Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > August > 21 > Entry

Ranking obnoxious SEC football fans

Any partisan can nettle a neutral. That’s the difference between passion and dispassion. And I, it must be stipulated, get paid to be neutral. So maybe I’m not the best judge.

On the other hand, I saw my first SEC game in 1969 and covered my first conference game in 1976, and over time I’ve visited each of the league’s 12 outposts. So I’ve had the opportunity to observe and collate, and today, as a preseason public service, I present this ranking of SEC football fans, starting with the least irritating and culminating with the truly insufferable.

12. Mississippi State: The only time State fans get really upset is when you make fun of their rustic town. I know this from experience. But you know what? If I’d have been a Starkvillian and read what I wrote back in 2005, I’d have gotten ticked, too.

11. Kentucky: No, not because I’m an alum. Because, contrary to popular belief, the world’s worst basketball fans actually care about football. Unlike in hoops, though, they’re not ready to fire their coach after a loss. Good thing, since the football ‘Cats lose a lot.

10. Vanderbilt: The best thing about Vandy is its academics. The worst thing about Vandy fans is their insistence in hitting you over the head with those academics. If the Commodores don’t care about winning, why are in they in this cutthroat league?

9. Ole Miss: There really aren’t that many Rebel fans, but half of that number feels the burning need to emulate William Faulkner - he was from Oxford and spent a year at the university - and write long and difficult books about Ole Miss football.

8. LSU: Winning fans tend to be the most overstated, but somehow Tiger backers manage to stay relatively polite even when they’re bragging about all their national championships. Maybe it’s because they know, win or lose, they’ll always have the best food.

7. Tennessee: Being a Kentuckian by birth and a Georgian for 24 years, I’m supposed to be disposed to hate UT fans. Sorry, but I never have. Don’t mind all the orange. Don’t mind hearing “Rocky Top” a thousand times. Don’t know why I don’t, but there it is.

6. South Carolina: Sisyphus would be a Gamecock. These fans keep showing up, sure that this will finally be be their year. When this year turns out no different from all others, they simply shrug and show up the next year. Kind of sad, but also kind of admirable.

5. Arkansas: It was over the top for Hog fans to file Freedom of Information requests to gain access to Houston Nutt’s cell phone records, but it was over the top in an amusing way. One word of warning: Don’t try that stuff with Bobby Petrino. He’ll just up and leave.

4. Alabama: Tide fans used to be the best at being boorish, but now they’re just irrelevant. They don’t have any reason to strut anymore, so they have to make do with whining about how Tennessee cheats twice as much as Bama but never gets penalized for it.

3. Georgia: Too many grown-up Bulldog fans continue to believe that a game cannot be properly enjoyed without consuming mass quantities of alcohol. A tip: Just because you’re going to watch college football doesn’t give you license to act like you’re still in college.

2. Auburn: Taking their lead from the preening Tommy Tuberville, Auburn people won’t shut up about how they’ve come to dominate Alabama. This is precisely the thing that used to frost these same folks when they were being dominated. They have become what they beheld.

1. Florida: Gator fans didn’t become obnoxious when Steve Spurrier started beating everybody. They were obnoxious when their team couldn’t win the SEC to save its life. And for all Floridians still irked by Georgia’s celebration, here are two words to Google: Gator Flop.

Permalink | Comments (873) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC

Comments

By baloney

August 21, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Pretty much right on with the UGA fans. I find it pretty much acceptable for a younger student to mouth off during a game or after.But it is pretty silly for grandma and grandpa to mouth off about “them Dawgs” only while they are ahead.

By FLA DAWG

August 21, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

You might as well have painted a red target on your shirt Mark - though I agree with most of your comments.

The following blogs should be “interesting” to read.

By Call it Like it is

August 21, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Hey Bradley,

Here are two words for you to Goggle:

F U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

By G. P. Burdell

August 21, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

There are just too many “Wal-Mart” UGA fans, meaning their only connection with the university is the UGA hat they bought at Wal-Mart.

By Call it Like it is

August 21, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Hey Bradley,

Here are two words for you to Goggle:

F U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

By BSC

August 21, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Nonsense spewed forth like a true eastern conference fan.

There is absolutely no way you could rank LSU behind Auburn and Georgia. Clearly has not been to a Sat night game in the slums of Baton Rouge.

