SEC pride: Should Georgia fans pull for Alabama in the BCS?
On this week’s “Bulldog Hotline” call-in show, an interesting discussion came up about whether Georgia fans should be playing the SEC pride card when it comes to the upcoming BCS national championship game.
Program host Neil “Hondo” Williamson was on the SEC bandwagon, noting he’s pulling for Bama to demolish the Irish and win a seventh straight BCS title for the Southeastern Conference.
However, a caller to the show pointed out that while Georgia doesn’t recruit against Notre Dame, it does go up against the Crimson Tide for quite a few players, especially the top-rated ones from our own region.
Another national championship for Alabama certainly won’t help with that. That crystal football trophy and those national championship rings tend to make a big impression on high school kids trying to decide where they want to play.
Indeed, this SEC pride thing can be tricky. A couple of years ago a lot of Georgia fans pulled against Auburn in the BCS game, not just because we didn’t want the Tigers to get a recruiting advantage, but because the manner in which they’d won the SEC, with their rent-a-QB and dirty play, left a lot of bad feelings.
But when it comes to Alabama, I’m not sure another national title is really going to make that much difference in terms of recruiting. This would be the Tide’s third BCS championship in the past four years so it’s not like they don’t already have that advantage.
Plus, Mark Richt’s Bulldogs impressed a lot of people nationally with their down-to-the-wire effort against the Tide in the SEC Championship, the most-watched college football game of the season, and if you’ve got to lose a game like that, it goes down a bit better to have done so to the eventual national champ.
And then there’s all the whining the Big 10 and PAC 12 folks have done about the SEC’s dominance. That’s music to the ears of many Southern football fans.
Of course, there’s another factor that has to figure into this: Bama’s BCS opponent.
Some Auburn fans will go to any extreme to oppose the Crimson Tide.
It’s somewhat understandable that Auburn folks would be pulling for Notre Dame since they hate the Tide every moment of their existence (though I can’t believe AU fans actually would wear one of those WarIrish shirts someone is selling).
But it’s hard to see any true follower of the Red and Black ever pulling for the Fighting Irish, no matter who their opponent is or what the recruiting ramifications are. I even rooted for Steve Spurrier’s Gators when they played Notre Dame in a bowl back in the early ’90s!
What about you? Are you hoping Alabama brings the SEC another national title or would you like to see Nick Saban vanquished by destiny’s darlings, as ESPN touts them?
Got something you want to discuss concerning the 2012 football season, the upcoming Capitol One Bowl or looking ahead to next season? Or maybe a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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339 comments Add your comment
DIT
December 5th, 2012
4:23 pm
Never been a fan of Bama. However, by listening to all the ND fans you would have thought that they have been a top 10 program for the past 15 years instead of bottom feeders. Six teams in the SEC can EASILY beat ND.
Bama better beat the Irish out of them and send them packing. They need to win by a minimum of two TD’s.
If not the ND people will claim a moral victory and Urban Cetera will beg and plead for 1st place votes.
DIT
December 5th, 2012
4:25 pm
Sorry, supposed to be Cryer
Bulldog Born & Bred
December 5th, 2012
4:33 pm
to son of bear its roll tide not role tide guess you got your education in alabama
small dog
December 5th, 2012
4:41 pm
sure we hope the tide wins, after all they were the better team, and the national champions…
TN Dawg
December 5th, 2012
5:11 pm
I will pull for the SEC always despite the rivalries we have in conference. Despite Spurrier’s sarcastic comments, despite the constant reminder from Gators of the 18 of 24 status, despite the 100 Roll Tides I hear every day, when they’re winning, despite the annoying and constant reference to the old Glory Days of the Vol Nation fans, I will still pull for the SEC.
It is the combination of Bowl victories and National Championship that make the SEC number 1.
I believe the Tide will beat Notre Dame by at least 14 points.
Go Dawgs!!!
stendek
December 5th, 2012
5:11 pm
Hi Bill. So since a REAL team won the SEC championship Dawg fans should root for Notre Dame. A unit which could not defeat any team in the genuine Top 10. With the possible exception of the choke prone Dawgs. I want the SEC – South – to continue total national dominance of major college football. Any Dawg fans that root for ND can go straight to Hell. Do not curse Bama cause the Dawgs did not man up and get tough when it counted most. No Hail Mary forgiveness chants here buddy boy!
