Come on. Admit it. There is a football team out there other than Alabama that you like to see win. Recently I took it upon myself to kick an Alabama “fan” to the curb when she said she liked Auburn basketball, so I wouldn’t think any Alabama fans would have Auburn as their second favorite team. Surely though, there is someone you secretly admire and wish would win as long as they aren’t playing Alabama. Who is that team for you?
Iowa State
I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I will always remember Iowa State fondly for their door-opening win over Oklahoma State in November of 2011. Many things had to happen for Alabama to get their rematch with LSU, and Tide fans knew someone had to take out No. 2 Oklahoma State, but I’m not sure they had all their money on the Cyclones. They didn’t let us down though, beating the Cowboys 37-31. I can promise you that I tip my hat to the Iowa State Cyclones because without them, our National Championship journey could have ended a lot differently. Obviously, this is a recent development and I was definitely hoping for them to lose against the Bama basketball team, but I won’t soon forget their help in getting to the big game.
Wisconsin
My college football mistress has been Wisconsin for some time. My reasons are extremely shallow, but hear me out. I like the simplicity of their uniforms and the fact they have a giant “W” on their helmets. I will admit that the team’s connection to a place well-known for their production of cheese also has its perks. In addition to my bizarre attraction to things meaningless to the game of football, I also like their clean-cut, offensive approach to the game. Sure, I prefer the staunch defenses of the SEC, but it’s nice to see some non-flashy, offensive games. Ok, it’s mostly the cheese. Either way, I like them.
Georgia
A few of my friends stated the University of Georgia was their second-favorite team. Truth be told, I am obsessed with their mascot, and I’ve always kind of liked Georgia but was afraid to admit I had secret, good feelings about another SEC team. Then I realized, it is totally acceptable to like Georgia because like Alabama, the Bulldogs despise Auburn. In fact, their rivalry is known as the “Deep South’s Oldest.” The rivals have played 115 times; plenty of time for the hatred to boil up inside of both teams. What’s the saying? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Well, Georgia, you fit quite perfectly in that category.
Oklahoma
Even though Oklahoma isn’t in the SEC, many Tide fans like them out of sheer respect. They have a rich tradition in their football program and the Sooners seem to always be in the championship picture. They have famous rivalries with the Texas Longhorns, Nebraska Cornhuskers and of course, Oklahoma State. They have a strong 43 conference titles (including the 14 straight they won between 1946-59) and seven national titles. At Alabama, we understand winning traditions and respect them. Not for nothing, we’ve got some similar color schemes going on, too. Oklahoma is definitely a popular mistress among Tide fans.
Other
Some people may pick a team because they like their basketball program. In that case, they may root for UNC, Indiana or Kentucky. Some may not despise a team because they are not usually a threat to Alabama. A couple examples of teams like that would be Ole Miss and Vandy. It may be a team like Oregon that you started following a couple years ago when their offense made a name for themselves and they were the only hope of stopping Auburn from winning a national championship and then thankfully, they lost to both LSU and USC in 2011. It could be a team like the Michigan Wolverines, just because you have respect for them. Though I’d be careful liking them too much – Bama has to face off with them soon.