Put me down for "none of the above". Call me a pansy. But as much as I love pulling for the Vols, as much as I hate to lose, hate for another team has never been a part of the equation. They're just a bunch of young men who chose another place and are trying to do the same thing we are.
I was never able to develop a strong dislike for Georgia because 1) Richt was there for so long and 2) when we are better than Georgia, or play better than them in a particular game, we beat them. Also, when I was a kid, they weren't good and we routinely beat them.I hate Florida and Bama the most, but hate losing to UGA as much if not more. I respect Bama, regardless. I am just used to losing to Florida. UGA burns my @$$ when we lose to them. They have been hype for so many years without results that this ticks me off now that they are ascending.
Funnily I learned to respect the hell out of Spurrier because I just thought he was the best. Saban has surpassed him in greatness on the field, but I always respected Spurrier. He was an arrogant loudmouth, but he did things the right way (as much as you can at a major university), and his kids loved playing for him. Did I hate him in the 1990s? To an extent, but I hated playing him.I was never able to develop a strong dislike for Georgia because 1) Richt was there for so long and 2) when we are better than Georgia, or play better than them in a particular game, we beat them. Also, when I was a kid, they weren't good and we routinely beat them.
I absolutely despise Florida because 1) in my young, formative years as a kid watching Tennessee they almost always beat us and spoiled our SEC/national title chances, despite being evenly matched with them, and I hated Spurrier, and 2) we both suck now, yet they still almost always win.
I also get Bama hate, especially if you are an older fan. When I was growing up we routinely drilled them so I couldn't develop a deep dislike for them either. They drill us every year now, but hey, they are in the midst of the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen. It happens. They routinely drill a lot of people.
For the most part the team you dislike the most comes from the state of play when you were a kid.
D4H
Fade
oops, wrong list
1. Bama
2. Florida
3. Georgia
4. Mizzou
5. Vandy
6. South Carolina
7. Kentucky
8. Ole Miss
9. Auburn
10. Miss St
11. Arkansas
12. LSU
13. Texas A&M
I grew to love Spurrier the older I got, and by the time he got to South Carolina I actually loved him. He was cocky, but he did it in a way that was just funny and not annoying. Basically every jab he took at everybody was true. And as you said, he was never involved in any kind of scandal or rule-breaking (or never got caught).Funnily I learned to respect the hell out of Spurrier because I just thought he was the best. Saban has surpassed him in greatness on the field, but I always respected Spurrier. He was an arrogant loudmouth, but he did things the right way (as much as you can at a major university), and his kids loved playing for him. Did I hate him in the 1990s? To an extent, but I hated playing him.
I hate the idea of being surpassed as a program which is why I hate losing to UGA now. Even with the band dork, we beat them 2 of our last 3 and Lyle almost beat them the prior 2 years.
I grew to love Spurrier the older I got, and by the time he got to South Carolina I actually loved him. He was cocky, but he did it in a way that was just funny and not annoying. Basically every jab he took at everybody was true. And as you said, he was never involved in any kind of scandal or rule-breaking (or never got caught).