Published July 30, 2011 - 9:00am
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
The SEC East starts our series on the “Best Of” the SEC. The East can be defined right now as fallen greatness, but it certainly has a rising newcomer.
Florida, Tennessee and Georgia all have very questionable outlooks this year; so in one sense, the East can be seen as fallen greatness, with the numerous SEC Championships between the three. However, with South Carolina building so much talent in Columbia, it’s hard not to come to the conclusion the Gamecocks are a rising newcomer. Football is cyclical, and the East will be back again.
Here is the best of the SEC East:
Tailgating – Florida vs. Georgia – Jacksonville
I’m going with a wildcard pick on this and not go with an actual stadium, but the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville is the best tailgating around. Both Georgia and Florida fans parked right beside each other, and they even share the same decorated Port-O-Lets. It’s incredible. Fans are there at 8:00 AM, ready for the 3:30 PM start, hammered by 10:00 AM. Dawg fans with their Herschel Walker jerseys are barking at one another, with some Florida fans dressing up in their “Florida attire” – fake jorts and mullets. It’s truly a sight to be seen, no matter who you pledge your allegiance to in the SEC.
Mascot – Georgia Bulldogs
There is just something about a real mascot that gets fans excited. UGA and Hairy have to be the logical choice here, followed closely by Smokey from Tennessee. If you will remember, UGA is the mascot that tried to physically bite the Auburn player. Even UGA recognizes the South’s Oldest Rivalry.
Uniforms – Florida Gators
The best uniforms in the SEC East belong to the Florida Gators. The orange and blue are one of the leading brands in the SEC and in the country. The best uniform combinations, I believe, are the blue-on-blue and white-on-white. We’ll see if the Gators roll out in the all-blue combination because South Carolina kicked their butts at home in that same combination. Could it be my blue shaded sunglasses?
Helmets – Vanderbilt Commodores
The best helmets in the SEC belong to the Vanderbilt Commodores. There is just something about the black and gold colors with the star on the helmet that symbolizes prestige and honor. Hopefully James Franklin can get these helmets winning!
Fan Base – Kentucky Wildcats
You have to hand it to the Kentucky Wildcats. Fans show up to football games wanting to see the product on the football field each and every game. Kentucky is deemed a basketball school. While that is true, Kentucky has had some very good football players choose to attend there who have made themselves good players. They might not have been the best coming in, but some have been great exiting. And fans continue to support the Big Blue Nation through thick and thin. No matter the product they are putting on the field, fans continue to support their team.
Facilities – Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers are currently renovating Neyland Stadium, and it will be second to none from a facilities standpoint. The Vols also have a beautiful indoor practice facility at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. You can see the master plan here. I love Neyland Stadium and the setting on the river. It screams SEC Football.
New Kids On The Block – South Carolina Gamecocks
When Steve Spurrier went to South Carolina to be the head coach, Gamecock fans were dreaming of the day when Spurrier would have this program competing for Eastern division championships. Well, that day has finally come. South Carolina is stockpiling talent right now in Columbia, and they look suited for a future run, with great talent on both offense and defense. Last year, the Gamecocks won the East, albeit a weak East, but nonetheless, they had to prove it. This year, they are the preseason favorite by most, and 2011 could be the year this program gets 10 wins.
Good read.
You’re right there isn’t anything in College football like Jacksonville on Halloween weekend. It is, no matter how hard they try to kill it “The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” If you haven’t been just to experience it once , it should be on your Bucket List. The Grove at Ole Miss is a fun experience and the Iron Bowl is ??……..well “The Iron Bowl” The schools hate each other but there is nothing memorable about it. Other than the game (sometimes) . Been to the “Red River Shoot-out” once in the eighties. Heard it’s changed alot.
I too believe College football is cyclical. When is UGA going to be on the winning cycle again in Jax? This year?
I’m not sure. Meyer certainly had Richt’s number; so, can Richt have Muschamp’s number? I think it is only a matter of time before this Georgia program wakes up. It may or may not be with Mark Richt.
I understand you have to get every school in the east a shout out and you are right with all of them except one… Kentucky with the best fans in the SEC east. Carolina gets that one hands down. Kentucky usually doesn’t sell out the stadium of only about 60,000 people unless its a really huge opponent. Carolina sells out every game and has been for almost 15 years. When Carolina was 0-11 and then the next year 1-11 the stadium was still sold out for every game. It doesn’t matter if we are playing Furman or the Gators, we sell out. Plus on a personal level I would have to give the best looking Jerseys to Carolina as well. I know I know a little bias and you are probably going on the number sold, which has a lot to do with Tebow not specifically the gators, however how can that putrid orange look better than those badass Under Armour Garnet and Black modern Masterpieces?
While I don’t know if our Gamecocks would get that one “hands down” at all, I will agree that it seems quite a stretch to give that one to UK. I’ve been there on more than one occasion and the atmosphere has been lackluster. Seriously heard a lot more talk about basketball from the fans there on one outing. Though, I suppose with what they’re putting on the field, the fans do more than expected. Only need to look and Vanderbilt’s stadium, where we could hear ourselves whisper to each other, to see that.
I agree cocknballs that orange is far from good looking. Not a big Tebow fan either. He won for sure but poetry in motion?! NOT!!
Yes, even I must admit that Georgia has a great mascot. Quite possibly the best in the SEC as a whole. Some friends of mine have a couple of English Bulldogs and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a real Uga when I lived in Savannah. That breed is something else. And can you say “chick magnet”? Try walking an English Bulldog and not getting a woman’s number.
Not sure I agree about the uniforms. South Carolina has the best-looking uniforms in the East (not SEC in total, obviously).
I must say that I cant see eye to eye with you on this one Jon. While my opinion may seem biased, its not. I have to say that Carolina has the best fans and the best looking uniforms. Those all garnet look pretty awesome. How in the world can you deny the loyal fans of Carolina. I have been to games all over the southeast and there is nothing like the fans of South Carolina. We have some of the most loyal and classy fans there are.
Agreed
Carolina has the best uniforms in the entire SEC by far but Ole miss has the best tailgating in the entire SEC.