerhouse.

And here's one more thing to consider:
"I can pick on my brother but if you pick on him, I'll whip you ..."
That's the attitude that I see a lot here in the south when it comes to football.

:tpd:

awesome points all around. Agree 100%, especially with the hatred for Notre Dame :tu

[OLS]

I am sorry, I was doing something else. I know you ALL wanted to hear MY take on this LOL.
I also disagree with the OP, chanting SEC, SEC, SEC is like chanting USA,USA,USA at
the Olympics. When LSU ends up out of it, I can still watch football cause someone in the SEC
is still in it. I like the style of football that you get down here. But I HATE FLORIDA, everyone knows it,
and in the first quarter of the Sugar Bowl, when the back in the backfield makes this jerking motion, and
NO FLAG is thrown, and they gain 11 yards or something, I turned it off, cause it was just more of the
same crap that I got in trouble over during the season. I like Alabama, have since I was a kid, but I am an LSU
fan. So I watched the first half of the Champ game, but grew tired of "four plays and a commercial". and with
McCoy out, there was no drama left. But I live in Tennessee and hate UT, I think Vandy is boring, Georgia I always had alot of respect for and could watch, but something ruined it for me here. Auburn I can watch, I like Arkansas,
but UK bores me, as does USC. But when the SEC beats a team out of conference, I still have pride
in their SEC-ness. This is why I was surprised they got their a$$ handed to em so much this year. Really surprised.

As for "hating Florida" I still admire and respect their fans here, and alot of it has to do with the fact that
they come into Baton Rouge and take a severe heckling, and some would claim a shower of beer or beer
bottles, but they still have fun...and they SAY they had fun. That may be a LA thing, but like Power said
we respect each other...except for Vandy, lol.

[Clampdown]

There's no argument that Kentucky has won more games, but I think UCLA, Kansas, and UNC might argue that "greatest" aspect. There IS a difference.

Haha, please tell me you're joking. Taken from Catspause.com

WHY UK IS THE GREATEST PROGRAM OF ALL TIME..
All Time Wins: 2004 (NCAA rank #1)

All Time Winning Percentage: .759 (NCAA rank #1)

NCAA Championships: 7 (NCAA rank #2)

NCAA Championship Game Appearances: 10 (NCAA rank #2)

NCAA Final Four Appearances: 13 (NCAA rank #4)

NCAA Final Four Wins: 17 (NCAA rank #2)

NCAA Elite-8 Appearances: 31 (NCAA rank #1)

NCAA Sweet-16 Appearances: 40 (NCAA rank #1)

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 49 (NCAA rank #1)

NCAA Tournament Wins: 98 (NCAA rank #2)

NCAA Tournament Games Played: 142 (NCAA rank #1)

NCAA Tournament Winning Percentage: .690 (NCAA rank #5)

NBA Draft Picks: 92 (NCAA rank #2)

All Americans: 50 (NCAA rank #1)

All American Total Selections: 80 (NCAA rank #1)

First Team Consensus All Americans: 15 (NCAA rank #2)

First Team Consensus All American Total Selections: 20 (NCAA rank #2)

Final AP Poll Top-10 Finishes: 38 (NCAA rank #1)

Final AP Poll #1 Finishes: 8 (NCAA rank #1)

Final UPI/Coaches Poll Top-10 Finishes: 35 (NCAA rank #1)

Final UPI/Coaches Poll #1 Finishes: 7 (NCAA rank #1)

20-Win Seasons: 53 (NCAA rank #1)

25-Win Seasons: 28 (NCAA rank #2)

30-Win Seasons: 11 (NCAA rank #1)

35-Win Seasons: 3 (NCAA rank #1)

Total Winning Seasons: 89 (NCAA rank #2)

Total Non-Losing Seasons (.500 or better): 92 (NCAA rank #2)

Total Decades With a Final Four Appearance: 6 (NCAA rank #2)

Total Number of Coaches With a NCAA Championship: 4 (NCAA rank #1)

Conference Regular Season Championships: 45 (NCAA rank #2)

Conference Tournament Championships: 26 (NCAA rank #1)

National Attendance Titles: 21 (NCAA rank #1)

In addition, Kentucky also has 2 NIT Titles (1946, 1976), 2 Helms Titles (1933, 1954), 5 Sugar Bowl Tournament Championships, 6 Naismith Hall-of-Fame Members, 3 National Players-of-the-Year, 57 1000-point scorers, and 11 Olympic Gold Medal Winners.

