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LOS ANGELES - You don't have to be in SEC country to gain a great appreciation for the interest in SEC football.

You saw it Monday night when 10,000 or more Tennessee fans showed up in the Rose Bowl to watch the Vols lose in overtime to UCLA. I saw it two days earlier at a restaurant and bar in Marina Del Rey.

Tony P's just became my favorite sports bar - for several reasons. First, it opens at 9 a.m. West Coast time on Saturday for anyone who wants to watch the noon (Eastern time) games.

Secondly, it's a first-class restaurant as well as a sports bar.

And finally, it's SEC friendly. In fact, I watched as much SEC football in one day (and night) at Tony P's as I have anywhere in the Southeast.

Luckily, I got a tip about arriving early. The line started forming about 8:40.

Tim Burnett, a University of Florida graduate, clued me in on what to expect. Tony P's is Gainesville West.

By the time Florida kicked off its 2008 season against Hawaii, there were more than 200 Florida fans in Tony P's. One was 84. Another was 5 months old.

The only non-Florida fans in the bar were an Ohio State fan and I. I was there to watch SEC football. I'm not sure why he was there. Either he likes abuse or he's thinking about switching teams.

Burnett said the big Buckeye at the end of the bar talked smack the entire 2006 regular season, which ended with Ohio State ranked No. 1. Burnett also said his Buckeye buddy was a no-show for the national championship game against Florida. Maybe he had a premonition.

Paul Macklin, the general manager of Tony P's, said the restaurant and bar has been a home to Florida fans since it opened 13 years ago. That fact is not lost on the fans of local teams.

"We don't get USC and UCLA fans here (when Florida is playing)," Macklin said. "Because they know the Gators rule what's on TV.

"If they know the Gators are playing an early game, some of them will come in later."

He was right. As Florida was putting the finishing touches on a rout of Hawaii, Southern Cal fans began to arrive. But plenty of Florida fans were still hanging around.

Some were even there late Saturday afternoon. By then, more SEC fans were showing up.

A group of Tennessee fans took up one table. A couple of Alabama fans were at another. Two Auburn couples sat at the bar.

Keep in mind that Tony P's will get almost any college game you want. Yet there appeared to be only mild interest in the two Pac-10 games.

The majority of screens were showing Alabama-Clemson. Two other screens near me had Mississippi State vs. Louisiana Tech, and Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

Auburn graduate Karlton Gholston, who moved to Los Angeles a year ago, cheered for his Tigers on one screen and pulled against Alabama on the other.

He's also not afraid to take on the Gators. Last year, he watched Auburn's upset of Florida at Tony P's in a thicket of Gators fans.

One of the Gators challenged Gholston to a bet: Loser jumps into the marina out back. Despite the unfavorable points spread, Gholston accepted.

Auburn won, and the Florida fan jumped. And any locals in the bar got an appreciation for what it means to be an SEC football fan.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.