SEC fans are always on the prowl.
Brock Bowers and His Girlfriend Were Targeted With Hostile Messages Due to SEC Rivalry originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers opened up about an unexpected challenge from his college days: harassment from passionate SEC fans that targeted both him and his girlfriend during his time at Georgia.
Bowers, who starred with the Bulldogs before heading to the NFL, appeared on the "Bussin’ With The Boys" podcast and shared how the classic Tennessee–Georgia rivalry turned personal. His girlfriend, originally from California, ended up attending Tennessee while Bowers played for the Bulldogs.
“She ended up going to Tennessee actually from California, which is kind of funny. Yeah. So, it was kind of a random rivalry,” Bowers said. “She had the 19 jersey on, so she was pulling for me. But she was getting kind of yelled at by her friends.”
As the rivalry between Georgia and Tennessee intensified during the season, things got ugly behind the scenes. Bowers revealed that both he and his girlfriend received hostile direct messages on social media.
“You’re getting DMs like, ‘Your girlfriend’s out here with all the frats and stuff.’ And she’s getting messages like, ‘Your boyfriend sucks,’” Bowers shared.
He also admitted that the long-distance relationship, with both attending rival SEC schools, added to the strain.
“It was definitely a little tough… especially like when we’re playing against each other,” Bowers said.
Although it may sound extreme to outsiders, Bowers’ story offers a glimpse into just how intense SEC rivalries can become, even off the field. Fortunately, both he and his girlfriend were able to laugh it off and stay strong through the madness of college football fandom.
Related: Brock Bowers Reveals What Kirby Smart Said After Georgia’s 2021 Loss to Alabama
Related: Kirby Smart Delivers Clear Verdict of Nick Saban’s Return Rumors
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
