tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post2582789279396863537..comments2024-03-17T03:18:56.070-04:00Comments on Dan Shanoff: Fan-In-Law: One Fairweather Fan's Storyand Origins of Bandwagon Sports AllegianceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-16062828647116824532007-11-18T23:55:00.000-05:002007-11-18T23:55:00.000-05:00I am no bandwagoner, that's for sure. I WAS born ...I am no bandwagoner, that's for sure. I WAS born in Ohio, and have been a Buckeye fan forever (Eddie George was f&*king animal, man!!!)<BR/><BR/>I attend Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. I love my Bengals with a passion and would never EVER abandon them. Everyone in Pocatello became Boise State fans overnight after that bowl game. Not me. I hate BSU, Idaho, and everyone out here loves BYU. Not me. I am at EVERY home game (and a few roadies) of every sport going absolutely nuts for them.<BR/><BR/>No exceptions. I'll stand with my Idaho State Bengals and my Buckeyes through everything, no matter what.<BR/><BR/>GO BENGALS AND BUCKEYES!!! F**K BSU!!!BuckeyeInIdahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769019374678627466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-70144320134166840772007-10-26T10:23:00.000-04:002007-10-26T10:23:00.000-04:00Wow, the 100th comment here. I admit, my wife and ...Wow, the 100th comment here. I admit, my wife and I have a uniqur fan-in-law status as passionate fans of both our college football teams. Fortunately, barring the Champs Sports Bowl, my Boilermakers won't ever meet her Hurricanes in football. Of course last year we just missed it since Purdue did go there.<BR/><BR/>As a compromise of geography we get Purdue tickets since we live in Indiana and tape the Canes. If we lived in Florida it would be the opposite. Either way we enjoy ourselves, and we'll be watching you Northwestern Wildcats at Purdue's homecoming this weekend. <BR/><BR/>In regard to that, I have really enjoyed chatting and sharing my Purdue blog with Lake the Posts this week. That is one of the best college team blogs out there.T-Millhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658800030850579943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-55856118056564288472007-10-26T10:18:00.000-04:002007-10-26T10:18:00.000-04:00I think the crucial point of fandom is that once y...I think the crucial point of fandom is that once you find "your team," you remain consistent. Your team is the team you live and die with, the team you follow all year round. I don't think how you find them is as important as the fact that once you find them, you never leave them.<BR/><BR/>Most people find their teams during childhood or college. Dan may have enjoyed Northwestern football, but if they were never his "it" team, I can't blame him for leaving. Of course, if they were, then he's just a traitor.<BR/><BR/>Here's my question for you, Dan. Now that the Gators are "your team," are you going to root for them for the rest of his life, regardless of what happens?<BR/><BR/>p.s. As a lifelong Gators fan, I am indeed bemused by you.Chris Glazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09985244550561972189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-55174707946453712602007-10-26T10:17:00.000-04:002007-10-26T10:17:00.000-04:00I won’t even comment on Dan’s Gator-dom, because a...I won’t even comment on Dan’s Gator-dom, because as a Florida State grad the notion turns my stomach. (And I’m a complete homer, so there you go. There’s no point in getting me started.)<BR/><BR/>However, I thought a couple of scenarios other commenters brought up were interesting…<BR/><BR/>“And I'll further agree with others about "choice" being better than the more traditional ways of being a fan. I grew up outside of Boston and got to go to many Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins games. Sunday's were spent watching the Patriots. My dad played at Notre Dame and I went to school at KU. Those are my teams for various reasons, all of which are personal. I could have turned my back on any of them, but I still chose to follow them. <BR/><BR/>And in the Fall of 99 when KU played Notre Dame in the Eddie Robinson Classic, I rooted for Kansas because that is where I was at the time and the stronger tie. Who would you root for if Northwestern and Florida played?”<BR/><BR/>I faced this problem in September. I was raised an Alabama fan (and had the good sense to remain one). I graduated from Florida State in ’02… and then graduated with a master’s from Alabama in ’04. I’ve lived in Alabama for almost five years, but I grew up in Jacksonville, Fla.—where my two teams met on Sept. 29.<BR/><BR/>I cheered for Alabama.<BR/><BR/>“I have a cheering scenario for everyone: which is stronger, alliance to a conference or hatred of a rival? I grew up in Texas so the nearest rivalry growing up was A&M and UT. If I am an A&M fan, and UT makes the championship game, do I cheer for the Big 12 team, or cheer for the opponent to spite my hated rival?”