SEC fans, why?
 

(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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

There are exceptions to every rule.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

Exactly my point. :)

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

:tpd:

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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!!!

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

You're killing me, Brent! :r

:(

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

Bite me!!!:D

I like girls!!!

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

And that's the rest of the story :ss

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

:tpd:

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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. ;)

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

: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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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.

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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/t...067_890556.jpg

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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 ;)

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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...

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

Not in basketball.:tu

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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:

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

... except in Kentucky!!

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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

:r

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

True that !!

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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!

Re: SEC fans, why?
 

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