I hardly think conference pride is pathetic. The SEC is top heavy but those teams are great, I think UK fans and those teams (Tennessee, Vandy, South Carolina, Texas A and M, ole Miss, Mississippi State, hitch their wagon and think that they deserve the same praise...they don't.
I dislike the SEC as much as anyone, but you can't deny the fact that they've dominated the decade, regardless of it is the same 4 teams that win/dominate.
Notre Dame fans don't understand how great conference play is and how competing with other conferences in these bowl games to be the best is bragging rights. Personally I think it's cool and it fuels hatred between fan bases and conferences which is what college football is all about. Regional rivalries, Conference rivalries, maybe one day we will get in that picture.