By Fat Dawg

August 21, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Just because I drank at the game don’t mean anything. I’m just there to watch us win cause it’s fun to be there. How can you not be excited to watch one of the best teams in the history of football? I don’t act like I’m in college. I don’t read those Tech books.

By UGA 3000

August 21, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

You may be accurate for the most part, but Tennessee has to be a number two. Having attented UGA and UT I know from experience.

By razorback_64

August 21, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

That is absolutely true. I went to the SEC championship game against Florida two years ago. The fans actually booed a 70 year old man because he had played for another SEC team 50 years ago. Talk about class…

By ABsgood

August 21, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

Neutral? Bradley, you are about as neutral as sulfuric acid. One can see your bias toward beloved Kentucky most basketball seasons, and more recently some football seasons. LSU “relatively polite”? Ask those on the busses about the “polite” sendoff they get when they leave Baton Rouge after beating those Tigers. Take off the blinders you got from the track in Louisville.

By Island Dawg

August 21, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

Thanks “Call it Like it is” - You just proved his point!

By unbiased opinion

August 21, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

No doubt about it…

GEORGIA FANS ARE THE WORST!

Just a bunch of trash talking people who feel they are better than everyone. The worst Georgia fans are the 25+ crowd.

By AltamahaDawg

August 21, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

Burdell, you need to work on your delivery a bit. Witty catchphrases tend to zing best, when not followed up by an explaination, as if nobody could have figured it out.

By Mark

August 21, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

I would rank UGA and Bama #1a and #1b….having experienced both of these places, I can speak from experience.

By SECCoachnDallas

August 21, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

You must not like living im Georgia?

By mike

August 21, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

You are an idiot. How can UGA fans not be number 1.

By Furman Bisher's diaper

August 21, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

The worst UGA fans are the ones who didnt go to college there.. sidewalk alumni! LOSERS

By wde

August 21, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Hey Mark, how about you spend just one day on some of the main online Auburn blogs (al.com, auburnundercover.com) and then compare them to the UGA comments you get here, and tell me who you think should rank higher.

I know, I know, #3 is a pretty honest ranking for Georgia, right? Wrong. You do it by giving what they would consider a back-hand compliment. Paid to be neutral? Then what gives about your stupid aggregation blog and calling Urban “Urban Crier”. You’re a joke.

By Native Atlantan

August 21, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Mark you’re such a joke. Is this the only way the AJC can attract people to its website? To bait them like this?

Everyone in the college football world knows the most obnoxious fans are UGA fans. Every national poll on this topic always has them in the top 3. How long has it been since UGA won a national championship? That’s right, keep barking…

I travel all over the southeast and the east coast to college football games, but I won’t ever go back to Athens. It’s just no fun.

By Jim

August 21, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

I definitely agree with Georgia fans being obnoxious, but Florida State fans have them beat by a mile!

By Not Even Close

August 21, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

UGA should be #1 by far. Too many obnoxious fans who’ve never stepped foot on campus. 1980 is long gone by the way.

By Tom Davis

August 21, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Florida fans think football was invented in the 90’s. Plus a majority of their fans are a bunch of yanks from NY and NJ area and they tell you so. Imagine that…a yank thinking he knows it all.

By AFnPC

August 21, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Bradley, are you kidding me you Homer?! Auburn fans for harrassing bammers?! Go to al.com/auburnfootball and read the bammers that reak of dawgdom in their relentless lashing of everything Auburn and then you might begin to understand why you see lightning in the distance! You’re probably the type of guy that would call the cops if I smacked my son on the butt!

By ugasuxdik

August 21, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

UGA is the biggest bunch of liquor store clerk trailer trash knuckle draggers in the south. UF is the biggest bunch of tight jeans prics in the south and lsu are a bunch of swamp guinea aholes. The sec as a whole has an IQ of 3 not counting Vandy.

By Another Ed

August 21, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

This is completely subjective. Everyone realizes that. For most folks, the fans we find the most obnoxious are probably those that root for the team we hate most. That said, I have been treated poorly at UGA and FLA, been treated well at Miss State and LSU (back when they were no good) and seen fans that support the same team I do act in an incredibly obnoxious manner (Bama). In short, most teams have some group of bad fans. Realize that when going to a game.

