SEC team is rated as most miserable college football fan base
Who’s the most miserable fan base in college football? Which school is mentioned in the same breath as the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and the NBA’s New York Knicks?
Chris Chase of FOX Sports’ AtThe Buzzer gave his take on the top three in several pro and college sports, and Georgia was rated No. 1 in college football.
Here’s his case for the Bulldogs:
“Why Georgia? Plenty of college teams are way worse — take two schools mentioned above, Kansas and Wake Forest — but no one really cares about football at those schools, except in the odd year where they’re good or when Charlie Weis is getting run out of town. So, our list has to be hardcore football schools that haven’t been playing very good football or, in the case of our No. 1 team, have been playing fine football but just can’t put it together for one season to win the dominant SEC. Mark Richt had 10-plus wins in nine of 15 seasons in Athens and got canned, which should tell you something about expectations at Georgia.”
The Richt era certainly left the fans in Athens wanting more as there was always a sense that he did the least while having the most at his disposal.
According to sports-reference.com, Georgia posted 145 wins during Richt’s 15-year tenure. That total stands as 7th-most in the FBS and 2nd only to Alabama in the SEC. Six of those seven schools were from Power 5 conferences and Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and USC all won national championships over that span.
The other Power 5 school, Oklahoma, won its title in 2000, the year immediately before Richt’s debut at Georgia.
Meanwhile, Missouri was rated No. 1 for most miserable college basketball fan base.
Kirby Smart probably has more anxiety about his job than a flight dispatcher in Atlanta… or a nun in a brothel… or Trump’s barber… or Kanye West reading to a kindergarten class…
Damn son!
Bama fans have been spoiled during the Saban years, and even they’ll tell you that. But there isn’t really a close 2nd to that delusional fan base.
You watch… Saban will retire or move on and hilarity will ensue.
Yes, Alabama fans have the highest expectations, but I have trouble seeing how the team that actually HAS won X (where X = some indefinite, but for sure quite large number) national championships could be classified as “delusional.”
I was born in 1955. During my lifetime, Alabama has 11 national championships either through BCS, playoff, or one or more of the established polls (AP or UPI) and since 1960 has probably been a serious contender for the title as many years as it has not been. There’s nothing “delusional” about Bama fans expecting a coach to bring home natties.
What he said. There are several very, very good SEC programs, including UT(I think you guys are back to regular SEC East contention). But historically and recently, Bama is the dominant SEC program, and is considered a topmost-tier program nationally on the same level(this is not necessarily including recent seasons) as Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, tOSU, and Oklahoma.
Don’t have a dog in this fight, but would point out the article is about “miserable” fan bases (and use of the word “miserable” does not seem the best choice for what he was trying to say…. but this is SDS after all), not “delusional.”
I think Alabama is far superior to Michigan, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. USC and Ohio State maybe and this from a Tennessee Vol. I would trade any school for Alabama in the last 8-10 years
I’m with brauhuff. Not only are they “on the same level” …. they are a level unto themselves. Alabama is THE premier college football team, historically, presently, and probably for another decade at least. Let’s be honest about it. They are in a league of their own.
I doubt it- Dabo will take over and they won’t miss a beat.
I dunno if they want Dabo to be honest, what has he really done especially coming from an ACC school, it will be interesting to see if he builds off of last year or goes back to Clemsoning.
Don’t say clemsoning… Then we all have to hear the clemtech fans complaining about it for the next year until they inevitably fall apart.
Plus, Alabama realllllllly shouldn’t want Dabo, you’d always hear about how he has the football team out on the lake or renting out some park to play all day or him being a little cheerleader on the side.
@chawk exactly great point.
I meant would not trade Alabama not would. I agree Alabama has been the best more consistently than any SEC school since the conference began including Tennessee my school but Tennessee is got to be 2,3 or 4 most consistent over a long period of time
I love how a vole fan wants to act like bama was a nobody before saban. Remember bama already had more wins, more NCs, and more Conference championships before Saban even arrived on the seen……Bama will be fine if Saban leaves. Nobody is expecting a NC every season. Fans of other schools like to think that though
Why don’t you tell us about the “hilarity” that has run rampant at UT for so many years? There is nothing delusional about the best program in college football. The leaders in delusional predictions for most of the last decade hail from Knoxville, with the eternal “Tennessee is BACK” claims, followed by 1 or 2 win seasons in the SEC.
