What's a guy to do? You spend 364 days a year wishing all kinds of bad karma on your conference foes and then they have their bowl game.

Now you feel all guilty for pulling for them, whether publicly or privately.

Seems to be the way it is with fans of most conferences.

Now, that's not to say I haven't had years when I would have pulled for Satan University over Tennessee, at least when Phillip Fulmer was there, but most of the time I look forward to my SEC brethren putting a whipping on the "outsiders".

I won't wear, nor do I own, any team clothing other than that of my beloved Crimson Tide, I won't shake a different colored pom pom and I certainly won't sing their fight song (if I even knew it).

However, I will do a quick fist pump and give an occasional grunt when things go the right way. That is the only outward sign of emotion I feel is publicly allowed or necessary.

After the game, I employ the Nick Saban rule, give them 24 hours to enjoy the win, and then I go back to work on them. I don't believe in getting too complacent in my ways, you know.

After 24 hours, it's perfectly acceptable to tell them how lucky they were and how they won't stand a chance against you next year. You can make fun of the ugly cheerleader they kept showing on TV and the fans with blue and orange afros.

That's just the way it is and my consciousness can deal with that. For one day at least.