SEC! SEC! SEC!
So I wanted to discuss this matter a bit, and I'm not one to start new threads, so I will just post it here where it will be irrelevant in an hour.
I get the hatred for the SEC, I was a full on hater for years. But I live in the middle of SEC country and I have gained perspective and now understand it, even if I don't fully embrace it. As shocking as this may be, Texas fits perfectly into the SEC mindset. They collectively feel they are the best, and they all agree (one school aside) that Texas is among the best and should be included in their group.
They have very much adopted the Texas philosophy of "they hate us cuz they ain't us" and have banded together to shoot the rest of the collective sporting world a middle finger. Much like Horns down is a national topic simply because the world hates us, the SEC dominance is a topic because of the hatred as much as the factual nature.
We are learning right now the repercussions of surrounding yourselves with a bunch of also rans that never stack any trophies in the conference closet. We were losing credibility as a result. Pretty much everyone brings something to the table in the SEC in some way or form, and even the lowliest South Carolina still packs 70-80k into a stadium to watch their team lose year after year.
They simply do just care more. We do to, that's why we should be here. My first college football game ever was at Jordan-Hare Stadium and I was hooked. I went to the 2nd ever SEC Championship game and learned to hate Bammer. I have been to dozens of games at the Swamp and games in Baton Rouge and a few other SEC towns. They are all die hard fans. The only ghost town for a game is typically Vandy, but at least they are in Nashville.
I don't think any fan base aside from aggy whole heartedly roots for another team like Bama. Most have a very strong hatred for all things crimson, and truly hate their rivals. But if the option is to root for Bama or Ohio State, they want Bama to murder Ohio State to prove that the conference they play in is the best. It doesn't matter the sport, the SEC wants to dominate it. Over the last decade they pretty much have (aside from basketball). It means that every game every week matters. If you came close but didn't win it, at least you probably get a shot at the team that did next year. That is much better than another year long schedule facing a bunch of teams that have never won shit.
Texas is one of the very best brands in college sports. We are now part of the very best conference in college sports. This is a great week to be a Longhorn.