I’m not sad. I think every sec fan whether auburn in 2012 or the gators in 2013 are proud at the end of the day and happy to be a fan. Because eventually your time will come like au in 2013
Unless you are Kentucky.
Man that hurts!
Kentucky hasn’t won the SEC since the 1977 season
Unnecessary comment but true!
Once Kentucky breaks that nasty streak against Florida… then we can start talking about titles again. :)
I don’t know many UGA fans that I would consider miserable. On one side you could say we were “spoiled” because we won 10 games a year for 15 years under Richt but in that same sentence you could say we were tortured because he couldn’t get over the hump. I guess they are just saying being so close so many times and never punching through is reason to be miserable. Idk. I’m personally thankful for Mark Richt but it was time for a change and I like where Georgia is heading so far under Kirby Smart.
Very well said and 100% true. Hated facing Richt, am going to hate facing Smart more, and respect the hell out of both of them.
Hopefully it’ll be a smooth transition to a new coach for you guys. I’d hate to see you guys have to deal with the crap we had to deal with for the last decade or so because we were getting upset with ‘mediocre’ 10 win seasons.
Yup. What VFL73 said…I wouldn’t wish that on any SEC program (even Florida). Now, I can’t say I’d be above enjoying seeing Ohio State or Southern Cal go through something like that, though…
Haha I don’t think anyone here would be above that!
ALABAMA is clearly and without question the best college football program in the world. Nothing “delusional” about that.
A wise man once said “To be the man, you have to beat the man” lol and right now Alabama is the man.
I think what people are most wondering is what’s going to happen to Alabama when Saban eventually is gone. Outside of few specific teams, Alabama wasn’t really that fun to watch between 1997-2007. Everything is eventual – Stephen King
We won the SEC in 1999…
On a quick scan, that was probably one of the worst seasons of SEC football since the expansion in 1992. The next year, Alabama went 3-8 with their best win coming from a ranked South Carolina.
Well bama went 10-3 in 02 with the best record in the west but was banned from the post season…..
Your point was that Alabama sucked throughout the whole time period you listed. I proved you wrong. Now you want to say that 1999 was the worst SEC year…. Just admit your fault and eat crow.
Oh I’m sorry, less gloss over these seasons. 1997 4-7; 1998 7-5; 2000 3-8; 20017-5; 2003 4-9; 2004 6-6; 2006 6-7; 2007 7-6
Alabama and Tennessee fans on here are starting to show some eerie similarities…
I simply said Alabama wan’t that fun to watch between 1997-2007. For every good season, there were 2 horrible/mediocre seasons. And this was before the SEC West started dominating the SEC.
A lot of that was due to NCAA troubles.
PHAROH
It is a great big world out there my friend.
There are a lot of College Football programs that can make that claim.
Michigan
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Nebraska
All the above teams have more all time wins than Alabama.
If you look at the last 5-7 years no question Alabama has been hands down the best.
Just Saying
But do they have more championships? No. Nebraska, a team you listed above us, has a lower win percentage than we do. We also have more bowl appearances and bowl wins than they all do. You’re statistic is subjective.
It’s a small world out there.
Just Saying.
Oklahoma
Texas
USC
It is a cycle, there is nothing subjective about it. Alabama was terrible and did some embarassing things (like hire Mike Price) after Stallings left. They just happened to hit the big time when they hired Saban.
Bama is in the top of all major categories in CFB. Some of the teams you listed are not. While CFB might be a cycle Bama has been successfull in every era.
As a proud UGA fan, I think the listing is more fitting for most disappointed fan base in college football. With the money available, committed fan base, in-state recruiting talent, and top facilities, it is more than frustrating to get a lick of the ice-cream cone then watch someone throw it on the ground. Nothing but respect for Mark Richt but my biggest issue with him tenure was the lack of development of talent on the field. I am not miserable because there is not many teams that have had a higher winning percentage and 10-win seasons for 15 years. I am simply frustrated and ready to see over the horizon and see what this program deserves.
Kirby Smart hopefully can take us there. Go Dawgs
Smart is a logical choice but it will be extremely difficult to win more than Richt
My first thought was kentucky. Rich brooks made UK competitive and after he retired. All UK had to do was make a great hire to continue what brooks had been doing. Joker Phillips came and within a few years brought the team to a 2-10 season.