WTF is up with rooting for sports teams of a college you didn't attend?

[Bucky Cornstarch]

One of the things I've noticed since moving to Michigan is the overwhelming amount of UofM gear. (Full disclosure: my Pop is a UofM grad) The maize and blue is everywhere: clothing, bumper stickers, lawn signs, tattoos, etc.  Now, I realize that it's a big school, but surely not all of the purveyors of said gear could have attended the university, right? 

Of course not. A prime example is an ex co-worker, who, when I asked, "you sure wear a lot of blue, you must be a UofM grad?" he responded, "no, my sister did. I went to Central. I'm not smart enough to go to Michigan." (I thought, "no shit," but that's a story for another day.)   

Anyway, what makes one a super fan of a sports team of a college they never attended, especially if they went to a different school? My alma mater had a great baseball team, so naturally I rooted for them, but they sucked at everything else, so I just sort of stayed neutral with other sports. Thoughts?

BTW, Go Green. (I'm allowed to say that because my wife is a grad, and a prof. So bite me.)

[neurosis]

I know a bunch of people who went to UW here in Washington State who are Ducks fans.

I'm not much of a sports guy so  

[Smit]

I'd say it's no different than a pro team. People kind of gravitate to local places, at least if they're winning. Everybody likes a winner.

Personally I listened to the KU Jayhawks since I was quite young. They made me a fan for life. I was pretty disinterested in college football because KU has been historically bad for most of the years between then and now but when they do offer entertainment value I root for them in football too.

I graduated from Baker university but went to Lawrence to party with my friends a lot back in the day.

The people I don't understand are the ones who switch being fans of one team to another. My neighbor used to be a Cowboys fan when they were good, then switched to being a 49ers fan, now he's a Chiefs fan.

I've been a Chiefs fan all my life, thru the bad years and the good years. But I guess there is no wrong way to be a fan.

[CNCAppsJames]

Good question. 

I'm a hardcore USC fan for sentimental reasons... so I root for 3 teams; USC, whomever is playing UCLA and whomever is playing Notre Dame.

My Great Grandfather played Football there in the early 1920's, and when I got out of rehab (early summer 1987) I went to go live with my Grandparents.  One day in late August my grandpa drags me into the TV room (figuratively not literally)  and pronounces "It's Saturday, we watch USC Football on Saturdays). Since I was pretty impressionable at that stage in my life, it stuck. It was Rodney Peete's Junior year. He had a LONG NFL career.

Trojan for life!

✌️😎

[Del.]

Kentucky basketball fan since I was 7 years old listening to them on radio with my dad.

[mowens]

I didn't graduate from college but I agree with Smit about whatever's local. I had one kid graduate from KU, one from Wichita State, one from K-State and my wife from Oklahoma State. If you talk about graduate degrees it gets even more complicated. I've also spent a lot of time in Cleveland so I tend to root for those teams. Except the Cavs. Even though my son in law works for them. He does get some good seats though, so that's always fun.
I used to be a huge Shocker basketball fan. Not so much any more. My parents were big KU fans even though they didn't go  to college. My dad was a big Braves fan, starting when they were in Milwaukee.

[Jeff]

One of the things I've noticed since moving to Michigan is the overwhelming amount of UofM gear. (Full disclosure: my Pop is a UofM grad) The maize and blue is everywhere: clothing, bumper stickers, lawn signs, tattoos, etc.  Now, I realize that it's a big school, but surely not all of the purveyors of said gear could have attended the university, right? 

Of course not. A prime example is an ex co-worker, who, when I asked, "you sure wear a lot of blue, you must be a UofM grad?" he responded, "no, my sister did. I went to Central. I'm not smart enough to go to Michigan." (I thought, "no shit," but that's a story for another day.)   

Anyway, what makes one a super fan of a sports team of a college they never attended, especially if they went to a different school? My alma mater had a great baseball team, so naturally I rooted for them, but they sucked at everything else, so I just sort of stayed neutral with other sports. Thoughts?

BTW, Go Green. (I'm allowed to say that because my wife is a grad, and a prof. So bite me.)

You've clearly noticed that U of M has a MASSIVE fan base. And anyone who watched them play Bama or Washington noticed just how loud the Michigan fans were.

Michigan has a long history of excellent sports teams aside from football.
Hockey has great rivalries and the annual Great Lakes invitational brings some good watching.
Women's softball is usually quite good as is the men's baseball teams.
And as for basketball... while I'm not a huge fan they have good teams here and there. The Fab Five era was something else. Those kids were awesome.

Don't have to attend a college to be a fan.

Maybe people that think this didn't get into sports as a kid? I couldn't say but I played baseball since I was 5 until I was 17. I was a darn good pitcher and had really good power at the plate. I just couldn't hit a curveball LOL. In the 80's, nobody was throwing them ages 12-16 really except for this one kid I batted against in an all-star game against Southfield. That little bastard had a nasty curve!

[Jeff]

Manchester United kickball team?

You mean soccer?

 

[neurosis]

Manchester United

The only reason I know that name is because of the movie Eurotrip.   

My baby takes the morning train!

[Bucky Cornstarch]

All good answers; my question was mostly because I thought we could use more of a fun thread to go along with all of the more contentious ones.

Being from Cali, college sports were never a thing, so it's kinda cool to see and take part of that here in Michigan. My wife and I got season tickets to MSU football last season, and since she was a grad student, we sat amongst all of the "kids." What was especially hilarious was to have drunk-ass 19 year-old UofM students call my wife and I, (who are both in our early fifties with kids older than that) call us "little brother," in our home stadium.  We are definitely going to the UofM v MSU game in Ann Arbor this year, where we'll wear the green and white proudly, and watch our team get slaughtered.

Side note, and one that I didn't think of until just now: When I was a little kid, my Pop bought my two brothers Rams jackets, but for some reason, bought me a Vikings jacket. I was a Vikings fan for years.

[gcode]

My interest in college sports is even lower than Joe Biden's IQ... and that's being generous

[mowens]

When I was growing up the closest pro sports were in Kansas City, so for local sports, college was our only choice. We did have a triple A baseball team but we never went. Too hot in the summer.

[Jeff]

My wife and I got season tickets to MSU football last season

Ooof. That was a brutal time to get season tickets lol.

call us "little brother,"

73-38-5 is the all time record  lol.

[neurosis]

All good answers; my question was mostly because I thought we could use more of a fun thread to go along with all of the more contentious ones.

I'm sure that someone will figure out a reason to dislike you over this one too.   

[neurosis]

Dang 'lil brah

You been handing out with Peter behind the scenes?