<BR/><BR/>THIS is a struggle I face all the time! With LSU still hanging in the national title race, I find myself half-cheering for a team I hate. Granted they’re not our biggest rivals. But heck, the whole conference hates them! Still, I like to see the SEC triumph. <BR/><BR/>For what it’s worth, that was also a dilemma last year with Florida playing for the championship. But don’t worry—I rooted for Ohio State.Carla Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07029297859059874312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-67026987664358025912007-10-26T10:14:00.000-04:002007-10-26T10:14:00.000-04:00This just made me laugh. I too have a husband who...This just made me laugh. I too have a husband who has adopted my team of choice (Go UK!). My father (from whom I proudly inherited my fandom)even appreciatively commented on my ability here 2 weeks into our marriage to refer to anything the team does as what "we" did. <BR/><BR/>I would agree that it seems a little condescending to turn your nose up at all the ways people choose their team. Who really cares? If someone's cheering for your team, do you really care how they got there? And if they're not... may god have mercy on them.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09137845673470136264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-68497142852786745372007-10-26T09:39:00.000-04:002007-10-26T09:39:00.000-04:00Ah, fandom! As a member of the Gator extended fami...Ah, fandom! As a member of the Gator extended family that Dan mentioned in the post, I suppose I fall into a number of categories regarding the Gators. I've been a fan since I was in middle school (in those days it was "junior high"!) because UF was semi-local, because one of my cousins was enrolled there, and because UF WASN'T the University of Miami! I spent 4 great years at UF, got my degree, then went to graduate school at FSU (had to get special permission from the family to do that!). The annual football game was in Tallahassee that year and I very proudly sat in the Gator section with a number of my friends who had come from Gainesville for the game. These days, I get a big kick out of going to a game in Gainesville, because it's such an event, and also because it's a chance to spend time with family members. So, I cannot imagine ever NOT being a Gator fan, even during those years in the seventies when things weren't going well for the football team, and NOBODY paid any attention to the basketball team! My opinion on sports allegiance? It's a free country (more or less!) and if someone roots for a sports team for whatever reason, it's their choice!birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06089995293849314248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-91597315666188570222007-10-26T07:55:00.000-04:002007-10-26T07:55:00.000-04:00@ john (east lansing, mi)Can Matt Ryan have his He...@ john (east lansing, mi)<BR/><BR/>Can Matt Ryan have his Heisman points now?<BR/><BR/>I just want to predict right now the interpretation of this win: BC didn't deserve it, they looked horrible the whole game. Had to get a miracle to beat a team LSU thumped by 41. Now if BC had "SEC" above its name: What a tough gritty win. Proving they know how to get it done in the slop against a amashed-mouth and fast defense. VT may have gotten thumped by LSU, but thay have been a different team since then and they are a monster at home. A win for the ages. Tebo . . .er Ryan for Hesiman!<BR/><BR/>And finally, one note on fandom. The problem people have with Dan is less how you come to be a fan - everyone has their own personal reasons. The issue is sticking with it. Switching teams in your late 20's because your college wasn't that great just isn't very impressive. Nothing wrong with taking on your wife's team if it didn't involve dumping your alma mater. I'm just wondering what you do if Florida hits a rough patch (a real rough patch and not a bunch of 8-5 seasons under Ron Zook) and the intoxication of a National title hunt disappears. Once that reason for being a fan is gone, what are you left with?Gonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575896335808705082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-64042366865950998842007-10-26T03:47:00.000-04:002007-10-26T03:47:00.000-04:00I love all my Dallas-Fort Worth teams, but only th...I love all my Dallas-Fort Worth teams, but only the Dallas Mavericks are special to me. <BR/><BR/>I think being a Mavs fan is what being loyal to a team/school is all about. You see them rise (taking the Showtime Lakers to 7 games in the late 80's), then fall (Tarpley getting kicked out the league Agruirre for Dantley, becoming the worst team in sports), only to rise again (the CNN era.