Moving to the south

[LauraMac]

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You know I was rooting for you until this post, since I'm from the South, but this post is just damn ignorance pure and simple. I bet you you have never been to a Big 10 game, and that ESPN radio show sounds like it was broadcast straight out of GA. Anything about the SEC is not "common knowledge" I'm sorry to say, and people in the North, Midwest, West could care less about the SEC as you obviously seem to care less about them.

I have been to a couple of those "big games" you mention and NONE of them compare to THE Big Game: Ohio State vs. Michigan at the Big House. None of those "big games" you mentioned seat 120,000 fans. None of them have spawned a whole series of television advertisements on ESPN.

Until you have gone to Ohio State vs. Michigan, at the Big House, you seriously have not lived if you like college football. It is literally an order of magnitude better than those "big games" you mentioned and I gaurantee, from the sound of your post, you will be shocked at how much bigger and more intense it is because you sound like you have a very low expectation of anything outside of the SEC. You owe it to yourself, as a clear fan of college football, to experience it at its best, so I would recommend taking a little road trip this fall.

thank you for this post! the big house is the biggest stadium there is. we always have the highest attendance record of any football game going on at the same time, and we hold the record for the highest attendance of any football game ever.

everyone has heard of the ohio st. vs. michigan rivalry. it is the biggest rivalry there is in college football. that attendance record we have just happened to be at an ohio st. game. i realize there is more to it than attendance, but ask any sports analyst or anyone involved in sports, and they'll tell you it is, in fact, the biggest rivalry.

have you seen the commercial with the two people making out, one in a michigan t-shirt and one in an ohio st. t-shirt. they say, without sports, this wouldn't be so disgusting. i don't believe i've seen any commercials about any other rivalrys.

and shades mccool, it is the big ten not the big 11.

 

[Shades McCool]

thank you for this post! the big house is the biggest stadium there is. we always have the highest attendance record of any football game going on at the same time, and we hold the record for the highest attendance of any football game ever.

everyone has heard of the ohio st. vs. michigan rivalry. it is the biggest rivalry there is in college football. that attendance record we have just happened to be at an ohio st. game. i realize there is more to it than attendance, but ask any sports analyst or anyone involved in sports, and they'll tell you it is, in fact, the biggest rivalry.

have you seen the commercial with the two people making out, one in a michigan t-shirt and one in an ohio st. t-shirt. they say, without sports, this wouldn't be so disgusting. i don't believe i've seen any commercials about any other rivalrys.

and shades mccool, it is the big ten not the big 11.

I guess you haven't seen the ESPN U commercials with the two old men wearing Auburn and Alabama clothing walking in the nursing home. One falls down and the other turn around and just smiles and keeps walking. Then they cut to "Never Graduate".

Also you with the Big Eleven, you might have three of the biggest stadiums but the average attendace for the conference is below the SEC's.

Here are some stats from the NCAA website....

Big 11 Average Attendance with rank in ():
Michigan: 111025 (1)
Penn State: 103111 (3)
Ohio State: 104876 (4)
Wisconsin: 82368 (13)
Michigan St: 73602 (20)
Iowa: 70379 (21)
Purdue: 63549 (26)
Illinois: 48626 (42)
Minnesota: 47573 (45)
Northwestern: 28408 (77)
Indiana: 28377 (78)

SEC Average Attendace with rank in ():
Tennessee: 106644 (2)
Georgia: 92746 (5)
LSU: 91209 (6)
Florida: 88409 (7)
Auburn: 83094 (11)
Alabama: 81870 (14)
South Carolina: 80367 (16)
Arkansas: 68213 (22)
Kentucky: 62334 (28)
Ole Miss: 58317 (34)
Mississippi State: 43792 (49)
Vanderbilt: 28472 (76)

Big 11 average attendance and average rank: 69263 (30)
SEC average attendance and average rank: 73788 (22.5)

You also have to remember that northern school are on average larger than southern schools. For example Ole Miss still draws 58000 people on everage when the school only has 11,000 students. That is pretty impressive.

