Traveling around the South, you will meet some of the nicest people on earth. These people also will probably tell you about their spring break trips to the Gulf of Mexico and their beach houses in South Carolina. The funny thing is that these same people turn crazy when it comes to college football. The SEC is the premiere conference for the sport. Here is how some of the SEC school would look if they were a southern beach destination:
1. Tennessee – Daytona Beach
Here is a school that has a rich football history and a stadium that is louder and bigger than almost any other in the country. They have legends like Peyton Manning, and they have championships -- but, what have they done lately? This brings me to Daytona Beach. Your parents and older siblings talk about how this was the premiere spring break spot. This was the place to be. Now, who really goes there? Tennessee lives off their history, but they need to start living in the present.
2. Georgia – Pensacola Beach
UGA is always an above-average team that sometimes underperforms. They are what you call a "nice" team that seemingly always ends up winning nine or 10 games. Pensacola sure is not a rager, but it is a nice place. This is the place you bring your family to getaway and where you and your high school or college friends head when you choose not to go to Destin or Panama City.
3. Auburn – Miami Beach
Miami has the lights, the flare and the skyscrapers. It is the place that is known to be a party and it has all of the glam. But, is it really better? Auburn is a team that is flashy on the field. The public is drawn to liking them -- but, most of the time they just aren't as good as they seem.
4. LSU – Destin
Destin is a great place that is somewhat classy, but also extremely fun for high school and college students. It has resorts for families and it has parts that draw in a different crowd. It is a place that is better than most but not THE best. LSU is a team that is always circled on opposing teams' schedules. You want to beat them because then you know you are pretty good -- but, they are no Hilton Head. They constantly live in the shadow of another rival.
5. South Carolina – Myrtle Beach
For some reason, Myrtle has always had a bad reputation, but it really is not that bad. Carolina, in the past, barely knew how to spell the word football. Recently they have turned the tide and put together some good years thanks to Steve Spurrier. The school has been on the rise for a couple years now. They have never made it over the hump, but they are still an above-average team. It is interesting enough that Myrtle is in the state of South Carolina.
6. Vanderbilt – Panama City Beach
This place is the definition of a place people go to for a week away from any form of reality. It may be considered “trashy" but let's just go with the fact that it is “dirty." Vanderbilt academically is a place everyone wants to go to just like every high schooler wants to partake in drinking at PCB. But, in terms of football, Vanderbilt is on the bottom of the SEC totem pole.
7. Alabama – Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head is one of the premiere gems of the South. The resorts are great and the food is even better. You feel pretty good about yourself if you own property in Hilton Head. Then, there is Alabama. Regardless of your feelings towards them, they are the team to beat in the SEC. They have consistently put an elite team on the field in each of the last six or seven years. The only downfall is that a lot of people hate them, just like some people have stigmas about people who have beach houses in Hilton Head. Either way you look at it, though, everyone wants to be Bama and go to Hilton Head.