By George P

August 21, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Can’t you get anything right Bradley? UGA is #1 in all categories! Obnoxious fans, delusional fans, drunk fans, wal-mart fans…..

By ADL

August 21, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

This is the list on which UGA is truly #1.

Wal-mart UGA fans says it all.

By Sicem

August 21, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Aint nothing finer in the land than a drunk obnoxious Georgia fan!! GOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tennessee fans however are the worst period.

By David

August 21, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Mark, it is an interesting subject but everything depends on when they are winning and losing because ALL fans become more obnoxious when they win. You made that point with Alabama. And Georgia has become more obnoxious as the program has come back. One item on Georgia though….you are in Atlanta and surrounded by them. It would be different of you were in say, Birmingham.

The list is fairly accurate however you are totally wrong on LSU. They are clearly number 2. It is just that Baton Rouge is so far away and you aren’t exposed to them very often.

By reality check

August 21, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

There is not a fan of any SEC school that can rival Terence Moore when it comes to obnoxious.

By Fe

August 21, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

No arugment with the ranking for jean shorts and mullets @ UF. Surprised though UT managed to fly under the radar. Even more surpirsed where LSU ranked in your opinion. I thought Auburn fans were far more civil than either UT or LSU. But hey, you’re the expert. Let the season begin! Here we come, CUM. Tebow of Nazareth, look out!

By KR

August 21, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Mark,

I seriously doubt that you’ve been to a game in all 12 stadiums. I have friends who have attended each of the SEC schools and your impression is completely different ours.

It seems more like a list of your own personal biases.

By AllVOL

August 21, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

I agree with just about everything you said here, with one exception. UGAy fans have got to be the most obnoxious fans and I would say run a close second to the Gaytors. I have lived here for 12 years and it’s nauseating to have to listen to these two team’s fans.

As a Tennessee fan, I would not step foot into The Bog simply because of how the Gaytors’ fans treat the fans from opposing teams. A football game is simply not worth risking your life.

By Wesley

August 21, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

FLORIDA FANS WEAR JORTS

Blog Over.

By Mark Bradley

August 21, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

I used to think Auburn fans were about the best. I don’t anymore. But maybe that’s just me.

By twodawgs

August 21, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

Sure are a lot of Techmite responses on this topic!

By ADL

August 21, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

Sicem @8:41,

“Drunk obnoxious Georgia fan” is just being redundant.

By Old Dog...

August 21, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

Hello Mark, I am afraid that I agree with your comments so much, I am using an alias to protect my identity in this post. That should concern both of us. A couple of points: (1) You are absolutely correct in that is is sad that a lot of people can not appear to enjoy the game unless there is alcohol involved. There is at one place you can tailgate where no alcohol is allowed, and that is the Campus View Church of Christ located on Lumpkin Street across from the track. I have parked there for years and it is very family friendly. (2) You are also correct in saying Alabama is irrelevant; however, every Alabama fan I know is still screaming, “We got 12! We got Saban! Saban Nation! We won the National Championship in recruiting!” Hopefully, there will be enough Bama fans to read this, and will a clue that they are indeed no longer relevant! Thanks Mark!

By Clay

August 21, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

As a Georgia grad, I can admit we get obnoxious. However, the most obnoxious fans, by a long shot, are Auburn fans. Up here in metro Atlanta we focus on teams like Tech and UT; but, I used to live in Columbus and down there, it’s all Auburn. Auburn sits about 40 miles from Columbus and everyone down there walks around saying “War Eagle” as an answer to any question or as their greeting on the telephone. Most of those folks have no connection at all to Auburn except that it’s 40 miles down the road.

There are a fair number of Auburn grads/fans up here—and most I know believe Auburn is the end-all, be-all of college athletics; but, if they went to Columbus, they would fit right in.

By uga should be 1 or 2

August 21, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

simply because they never win!

Being obnoxious is worse when your team doesn’t win! 2 SEC football titles in the past 25 years is nothing to get so damn proud about dawggies. When your program gets better, and maybe it will this year, feel free to get louder and more pompous… but until then, please keep you mouth shut. Beating Ga Tech every year doesn’t make you a national powerhouse. UGA is 7-6 in their last 13 SEC games!