Rabun Dawg
December 5th, 2012
5:11 pm
I always root for the SEC when they are playing outside the conference. Beside that, my wife went to Alabama, so I want our household to stay pleasant!
SenoiaDawgs
December 5th, 2012
5:12 pm
I hope after the NC game that the country says the real NC game was played in the Dome.
Roll tide!!! I hope they blow them out 21 or more.
I will also be pulling for all of the SEC Teams in the bowl games. That is the only time I ever pull for UF, AU, SC or TN but in the bowl games I love to see the SEC win. Let the country keep on whining and our SEC teams keep on winning.
robbie
December 5th, 2012
5:19 pm
My two favorite teams have always been UGA and whoever is playing Notre Dame!If you feel otherwise you just aren’t old enough to remember how ND got those national titles. They could lose 2 games and beat a nobody in a bowl and get voted #1. We had to win every game and hope they lost 3.
Half Century Dawg
December 5th, 2012
5:25 pm
Moist Dawg
December 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
Moist Dawg, thank you for your kind words. I hope you have a nice day. Cheers
Gman 84
December 5th, 2012
5:25 pm
Doesn’t matter who wins. I usually pull for the conference, but this time, I couldn’t care less. It also doesn’t help to see Bama win and knowing that could’ve been us. We had our shot and came up 5 yards short. Bama will be playing for another title next year. We will be rebuilding.
stendek
December 5th, 2012
5:29 pm
I remember that too Robbie. I shuddered when Notre Dame would have three defeats but be ranked ahead of teams with one or two losses. Never could figure out how that happened. Same with Ohio States of world. Schedule one or two decent teams along with a bunch of patsies then be praised to high Heaven. I will guarantee two things without doubt. If the overrated Fainting Irish or Yuckeyes – whatever the Hell a Buckeye is – were members of SEC they would be lucky to win seven games. Real lucky!
GTBob
December 5th, 2012
5:30 pm
Pulling for your rivals because you can’t beat them is one of the saddest things rednecks in the south ever came up with.
Jborodawg
December 5th, 2012
5:30 pm
Moist and Montana…take one valium and call me in the morning. Such hate and vitriol. It’s your choice for sure not to pull for either team…and to not watch the game. Calling other people ignorant trash only seems to point right back atcha.
Silver Fox
December 5th, 2012
5:32 pm
Makes sense that if ND is crushed by AL it will reinforce SEC domination and assist with ratings in coming season. I pull foa all SEC teams anytime they play outside the conference.
I even like to see GT win as it helps UGA when we stepson the each November…..but that’s just me….
Jborodawg
December 5th, 2012
5:33 pm
GTBob; saying, “…Pulling for your rivals because you can’t beat them..” is ignorant. I’ll pull for Flawduh over Louisville. Guess what? We beat Flawduh. I’m not so sure now I’ll root for whomever is playing Tech. Your reasoning is too compelling.
GTBob
December 5th, 2012
5:40 pm
Here is a little pro tip for UGA fans. If Alabama wins, it makes them look good. Not you.
GTBob
December 5th, 2012
5:42 pm
I’ll pull for Flawduh over Louisville.
Why? Aren’t UGA and Florida supposed to be heated rivals? Are there any real rivalries in the SEC anymore?
ARdawg
December 5th, 2012
5:45 pm
“Pulling for your rivals because you can’t beat them is one of the saddest things rednecks in the south ever came up with.”
GTBobby, tis sad Bobby that you get more joy hating UGA than you get cheering for your own team. Do you not see something wrong with that?
SEC FOOTBALL
December 5th, 2012
5:46 pm
ALWAYS PULL FOR YOUR CONFERENCE.
1969 Graduate
December 5th, 2012
5:48 pm
There are some Alabama fans on this board who make me glad I’m not rooting for them when I root for Alabama against Notre Dame. Oh, well, they probably live in single wides, have one tooth, and used to be married to their cousin.
Most of the Alabama fans I personally know are first class folks; to be fair, and to their credit, they live in Georgia (mostly) which gives them points, too.
I will admit to liking the Alabama program, and how they play football. That doesn’t mean I didn’t want us to beat the snot out of them. Since we didn’t, I will root for them in their title game. I would also root for any SEC team in the title game. I mean, come on, are you going to root for the ACC?
I might root for Notre Dame if they were playing…well, heck, I can’t right off think of…well, I wouldn’t root for Notre Dame unless they were playing the Taliban.
