To root florida....that is the question

[kidbourbon]

Folks on this board have been all over the place on this topic. I figured devoting a thread to it could focus our analysis a little more. The question is: "should we, as vol fans, root for or against florida in the NC'ship game." Here are my thoughts.

Reasons to root against florida:
1) knee-jerk reaction: Florida is our biggest rival [fans over age 35, please feel free to inform me that our biggest rival is still bama -- news flash: your wrong] and so we naturally don't like them and we feel compelled to root against them.
2) A UF win raises their program to another level: Recruiting in the SEC--and especially in the SEC east--is a zero sum game. When florida garners the media attention, recruits pay attention and want to jump on the bandwagon of the hot team. This affects our ability to get top notch recuits from the state of florida, and maybe even georgia. Long story short: As florida gains momentum and begins to become a powerhouse, it becomes more difficult for UT to win the SEC east.

Reasons to root for florida:
1) The SEC fraternity rationale: You know how this one goes. You might fight with your brother on a daily basis, but when somebody else picks on him, you've got his back. This same line of reasoning can be applied to our conference. This isn't an airtight reason to root for florida, but this is the way that some people conceptualize it.
2) The SEC domination rationale: There are a lot of people on this board that preach the SEC gospel. I know I'm one of them, and I always get frustrated when--as a result of SEC teams beating each other up year in and year out--they are left out of the NC'ship conversation. This year florida has a chance to play it out on the field. That said, how we can we really run our mouths about the dominance of the SEC, and then not root for an SEC team to make our argument for us out on the field? To me, at least, this is a pivotal point.
3) I hate ohio state worse than I hate florida: A lot of this depends on where you currently reside. I'm in the DC area, and there are a lot of osu fans here...and they are all just so completely moronic and flagrantly biased. I can't even have a conversation with one without strongly to quite strongly considering punching them in the face.
4) The Lawgator rationale: Most reasonable poster on this board, imho. He's made me hate florida a lot less.

After balancing these factors, I think I'll be rooting for florida. The most important of the factors for me is that I preach the SEC domination gospel all season long, and I like it when I'm right.

I realize that reasonable minds can differ on this question. I look forward to seeing people's thoughts.

[doozer]

Originally Posted by kidbourbon

3) I hate ohio state worse than I hate florida: A lot of this depends on where you currently reside. I'm in the DC area, and there are a lot of osu fans here...and they are all just so completely moronic and flagrantly biased. I can't even have a conversation with one without strongly to quite strongly considering punching them in the face.

so true.

[TennVols423]

I Live In Ohio...i Hate Osu......go Sec

[VolintheNooga]

I'll be rooting for Florida for reasons 1 and 2.

[milohimself]

Rooting for Ohio State here...

Screw Florida, and I don't even like the rest of the SEC outside of Tennessee.

[Big Vol Nasty]

Your from Oregon.

[tvolsfan]

Kidborboun, I agree with everything except for the rival part. I think they are a very close second, but I still give that edge to Bama. I can't honestly say I hate Florida. I want to beat them yeah, but I for some reason just don't hate them. Must have used it all up on the Buckeyes, and the rest on Alabama. I am giving some to Notre Dame too excluding Brady.

[Larkin]

I would root for me getting syphillis before Florida

[vol_in_ar]

Maybe by Jan 1st, my SEC loyalties can kick in, but right now it's go OSU..

Can't stand Florida....

[TravisHenryCBlockedMe]

Well one of my best friends and her family are from Columbus, I hate Florida, Ohio State hasnt done anything to Tennessee, I hate Florida, I dont want to go on listening to them winning football and basketball in the same year, I hate Florida...

Go bucks.

[KSVOL]

I can root for the Gators, just don't ever make me root for the Hogs.

[MG1968]

the Big10 is over rated as a conference. I have no problem rooting for UF. However, if Spurrier were still coaching them, I'd like to see another Nebraska/UF debacle.

[vol_in_ar]

If only OSU can shut them down.

I'd love to see it

35-0

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by Larkin

I would root for me getting syphillis before Florida

Agreed 100%

[volsgal03]

I lived in Columbus for 12 years when cooper was the coach and the fans I knew loved their buckeyes, now that Tressell has come along and turned that program around it's buckeye mania everywhere I go when I visit columbus which is often, I cant say I blame the fans for being loud and proud. I am a big fan of the SEC and I like to see our teams win in the bowl games, but it's hard to root for FL but I dont like the Bucks either so may the best team win, and I hope it's a great game.