Also since the stadiums are on average larger in the SEC (instead of mostly top-heavy like the Big 11), it is a much, much tougher conference to go on the road and win. I have never heard an analyst say different than that.

Hey I respect the Big 10(11), but from top to bottom it isn't as competitive as the SEC. We are deeper in talent and in the passion for the game.

 

[NPursuit]

Hey I respect the Big 10(11), but from top to bottom it isn't as competitive as the SEC. We are deeper in talent and in the passion for the game.

...and have more speed. That's what always amazes me about the SEC. The speed on the D-line and in the linebackers is phenomenal.

 

[NPursuit]

Central valley ain't got nothing on Orange County, if you're republican hunting. Trust me <sigh>...

I will proudly add myself and San Diego County to this list. 😀 👍

 

[Shades McCool]

...and have more speed. That's what always amazes me about the SEC. The speed on the D-line and in the linebackers is phenomenal.

You are very right about that. Our head coach used to be a coach at Miami and tries to build our defenses like his defenses at Miami. FAST. Our defensive strategy at Auburn is to recruit very athletic players and push them up a position. For example we will bring in a large, fast linebacker and grow them into a defensive end. Last year we probably had one of the fastest overall defenses in the NCAA...I guess it worked because they led the nation in scoring defense.

We lost a few starters but our D is deeper and faster this year, so there won't be too much of a drop-off. We lost 5 of our front 7 the year before and still were very, very good.

 

[NiteOwl]

Not everyone from the south are rednecks. I have lived in Alabama all of my life, and and I don't act like or sound like a redneck. There are some people here that really are rednecks, but those types of people are everywhere, not just the south. I had a professor that went to college somewhere north, and he said that there "hicks from the backwoods" up there too. Yes, there are lots of people here with deep southern accents but you can understand what they say.

As for the liberal and conservative stuff, yes there are lots of Christians and conservatives here. Generally if you don't cram your beliefs down our throat, we wont cram ours down yours. Sometimes a preacher will walk up to you and give you a brochure about God, or their church; and once I had one come up and give me one about "something that will help me decide where I want to spend eternity" Yeah, even though I am a Christian, it was still funny because he said it exactly like that. I don't go around preaching to everyone I meet, I only talk about it when others are talking about it. There are lots of republicans here, but as long as you don't walk up to one and outright say "Bush sucks", its okay. I mean I support Bush, but I don't tell everyone what I think about Kerry. Also, as others have mentioned, Christians and Republicans don't always mean "conservative". Basically I have things I like from both sides, I probably wouldnt be considered conservative by most people in the south, but I wouldn't be considered liberal either.

From what I have heard from others who have been to places like NJ and Philladelphia, the south isn't as fast paced. The people whom I have spoken to that have been to those places have said that everyone seems rushed and in a hurry. The slower pace can be a possitive or a negative, it depends on the situation.

 

[Doctobee]

Amen brother/sister 🙂 I came over (from former Yugoslavia) to live in AL in 1991 (as an exchange student). And I found that the "conservatives" embraced me with total compassion, helped me to stay in the US (because I would otherwise be doomed, as I coundn't return to YU due to war). I ended up living there for 9-10 years. Although I now live in San Francisco, I truly miss the south and the people's friendliness, and am planning to move back there to go to med school (I'm already accepted). I just think that it's so ironic that the "liberals" have such tunnel vision, and are not able to view and accept others as they are.. because, as progressive as they are, you'd think that they would be able to see past those differences and live in harmony ... and just because they have an oppinion, it doesn't meen that it's correct..

I am currently living in Alabama having moved here from London and I would say that the South is truly an incredible place to live. People down here are in general nicer than any other place in the world I have travelled to. Sure there is a lot of conservatives, but doesn't your natural aversion to conservatives make you just as bad as any distaste for liberals? I think you should embrace any place you live and make the most of it, enjoy the differences in culture and attitude no matter where you go. You will find the most beautiful girls, the nicest people, great food, great music, and great weather down in the South, so enjoy it, and if you're scared of conservatives then maybe you should re-think your commitment to liberalism where everyone is equal to his or her own viewpoint. To hesitate moving somewhere because you are afraid of the different culture keeps you from enjoying America and the rest of the world.