I don’t blame Alabama for the sometimes very bad officiating.
Besides, it’s too our advantage to have Alabama win.
I hope our coaches and team are thinking about Nebraska, but it’s okay for us fans to have these fun discussions.
Go, Dawgs!
stendek
December 5th, 2012
5:49 pm
True Dawg fans know that Mark Richt is no mental match for the sideline masterminds at Alabama, LSU, Florida, South Carolina or Mississippi State. I am sure this list will grow as other SEC teams hire new head coaches. As a diehard Dawg fanatic of over half a century I have no confidence in for my beloved college football team. Not with Saint Mark Richt who I consider soft and uncaring in charge. Great teams win the game against Bama. Average teams play above average then embrace a close defeat. I am just too damn old to care about moral victories! 1980 seems so long ago. Sigh.
1969 Graduate
December 5th, 2012
5:51 pm
Would someone smack GTBob for me?
Thanks.
Bob, I knew your mom would come through on that on. Now, go take out the trash, and get on with your penmanship homework.
So sad that he has so little GT stuff to be excited about. Maybe his mom will buy him GT water wings for Christmas.
GTBob
December 5th, 2012
5:54 pm
GTBobby, tis sad Bobby that you get more joy hating UGA than you get cheering for your own team. Do you not see something wrong with that?
Nope. Hate makes sports more fun. Its a shame that SEC fans don’t get to experience real rivalries anymore because they are desperately trying to ride the coattails of their conference brethren.
Minnesota Dawg
December 5th, 2012
6:08 pm
Roll Tide! I hope they beat them bad! It makes us look better because we almost beat them. Besides, go SEC! The best!
ULDawg
December 5th, 2012
6:27 pm
I could never pull for ND over any SEC school. You better believe we recruit against ND as well. It will only get worse if ND wins the BCS title.
Ed
December 5th, 2012
6:37 pm
“I even rooted for Steve Spurrier’s Gators when they played Notre Dame in a bowl back in the early ’90s!”
You lost me there, Bill. I remember that game and remember pulling hard for Notre Dame. Florida would have to play Iran or the European Ryder Cup team before I would even consider half-heartedly pulling for them.
I guess “SEC Pride” is lost on me if it means pulling for UF. But I prefer Bama over Notre Dame any day.
bubba4dawgs
December 5th, 2012
6:40 pm
Never cared for Bama and never will but they are in the SEC and that matters. I shall pull for them to beat ND….oh, I’ve never cared for them either so that makes it even easier. Way back in the old days, the polls used to have ND rated at the top or near it every year. They never gave the SEC a second look. Now the tide (no pun intended) has turned and the TIDE is on top.
I shall remained saddened that UGA didn’t quite finish but almost did. I guarantee you that Bama was sweating at the end of that game and should have said a prayer. Both teams deserved to win that game! Always a DAWG fan and always will be! GO DAWGS!!
FB
December 5th, 2012
6:43 pm
SEC always once the Dogs are out of it. A rout of ND makes UGA, TX A&M, and the SEC look all the better. I think the SEC has a decent chance to run the table in the bowls!
Dawg1
December 5th, 2012
6:43 pm
SEC SEC SEC
Real simple – if it’s an out of conference game – I pull for the SEC team…
Especially since the rest of the country now does quite the opposite…
Dawg1
December 5th, 2012
6:45 pm
GT Bob
And Tech’s rivals are?
tom
December 5th, 2012
6:49 pm
no i’m pulling for richt to be fire…
Rationale
December 5th, 2012
6:52 pm
The only way I would ever pull for Notre Dame is if they were playing a team from IRAN. The perpetual over rating of Notre Dame goes back for decades.
FB
December 5th, 2012
6:54 pm
Nice capital letters and spelling, Tom…. Richt to be fire…
A-Ville Ranger
December 5th, 2012
6:55 pm
Enter your comments here
A-Ville Ranger
December 5th, 2012
6:59 pm
Ooops, didn’t mean to hit send.
If not for practical reasons I’d pull for Bama. Since Saban is aggressively recruiting our turf though, I’m cheering for The Dames like a drunken Irish Catholic.
graphite
December 5th, 2012
7:02 pm
APB…..KINGDADDY, WHERE ARE YOU??????
