not in Arkansas. Hell people here don't even hate Bama. I'm like ... Saban tries to run the score up on you, and embarrass you every year. Yet you kiss his ass and talk about how great he is. There are people here who say they are okay losing every game in a season except LSU as long as LSU loses and it hurts LSU. It's crazy.
Not in my long experience. Bama has held the "most hated" title for many decades. They still win and their fan base is still arrogant but now they have Nick. Unlike Bear Bryant and Gene Stallings, the cold and impersonal Saban has no charisma whatsoever.
Apparently stupidity is rewarded when history and so called tradition is taken into account. All of the years of the Bear fostered more like than dislike by far. Exactly, the way it is. The rest of the conference seems to suck up to Bama, wanting to be the liked brother. It's LSU against everybody, nobody is for us; it is just the way things are.
I'd say that arky is in damage control since John L brought them back to earth. During the BP "error" hope was at an all time high and even though we had their number, the fans believed it was coming. Though I was more convinced Saban just had his offense figured out. It will be interesting to see if Bielema has what it takes to call the hogs and build that type of expectation again. He has already clearly explained to anyone that will listen that "Alabama is the SEC and didn't come to play us, came to beat us." I assume rest of the league is probably looking to introduce themselves soon enough. Everyone has the Tide in their cross-hairs, nothing new. Georgia is rapidly heading toward Bama obsession. Coach Richt says he still hasn't watched the SECCG, just can't bring himself to it. He told his players they will never be over that game, that they would have to learn to go on. Out going president of Georgia, Adams, was asked what his greatest regret would be during his watch. His answer, coming up 5 yards short against Bama. Bobo, the OC, explaining to everyone who will listen what play he was going to run next had he had the opportunity. It's almost like they expect the game to head to the 5th quarter. I smell another rivalry.
Keep telling yourself that. The Tide has us in their crosshairs because they know we are the only team that will stand up to them year in year out. The rest of those teams? They play their best against LSU, not against the Tide (although I have the feeling that has a lot to do with the lack of holding calls on the Tide).
People are so driven by the present and most of the suggested strategy coming from the competition has to do with the now. Beyond a few press clippings that it generates and a whole lot of heated debate, the league will continue to make decisions at the speed of molasses, or as normal. At present, Las Vegas thinks we have another shot at the title, good enough for me. And even though we keep losing good players early, attrition is for everybody and all things being equal, there are some great players still on board. This is true at Baton Rouge as well and we indeed keep an eye on our western rivals progress or lack thereof. But heavy is the head that wears the crown and lots of teams will be among those who think they're next.
Heavy is the head . . . you mean BIG is the head. Pretentious is the head . . . deluded is the head . . . pompous is the head . . . arrogant is the head . . . sophomoric is the head . . .
Actually, if you like Shakespeare it's "uneasy lies the head." Just never sure how far to push that culture stuff.