Is it OK to be a fan of teams from different schools?

[ORD_Buckeye]

I had a military co-worker about 3-4 years ago who was born and raised in Idaho, so his favorite college football team was Michigan and his favorite college basketball team was North Carolina. Why? Because Idaho didn't have [censored] for college teams and he liked the uniforms of Michigan and North Carolina. If I were born in Idaho, I think I'd probably would've picked out-of-state teams to follow, also...

Almost everyone that I knew in jr. high and high school in Nevada had their big time out of state school to follow: mine was Washington, but that fell by the wayside (other than the mild interest that I noted above) when I came to Ohio State. I've loved watching Ohio State take their effin' candy the last couple of times we've played.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Almost everyone that I knew in jr. high and high school in Nevada had their big time out of state school to follow: mine was Washington, but that fell by the wayside (other than the mild interest that I noted above) when I came to Ohio State. I've loved watching Ohio State take their effin' candy the last couple of times we've played.

Nate Salley knocked Reggie Williams in to the year 2025 just for you.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I had a military co-worker about 3-4 years ago who was born and raised in Idaho, so his favorite college football team was Michigan and his favorite college basketball team was North Carolina. Why? Because Idaho didn't have shit for college teams and he liked the uniforms of Michigan and North Carolina. If I were born in Idaho, I think I'd probably would've picked out-of-state teams to follow, also...

Good point, never thought of it from the eyes of some poor schmuck born in Idaho.

Also as a corollary to my pick a team and stick to it theory; If your team's management shows 15+ years of not only an inability to win but an unwillingness to win I say fans have reached the Free Agent point.

Not saying I would bail but I do think there is a point in time when you just say fuck the Clippers and move on. I have some long suffering Bengal fan cousins back in Ohio and I tell them all the time I wouldn't hold it against them. They've earned it imo.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

I didn't read all the posts in this split thread, but have we ignored the most glaring issue here other than this noob's promiscuous fanship... I mean... fucking Duke? Seriously?

Duke is the scUM of the south.

 

[BUKEsqBuck]

I'm a bit late to the party. I typed this a few hours ago, but interruptions and a classroom full of students prevented me from sending this sooner. My two cents:

This topic resurfaces regularly because the acquisition of allegiance is sometimes rational, sometimes arbitrary. Since there's no accounting for taste, I suppose we'll never reach a consensus. Nonetheless, there are sound reasons to be a Buckeye fan and not be torn between two lovers.

I am a life-long Ohio native. I was born a Buckeye. Woody Hayes and Ohio State football trumped everything growing up, long before I thought about where I would attend college. I subsequently graduated from the University of Toledo, and while I always rooted for Rocket sports teams, Buckeye football was, and still is, the epitome of college football. I lived through the 10-Year War, near the border of enemy territory, and there was never any place for ambivalence.

Buckeye football represents the state of Ohio and I'm a Buckeye. Period. I wear my hat with the block-O with pride. I'm a product of everything Ohio and the Buckeyes are my team. People contend that I shouldn't take it so personally, but it's a big part of the reason why it severely [censored]es me off when Ohioans root for TSUN. It just isn't right.

I live in NW Ohio and so I must endure an unfair share of M*ch*g*n fandom. I can't go to the grocery store or a HS basketball game without seeing a hat or a sweatshirt from TSUN. It grates on me. I mean, hey, you don't root for Canada or Mexico in the Olympics just because they're nearby. Right? It's un-American. What would Woody have said?

A friend from Arizona asked me if I was conflicted when the Buckeyes played the Rockets this past season. As far as I'm concerned, it is a privilege for a non-Big Ten team just to get beat by the Buckeyes. Not the slightest bit of conflict for me. College football in Ohio is Buckeye football. You can only have one king. Every other football program in the state (college, HS, etc.) serves Ohio State University football. Arrogant? Perhaps. But that's the way I like it.

Conflicted... hell no, for me I was just happy to have an alternative avenue to get Buckeye tickets (me and some other rocket alums got a block of about 75)!!

 

[OH10]

I had a military co-worker about 3-4 years ago who was born and raised in Idaho, so his favorite college football team was Michigan and his favorite college basketball team was North Carolina. Why? Because Idaho didn't have [censored] for college teams and he liked the uniforms of Michigan and North Carolina. If I were born in Idaho, I think I'd probably would've picked out-of-state teams to follow, also...

Of course! The uniforms!

I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with the fact that they win. (well, at least UNC wins - not sure why anybody not legally obligated to do so would actually be a fan of Michigan.)

 

[Buckeye513]

I have a friend whose dad went to North Carolina and mom went to Auburn. He roots for both. I don't see a problem with this.

The only time I'd be conflicted about rooting for OSU is if they ever played my school in the Frozen Four.

 

[buckeyemania11]

rooting for Ohio State football

and then DUKE basketball of all things....

deserves a swift kick in the groin

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

The only time I'd be conflicted about rooting for OSU is if they ever played my school in the Frozen Four.

 

[Buckeye513]

I like post-championship shenanigans more than I like OSU hockey.

 

[zwem]

Well there is only one school I root for. Although I like to see Texas do well. Maybe because I have always thought that Michigan and Texas compared to each other when it came to football historically. They have only played once but it was one of the best football games I have ever seen.

 

[MaxBuck]

[quote='BusNative;166881;7]I didn't read all the posts in this split thread, but have we ignored the most glaring issue here other than this noob's promiscuous fanship... I mean... [censored]ing Duke? Seriously?

Duke is the scUM of the south.[/quote]You are dead to me. Seriously.

 

[Woody1968]

I root for tOSU over any other team in head to head competition. That said, I will root for UVA against anyone but Ohio State, because I got my JD from there. I will also root for my undergrad, Columbia, against anyone but Ohio State.

 

[BUCKYLE]

tOSU. tOSU. tOSU.

I root for the Buckeyes in sports I don't even know the rules to. Hell, I have trouble rooting for the Bengals...not because they've sucked for fifteen years, but because they draft too many tsun players. It sickens me. I root for NFL teams based on how many Buckeyes are on the roster.

 

[jlb1705]

Well there is only one school I root for. Although I like to see Texas do well. Maybe because I have always thought that Michigan and Texas compared to each other when it came to football historically. They have only played once but it was one of the best football games I have ever seen.

You just ruined Texas for me. Thanks.