By lojak

August 21, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Hey UGA 3000

So you think UT should be Number 2 since you have attended both UGA and UT…Well, did you notice that the UT band played the Georgia fight song to the UGA section before the game, just as we do for all visiting teams. Thats called “class” not obnoxious you fool.

By sambo

August 21, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

uga fans are the most obnoxius, arrogant, trash talking people in college football. i hate you all, go away.

By SEC Rules

August 21, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

We all have our good fans and our obnoxious fans, let’s be real. But I have a question for “Call it Like it is” - I can’t find the Goggle website??????

By reality check

August 21, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Mark, one thing that would lend some substance to this blog is a requirement that bloggers identify the school they support.

That would provide an objective measure to the question you pose.

So far the most obnoxious seem to be from a non SEC school, Georgia Tech.

By What the?

August 21, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Mark it seems that you are the only one with anything bad to say about Auburn fans. I guess you had to put someone above your favorite team.

By SEC Rules

August 21, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

We all have our good fans and our obnoxious fans, let’s be real. But I have a question for “Call it Like it is” - I can’t find the Goggle website??????

By Clay

August 21, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley is the most obnoxious and least knowledgeable sports writer in America! There is no competition on most obnoxious fans. They are Tennessee Volunteer fans. They are fat, rude, uneducated, filthy mouthed, violent hillbilles!

By tim

August 21, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

you’ve gottta be out of your mind!… LSU fans are in the middle of the pack?… the visiting team (such as Auburn) has to wear their football helmets when entering or exiting the field to protect themselves from bottles, rocks, flasks, and a myriad of other projectiles raining down on the players… i recall one instance when a GA fan visited a port-a-potty and it was tipped over, rolled down an embankment, breaking the guy’s arm and when he crawled out covered in sewage, the LSU fans beat and kicked him mercilessly… no, there’s no way you can be worse than that.. and as for the Auburn/Alabama rivalry, yes many AU fans are crowing because the onslaught of Bama nation for years has absolutely insufferable… and it always goes back to..”well, if we had the Bear, then…”

By The Alpha Male

August 21, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Hey “Call it Like it Is”…. here’s a word for you to Google:

SPELLCHECK

By Cashews Clay

August 21, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Ranking obnoxious sports columnists

3. Furman Bisher: Crotchety old fart.

2. Terence Moore: I wonder if he watches sports sometimes. Also a race baiter.

1. Mark Bradley: Google those two words and come up with “talentless hack”.

By Mark Bradley

August 21, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

KR, I have indeed been to at least one game in each of the 12 stadiums. Plus Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville and Auburn-Alabama when it used to be in Birmingham. Plus the SEC championship game in both Birmingham and the Dome. You might disagree with my conclusions, but you should know that I’m not in the habit of making things up.

By Pat

August 21, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

GEORGIA FANS ARE BY FAR THE WORST!

By Pat

August 21, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

GEORGIA FANS ARE BY FAR THE WORST!

By office space

August 21, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

I agree with most everything you’ve said here Mark but I have to give an honorable mention to South Carolina. It was bad enough when they had a losing streak but after winning last yaer it’s like a million Steve Spurriers cloned and walking around yelling like homeless alcohlics that just found God. They don’t call them Cocks for nothin. Go DAWGS! castrate the Cocks!!

By Hilary

August 21, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

I think this Florida girl just got reminded to keep her mouthy trap shut a bit more lest I feed into this reputation founded primarily on our Walmart Gator fans and Jersey boys coming out of South Florida.

By Gator Girl

August 21, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

I think this Florida girl just got reminded to keep her mouthy trap shut a bit more lest I feed into this reputation founded primarily on our Walmart Gator fans and Jersey boys coming out of South Florida.

By Jag Dawg

August 21, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Island Dawg, you stole my point. As someone who lives in S. GA., there is no way in hell there are bigger jerks than the FL fans here. Most are band wagon jumpers. I respect Tim Tebow for being a model kid and great athelete, but FL fans about make you want to puke when they start talking about him.

By Hmmmmm

August 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

Just a college football fan who has been to several events in the southeast.

IMHO UGA fans are the MOST obnoxious fans in the southeast. They seem to think that they should win every game no matter what! The general IQ is very suspect, and I don’t care how old the fans are, young or old they are the WORST!

By reality check

August 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

Sisyphus would be insulted by being called a South Carolina fan. He was mean as a snake, but not delusional.

