SEC Culture Is Just Special… Dammit

College Football General54

What a night for sports. The SEC had some of the best football games this season with Ole Miss’ incredible come from behind win over top ranked Alabama 23 – 17, Mississippi State mauling sixth ranked Texas A&M, Florida edging Tennessee in a snoozer by a point, Auburn’s manhandling of LSU 41 – 7, and South Carolina’s shocking defeat at the hands of lowly Kentucky 45 – 38. Couple that with a record breaking 18-inning major league playoff game, and I could hardly move from the couch. It certainly helped that I could turn off the Wolfpack game after the first quarter.

What got me most is the Ole Miss win and the ensuing swarming of midfield. The students took to the goal posts in much the same way that the Wolfpack Faithful did after beating Florida State over a decade ago. I’m not sure what changed in our culture, but between Florida State and Clemson, we had the most SEC-ready atmospheres in the ACC (I know I know, that’s not saying much).

The goal posts went down in Oxford last night and they were broken apart and sent to the four corners of the not-so-sleepy college town. One student even brought a piece of the goal post home.

That’s nice. The cops stopped us about the Waffle House after a 17 – 7 whooping of FSU in 2002 (or was that the 1998 win. It’s all hazy it’s been so long). The key here is: the cops stopped us at the Waffle House.

Instead, let’s see how the Ole Miss administration handled this issue. On Twitter, Athletics Director Ross Bjork had this to say:

WOW! In that moment, Ole Miss’ best win in its history, the AD became nothing more than a fan. He wants a piece of the goal post too! If you think that’s just being cute, check out his follow up:

He offers to help cut it up. Amazing. Realizing that Ole Miss will have to replace some stadium hardware, Bjork again opined in a miraculous way:

All together, I love that the Administration at Ole Miss wants the students and fans to savor the moment. There were no Herculean efforts by authorities to stop anyone. There were no threats of scholarship revocation or fines for the participants in the frenzy. At that one moment, after a fantastic win, Administration, fans, and students were all the same. Proud. Excited. Jubilant.

Even after our 17-16 win over Florida State in 2012, one of our biggest moments, we all paraded around Jake as he, shirtlessly, serenaded a pole in the stadium (note: not a goalpost). One of the most noticeable things about this photo, besides Jake’s wonderful physique? Event Staff right there ready to take him down.

What harm was Jake causing anyone? None. He was simply celebrating like the rest of us… just elevated.

FAT-SHIRTLESS-NCSTATE-GUY

Had we beat Florida State a week ago, the would-be best win in NC State history, we would’ve been tazed on the bottom row for even thinking about entering the field.

I know things changed in 2003 after the shooting. It must be noted, as it has many times before, both shooter and victim had zero ties to the university. It wasn’t a student, fan, alumnus, parent, faculty, or staff who took part on either end. Then came the restrictions. 5-hours in the tailgate lots. I remember going out the night before to cook a pig and staying till Sunday as a student. It’s a shame, really.

What Debbie Yow must do, sooner rather than later, is open up the lots on Friday night. Restore our football culture. Give us back what is, perhaps, the best part about Saturdays in Raleigh. The result on the football field for the better part of forever has been tepid at best. Although we have faith in Coach Doeren and his staff to right the ship, yesterday was a major setback. Who wants to go tailgate for Boston College? If you would let me cook a pig again, I’d be out there Friday night. Stay for the whole game. Continue the party well into Sunday morning, win or lose. I’m betting the ADs office will have zero issues with passes out of the stadium at halftime if we were given back that opportunity.

What we saw in Oxford last night was how Raleigh used to be. Because of actions that none of us did, that has been ripped from us by a previous Athletics Department and unchanged under the current. I know the ADs office is afraid of lawsuits and injuries. There will be growing pains, Debbie, but practice makes perfect. Give us the shot.

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College Football General

Home › Forums › SEC Culture Is Just Special… Dammit

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  • 10/07/2014 at 10:27 PM #58333
    tobaccordshow
    Keymaster

    I don’t get it. The only people who have a problem with NC State fans are other NC State fans.

    Ask the players. They love us.

    Ask the opposing teams. They hate us.

    WE RANK 2ND IN THE ACC AND 14TH NATIONALLY FOR TOTAL ATTENDANCE WITH A 96.3% CAPACITY RATING THAT’S ENOUGH FOR 3RD IN TEH ACC AND 33RD NATIONALLY.

    I’m sorry, but it sure as hell doesn’t look like the fans are the problem.

    10/08/2014 at 10:58 AM #58343
    Whiteshoes67
    Participant

    Here’s your SEC culture at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-states-worst-quality-life-164909712.html. I, for one, have no problem criticizing and loathing John Swofford, but remain grateful that we aren’t a part of the SEC. I don’t care how many dollars those sports programs generate.

    10/08/2014 at 11:30 AM #58344
    packplantpath
    Participant
    packman12 wrote:

    I laughed out loud reading this article about the SEC culture being special. A site dedicated to NC State and the ACC, and you write that you’re home on the couch watching the Wolfpack on tv, and then turn the game off in the first quarter to watch, drum roll, the SEC games! Because of fans like you, this is why the ACC will never be special. SEC fans support the team at home, on the road, and treat every game like it’s special. And yes, I was there in Clemson Saturday to the bitter end pulling for the boys. You want a top rate football program, you have to have top rate fans. So, just turn the tv off, don’t go to games, and we’ll continue to get leftover recruits and be a second rate football conference. And, you can continue to complain about it in your posts.

    I must say I don’t get this.

    But, to add to my failings, I also don’t finish books that I don’t like.

    Life is too short to spend my leisure time doing something that isn’t enjoyable.

    But you know, if you can sit back and ignore the game, some of those aren’t so bad. The great Maryland comback a few years back I almost left early. But since the day was decent and I had family around we just chatted and hung around. Glad I did. Don’t really fault those that did leave.

    10/08/2014 at 2:48 PM #58352
    ryebread
    Participant

    tobaccoroadshow: Thanks for underscoring my point for me. College sports are just entertainment. In no way is that tied to the mission statement of the University. If you’re entertained by the game great, but if not, don’t attend. That’s really how it should be on the relative scale.

    My problem with the “SEC Culture” crew is that the SEC puts the value of the entertainment problem above many other things. It’s effectively across the board too. It also happens in the ACC. FSU does as well in football, and UNC seemingly has for years in many sports.

    Do I like those priorities? Nope. Do I want my school to take them on? Nope.

    10/08/2014 at 6:19 PM #58373
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24743454/ole-miss-fans-cover-75000-field-storming-costs-in-four-hours

    “We will gladly pay these expenses, but countless fans from Rebel Nation have asked about how they could contribute, so we’ve set up this page to do just that,” the page says. “By donating, you’re forever contributing to solidifying the memories that were made inside the stadium that October afternoon. Help us reach our goals of funding the goalposts and fine. Hotty Toddy!”

    According to the Clarion-Ledger, here’s how long it took for the page to take donations from an initial total of just under $15,000 to beyond its $75,000 goal: four hours. Yes, it’s safe to say Rebel fans are just a little excited about this season.

    Of course, they may also be somewhat excited about the rewards for their donation, which range from a new computer desktop ($25) to a six-inch section from one of the felled goalposts ($1,000). As of this posting, the page had raised a total of $93,203.

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