jennisalter

I teach at Auburn University, and I have been to many games. I can say with confidence that the best opposing team fans I've come in contact with have been Ole Miss, Alabama (though, I've known a few jerks too), and Texas A&M. I especially love Ole Miss fans, b/c they aren't afraid to come in to town and tailgate right along side all of the Auburn fans! As for the worst fans I've encountered, it would have to be Georgia and LSU. Georgia fans are outright malicious and hateful while LSU fans are just plain rude and obnoxious. I once had a student who was on AU's football team tell me that LSU was his least favorite away game b/c the fans would spit on the team as they came out of the tunnel onto the field and throw FULL water bottles at them. And of course Auburn fans are never welcomed in GA with any sort of grace or hospitality. But, these are just my experiences.

Take a drink every time they mention this year's Heisman race.

Someone else has already brought this up, but I'll expand on the idea. Though, yes, UA does have a larger following in the state, not all UA fans hate AU. The older fans tend to really hate TN the most b/c that's UA's oldest rival, while newer fans tend to hate LSU b/c of Nick Saban, the year they played in the National Championship, the fact that LSU fans tend to be less than friendly, etc.. However, AU fans are not so divided in their hatred. Most AU fans hate in this order UA, GA, LSU. But UA is always first. Then you have to account for the transplants from other states who will most likely hate UA. Personally, I come from a divided family and most of the UA fans in my family hate TN and LSU way more than AU.

No way AU is the most hated team in GA, most of the student's at AU are from GA and everyone I know that lives in Atlanta is an AU fan. There's an Auburn Street in downtown Atlanta for goodness sakes, lol.

Yes.

Being a Birmingham native, avid football fan, and an educator, this breaks my heart on many different levels. I truly hope that all of these kids are able to get scholarships to other universities and be able to play without having to sit out a season. No kid should have their education yanked out from under them for political reasons. It just isn't fair. I'm definitely keeping all of these kids, their families, and the coaching and athletic staff in my prayers.

This does not surprise me. To be quite honest the GA fans don't act much more civil when they are in Auburn. Last year, GA fans were rude before, during, and after the game. The worst stories I've ever heard about SEC fans all revolve around GA (Let's not forget the year GA fans set the Toomer's Oaks on fire after loosing to AU) and LSU (they are known for starting fights in the stands and throwing bottles at the opposing team as they enter the stadium). But, I say can't we all just be classy and treat our guests with the hospitality that the south is known for? Just because you don't root for a particular team doesn't mean you can't treat that team's fan base with respect and kindness. Auburn fans were recently voted as the nicest fans in the SEC, and that's because we know how to make folks feel at home! War Eagle.

I think GA is doing the smart thing and being cautious, rather than risk getting the whole team in trouble. But, I will say, that I hope he isn't suspended for the entire season. I hate to see a kid loose a season of opportunities based on one mistake. I say, sit him out for a game or two (which is what should have happened to Manziel rather than the pitiful half), and let him learn his lesson. After all, he is just a kid!! Kid's in college make mistakes all the time! It's not as if he committed theft or rape **cough, Jamis Winston** There are some players out there getting away with serious crimes, why punish Gurley for something so minor?

I find your assumption that all of these football players are from the ghetto, offensive. Jamis Winston is actually from a pretty affluent home in a decent suburb of Birmingham. There are bad kids in the suburbs just as much as in the "ghetto." I teach at Auburn University, and I can tell you that many of my best students, are those who you'd be surprised to know, come from low income families in the inner cities. I'm not trying to be rude, I just want to make sure you realize that generalizing kids, who have no control over where or how they grew up, is not cool. The football players who have been getting in trouble are doing so, not because of where they grew up, but because they have a lack of proper guidance and/or are just not good people. Furthermore, look at the type of person Johnny Manziel is; he grew up filthy, stinking, rich...I think that says it all. Doesn't matter what farm you were hatched in, there are bad eggs in every bunch.

Yes. Well said.

First, let me say I don't have a tiger or a hog in this fight. I'm an Auburn fan, but at the end of every Saturday, I'm an SEC fan. I support all of our teams (when they're not playing mine of course ;) ) And, as an SEC fan, I have to say this kid needs some re-education on the finer points of football. What he did is classless and misrepresents not only his school and team, but the conference as a whole. It is players like this, with aggression issues, who are giving football a bad name. I definitely think he needs to be punished in some way for this action. Most players after a play is made are helping one another up and smacking each other on the back with "hey buddy, good play." Most players respect the other team. This kid clearly doesn't.