<BR/><BR/>They might kill you at times (the last 2 years), but you always think next year will be different.Nelvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922299685415111336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-33618411630407034412007-10-25T23:27:00.000-04:002007-10-25T23:27:00.000-04:00Go Penn State! Go Penn State!Poor VTech... with th...Go Penn State! Go Penn State!<BR/><BR/>Poor VTech... with the shooting there being as devastating and awful, it was just totally cruel of Dan to predict they'd win the national championship. Then he goes and predicts VTech to win... damnit Dan, give the school a break!<BR/><BR/>MATT RYAN FOR HEISMAN!ToddTheJackasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06333015679479284215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-15456202070376340082007-10-25T23:14:00.000-04:002007-10-25T23:14:00.000-04:00Wow that was an impressive end for BC and Matt Rya...Wow that was an impressive end for BC and Matt Ryan<BR/><BR/>Oh and Chris I think we have a decent chance if only because it's in Happy Valley. If it was in Columbus PSU would get killed but at home they play like a different team and the crowd really makes a difference.<BR/><BR/>It'll be close and I'm hoping for a win<BR/><BR/>PENN STATE!!Johnny bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03825230779882177065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-23596369787402978042007-10-25T22:20:00.000-04:002007-10-25T22:20:00.000-04:00Since you picked your team because of a girl, and ...Since you picked your team because of a girl, and nothing more rational than that. (yes you loved the swamp and the atmosphere, but essentially it was for a girl). I guess people are, and have a right to be, skeptical about your allegiances. <BR/><BR/>But being a fan is more than a girl, and more than your father, or geography. At some point it isn't. I'm sure if my dad stopped taking me to Broncos games as a youngster I would have lost interest in them. I am sure If the Avs had left in, say, '98 I would have lost interest in them too, but at some point I became set for life. I am a life-long Avs/Broncos fan.<BR/><BR/>So i guess the question for you Dan, is are you at that point yet? And another way to ask that is...<BR/>If your wife left you, could you still root for the gators? I know nothing short of the Broncos or Avs moving cities in the middle of the night could make me stop rooting her of them (that's like cheating on me). <BR/><BR/>So there you go, if you can answer that question, to yourself obviously, with a yes then let them say bandwagoneer, but if you can't say yes, if you question your own loyalty then I think peple are entitled to question it as well.Jibblescribbitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17833352311064492403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-37287456800311021232007-10-25T21:49:00.001-04:002007-10-25T21:49:00.001-04:00Oh. I see this whole conversation was questioning...Oh. I see this whole conversation was questioning everyone's fanhood. The font is too big on the main page, so I always skip the (three-page) post and click on the Comments link, every visit after the 1st of the day.john (east lansing, mi)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03872457640564913468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-35062645739061644552007-10-25T21:49:00.000-04:002007-10-25T21:49:00.000-04:00@ JonathanNice to see a fellow Nittany Lion on her...@ Jonathan<BR/><BR/>Nice to see a fellow Nittany Lion on here as well. I'll be one the 110,000 crazed, white-out, fans on Saturday night. I'm just hoping and praying we can knock off the Buckeyes. Although it will be tough. They are well coached and defensively as good as it gets. WE ARE!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12909329433092651791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-35708203631380932142007-10-25T21:43:00.000-04:002007-10-25T21:43:00.000-04:00Wow, sorry I missed the whole "question your fanho...Wow, sorry I missed the whole "question your fanhood" part of this conversation.<BR/>Mine is the greatest, purest, and best, for the record.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I just wanted to come on and point out that Matt Ryan deserves negative Heisman votes, if anything. VT could easily have picked off 3 of his passes by now, instead of 1. Fumbles and incompletions are allowable in that slop, but MR is almost as bad at avoiding defenders as that Flutie kid.john (east lansing, mi)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03872457640564913468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-88200587146071442392007-10-25T21:36:00.000-04:002007-10-25T21:36:00.000-04:00dan, as has been said, florida over northwestern ...dan, as has been said, florida over northwestern is weak<BR/><BR/>me:<BR/>texas tech: went there<BR/>giants: loved watching bonds from the in that crazy '93 