Never been a huge NFL guy, but I don't recall so many Dallas haters until Aikman and Smith came along. Then..Jerry Jones or one of his marketing folks created the "America's Team" nickname. Then....there was Dallas..and everybody else. Seems like folks are indifferent now. Still hating Dallas but knowing their not the same as the yearly Playoff days. So you make a point I think about why fans love or hate. Bama is a little different I think. People that hate us the most seem to be in the SEC. I just wish fans could be as decent and fairminded as most of the players are towards other school's players. Look at them congratulating each other and giving their best regards after a hardfought match like Saturday night. Ever see fans line up and do that?? Eh! Apples and Oranges I know.
Believe me, my Friend, when I tell you that, growing up as a Redskins fan in the D.C. area, that the Cowboys were hated a long time before Aikman. George Allen, the Redskins Coach for many years, was known for not saying the name "Dallas Cowboys" without adding an expletive to the front of it. Those were the years leading up to the moniker of "America's Team" (which made me want to puke). And I would have to believe, that under Tom Landry (Who was a great Coach and Gentleman) and Roger Staubach's and Randy White's time, caused a large part of the Nation to not be too fond of the Cowboys.