Nick Saban uses history to explain the SEC's religion-like fandom

It’s no secret that college football might as well be considered its own religion in the South, and the SEC is a direct representation of how big the sport is. But the region’s love of college athletics spans farther than just football, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban has a theory on why that is.

During his weekly Thursday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, the Crimson Tide headman delved into the history of sports in the South, highlighting why the SEC has such a passionate fan base.

“I do think that there is a cultural reason for that,” Saban said. “I have always had the theory that if you look back historically, we’re always adapting. Well, the NFL and pro sports adapted, but there was a time, even as late as 1970s, when there were basically no pro sports in the South. I mean, the Atlanta Braves, maybe the Miami Dolphins, came in at some point in time.

“So, everybody in the Southeast grew up being college fans of some kind. Whether it was football or basketball, they were college fans. And that’s why you have such passion in this league because people grew up with it, and it’s never changed. And I think that’s what makes this league a little different.”

To Saban’s point, the first two NFL franchises within the SEC’s current footprint to join the league were the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers, which later became the Tennessee Titans. They both joined the NFL in 1960 and were soon followed by the Atlanta Falcons (1965), Miami Dolphins (1966), and New Orleans Saints (1967).

SEC monopoly

Prior to the 1960s, college athletics built quite the monoploy among Southern sports fans. Founded in 1932, the SEC has been a staple among the college football world, claiming 28 national champships since Tennessee won its first in 1951. That dominance has been particularly pronounced over the past 20 years, with the SEC winning 14 national championships in that span, including six straight years between 2006-12 and the last four consecutive College Football Playoff crowns.

There are historical factors that help illustrate Saban’s point even further. But all the same, the lack of professional sports in the South helped give birth to one of, if not the most, passionate fanbases in all of college sports in the SEC. So, whether it’s football, baseball, or even basketball, it is hard to find a more dedicated fan base then the Southeastern Conference.