Did you mean to say Sissypuss?

By Barry

August 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

Florida’s fans are far and away the most obnoxious. But Georgia’s fans aren’t far behind - and this is from a real, degree-holding Georgia alumn, NOT a “sidewalk alumn” or “Wal-Mart fan.”

Bradley is dead on: Too many of Georgia’s older fans spend all morning getting drunk on North Campus, and all afternoon acting like absolute jerks. The only reason Florida is worse is that their jerks aren’t limited to older fans. Their fans of all ages are drunk, tactless loonies - and not just on game day.

By Jackson

August 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

With coaches like Spurrier and Meyer, Gator fans are bound to be obnoxious!! It’s the mullet and jean shorts crowd!!

By mom3

August 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Right. Georgia fans are the only ones that drink to excess at football games. I guess that Auburn fan that I saw throw up at the game last year had food poisoning. Those hot dogs will kill ya.

By davonelson

August 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Bradley, you need to get out of your office and mingle once and a while. It would allow you to see things more realistically. I have lived all over the south for fifty years and can tell you that Georgia fans rank number one in being obnoxious not just at ball games but in every day life as well.

By Jackson

August 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

With coaches like Spurrier and Meyer, Gator fans are bound to be obnoxious!! It’s the mullet and jean shorts crowd!!

By Mark

August 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Clay, if TN fans are hillbillies, I would not know what to call GA fans. Hard to argue when your “poster child” of a fan is a bald, old redneck with a Bulldog painted on his head. NO ADULT SHOULD EVER WEAR FACE/HEAD PAINT.

By SEC fan

August 21, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

As usual Mark Bardley is way off base on everything. Why does the AJC keep this incompetent amateur on staff anyhow? I’ll correct his obvious mistakes and rank the correct order for most obnoxious SEC fans. 1. Tennessee (this ain’t even close!) 2. Florida 3. LSU 4. Auburn 5. South Carolina 6. Georgia 7. Alabama 8. Kentucky (#1 in basketball!!!) 9. Arkansas 10. Ole Miss 11. Mississippi State 12. Vanderbilt

By Dawg 'n IT

August 21, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

This topic was fun while in college but come on…

Isn’t it subjective as to which school has the worst fans? Does any school/team actually teach it’s fans how to be obnoxious with an official Obnoxious Camp? Every school has fight songs, cheers, and other traditions to root for the home team and root against the hated rival(s).

It’s the SAME everywhere when it comes down to behavior. The only thing that varies greatly is the scale of that behavior. Just look at the order of Mark’s rankings. You can clearly see the larger capacity stadiums and/or more traditionally successful programs towards the top of the list while the smaller traditionally insignificant schools towards the bottom. About the only schools out of place are Arkansas and LSU. Flip flop the two and it’s hard to argue.

Look at it from another angle. If this blog were about basketball guess who would probably be in the Top 2…Kentucky and Florida and that would only be due to them being the current top 2 basketball programs in the SEC (Florida with recent success, Kentucky with their storied history).

There is so much personal experience and opinion that goes into ranking “bad fans” that it’s pointless to do so. Anyone can have a bad experience with any fan at any venue. Heck, I’d say fans have more problems with their own than they do with another school if you look at social interaction 365 days a year.

Me personally? If I had to rank the conference I’d put Florida #1 but I’ll be honest and tell you why. Florida is UGA’s most hated rival. We play a neutral site game with a 50/50 split and have some serious venom and history behind the series. All of those factors means that if a Florida fan and a Ole Miss fan do the exact same obnoxious thing, I’d think the Florida fan was worse because that team is more meaningful to me as a UGA fan than the Rebels. It’s that simple. For the record Florida fans, I work with and have known many Gators in my day and all have been great people as far as I know and I’ve never been taunted during this 20 year run of dominance in the series.

To sum it all up, no matter how you want to define demographics, you’re going to find good and bad everywhere so stop trying to label one “something” as worse than other “somethings”.

By office space

August 21, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

sorry guys what I meant to do was add an ammendment to their ranking.

By Mark Bradley

August 21, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Ten years ago, I’d probably have put South Carolina No. 3 or even No. 2. But I’ve kind of come around on those folks, and I really do admire their persistence. And no other group — not even Auburn fans — has to put up with such terrible traffic at every single home game.

