SEC writers pick best stadium, fanbase and press box food

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Best of SEC survey

Which SEC school has the best football stadium? The most passionate fanbase? What about the best atmosphere for a game? AL.com surveyed 20 sportswriters to answer those questions among others. Those surveyed were a mix of team beat writers, columnists and national writers.

Check out all of their candid answers below for the inside scoop of the SEC's best.

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Which school has best game atmosphere?

1) LSU -- 12 votes

2) Alabama -- 3 votes

3) Georgia -- 2 votes

Also receiving votes: Tennessee (1), Auburn (1) and South Carolina (1)

LSU was the clear pick as the SEC's best game atmosphere. "Cajuns + night game + whiskey = electricity," is how one media member put it. Another said, "You can feel the crowd as much as you can hear it. Just another level of wild."

The most succinct reason for why LSU? "Everyone is drunk."

Of 2nd place finisher Alabama: "The students do a lot of singing."

On Auburn: "Super loud, fun, they do a good job with the scoreboard and sound effects."

On South Carolina: "I've been there when the press box literally shakes."

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Which school has worst game atmosphere?

1) Vanderbilt -- 11 votes

T2) Kentucky, Missouri -- 3 votes each

4) LSU -- 2 votes

5) Mississippi State -- 1 vote

Poor Vanderbilt was the overwhelming winner for worst game atmosphere. "It's non-existent," said one writer. "You'd find more students in the library. Downtown Nashville, on the other hand, is wonderful."

Another said: "It's basically a big high school stadium and the attendance just isn't what it is at SEC schools.'

On Mississippi State: "The cowbells are annoying and 'Don't Stop Believin' is lame."

On Kentucky: "A nice stadium and a nice campus, but lacks enthusiasm."

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Best SEC stadium

1) Tiger Stadium (LSU) -- 8 votes

2) Sanford Stadium (Georgia) -- 4 votes

3) Neyland Stadium (Tennessee) -- 3 votes

4) Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama) -- 2 votes

T5) Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M -- 1 vote

On Georgia's stadium: "Maybe it's because the press box is in a good spot. But also a nice stadium."

On Florida's stadium: "It's big but feels small. Fans right on top of the action."

On Tennessee's stadium: "I'm a sucker for the coliseum effect"

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Which school has most energetic/passionate fans?

1) Alabama -- 9 votes

2) LSU -- 7 votes

T-3) South Carolina, Texas A&M -- 1 vote each

Alabama narrowly edged out LSU for the most energetic/passionate fanbase. Multiple writers cited Alabama's fans as the power behind its strong football game atmosphere. A few writers knocked LSU fans for occasional bad behavior.

Quotables:

On South Carolina fans: "Those fans support their team in good times and bad."

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Best press box food

T-1) Tennessee, LSU -- 4 votes each

3) Alabama -- 3 votes

4) Texas A&M -- 2 votes

Also receiving votes: Auburn (1), Kentucky (1), Georgia (1), South Carolina (1), Mississippi State (1)

The joke goes that sportswriters love nothing more than free food. A sportswriter can get a free meal in every SEC football stadium press box but a few stand out above the rest.

Quotables:

On Georgia: "Not only a pregame meal, but halftime hot dogs and chips and salsa, and postgame sandwiches."

On Auburn: "Good variety and like the fruit salad as a healthy choice."

On Mississippi State: "They take pizza orders from your seat at halftime which is very convenient."

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Worst press box food

1) Auburn -- 9 votes

2) Mississippi State -- 2 votes

T-3) Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina -- 1 vote each

Auburn lands the ignominious honor of having the worst press box food out of the SEC. No other school had more than two votes compared to Auburn's nine votes from this survey.

Quotables:

On Auburn: "Even the hot dogs are disgusting. The only redeeming quality is good ice cream selection."

On Florida: "Some beat writers have been known to bring Jimmy John's to the press box rather than eat food at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium."

On bad SEC press box food: "This is why I eat before I get there."

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Best press box experience

1) Georgia -- 5 votes

2) LSU -- 4 votes

T-3) Alabama, Tennessee -- 3 votes

Also receiving votes: Texas A&M (2), Auburn (1), Kentucky (1), Florida (2)

Georgia wins best SEC press box experience. SEC writers cited its location (50-yard line), open-air and great media relations team, among others reasons, as why it is superior to the 13 other schools. "Claude Felton is the nicest SID in the SEC and really makes the experience so much easier," said one writer.

Other quotables:

On Auburn: Everybody in the SEC does a good job, but the Auburn folks are especially helpful.

On Alabama: "Because 50-yard line, open air"

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Worst press box experience

T-1) Auburn, Tennessee -- 4 votes each

T-3) South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Missouri -- 2 votes each

Also receiving votes: Mississippi State (1), Arkansas (1), Florida (1)

Auburn and Tennessee tied in a split vote for the worst press box in the SEC. Auburn also earned worst press box food honors while Tennessee tied for the best food. Interestingly, SEC writers voiced stronger opinions about schools other than the two tied at the top.

Quotables:

On South Carolina: "The shaking of the press box freaks me out."

On Missouri: "It's divided up, and you feel isolated."

On Florida: "Too far from action."

On Mississippi State: "The windows always are open no matter how cold it is outside and I really get sick of hearing those cowbells. But the people at MSU run a good overall operation and are very nice."

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