by Christopher Paschal

Image from Ole Miss Athletics

In my mind, there really isn’t anything better than a Fall Saturday in the SEC. Part of it is the extravagant tailgates and parties that go deep into the night. Part of it is the charm of towns like Oxford, Mississippi or Athens, Georgia. But most of it is because SEC football is just the best. And the numbers back it up. Since 1936 (the beginning of the Poll Era), the SEC has won more National Titles (24) than any other conference. And no, I am not including Texas A&M’s 1939 Title or Arkansas’s 1964 Title seeing as they weren’t in the SEC at the time. And no, I am not counting Georgia’s 1942 National Title because while they claim it, the Associated Press and the Coaches Poll did not.

“The SEC is king, there is no disputing it.”

But here’s the kicker. I did not apply the same standard to the Big 10, the Pac 12, the Big 12, or the ACC. In fact, I doubled up for those schools. So for example, Nebraska’s 5 National Titles counted for both the Big 12 and the Big 10. Maryland’s 1953 National Title counted both for the ACC and the Big Ten. I also counted National Titles for Conferences even when that program was an independent or in the Big East. Syracuse’s 1959 National Title counted for the ACC. Miami’s, Penn State’s, and Pittsburgh’s all count for the respective conferences they are in today. Still, nobody can match the SEC.

Image from CBS

In 2017, the SEC led all other conferences with 11 programs ranked inside the top 30 for Home Attendance. In fact, the SEC had five inside the top 10. The Pac 12 and Big 12 didn’t even have five inside the top 30. Since the first NFL Draft in 1936, the SEC leads all other conferences with most players drafted. The SEC is king, there is no disputing it.

So it may come as a surprise when I say there is one way for SEC football to be even more enjoyable for me. That is for Clemson to be in the SEC rather than in the ACC. Imagine if Clemson were in the SEC East instead of the ACC. If Clemson were to replace Missouri, I would cry tears of joy. Think about it, Clemson is a much better fit than Missouri. Yes, I know it’s all about money and television contracts, and that Clemson doesn’t add a market that the SEC already doesn’t dominate, and that Missouri brought in Kansas City and St. Louis. But to be honest, I could care less. As a fan, I would much rather have Clemson in the SEC East.

Image from Missouri & Clemson Athletics

Now I do understand that part of Clemson’s feng shui is that they are the SEC slayers. For so many years, Clemson had to deal with SEC fans treating them like little brother. SEC fans went to high school with Clemson fans. Went to church with Clemson fans. Worked with Clemson fans. It was easy to be friends with Clemson fans because they loved football, they were much like SEC fans, and they were harmless. In the 1990s and 2000s Clemson was kind of like the Cubs – lovable losers. Clemson didn’t win a single ACC Title between 1991-2010. They had big time players, big moments, but never found a way to win.

Then, a SEC savior arrived by the name of Dabo Swinney. Swinney, an Alabama boy, ascended from wide receivers coach to head coach. Then from head coach to ACC Championship Head Coach. And then ultimately to National Championship Head Coach.

Featured Image from Huffington Post

SEC fans resent Clemson for being able to look like, taste like, and smell like an SEC program, but not be one. My brethren, I ask you, wouldn’t we all be happier if we applied the ancient adage of “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” and had Clemson in the East?

Image from Getty Images

Imagine an early September showdown with the Gators in The Swamp between two highly ranked opponents. Or if the Volunteers rolled into Death Valley with thousands of Tennessee fans. And imagine if those epic clashes between Clemson and South Carolina in 2011, 2012, and 2013 meant the winner headed to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. This would be a lot more fun than watching Missouri get boat raced by Auburn and Georgia.

No, Clemson would not be as dominant in the SEC as they were in the ACC. It’s tough for Clemson and Alabama to both make the National Title game if they both just played in the SEC Title game. But the storylines, the tailgates, and the games would be a lot more fun. Clemson recruits SEC kids. Clemson has an SEC stadium tucked away in a beautiful valley in the heart of SEC country. They already have rivalries with South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, and can you imagine Clemson traveling to Oxford or Baton Rouge. It would be fun!

So Gamecock fans, Bulldog fans, SEC fans, put aside your disdain and jealousy for Clemson.  Just for a moment imagine a season where Clemson won (and lost) big time SEC games. Then take another moment and appreciate that we get big time games every weekend of every year, and that we don’t have to sit through matchups with Boston College, Syracuse, or Wake Forest every year.