We have all heard about the SEC bias that runs rampant throughout the world of college football. While the SEC has produced the past seven BCS National Champions, it is at least understandable while this conference appears to get top treatment by the media and fans. Although, the latest Discover Fan Loyalty Poll results revealed that fans from the Pac-12 conference are the toughest tailgaters in the country, as 28 percent would never call off a tailgate party before their favorite team’s home game, regardless of how cold the temperatures dropped outside. When you include all of the schools in the conference, there is quite a wide range of average temperatures that could take place during the pre-game festivities. Yet, if you take a look at all of the top college football tailgating rankings, only one Pac-12 school makes the list. Of course, there are a plethora of SEC schools on this list as well. I guess that when it comes to any sort of rankings in NCAA Football, the SEC will always be King.
That is, until someone can knock them off of their throne.
- My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Discover Products Inc. and its affiliates
Before we get to the average list of the top college football tailgating schools, take a look at some of the other results from the most recent Discover Fan Loyalty Poll. College football fans across the country were asked when does it become too cold to tailgate? It was alarming to see that only 21 percent would never call off a tailgate party before their favorite team’s home game, no matter how cold the thermometer read outside. Yet, there are some who feel as if 40 – 51 degrees is too cold, and a day/night with those numbers could be enough for 8 percent to call off their tailgate plans. Here are some other numbers that were discovered from the latest Fan Loyalty Poll from Discover:
* 8 percent would call it off between 41 and 50 degrees
* 23 percent would pack it in between 33 and 40 degrees
* 31 percent couldn’t handle between 0 and 32 degrees
* 13 percent would quit at 0 degrees and below
* 4 percent are not sure which temperature would be their breaking point
* 23 percent of women compared to 20 percent of men would never call off a tailgate party
* 13 percent of college football fans claiming the title of “Cook”
* 10 percent of fans call themselves “Freeloaders”
Take a look at the infographic below for the full results from the latest Discover Fan Loyalty Poll. Then, feel free to weight in below in the comments section. How cold is too cold, in your opinion? Are you a cook or a freeloader? Which school has the best tailgating experience that you have come across?
Taking a look at the average of some of the lists and rankings in regard to the top college football tailgating experiences, including those from Yahoo! and a recent census report, only one school from the Pac-12 can be found on this list. It may seem strange that the conference who has the toughest tailgaters in the country only have one school represented on the top tailgating schools. Once again, you will see just how much SEC dominance (or bias, depending on which side you fall) exists in the world of college football:
1. Auburn Tigers
2. USC Trojans
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. LSU Tigers
5. Mississippi Rebels
6. Georgia Bulldogs
7. Florida Gators
8. Michigan Wolverines
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
10. Ohio State Buckeyes
Well, there you have it. Of the top 10 tailgating schools, six of them reside in the SEC, while three more hail from the Big 10. USC is the only Pac-12 representative, while schools from the ACC and Big 12 do not even have one school on the list.
* Discover Products Inc. sent me a Gift Card for participating as a Blogger in the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll program
If you enjoy college football and reading up about the most entertaining poll results from the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll, then you have found the right place! Make sure to stay tuned to Boston Super Blog throughout the rest of the 2013 college football season for the latest news and predictions, as well as the most in-depth coverage of the results from the Discover Fan Loyalty Poll. Also, make sure to Like Discover on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!
The Discover Fan Loyalty Poll is conducted twice a month by Rasmussen Reports, a nationally recognized leader in polling, who gathers sentiment by phone from 1500 college football fans who follow games at least once per week on television, radio, in person or online. The Poll leads up to the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl. Discover’s commitment to college football includes relationships with ESPN and Notre Dame Football on NBC.
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.
