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We’ve all googled ourselves before. It’s a fun way of seeing how the billions of data points on the web come together to flush out a person’s online identity.
The search engine’s algorithm is fairly complex, so we won’t get into its intricacies. But we can say that Google’s autocomplete function tries to predict what you are going to search for based off just a few word entries.
That’s where SEC fan bases come in. Based off just the name of the team and the keyword “fans,” Google comes up with a list of results that users may be searching for.
We saw this as a great opportunity to get Google’s, and therefore the internet’s, take on SEC fan bases. You won’t be disappointed by the results.
THE ACCURATE
If you’ve ever been to Gainesville, you’ve probably seen a life’s worth of jean shorts. There’s nothing wrong with that, and good on Florida fans for having their own, er, style.
Kyle Field is a mammoth, intimidating stadium. Texas A&M fans are a large part of that, as they constantly chant and sway throughout their team’s games. Try to avoid the press box if you get nauseous easily; you can feel the floor move back-and-forth with the crowd.
Google users are searching for the Landshark, Mississippi’s dorsal fin gesture and defensive battle cry. Luckily for them, Saturday Down South traced the origins of “Fins Up.”
Even three years after joining the SEC, Missouri fans are apparently searching for how to fit in. Meanwhile, other SEC fans are wondering why the conference newcomers are so darn nice.
THE QUESTIONABLE
We’re guessing Katy Perry accelerated the searching of the first result after her appearance on College GameDay. As for “LSU fans kissing,” maybe the people who made this the fourth autocomplete result should find something better to do with their time.
So what if Georgia fans like to bark? Bulldogs fans have every right to try to communicate with Uga, even if the Georgia mascot can’t hear them past the hedges.
Are Kentucky fans: A) the worst? B) the best?) or C) there? According to Google, the answer is all three – and then some.
THE DOWNRIGHT MEAN
Not one of Google’s top four autofills for Auburn fans are flattering. If only there was a way to figure out how many of those searches came from Bama fans …
Google thinks Tennessee fans are delusional? Just because many are convinced the Vols will win the SEC East this season after a 7-6 season? Maybe Google is on to something.
For better or worse, Alabama’s autofill results take the cake. Not only are users equating the same negative Southern stereotypes to Alabama fans as Auburn fans, but the top result claims the Crimson Tide faithful are America’s dumbest.
Mike Shaw is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Missouri, Texas A&M and Arkansas. Follow Mike on Twitter @michaelvshaw