 

[Doctobee]

I came over (from former Yugoslavia) to live in AL in 1991 (as an exchange student). And I found that the "conservatives" embraced me with total compassion, helped me to stay in the US (because I would otherwise be doomed, as I coundn't return to YU due to war). I ended up living there for 9-10 years. Although I now live in San Francisco, I truly miss the south and the people's friendliness, and am planning to move back there to go to med school (I'm already accepted). I just think that it's so ironic that the "liberals" have such tunnel vision, and are not able to view and accept others as they are.. because, as progressive as they are, you'd think that they would be able to see past those differences and live in harmony ... and just because they have an oppinion, it doesn't meen that it's correct..

 

[funshine]

If you think Southerners are nice,
you've obviously never been to the Southwest.

Nicest, friendliest people ever! The good-natured and hearty kind, not the genteel, Southern kind.

Plus, you can't beat the desert 😉

 

[Zback]

I guess you haven't seen the ESPN U commercials with the two old men wearing Auburn and Alabama clothing walking in the nursing home. One falls down and the other turn around and just smiles and keeps walking. Then they cut to "Never Graduate".

Yea Shades that commercial is priceless. SEC athletics is unmatched.

 

[seev99]

so did u end up choosing to move to the south or not?

 

[1Path]

I came over (from former Yugoslavia) to live in AL in 1991 (as an exchange student). And I found that the "conservatives" embraced me with total compassion, helped me to stay in the US (because I would otherwise be doomed, as I coundn't return to YU due to war). ..

I suspect that had you been from Uganda instead of Yugoslovia, your reception may have been a bit different. And BTW, I'm overall much more conservative than liberal!

 

[Shades McCool]

The South is where it is at. It is started getting very pretty down here again. I will post some pictures to show you what I mean!

 

[seev99]

the south is great if you're a WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant), but i would caution anybody coming here from california and anybody who isn't white or black from coming here, who isn't already married or southern baptist, cuz you will be in a total culture shock...and by the way people severely dislike california and similar places here in the south...there were some popular asians/non-blacks and non-whites in my high school but they were either a) southern baptist, or b) drug addicts...healthy premed non-black minorities in the south usually work so hard or are in the library all the time cuz they're tryin to leave the south...however, if you are white and voted for george bush and are in a all white fraternity like K-O-K or D-I-K, you will love the south because this is bush country!

 

[Shades McCool]

the south is great if you're a WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant), but i would caution anybody coming here from california and anybody who isn't white or black from coming here, who isn't already married or southern baptist, cuz you will be in a total culture shock...and by the way people severely dislike california and similar places here in the south...there were some popular asians/non-blacks and non-whites in my high school but they were either a) southern baptist, or b) drug addicts...healthy premed non-black minorities in the south usually work so hard or are in the library all the time cuz they're tryin to leave the south...however, if you are white and voted for george bush and are in a all white fraternity like K-O-K or D-I-K, you will love the south because this is bush country!

Plus you are in that nasty place, T-Town. Auburn is so much better!

 

[seev99]

i am from LA; LA is more diverse and more affluent; but Alabama has real and consistent fans, Alabama football is just on a totally different level of excitement; and now 'Bama is the best school in the state...if u from 'Bama u kno what I mean by LA...

 

[Shades McCool]

i am from auburn; auburn is more diverse and more affluent, but alabama has real and consistent fans, i used to sell programs at the auburn games in junior high and high skool, and alabama football is just on a totally different level of excitement; and now alabama is the best school in the state--but i do like the people and town of auburn cuz i'm from there.

I wouldn't say that. They are ranked higher for the first time in 11 years and that is because of our BOT problems. Alabama football is sunk and Auburn is on top and will be for a long time. We also have a much better athletic program overall.

 

[seev99]

wut high skool did u go to man; u must be from prattville or sumthin if u like auburn university so much...

 

[Shades McCool]

Prattville is a pipeline to Alabama. You should know that.

 

[Perrin]

Go Mississippi State!!!! We have Coach Croom (trained under Bryant) and in a few years we'll be back on top. Go Bulldogs!! 😀

 

[Code Brown]

so did u end up choosing to move to the south or not?

