Just a quick thought for tonight... Something I've heard in particular on sports radio several times, and I finally had to give my opinion on it. You've all heard the chants before "SEC! SEC! SEC!" or "ACC! ACC! ACC!" or some other conference.
I've heard the argument you root for teams not your conference. That it's just a defense mechanism of fans when their own teams lose. Alabama wins the national title and the rest SEC takes pride in it, but why? The Tide's success does no good to a hapless Vanderbilt fan. The SEC has never helped the Commodores become a great football program. I say if your conference brethren wins not only does it make sense to root them, you should do it.
Why? Each time North Carolina or Duke wins a national title in baskebtall it doesn't elevate the other teams in the ACC, but it does bring prestige to conference. What each individual school does with that is up to them.
I suppose you've seen the over $2 Billion television deal the SEC has. Every SEC team is benefiting from that contract.
I've heard the argument you root for teams not your conference. That it's just a defense mechanism of fans when their own teams lose. Alabama wins the national title and the rest SEC takes pride in it, but why? The Tide's success does no good to a hapless Vanderbilt fan. The SEC has never helped the Commodores become a great football program. I say if your conference brethren wins not only does it make sense to root them, you should do it.
Why? Each time North Carolina or Duke wins a national title in baskebtall it doesn't elevate the other teams in the ACC, but it does bring prestige to conference. What each individual school does with that is up to them.
I suppose you've seen the over $2 Billion television deal the SEC has. Every SEC team is benefiting from that contract.
If Ohio State steals a recruit from Michigan, then it's on Michigan. If Ohio State is playing for a national title then yes it's fine for Michigan fans to root for the Buckeyes. I don't know if they will, but it's OK. Sure it's best for Buckeye fans and Ohio State, but secondarily it brings potential revenue to the Big 10.
Don't even get me started on NCAA basketball. The strength of your conference is one of the most important criteria for getting into the NCAA tournament. It is not all about just winning either or Utah would have just stayed in the Mountain West Conference. As good as the Utes were they didn't have a shot at a college football national title in the MWC. I think most Utah fans are happy with the move to the Pac 10.
Go ahead and show your conference pride, just don't use it as an excuse if your own team isn't winning.
Go ahead and show your conference pride, just don't use it as an excuse if your own team isn't winning.