IrishRule
December 5th, 2012
7:10 pm
who cares whether all these ga rednecks don’t pull for notre deam—the Irish will roll over alabama. The ND D will shut down alabama’s offense cold—book it. ND 27 Alabama 13!
Roswell DAWG
December 5th, 2012
7:15 pm
I ALWAYS root against ND, except this time. My desire to see the SEC dominance continue is overridden by my desire not to see Bama win another one. Everything would have been perfect had we gotten a few more seconds and a few more yards. I’m also still upset that a team that was not a conference champion was in last year’s NC game. Remember what everyone told us in 2007?
joseph
December 5th, 2012
7:27 pm
uga fan
joseph
December 5th, 2012
7:28 pm
Uga fan Roll Tide
Emory University Physician
December 5th, 2012
7:31 pm
I banged a chick like SSI gator in college. Once I got her to quit screaming about how great it was to have a real man instead of those mullet heads at Florida, she turned out to be somebody I should have dumped down a ravine as I was driving to the motel. Reading her posts brought back nauseating memories. I need to bathe in alcohol every time she posts.
Emory University Physician
December 5th, 2012
7:33 pm
As a diehard Dawg fanatic of over half a century I have no confidence in for my beloved college football team. Not with Saint Mark Richt who I consider soft and uncaring in charge.
**********************
stendek you are too stupid to have attended college at UGA. UGA lost by a tipped pass of 5 yards. Richt is a great man and a great coach. You are pathetic to sit behind a keyboard and trash him.
PonGT
December 5th, 2012
7:39 pm
Yeh, I agree, losing to the eventual National Champs, because you ran out of time, is a lot better than them getting beat and losing to the Irish. But I don’t agree with pulling for Spurrious Steve …. no matter who he’s playing. Too me, he will always be the putz of the palmetto state.
The Monger
December 5th, 2012
7:44 pm
Georgia is 1-11 vs. top 10 teams since 2009. I will repeat this fact in every blog until next fall, because some dawg fans actually think we are actually close to a championship of any kind with Marky Mark Richt as “coach”. I can’t really call him a “coach” because he fails in every big game, and relies on pure talent against the weaklings of the conference. That’s why South Carolina steamrolled us this year, LSU last year. Then we have to barely squeek by the likes of Kentucky and Tennessee just to get in a spot to contend for a championship and what does Richt do? Lose to an Alabama team that arguably played their worst game of the year. Yes, the score was close, but Alabama threw an int on our 3 yard line, had a field goal attempt blocked and ran back for 7 points, and mismanged the clock at the end of the first half, making them settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. That is 18 points left on the board right there at least. Why does anyone think we even had a chance anyway? Saban is a WINNER and RICHT is a LOSER. That is the difference, If we played this game 10 times (contrary to popular belief) Alabama would have won 9 of them, with Georgia’s win having to come in a game Alabama makes even more mistakes then this game (which is rare). I don’t think we would have beat Notre Dame anyway, they are coached by Chip Kelly…they play defense, they are disciplined, have power on both lines, and don’t commit turnovers often. Also, they are almost impossible to run against, so good luck winning a game with Aaron Murray airing it out against a good defense….LOL. Seriously, what about 1-11 vs. top 10 teams do y’all not understand? What is it about Richt winning 0 championships in the last 7 years do y’all not understand? Do you not care Richt gets 3 million a year to produce this horrendous track record?
Under The Bleachers
December 5th, 2012
7:46 pm
If you are a fan of Any SEC school and not “root”, “pull” for every other school playing an outer conference team in a bowl game you need your SEC Membership card revoked!
kingdaddy
December 5th, 2012
7:48 pm
graphite
you must have ESP. This will be short because I hate BKs filters. Yes we need to pull for all the SEC TEAMS, especially Bama. I will not pull for Yech though because of Bobbert…
Under The Bleachers
December 5th, 2012
7:54 pm
Barrett Jones said yesterday in front of Nebrasks’s Burkhead in NY that he hopes UGA beats Nebraska soundly, he went on to say talking trash to each other in the conference but when any team besides The other school in Alabama he is all SEC first.
kingdaddy
December 5th, 2012
7:56 pm
BKs filters ate my first post (which I wasted way too much time on) for saying GT can go to Yale, lol…I’m not wasting my post to get kicked out for that carp, if you know what I mean…
kingdaddy
December 5th, 2012
7:59 pm
Show class Doggies, not a–…