I'm assuming this was directed to me right? Anyway, I withdrew from the waitlist at Wake about two weeks ago.

 

[NPursuit]

the south is great if you're a WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant), but i would caution anybody coming here from california and anybody who isn't white or black from coming here, who isn't already married or southern baptist, cuz you will be in a total culture shock...and by the way people severely dislike california and similar places here in the south...there were some popular asians/non-blacks and non-whites in my high school but they were either a) southern baptist, or b) drug addicts...healthy premed non-black minorities in the south usually work so hard or are in the library all the time cuz they're tryin to leave the south...however, if you are white and voted for george bush and are in a all white fraternity like K-O-K or D-I-K, you will love the south because this is bush country!

I didn't get this impression at all. Though in the south, you can feel the positive impact religion makes in the day to day. It's a reason I'm considering moving there. I mean, I showed up for my interview at Vandy, and there was a Baptist group out on the street just giving clothes away to people who needed them (yeah, I went to a more seedy section of Nashville just to check it out). There were some Koreans in this bunch. To be fair, they were Korean. So they'd be more comfortable in the south. But they were intermingled with whites.

I don't know. I talked to one white southern dude on my interview who had moved to Cali for a while, and he told me that in Cali, that was the first time he'd ever seen Asians self-segregate. Back where he was from, Asians were, for all practical purposes, white.

Just my limited experience in the south. Seemed to me that southerners harbor more animosity to New Jersey and New York than to Cali...(I do, too, so it's all good, I guess. lol.)

 

[leechy]

I didn't get this impression at all. Though in the south, you can feel the positive impact religion makes in the day to day. It's a reason I'm considering moving there. I mean, I showed up for my interview at Vandy, and there was a Baptist group out on the street just giving clothes away to people who needed them (yeah, I went to a more seedy section of Nashville just to check it out). There were some Koreans in this bunch. To be fair, they were Korean. So they'd be more comfortable in the south. But they were intermingled with whites.

Your response (to me, at least) seems to confirm seev's post more than it disconfirms it.

 

[Shades McCool]

Ok I am going to put all of this the South is this, the South is that stuff to rest.

It is true the South is very conservative as a whole. I mean the demographics at my school, Auburn University, are not that diverse. We are 83% white. You will see W stickers on the SUV's we drive. We all are pretty good about making it to church on Sundays. We love our football.

Why does this make the South such a bad place? Just because you don't agree with which politician we support, does not mean that we are some kind of misguided bunch of *****s. It is all just a preference. Just because a majority of us voted for Bush does not make you smarter than us. It means we are looking for different things in a leader.

I can tell you one thing though, we don’t care who you voted for. You might be worried about whom we voted for, but we couldn't care less about who you voted for. Now if you want to get all up in our faces and tell us how dumb we are for voting for Bush, you might have a problem, but other than that you won't have one.

So if you move to the South, expect there to be a prevailing conservative attitude. Expect people to invite you to Church. Expect people to offer to pray for you. It is just par for the course. It comes with the territory of moving down here.

Don't expect to come down here and change all our minds because you won't. Don't be offended when you are invited to go to Church. You're coming into our backyard so get used to our rules. Now if you don’t think you can handle these things, don’t move down here. I just get tired of people acting like the South is the worst place in the United States.

If I moved to the North I wouldn't be upset if people did things the way they normally do. Then again, you won't see me leaving the South unless I don't have a better option.

Oh and by the way, there are just as many racist people in the north than in the South. It is present everywhere.

 

[Llenroc]

This is my ranking of Southern cities:

1) Washington DC (though technically South of the Mason-Dixon line, many people from the Deep South consider it "up North")
2) Miami (Like NY in a sub-tropical setting. Likewise, many Southern hicks don't consider it a real Southern town)
3) Atlanta (I met lots of people from Long Island here. Surprisingly free of rednecks)
.
.
Distant 4th) Austin (only worthwhile place in Texas)
5) New Orleans
.
.
Everwhere else
.
.
Dead last) Houston