The SEC just means more.
When it comes to college sports, there’s not a conference that’s more powerful in both real scenarios and hypothetical situations than the Southeastern Conference – better known as the SEC. The conference’s name doesn’t really make sense anymore now that teams all across the country are included in it, but that’s an overarching problem across all of the nation’s college conferences.
Thanks a lot conference realignment.
If you are familiar with sports even in the slightest, you know that there’s only one college conference that has more pride (and ego) than any other. Fans of teams that belong to the SEC simultaneously hate every other team in the conference other than theirs while also rooting for the conference as a whole any chance they get. It’s awfully confusing… but I’ve experienced it first hand.
I was unfortunately raised a Louisville fan. Though the tide seems to turning, I’ve gotten more crap for liking a team that a) can’t stop getting caught in scandals and b) has toiled in mediocrity for the last decade (shoutout Kenny Payne). It hasn’t been easy being a fan of the University of Louisville, though there have been some bright spots.
Like when Louisville faced off against Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl back in 2019. I was there in person to support my favorite college football team and watch them beat the Bulldogs (38-28 to be exact), and seated behind me were fans of the Mississippi State Bulldogs that simply could not stop screaming, “MISSISSIPPI STATE! SEC!” I quickly came to realize that liking a team in the SEC is apparently a package deal: you have to love the conference too, and obnoxiously shout about it to the heavens.
And it seems like the SEC – and the SEC Network – understand that dynamic as well. That’s why they are overstepping a bit here, in my humble opinion, and claiming that they’ve won yet another national championship. Football? Nope (Texas could still make that happen). Basketball? Well, we haven’t reached March Madness just yet. Baseball or any other sport? Surprisingly, that’s a no as well.
The SEC is having a victory parade for themselves because a cheerleader from Auburn by the name of Abbie Stockard took home the crown in the 2025 Miss America pageant. The SEC Network’s social media page posted an “S-E-C! S-E-C!” style post and congratulated Stockard for her accomplishment.
While also claiming this:
“Another national championship for the SEC.”
S-E-C! S-E-C!
Congrats, @AbbieStockard 👑
(📸 @AuburnTigers, @MissAmerica) pic.twitter.com/hIjZBes05D
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 7, 2025
Now hold on just a second.
This counts as a victory for the Southeastern Conference? It certainly seems to me like the SEC caught wind of the news, found out it was a cheerleader from their conference, and then decided to trot out the news like they were solely responsible and helped Abbie Stockard win the 2025 Miss America pageant. Am I wrong? (I can’t wait to get hate mail from SEC fans).
The post has garnered some mixed reviews online, with some rallying around Abbie Stockard and praising the SEC and all of its glory, while others are kind of in the same boat as me:
All SEC final 4 pic.twitter.com/3zF69izOuV
— Cowboy Craig (@CraigGrafx) January 7, 2025
Only one they’ll get this year lol
— Conservative Dude (@DeeConservedude) January 7, 2025
Love this!! It’s alllll about the South! SEC!!! Congratulations Abbie! 🎉🎊🫶🏼
— Lauren Watts (@Wattsla11) January 7, 2025
When u don’t win football 2 years in a row u gotta find something to brag about.
— M Halls (@halls389812) January 7, 2025
It just means more 💯
— JØE.Minty™️✈️ (@JoeMintyy) January 7, 2025
The SEC must be down bad when they’re adding this to their national championship total. https://t.co/jxd2n4SedQ
— CJ Fraud (@cjfraud1) January 7, 2025
And just as a quick side note before you go, Abbie Stockard is dating former Auburn basketball player and current star center for the Utah Jazz Walker Kessler. Must be pretty nice to be Walker Kessler right about now, and cool to see him so invested in the 2025 Miss America pageant.
