Coming from Big Ten country, I was only exposed to the midwest culture of football games. As soon as I committed to come to The University of Alabama, I knew that football was just little bigger here…..or a lot. That first game I noticed so many differences. Here are ten that stood out the most:
1. The most obvious, game attire
At Big Ten games, the wardrobe is usually a jersey and jeans, maybe a T-shirt and shorts if the weather cooperates. Down south, everything is next level. Dress, heels, skirts, blouses for the girls, and suits and ties and collared shirts and khakis for the boys.
2. The atmosphere
The atmosphere in the SEC is indescribable. Between the red and white shakers at Alabama or the cowbells in Mississippi, something about each stadium has their own sense of electricity. Big Ten games are loud, but not as loud as down here.
3. More traffic
Rule number one at Alabama specifically: don’t drive on a Friday on a home game weekend. Campus gets crazy in the days leading up to games and traffic is backed up to the point where its just faster to walk the distance. In Big Ten country, there's usually just minimal traffic a couple hours leading up to the game on that Saturday; its manageable but nothing like down South.
4. All tailgates are in one place
Something I noticed right away at SEC games was that everyone tailgates in the same place. For example, the Quad at Alabama, the Grove at Ole Miss, the Junction and Mississippi State and so on. As for Big Ten schools, tailgating takes place all around campus. Tents are set up at local parking lots, grassy areas near the stadium but never in just one area.
5. It's a weekend event
In the Big Ten, usually fans come in the for the day if they are from farther distances or the locals start to tailgate 3-4 hours before game time. In the SEC, fans from everywhere come in the Friday even Thursday before the game on Saturday. In order to book a hotel on game day weekend, you must call months of advance, I'm talking around 4-5 months!
6.The band doesn’t play as much during the game in SEC
During, Big Ten football games, the band plays the majority of the time if not the whole time or in the middle of each play. SEC, on the other hand, I’ve noticed plays a lot of regular music over the speakers rather than the band playing. The band does their regular halftime show but limited time during the actual game.
