Comments on: College Football fans, let me explain something about conferences http://jaykersting.com/blog/2009/12/30/college-football-fans-let-me-explain-something-about-conferences/ The unfiltered goodness that you have come to expect from Jay Kersting. Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:53:39 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Administrator http://jaykersting.com/blog/2009/12/30/college-football-fans-let-me-explain-something-about-conferences/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Administrator Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:30:34 +0000 http://jaykersting.com/blog/?p=150#comment-35 I am going to argue that Tennessee-Alabama is bigger and has been for a longer time. Michigan-Ohio State was huge under Schembeckler and Hayes, but it has been streaky since then. Been around the Big Ten for a big part of my life, but admittedly not to a lot of games. In the SEC, the games are huge but also the fanfare surrounding the games. Do people in the Big Ten travel mid-week for a Saturday game that they don't even have tickets for? Maybe for Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, but certainly not Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan State and I know not at Wisconsin. Across the board, I have witnessed it in the SEC. I am going to argue that Tennessee-Alabama is bigger and has been for a longer time. Michigan-Ohio State was huge under Schembeckler and Hayes, but it has been streaky since then.

Been around the Big Ten for a big part of my life, but admittedly not to a lot of games. In the SEC, the games are huge but also the fanfare surrounding the games. Do people in the Big Ten travel mid-week for a Saturday game that they don’t even have tickets for? Maybe for Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, but certainly not Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan State and I know not at Wisconsin. Across the board, I have witnessed it in the SEC.

]]> By: Matt http://jaykersting.com/blog/2009/12/30/college-football-fans-let-me-explain-something-about-conferences/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Matt Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:23:24 +0000 http://jaykersting.com/blog/?p=150#comment-34 I see you have never made it to the Big HOUSE! Every game there is a must win. Every team that that ventures to Ann Arbor is viewed as a huge rival (with the exception of appalachian state). Its the same way in the Big Ten. Northwestren and M always have a spirited game. And the don't get any bigger than Michigan vs that little state school in Ohio. I see you have never made it to the Big HOUSE! Every game there is a must win. Every team that that ventures to Ann Arbor is viewed as a huge rival (with the exception of appalachian state). Its the same way in the Big Ten. Northwestren and M always have a spirited game. And the don’t get any bigger than Michigan vs that little state school in Ohio.

]]> By: College Football fans, let me explain something about conferences … | College Sports Nation http://jaykersting.com/blog/2009/12/30/college-football-fans-let-me-explain-something-about-conferences/comment-page-1/#comment-32 College Football fans, let me explain something about conferences … | College Sports Nation Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:22:27 +0000 http://jaykersting.com/blog/?p=150#comment-32 [...] rest is here: College Football fans, let me explain something about conferences … addthis_url = [...] [...] rest is here: College Football fans, let me explain something about conferences … addthis_url = [...]

]]> By: Administrator http://jaykersting.com/blog/2009/12/30/college-football-fans-let-me-explain-something-about-conferences/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Administrator Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:01:38 +0000 http://jaykersting.com/blog/?p=150#comment-31 I don't think we disagree. The size of the communities and the longevity are two huge factors. I believe I stated that, but I did not mention the distractions. And the atmosphere on campus at USC on game day is pretty damn good from my recollection. I did not include Notre Dame for a reason....lack of a conference in football. But, I agree. The atmosphere there is probably the greatest outside the SEC....and often surpasses that of the SEC. I don’t think we disagree. The size of the communities and the longevity are two huge factors. I believe I stated that, but I did not mention the distractions. And the atmosphere on campus at USC on game day is pretty damn good from my recollection.

I did not include Notre Dame for a reason….lack of a conference in football. But, I agree. The atmosphere there is probably the greatest outside the SEC….and often surpasses that of the SEC.

]]> By: Topher http://jaykersting.com/blog/2009/12/30/college-football-fans-let-me-explain-something-about-conferences/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Topher Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:42:55 +0000 http://jaykersting.com/blog/?p=150#comment-30 I have a slightly different theory on why the SEC is like it is: With the exception of Vandy, every school is in a small town/city without a significant professional sports presence. In L.A. on any given fall Saturday you can watch the Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Ducks, USC or ucla--or do any number of non-sports activities. In Starkville, there's *nothing* else to do, and certainly no other teams to support. In effect, the SEC has a sports monopoly in the southern U.S. I will argue that the atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium rivals that of the SEC venues I have experienced, but South Bend isn't exactly a metropolis either. Topher I have a slightly different theory on why the SEC is like it is: With the exception of Vandy, every school is in a small town/city without a significant professional sports presence. In L.A. on any given fall Saturday you can watch the Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Ducks, USC or ucla–or do any number of non-sports activities. In Starkville, there’s *nothing* else to do, and certainly no other teams to support.

In effect, the SEC has a sports monopoly in the southern U.S. I will argue that the atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium rivals that of the SEC venues I have experienced, but South Bend isn’t exactly a metropolis either.

Topher

]]>