Institutions with high academic standards like Notre Dame, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, etc., should be held in high regard
It has nothing to do with their academics. I think the biggest issue was for years and years they were the only team that was on tv every weekend. It became nauseating.
Their record of winning in the early years was annoying. Plus, the endless praise of the media that has been and still is dominated by Northern sports writers.
Also, I don’t think my dad cared too much for Catholics. That is likely another big reason they are despised in the South East. Baptist and Catholics are like oil and water.