Further, Kentucky holds the NCAA record for Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons (60), and for Consecutive Home Court Victories (129). Kentucky also was the FIRST school to reach both the 1000-win and 2000-win victory plateaus.

And finally, Kentucky can boast having the nation's largest radio affiliate network and the largest television affiliate network. UK also can boast of playing in the largest BASKETBALL arena in the country (Rupp Arena).



Enough said....

[rizzle]

I think back to the stories I was told when I was young. Years ago of when my parents were in college sitting in the empty stands in pouring down rain rooting for a team that barely won 2 games all season.

That is being a fan.

Maybe that's just something SEC fans "wouldn't understand."

:rolleyes:

This thread has nothing to do with being a fan. They don't teach reading comprehension in Corvallis?
:rolleyes:

PS: Tell Mike Riley I said "Roll Tide"...he'll understand.

[Clampdown]

I think back to the stories I was told when I was young. Years ago of when my parents were in college sitting in the empty stands in pouring down rain rooting for a team that barely won 2 games all season.

That is being a fan.

Maybe that's just something SEC fans "wouldn't understand."

:rolleyes:

UK has one the worst teams in the SEC yet we sell out nearly every home game (stadium seats almost 70,000). No matter the year, Commonwealth has nearly always been filled (http://www.ukathletics.com/athletic-dept/commonwealth-stadium.html). Part of that might be a lack of an NFL team in Kentucky, but the love UK fan's have for the team/SEC football would be the primary factor. I can still remember going to the Uk vs. Indiana football game in the pouring rain and wind. I stayed the entire game as UK came away with the 3-0 victory.

[icantbejon]

So a car drove by me today with the following license plate - SECFan, with an Auburn symbol on it. It just made me think of this thread. If you're an Auburn fan, why not put that on your license plate? Why be a fan of the entire conference? That's all I really have to add to this conversation.

[Volt]

Mike, with that line about "Sweet tea, apple pie and momma" reminded me for some reason of Lewis Grizzard. Surely another southern icon.:tu

That man made more sense than almost any other I have ever listened too. If he were alive - I'd write him in for President.

[rizzle]

So a car drove by me today with the following license plate - SECFan, with an Auburn symbol on it. It just made me think of this thread. If you're an Auburn fan, why not put that on your license plate? Why be a fan of the entire conference? That's all I really have to add to this conversation.

That's an easy one bro...nothing at Auburn to be proud of except the conference they're in.
:r:r
Apologies to my good barner friends.
:ss

[longknocker]

That's an easy one bro...nothing at Auburn to be proud of except the conference they're in.
:r:r
Apologies to my good barner friends.
:ss

Good One, Ritchie!:r

[icehog3]

So a car drove by me today with the following license plate - SECFan, with an Auburn symbol on it. It just made me think of this thread. If you're an Auburn fan, why not put that on your license plate? Why be a fan of the entire conference? That's all I really have to add to this conversation.

Not enough letters allowed to make it understandable? Already taken? Could be several reasons.

[The Poet]

Haha, please tell me you're joking. Taken from Catspause.com


Haha, please tell me YOU'RE joking - quoting Catspause.com for an unbiased opinion. :r

Enough said.

[Clampdown]

Haha, please tell me YOU'RE joking - quoting Catspause.com for an unbiased opinion. :r

Enough said.

So, if one were to post actual statistics online, the shear fact they are on a rival site makes them false? I wonder if you believe half the bs you type in threads. If so, where is the ignore button. I guess reading the last score of the UK vs. UNC game on the site would thereby make it false? It's difficult to find bias when you quote actual statistics, the location of those statistics doesn't invalidate them. I didn't want to take credit for the hard work someone put in by posting the information. But, I understand the jealousy, UK fans feel the same towards the SEC powerhouse football programs.

