re: Which SEC fanbases know and accept their programs place in the conference?

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We as fans don't have to accept anything.

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True, but having realistic expectations is overall a better thing as a program.

If your expectations are too low you become a doormat and you don't fire coaches you should fire (Miami the last couple of years, or Colorado)

If your expectations are too high you fire good coaches and force yourself into long periods of rebuilding (Nebraska is the classic example)

So fan expectations do matter and can either help or hurt things.

To your point though we shouldn't "accept" our place as is, each program should try to become a better program than it is. Well except Bama, I don't see how they could get better.

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Once again the LSU to Bama gap is double, while the A&M gap is slight. I can keep going if you want. Hell, let's just look at wins, as you say "the results of the games!" Bama has 864 wins all-time LSU has 770 A&M has 717 Gap from Bama to LSU? 94 wins Gap from LSU to A&M? 53 wins

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A&M played in some weak arse conferences though. Not all things are equal when comparing shite like wins, conference championships, and such.

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Well, I'm sure you have meet/interacted with many more Auburn fans than I have but I always thought they had higher expectations than they should at times. That really isn't saying much though because any school would if they had Bama in the same state and primary rival.

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This isn't untrue. I mean, if you ignore history and just look at Auburn as an average academic school out in rural Alabama that has largely been the second choice of residents, state government, etc., it's nuts for AU to have high expectations. Especially being one of very few such schools with another major, in this case elite, program in its state.

But, while that may be delusional in a vacuum, we're a top 15ish program all time, so the expectations being close to that range seem less bizarre in reality.

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We readily admit Bama is the better program than us.

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I should have added that A&M worships an inferior academic and cultural abortion of a school in Alabama.

I will make you a deal Petti, I will get off Bama's dick the second you drop the incredible hyperbole about an A&M that is basically Auburn without Cam Newton and with weird traditions.


Knowing your expected answer I am getting comfortable where I am.

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I disagree somewhat - AU may be on par with UF.

But when I see an AU record of 3-7 vs LSU and 2-8 vs UGA in the last 10 yrs, I don't think they are "on par" with either program. AU has a lot of catching up to do against those two teams IMO.

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In some ways, I agree. Can't argue that Auburn is on the back end of that cluster right now, but historically, it's a pretty tight cluster. UGA is rewarded for consistency in the Richt era, AU has kept close to them by getting to 2 national championship games in a short span.

But I wouldn't debate Auburn needs will either have to continue its ridiculous up and down seasons or settle into a higher win average to maintain membership in that group.

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I will make you a deal Petti, I will get off Bama's dick the second you drop the incredible hyperbole about an A&M that is basically Auburn without Cam Newton and with weird traditions.

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You'll have to tell me more about my hyperbole about A&M. I shite talk A&M a lot, but I don't compare Auburn to A&M very often, so I'm not sure what the angle is.

A&M is the bigger, better academic, richer school. Auburn is the better football program and probably the less weird, more fun school.

I do think A&M's appeal for Bama's attention is ridiculous just because it doesn't make any sense.

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each program should try to become a better program than it is. Well except Bama, I don't see how they could get better.

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Exactly. And unless the people running the program, coaching and playing the games believe they are the best they won't become the best.

As fans, realistic expectations are one thing. But we don't have to tuck out tails between our legs when fans from historically more successful schools are present because each of our teams is one season away from being the conference's best.

Fans should shout as loud as they can when more successful teams are on offense in their (the fan's) stadium. They should do so because they believe they can win and want to do anything they can to help make it happen.

If we accept a slot in some perceived hierarchy we'd have no reason to actively cheer on our team. We'd just as well sit back and take it every time a team with more historical success comes around.

Ole Miss has proven over the past few years that these perceptions are utter bullshite. A case could be made for Missouri as well, Vandy a few years back, Mississippi State in 14...

In 1998, Tulane went undefeated and finished in the top-10. Granted, they didn't really play anybody but they'd have upset some SEC teams that year if they had the chance to play them. FWIW, Tommy Bowden was HC that year and Rich Rod the OC. Future NFL vet Shaun King was QB, and JuJuan Dawson (also an NFL success) a starting WR.

Just saying, great seasons don't happen unless everyone around the program buys in and believes they can be the best. It can happen. Fans should never defer to rival fanbases. Doing so negates our very purpose.

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The fact some of us are able to draw reactions over even casually mentioning Bama shows a lot about your insecurities.

It's hilarious

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People in glass trailers, aggie

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The fact some of us are able to draw reactions over even casually mentioning Bama shows a lot about your insecurities.

It's hilarious

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Says the guy with over 11,000 posts about LSU.