Fansided

SEC fan bases guarantee conference remains king of college football

ByChris Schultz|

The SEC is not just the best conference in college football because of their success on the field, it’s the best because of the fan bases from the 14 member schools.

Back to school. If you are a kid, this phrase sucks the life out of you and instantly puts you in a sour mood. It signals the end of summer and means it’s time to fill up the backpacks with school supplies and change the sleeping routine to getting up early again.

It’s hard to say goodbye to the camps, barbeques, pool parties, fireworks, and festivals, but it also means that college football is just around the corner. In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina, that means the return of the SEC football.

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I know what you are thinking…. that I am biased towards the SEC and just another sports writer trying to tell you how they are the best conference in college football. Truth is, though, my alma mater and my favorite team do not belong to the Southeastern Conference.

In fact, I too was once a critic and usually took the complete opposite approach. Even with eight out of the last 13 national champions to back up their claim, it took my moving to Atlanta to finally come to terms with what truly is the best conference in college football.

With all due respect to the Pac 12, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and other conferences, the SEC is simply the greatest conference in college football today because of the play on the field and their passionate fan bases that sets them apart from other leagues.

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When is the last time you heard a Pac 12 chant at a bowl game? Have you ever seen a Michigan fan cheer on Ohio State against a non-conference opponent? Chances are you have not and you might find it weird if you did.

Heck, I was blown away the first time I saw an Auburn fan cheer for Alabama during one of their National Championship Games. Even with the storied rivalry between both of those state teams, it didn’t matter that night because they were rooting for the SEC. Then there is the chant. SEC! SEC! SEC! Whether it is in the stadium or at the local sports bar, the conference pride is summed up into those three letters.

The SEC love doesn’t just pertain to those schools that are used to success in football. Even Kentucky and Vanderbilt fans love their conference despite their struggles to establish a consistent winning football program. However, national championships aren’t a stranger to either in basketball and baseball. I saw this commitment to conference firsthand at last year’s Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN.

LP Field was packed for a matchup of two football powerhouses, Notre Dame and LSU. Neither Baton Rouge, Louisiana nor South Bend, Indiana are close in distance to Nashville, but the Music City is part of SEC Country. Both Commodore and Volunteer fans alike wanted nothing to do with the Irish and cheered on the Tigers from the SEC.

If you have never seen an SEC game in person, I urge you to make the trip. Whether it’s a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa or The Swamp in Gainesville, every game feels like it’s the Super Bowl. From the tailgates to the long-standing traditions, the atmosphere for a game in SEC Country is off the charts.

Again, I say this from experience having attended games in various conferences throughout this great nation. For now, The Ohio State Buckeyes are the team to beat and rightfully so, but don’t count out the heavy hitters from the SEC, who look to reclaim the throne as college football’s elite.

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