re: Can we talk about Freeze’s weak answer about the Georgia rivalry?

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If you need to hate someone in order to compete, you don't really have that fight in you. Sure it is a great motivator, but your drive to compete should be more internally driven, not externally.

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This. Hatred for one particular school is fan stuff. That doesn't get you up at 6am year round for workouts, eating 7 egg whites every morning, or playing at a high level every rep every single week. Having "hate" for a particular team gets you "rah rah" for like 5 minutes before a game but doesn't win games. That dedication comes from buying into yourself and your team, and a deep desire to do the best you possible can every single day to get better.

If someone talks smack directly or in regards to a game, in the words of Jordan "and I took that personally". However, that's not hate either... that's controlled emotional response to disrespect and putting someone back in their place.

Now, do some guys get themselves mentally worked up to hating the other team during the game? Yes. But you're not doing that 24/7/365 and generally it's more of an in-game state and after that final whistle it's on to the next opponent.