Auburn’s Loss is College Football’s Loss

I never thought I'd be writing about trees, but here I am doing just that.

SEC fans are the most passionate college football fans on Earth.

It's why ESPN and CBS threw piles of cash for the right to show SEC games. It's why the last five BCS crystal football trophies are sitting on SEC campuses as we speak. It's why spring football scrimmages draw tens of thousands of fans. It's why recruiting has become an absolute circus. Only the SEC had a recruit bring out a live version of its mascot. Only the SEC had a recruit shut down his Facebook because of fans flooding his account. Only the SEC brought the term "over-signing" to national attention.

It's felt everywhere, even here. A couple of years ago, I criticized Urban Meyer's move to keep Tim Tebow on the field for a play in the fourth quarter with the Gators up by several touchdowns. The comments on that thread speak for themselves. A few months ago, I wrote that it would be good for the game if Auburn lost, based on the still-continuing Cam Newton scandal and the tarnish it could bring to the sport. Auburn fans unleashed with angry comments, including a few who tried to dig dirt (For the record, they found the wrong guy). But, despite knowing that it's likely to happen when you have a forum to bring up heated opinions, the fact that someone actually would dig for information is pretty crazy stuff.

That's SEC fans, though. They come with the territory. Intense to the absolute core, from the tailgate barbecue to the last play of the game. In some ways, it's positive. In many ways, it's quite the opposite.

The news yesterday, however, was the sign of a fan that jumped way past intensity and well into insanity.

The probable killing of the trees at Toomer's Corner was not a prank. Listening to the audio clip, you hear the voice of an old man who has taken a rivalry and upped it to levels that go beyond disturbing. It's one thing to throw crimson tissue paper in the trees. It's one thing even to take some purple and gold Krylon to the grass. It's another to destroy someone's traditions.

Traditions build into the lore of college football. Ohio State dots the "i." Florida State spikes a burning spear at midfield. Auburn rolls two massive oak trees after a win. It's what people know and appreciate about the sport, no matter the affiliation. Everyone has their traditions and, while some seem absolute crazy or silly to fans, especially rival fans, there's a respect level that has to be maintained.

What "Al from Dadeville" did transcended the sport. He crossed the line. A passionate fan took his passion way too far. And for that, he not only hurt Auburn, but the sport itself.

What happened serves as a message to SEC fans. Fly your car flags, wear your colors, and cheer like crazy. Keep the stadiums rocking. Expect to hate and be hated. But don't go to extremes. There is a fine line between greatness and stupidity when it comes to being a fan. College football needs the SEC, and they need their fans to be the former, not the latter.