By hahaha

August 21, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

I seriously think UGA is #1. I mean comon, 99% of UGA fans DIDN’T go to UGA. For that matter, 99% of UGA fans didn’t graduated HIGH SCHOOL. Oh, and for all you UGA fans I shall explain my comment. 99% means for every 100 people only 1 of you actually graduated high school. High school is a place you go to build on the things you would have learned if you had finished middle school.

By office space

August 21, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

I think I need therapy, I’m wondering why we, The Dawgs, aren’t #1 here.

By Rick B

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Sorry, but any poll of this nature that has UT fans at 7 is freaking RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!! Being born in Kentucky and living in Georgia doesn’t qualify you on this. Try living in Tennessee Bradley!!

By DestinEagle

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

I am a Georgia Southern Fan and spend part of my year in Destin Florida…the R&R capital of the SEC.

Personally, I hate them all…half never went to the school they “live and die for”.

But hands down…with 100% certainty…the absolute worst is:

LSU

I could fill a coffee table book of stories and pictures from down here at the beach.

By THEO

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

The most obnoxious thing about gator fans is all the jean shorts. You would think Gainsville was sponsored by Levi’s. They should tell the ladies down there that they come in different sizes for a reason!

By Voice of Reason

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Just from personal experience… You got Florida right. Alot of parents I know down there went to UF, then there kids who could only get into the local community college or none at all are the worst fans in the SEC. Parent alums ok though. Auburn…never had a problem there. As a visitor I have always been treated with class. Funny about the motorcycles reaving after they beat us. LSU…needs to be MUCH higher. It’s the only place I’ve been called “Tiger (or anything) Bait” to my face 1,000 times and there is nothing worse than a drunken cajun on Saturday Night. Tennessee…only place I’ve been spit on or someone tried to run over a whole crowd in their 4 Runner (including their own fans). Other than those, I’ve been treated with class. South Carolina…funniest fans for the reasons you noted. Of course, the worst single treatment I got was there after Quincy Carter threw those interceptions. It was a long walk throuh the fair grounds. UGA…yeah, there are alot of 25-35 who think because they CAN drink and act like they are in college that they SHOULD drink and act like they are in college. All the tailgaters and folks around me at the games are class though.

By Jim

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

UGAY has the most annoying fans ever. Being overrated every year really doesn’t help, but the fans bring the program to an all time low. You can see the lack of class everywhere, including the endzone in jacksonville last year. That move will ruin UGAY this year. Urban will win by 30.

By Toby Miller

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Dawgs fans are pretty obnoxious because year in and year out they ALWAYS think they are better than they are. They usually ALWAYS end up finding out that they are are not.

By check the reality

August 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Good point reality check.

I support UGA, and we are the most obnoxious…

By AVinnieD

August 21, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

I’m gonna have to go with the Gators on this one. I have never seen so many people cheer when players get injured. Many of them will still boast about breaking Tyrone Prothro’s leg. I live in Gainesville and watch games with them and it is common to see group high fives when players on opposing teams go down. Of course if I had to wear orange and blue, I probably wouuldn’t have any class either.

By TS Fay

August 21, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

LSU is the worst. The hicks from the Red Stick are an abomination. No Class. You can’t spell LoU*S*y without L-S-U.

Thanks for your support.

By DHD

August 21, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

There is no question that it is the Dawg fans. When they win, red pickups with rebel flags and shotguns show up on Saturday night. Tobacco spitting rednecks yelling “how bout them dawgs?” It is a total embarrassment to education and the state of Georgia.

By Football Traveler

August 21, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

I’ve been to games in probably a dozen D-1A football stadiums, mainly in the SEC and ACC. There are obnoxious fans everywhere and there are nice fans (actual alumni most of the time) everywhere that appreciate you visiting their campus for a game and will share a beer or burger with you…

And then there’s Athens, where people pee off the bleachers onto crowds below, where drunk adults throw beer bottles at 10 yr old girls wearing the opposing team’s colors, where 85 yr old ladies curse alongside 3 generations of fans with no college degrees, and all that’s on a good day. Athens, where it’s no fun to attend, except to look at all the sorority girls who are more concerned with looking phenomenal than watching football.