[Starscream]

Part of that might be a lack of an NFL team in Kentucky

But there are plenty of NFL teams that are withing driving distance from most parts of KY. Indy, Cincy, and Nashville.

But I see the point in having pride for one's home state.:tu

[macpappy]

So a car drove by me today with the following license plate - SECFan, with an Auburn symbol on it. It just made me think of this thread. If you're an Auburn fan, why not put that on your license plate? Why be a fan of the entire conference? That's all I really have to add to this conversation.

You put "SECFAN" on your license because you want to support a winner.

[Clampdown]

But there are plenty of NFL teams that are withing driving distance from most parts of KY. Indy, Cincy, and Nashville.

But I see the point in having pride for one's home state.:tu

Because I was a carpetbagger living in Lexington I can't speak for Louisville residents and their potential love for Indy. It very well could exist, but the Cardinals were a good football team several years ago and that might have taken some attention away from the Colts. So Louisville residents could be fans, I don't know. Also, there are fans living in Lexington that are Bengal fans but they are so in love with UK nothing compares. In terms of Northern Kentucky, they might love Cincy, but I would think their first love is college (maybe). As for Nashville, the city is over 3 hours away so their might be some disconnect there. I graduated in 2000, only two yeas into their existence in Tennessee. Perhaps a fan base has grown in the region of Kentucky closest to Tennessee. I don't know:confused:

Now that we are entering into conference games in the SEC, the excitement for the season is just now building. Good luck to all the SEC teams, except UT of course. :tu

[OLS]

If you're an Auburn fan, why not put that on your license plate? Because AUBFAN was taken already, plain and simple.
OR, they are a fan of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They must have received a bailout of some kind.

[Tombstone]

Because AUBFAN was taken already, plain and simple.
OR, they are a fan of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They must have received a bailout of some kind.

:r

[icehog3]

Because AUBFAN was taken already, plain and simple.
OR, they are a fan of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They must have received a bailout of some kind.

:r :r :r

[DavenportESQ]

Mutual Respect...

I think it starts with the coaches, and players and once fans see that the players have respect for opposing teams it filters down to the fans..

Coaches and Players in the SEC know each week they are going to get a tough opponent who is going to "bring it" thats what makes the SEC the best conference, top to bottom each week any team can beat the other. There are no easy games

[Steelergar]

Because I was a carpetbagger living in Lexington I can't speak for Louisville residents and their potential love for Indy. It very well could exist, but the Cardinals were a good football team several years ago and that might have taken some attention away from the Colts. So Louisville residents could be fans, I don't know. only two yeas into their existence in Tennessee. Perhaps a fan base has grown in the region of Kentucky closest to Tennessee. I don't know:confused:. :tu

Just like most cities without a NFL team there are many Steelers fans in Louisville. I have family that live there and its known as Penntucky when it comes to the NFL. You have to figure the bengals have sucked the majority of their franchise and up until Peyton came so have the colts. The titans are still a relatively new franchise in the area. Steelers fans are everywhere which if watch the bengals games when their not winning you will see alot of black and gold in their stadium.

[Starscream]

As for Nashville, the city is over 3 hours away so their might be some disconnect there. I graduated in 2000, only two yeas into their existence in Tennessee. Perhaps a fan base has grown in the region of Kentucky closest to Tennessee. I don't know:confused:

Big fanbase in Southern KY. WKU is only an hour away from Nashville, and the KY/TN state line is only 20 minutes from the city limits. But WKU fans hate UK.:)

[chippewastud79]

Conferences cheer for their conference. Atleast the smaller ones do. As a former MAC athlete I will always cheer for MAC teams when they play any school from any other conference (except maybe WMU ;)). It always reflects well on your conference when they beat a team from a different conference. When a Big T11n school gets beat by a MAC school it looks great for everyone not just the team who won. :2

Ask Boise or TCU fans the same thing about WAC or Mountain West teams beating BCS opponents and whether not it reflects well on the conference. :tu

[Clampdown]

There's no argument that Kentucky has won more games, but I think UCLA, Kansas, and UNC might argue that "greatest" aspect. There IS a difference.

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/1004/cbe1.pdf

[elderboy02]

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/1004/cbe1.pdf

Cincinnati is #17 :tu