SEC fans, why?

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by rizzle

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.

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.

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."

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by zmancbr

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!

[G G]

Originally Posted by JE3146

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."

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.


I got your back Brent.

[rizzle]

Originally Posted by JE3146

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."

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


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

[Clampdown]

Originally Posted by JE3146

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."

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-...h-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.

[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 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]

Originally Posted by ggainey

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

Bite me!!!

Originally Posted by icehog3

You're killing me, Brent!

I like girls!!!

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by krevo

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 cheering for Bama.

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

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.

[Powers]

Originally Posted by krevo

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 cheering for Bama.

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 .

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."

[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.
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.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by rizzle

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

And that's the rest of the story

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by rizzle

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.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by Tombstone

The SEC is the best conference in the south.

Not in basketball.

[Powers]

Originally Posted by andysutherland

Not in basketball.

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

[Smokin Gator]

Originally Posted by UFPowersmoker320

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!!

[Clampdown]

Originally Posted by andysutherland

Not in basketball.

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

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by UFPowersmoker320

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.

Originally Posted by Smokin Gator

... except in Kentucky!!

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

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by Clampdown

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.

[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.