By Southern by the grace of God

August 21, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

It would help if Mark Bradley actually attended and SEC football game.

The most obnoxious fans by far are Tennessee fans. LSU is next. Florida third, Auburn fourth.

Tennessee fans are the drunkest and most uncuth in all of college football. I’ve never seen one that actually went to college anywhere ot at least they don’t seem intelligent enough to have ever gone to college.

When it comes to being drunk, South Carlina fans rank way up there. But they are a much happier drunk than Tennessee fans who scream every vile word possible at fans of the other team and usually want to fight. Florida fans like to fight, too.

If we were ranking basketball fans, Kentucky would be the number one most obnoxious.

By **the finger**

August 21, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

i’m glad i smart enough to get into an ACC school. SEC people - ewwee!

By Damon

August 21, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

Florida fans have to be the worst fans by far of any team in the SEC, sorry UF but its true. And truthfully 99% of the time its the students at the game that give the other fans a bad name.

By GatorG

August 21, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

Bradley, I appreciate that you’ve been to games at every stadium. So have I, but the difference is that I was in the stands, not in the pressbox eating a buffet lunch and watching other games on the TV.

I’m also willing to admit that I’m not objective enough to rank UF. I can say, though, that we definitely have the loudest stadium. Call that obnoxious if you want to.

All that said, my top rankings are:

  • LSU. Come on - they schedule their games at night just to make sure they’re drunk!

  • Tennessee. If listening to Rocky Top over and over and over and over doesn’t bother you, you’re deaf.

  • Alabama. No one comes close, and that’s if they’re winning or losing. Because, as everyone knows, they had the BEAR!

  • By Jim

    August 21, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

    Fat dawg-

    You are the reason that everyone thinks UGAY is a bunch of stupid rednecks. You..and because they are. Best teams in football history? ANother stupid redneck comment. UGAY has 1 national championship. They are a joke!!!!!!!!!!

    By Sarah

    August 21, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

    How right you are about the FL and GA fans. I am an ARK fan (and I agree with you about ARK too). When I went to the GA/ARK game a couple of years ago, I had a GA fan who was at least 70 come up to me and berate me for having on an ARK shirt. And at my age (60) I just told him to shut up and walked away.

    By Gwen

    August 21, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

    As an ACC alumna working at an SEC school, I have to say that ALL SEC fans except Vandy’s are r-u-d-e. But my most vivid memory is of a fellow alumna of my Alma Mater and me rescuing an older lady from being TRAMPLED TO DEATH by her own side’s “fans” because they were so eager to put their broad butts into the tiny stand seats at their home stadium. That said it all to me. PS - Thanks, Fat Dawg. You proved the stereotype to the world - be a drunk and don’t read books. Great.

    By TS Fay

    August 21, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

    LSU fans are the worst!

    The Hicks from the Red Stick are an abomination!

    Few teeth. Zero class.

    You can’t spell LoUSy without LSU.

    By aaron

    August 21, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

    florida fans are the most obnoxious, hands down. one of my best friends all my life is a UF fan, and i can’t stand his guts on game day. blue jean shorts anyone? plus, that stupid gator clap makes me want to slap every idiot thats ever done that in my face.

    on the other hand, i love UGA but we’re at the top of the list as well. a few years ago at a game in athens, another dawg fan right next to me was so drunk that he tried to pick a fight with me, and not 2 seconds later he decided that he wanted to start a cheer with me? so the alcohol thing is a real problem. besides that, the ideal “we’re the best thing ever” mindset of most UGA fans is very annoying. we can’t win national titles every year, so stop acting like we got screwed out of it every year!

    By Thomas

    August 21, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

    I believe LSU fans are the worse. I am a Gator fan and I think gator fans are laid back ompared to others such as Alabama, LSU and Georgia. Georgia fans get really upset when you remind them they are just an average team.

    By AU_Ken

    August 21, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

    Auburn fans #2? You’ve got to be kidding, right? Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee fans are ALL more obnoxious than Auburn fans…mostly because they have a large contingent of “joe six-pack” fans who pull for the team because it has their state’s name on the school. Most Auburn fans actually went to school there or have family connections to people who went to school there (simliar to GA Tech fans).

    Oh, and Tennessee has to be #2 in my mind (I agree with Florida #1) just because of how obnoxious it is to hear Rocky Top over and over….

