See, now I get it.
It took the impending death of college football as we know it via conference realignment to really crystallize for me exactly why the "S-E-C!" chant pisses me off, so I guess I owe the Southeastern Conference and everyone in it a big ol' thank you.
This is helpful for me, because for so long I held internal doubts as to just how virtuous my irritation at a display of conference pride was, and now I know that the way I feel is entirely justified on grounds that are pure and good and correct.