re: TBH - Hatred for Bama diminished

quote:

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It the officiating office that resides in Alabama. What makes fans hate the Alabama team is the one-sided officiating that goes on when Alabama plays another tough team in the SEC.

If games were called fairly, Other SEC fans would not hate Alabama so much.

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I agree but have a different take on the new situation.
Alabama has "carried the banner" for the SEC much more effectively than all other SEC teams combined since Saban established "the evil empire" in Tuscaloosa.
I believe the officiating bias (not even arguable) was created more for the benefit of the SEC prestige and revenue than about a team that is located in the same state as the SEC office. Had Tennessee been the dominant team for 15-16 years I think we would have seen a bias toward the orange team.
The second part of my theory is that officials were actually intimidated by Saban's "mystique and success" as well as his unrelenting badgering, yelling, cursing, and looks at the officials, to the point that they did not want to incur his wrath. And imagine the next time you were on the field to call another of Bama's game if you had previously made a call that cost him a victory.
I believe that the bias will lessen immediately and eventually disappear.