    By The General Feeling

    August 21, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

    You really “pegged” the Bama fans. Good one. I enjoy seeing the Georgia adults in their khaki pants and starched button-downs…and vomit. Lots of vomit last year at Neyland in the first half, by the way.

    By AU_Ken

    August 21, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

    Auburn fans #2? You’ve got to be kidding, right? Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee fans are ALL more obnoxious than Auburn fans…mostly because they have a large contingent of “joe six-pack” fans who pull for the team because it has their state’s name on the school. Most Auburn fans actually went to school there or have family connections to people who went to school there (similar to GA Tech fans).

    Oh, and Tennessee has to be #2 in my mind (I agree with Florida #1) just because of how obnoxious it is to hear Rocky Top over and over….

    By Everlasting Dawg

    August 21, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

    You have got to be kidding me. I stay silent as much as possible but this is so absurd I have to sy something. We are a week from Div 1 kicking off, and 3 days from div 2 kick off and this is the best topic we could come up with. This is a pointless and mind numbingly ignorant topic.

    By Bill in Sandy Springs

    August 21, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

    Vanderbilt: The best thing about Vandy is its academics. The worst thing about Vandy fans is their insistence in hitting you over the head with those academics.”

    There nothing worse than having a conversation about football and somebody counters with the old line, “our school has better academics than yours”.(very childish AND STUPID) Your 4-7 team does not get a pass because of your good education.

    However the few Vandy fans that I know are not like that. Most of them are kind of INDIFFERENT. They are thrilled if they actually win but I don’t think they are bitter about their situation like say Georgia Tech fans. Stop telling me about your salary when we are talking about football. Your team still sux.

    By Mark Bradley

    August 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

    Far be it from me to defend any Gator, but isn’t this jean shorts thing getting old?

    By Haywood Jablowme

    August 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

    Judging by the garbage littering the end zone in Tuscaloser at the conclusion of the UGA/Bama game last season, I would have to rank the Bammers as the #1 worst fans……totally classless.

    By Real Rankings

    August 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

    The bottom 4 are irrelevant but heres how they should actually be ranked:

  • Mississippi State
  • Kentucky
  • Vanderbilt
  • Ole Miss
  • Arkansas
  • South Carolina
  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • Auburn
  • Tennessee
  • LSU
  • Florida
  • By Tom

    August 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

    A yapping Dawg that won’t shut up is much worse than someone saying WAR EAGLE. The worst though, are Bama fans, who never went there, still thinking the BEAR is coming back to save their world.

    By Gratfuldawghead

    August 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

    Sorry…I developed a bad drinking habit watching the DAWGS during the Goff years! I saw us lose to VANDY at Homecoming! Now they are soooo exciting to watch drinking helps my nerves! Have a drink on me!

    GO DAWGS!

    By Cocksure

    August 21, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

    As a Gamecock, I’m a little surprised (but honored) we were ranked #6, but I could see where the Gamecock nation’s “delusions of granduer” could be pretty obnoxious.

    Here’s my top three.

    3 - Bama - I think they honestly believe they invented football, plus they seem to give themselves national titles out of thin air. Which is it 12 or 7? 2 - Georgia - Beautiful campus, great stadium, top-notch program, but some of the most insufferable fans in the country. Obnoxious, over-served frat boys all over the place plus a huge contingent of the afore-mentioned Wal-Mart

    Dawg fans. Go to a game in Athens and you are likely to see numerous fist fights spilling out in to the streets of downtown Athens after the game … embarrassing.

    1 - LSU - Anyone who’s actually been to a game there knows this to be fact. Obnoxious is one thing. I can appreciate people being obnoxious, but the downright threatening and hostile behavior displayed by some of the LSU contingent is pretty ridiculous. They do throw one heck of a party though, so most folks seem to be able to have a good time anyway.

    By gary

    August 21, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

    I really think, without question, that we LSU fans are the nicest in the league.

    By timthebrave

    August 21, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

    This article was annoying. There are good people that root for all of these teams and there are annoying people that root for all of these teams. Just keep it clean and talk about the teams and don’t make it personal. I have had good experiences with people from all of these teams. I don’t let drunk obnoxious people ruin my good time. As far as the person that said Athen is not fun…..excuse me…what??? It must have ruin