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

[neurosis]

oh fuck, i misspelled hanging.  Damn my eyesight.

[neurosis]

Nah that's cap

It's cool bro.  Hey bro? You want to bro together bro?

[neurosis]

But not too old to talk shit and take the piss

I'm too old for both.

I assume that "take the piss" means beat the crap out of someone?  You UK guys. 

[CNCAppsJames]

Bucky... wear an Appalachian State jersey to the game. It'll go over better.

[Jim at Gentex]

Great topic Bucky! 

I just spent 4 days in Michigan, 2 of them in Ann Arbor, almost within walking distance to the Big House.
Let's just say I left all of my Penn State gear at home for this trip and leave it at that. 

Yeah, I also think people like to rally around local sports teams, so that's a huge factor in a fan base.
I would dare say the VAST majority of the fan base of any Division 1 college sports program is comprised of people who did not personally attend the school but love their team just the same.
And when their team is good enough to win championships on the national stage, their fan base will increase as well simply through exposure to a bigger audience. 

I think pro sports also generate a local and regional following simply because people like to attend live games without traveling too far.

I'm in Northeast PA, so our local pro sports markets are mostly Philadelphia and New York.
I grew up watching the Eagles, Mets, and Knicks, but for hockey I prefer our cross-state team in Pittsburgh.
And since their minor league franchise plays only 25 minutes from home, we go quite often to see the newest talent coming up through the system. 

[Jeff]

Let's just say I left all of my Penn State gear at home for this trip and leave it at that

Why? It's Ann Arbor, not Colulmbus! lol
You'd get the occasional ball busting from Michigan fans but that's about it.

[Rstewart]

Die hard University of Alabama fan.  I finished college later in life at a smaller institution, always wished I could have attended UA.

I was raised that Saturdays are for Football - Alabama Football.  When my dad was around 10 years old, he was struck by a car that almost killed him.  His older brother was attending U of A and just happened to have some connections with the football team.  He managed to get the complete 1969 team AND Bear Bryant to sign a football for my dad.

I now have that football

[Jeff]

He managed to get the complete 1969 team AND Bear Bryant to sign a football for my dad.

That's awesome!