It's a phenomenon that is seen all over. There are just a lot of Bart Simpson-types on the internet message boards. For every one of us who like to chat and banter with rival posters, there seem to be two who just want to insult them and run them off. I've never understood this childishness, but I can recognize it on every board--some worse than others.
The Barts always seem to focus on whatever a team is most proud of and sensitive about. Alabama has a legendary coach that you are quite proud of so they know it will enrage you automatically. And they use it. There are some Bama Barts, too, who go to rival boards with inflammatory challenges like "Alabama IS the SEC", "Bama is the only school with a football tradition", etc.
LSU has a legendary stadium that we are very proud of, so the Barner Barts use it against us to rile us up--and it works. "Drunken Cajuns throw whiskey bottles", "grandmothers flip you the bird", "Noise is overrated". Tennessee and Miami are sensitive about player discipline issues, so the Barts rag them as "Thug U".
It is especially insensitive to speak badly of the deceased, but they will do it without even thinking. Best to just take the high road and let the Barts make fools of themselves. I've been on a lot of SEC boards and one thing is clear--the Barts are never the long-time, knowledgeable football fans. They are always the homer, colored-shades braggers who are all about "which teams they hate" and "who has the worst fans" and other childishness. Fortunately they usually don't last long on the net. . . they either leave or grow up.
It's important to realize that there are plenty of other people on the boards who do have respect for other team's traditions. I have 8 commemorative Coke bottles for recent LSU National championships in football, baseball and track. My Bear Bryant commemorative Coke bottle from around 1982 is up there on the shelf with them. The Houndstooth-hatted One and Deaf Valley are not just school traditions, they are SEC traditions.
