Posted on 09/20/2006 1:17:16 PM PDT by groanup
Y'know, I grew up here in Virginia, where college football is not a really huge deal (especially when I was growing up in the '70s, when UVa and VT both were mostly mediocre). I went to a I-AA school (JMU, the 2004 I-AA national champions) which itself was very mediocre in the mid-80s when I was there.
So I wasn't prepared to move to Columbia, South Carolina in 1997 and be introduced to the religion that was Gamecock football. Especially considering that the Cocks--not to put too fine a point on it--usually aren't real good. I mean, when your program's high point is back-to-back trips to the Outback Bowl?
And yet, there ARE no sports in Columbia other than Gamecock football. The years that the basketball team were tearing up the SEC and going to the NCAAs, the years that Ray Tanner had the baseball team going to the regionals and super-regionals again and again, all you heard on the radio call-in shows were Cock fans wondering who the third-string tight end was going to be on the depth chart for the spring scrimmage, and Clemson fans still talking smack about beating USC six months earlier.
USC fans are, if nothing else, loyal. Real loyal. As in, 65,000 tails in the seats during Lou Holtz's 0-11 first season loyal. (And that wasn't for the Clemson game, which is, of course, always a 81,000+ sellout.) They're like Cubs fans with better accents. Every year is going to be The Year The Cocks Dominate. And by the end of the season, it's always "wait till next year." And come next year, they're back in the parking lot at Williams-Brice, drinking themselves blind in the Cockabooses before the game, convinced that this time, it really will be The Year.
At least The Ol' Ball Coach has the Gamecock team crime rate up to the standards of most of the rest of the SEC...
}:-)4
If I have to listen to rocky top one more time I will have to scream.
Hilarious!! And so true...
University of Alabama home games are amazing, especially the games with other SEC teams. Truly an experience. The whole football culture is so different down here, and I love it!!
LOL!! Well said.
Great post. USC will rise again. LOL!!
Hey, glad to see a Nebraska fan show up on this thread. I've lived in Tennessee for 4 years now and as nuts as people here think they are about UT football, I just don't think it compares to football season in Nebraska.
Auburn was the top public University in Division one on the most recent APR and #4 overall. Additionlly, Auburn has the most players who have already graduated than any other team in Division 1 NCAA.
I surprised the cops didn't ask for a sip...;-)
Have to disagree here. The Auburn-Alabama game is the most intense rival game Auburn has. It's not even close. Now, it shouldn't be of late because bammer has, well, been awful. But it will never be surpassed. It is to the point that it is unhealthy for the state.
Mow there is something I can get on board with. My absolute favorite beer.
Ping-a-ling!
It's not a "passion" -- it's religion in the SEC.
The expression in that pic was due as much to the uniforms as to the poor performance.
"I ain't gettin' paid enuff to look like a dang SEMINOLE!!!"
At my church, mass attendance goes up in the Saturday and early services during football season. Got to get home for the pregame show.
How cool is that picture?
Did I ever catch some crap when I would show up at Tiger Stadium for AU/LSU games in my orange shirt and Auburn baseball cap.
I am a Vol fan, and I agree wholeheartedly with your statement. I experienced Nebraska fans first hand at the 1997 Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee. Is there anything else to do in Nebraska anyway?
Great win over Wofford last week.
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