Family Ties - SEC football fans like to keep it in the family. Joe is an Auburn fan because his dad is an Auburn fan , and his dad was an Auburn fan because his brother went to Auburn. Of course there’s the occasional house divided, in which case the family must figure out the details of the compromise before the blessed nuptials take place.

The Booze - We all know the smell of a good SEC tailgate. Afterall, tents in the Grove are practically powered by Jim Beam.

Vanderbilt - SEC fans can lose a game and feel completely bad about themselves, but there’s still something in the back of their heads saying “At least we’re not Vanderbilt”. (Which makes it even more horrible when your team loses to Vandy, just ask Tennessee and Ole Miss.)

Coaching Soap Operas - There's a certain prestige that comes with coaching in the SEC so it’s no wonder that once you coach in the SEC you want to keep coaching in the SEC. You have to love the drama created when a coach moves from one school to another within the same conference. Nick Saban coached LSU to a national championship title, and he now rolls the tide at Alabama. Steve Spurrier was synonymous with the University of Florida, and he’s now throwing his clip board around at the University of South Carolina. Houston Nutt used to coach the Hogs at Arkansas, and he’s now giving his Rebel yell to the Ole Miss boys. Tommy Tuberville coached at Ole Miss, but he sneakily ended up coaching at Auburn. All of this coach shuffling creates some fun rivalries come game day.

The Dress Code - Where else can you find frat boys in blazers and sorority girls walking through the grass in stilettos on a steamy hot day in September? I guess if you care that much about something, it's worth dressing up for. You might as well look your best right. Plus, it's a good excuse to buy a new outfit, right?

The Mannings - The Mannings are the Kennedy's of SEC football. You may not be an Ole Miss fan or a UT fan, but you can still appreciate what Peyton, Eli, and Archie to appreciate what they mean to the SEC. These are some classy guys who know how to win and represent the SEC well.

Southern Hospitality - Sure, there's always a terd in the bunch, but the stereotype is mostly true: come to an SEC football game and you'll be treated to some Southern hospitality. Show up for a pregame tailgate wearing the colors of whichever tent you happen to be in and you'll enjoy some free food and drink, so long as your manners are good and you are cheering for the right team.

The Team Songs and Chants - An LSU fan will tear up during a well-timed LSU fight song. An Ole Miss fan will lose his voice by the end of the night screaming Hotty Toddy. A Tennessee fan will go to bed humming Rocky Top. A Mississippi State fan will develop tennis elbow from ringing that cowbell. A Florida fan will set his phone ring tone to the Jaws theme song.

Everyone Loves to be a Winner – What can we say, the SEC dominates other conferences. There are 6 teams ranked in the top 25 as this season begins, and there's always an SEC team being discussed for the national championship. It's nice to be part of the best! (Plus when your team has a bad season you can always blame it on the tough competition of the SEC.)