ACC vs. SEC

Shire Time Session 8…

ACC vs. SEC

While the battle of the conferences is one of physical geography for the most part, this battle is an internal one for me. I was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up in the sticks and boonies of Bama, a town called Smith’s Station. It was right on the Eastern and Central time change line which brought about tons of problems. Half the town was Eastern Time and half the town was Central Time. What the hell? Why would they do that? My intermediate school was on one time while my sister’s middle school was the other time. It was a huge mess every day and you think after years on this you would get used to it but you don’t.

Anyway, back to the discussion, so I was an Alabama fan from before I can remember and I honestly don’t know why. My dad and grandpa are die hard Tennessee fans; older sister and uncle are for Auburn; I was the only Bama fan until my dad got remarried. Therefore, the earlier years of my life were straight SEC but this soon changed.

5th grade I moved to Chapel Hill and in 7th grade I moved to Greensboro. I got a lot closer with my mom’s side of the family and a special area of my heart became ACC also. My mom’s entire family is from this area. My uncle is die hard Carolina, grandpa is die hard Wake, aunt and cousins die hard Dook. My problems and tension between the two conferences run deep. When I was deciding where to go to school I basically had to decide which side of my family I liked more, which sport I liked more basketball or football, which climate I liked more sizzling hot summers or snowy winters, which music I like more country or rap, which colors I like more…it was tough. I went ACC, cold, and Carolina blue and white; but I can’t deny that I still like football more and like both sides of the family in their own unique ways.

Also there was the issue of rivalries. Alabama-Auburn or Carolina-Duke? Although I chose the ACC. SEC will always rule in rivalries. There is something about the south and the steaming heat mixed with beer, shirtless rednecks, and football that just brings out the intensity of the rivalries. Carolina Duke is an awesome rivalry too but the conditions just aren’t right. We kill them in football and it’s not even close to a rivalry, then when Basketball season rolls around its cold and there aren’t are many rednecks ready to fight…it just isn’t the same intensity.