chase and was hooked (12)<BR/>dolphins: i watched marino kill the cowboys, my family's team, some random sunday (10)<BR/>sonics: kemp throwing down the jams got me (15)<BR/>blue jackets: i wanted them to have a fan in texas (20).eskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11778551506252589856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-62214127163941923062007-10-25T21:27:00.000-04:002007-10-25T21:27:00.000-04:00You made some good points overall Dan. I just don...You made some good points overall Dan. I just don't agree with all of them but it was well presented other than the part ripping into how most fans pick their teams. I fall into the biological and geographical part growing up watching Cleveland teams and Ohio State with my dad. I had no intention of ever following the Browns in Baltimore and still hate Art Modell with a passion that it sickens me to see a picture of him and recently saw he was honored by the Ravens.<BR/><BR/>I'd say the Indians are my #1 team since some of my oldest memories are sitting in the left field general admission section at Municipal Stadium with extremely small crowds. I someday dreamed of going to every game and if I could move closer and get a better job, I would. I haven't been a huge Browns fan my whole life basically because they moved while I was in high school and I didn't really like Bill Belichek as coach there when he released Kosar. He started to finally turn them around until the move was announced. I've since followed and watched every game since the return, but it has been very tough but I still live and die with them every game.<BR/><BR/>The funny thing about me as a Cavs fan is that the first ever Cavs game I went to, I didn't even know who they were. All I knew was that I was watching "Larry Bird's team" play at some place that took a long time to drive to (like 45 mins). I knew Bird from One on One with Dr. J and the Cavs won that game and I realized that the Cavs were like the Indians of Basketball in Cleveland. I watched just about every game of the 17 win season before they got LeBron and was genuinely pumped up about the idea of DaJuan Wagner, Ricky Davis, and Darius Miles team.<BR/><BR/>I've always been an Ohio State fan and didn't go there. I went to D3 Mount Union and never really followed them that much simply because their football team was too good and not worth watching.<BR/><BR/>Man, I rambled on...sorryJoeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00717708280637709412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-20800974194764936982007-10-25T20:35:00.000-04:002007-10-25T20:35:00.000-04:00It's nice to see a fellow Nittany Lion around here...It's nice to see a fellow Nittany Lion around here ChrisJohnny bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03825230779882177065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-89182687315095924562007-10-25T19:18:00.000-04:002007-10-25T19:18:00.000-04:00Dan, that is pathetic. Ditching your ALMA MATER fo...Dan, that is pathetic. Ditching your ALMA MATER for your wifes cheating bunch in the SEC. If anything the NU 93 season should have validated your choice to rot for them. Instead you turned your back.<BR/><BR/>I grew up a Badger fan living an hour from Madison with Season Tickets. My entire family went to WIsconsin. However, I chose to attend Indiana. One would guess that I am a diehard hoops fan, but this is not the case. I am a football guy, always will be. I travel to as many games as possible and still have yet to see a bowl eligible team. But, that does NOT change the fact they are my team. I could take the easy way out and stay a Badger fan, but that would be turning my back at one of the key rules in fandom: If your alma mater is in the BCS that is your team.<BR/><BR/>BTW Tebow doesn't hold a candle to Randle El. Go Hoosiers!BDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05917066808086605245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-90238532611661987532007-10-25T18:14:00.000-04:002007-10-25T18:14:00.000-04:00"there is something intensely personal about how e..."there is something intensely personal about how each person roots for their team"<BR/><BR/>My wife and I are both USC fans. Me since the early 80's, my wife her whole life. Her grandfather actually helped build the Coliseum. We've been together for more than 15 years and we still have unspoken rules for how we root for our team and how we can console each. <BR/><BR/>After the USC-Texas game we literally didn't talk to each other about the game for more than 24 hours. Not a single word. We both needed to mourn/deal separately. If either of us would've said something it would've just pissed the other off.<BR/><BR/>I'm lucky to be married to a gal who can hang in most any Pac-10 conversation, especially the Cali teams, but its just funny how we're big fans but we only share that fandom to a certain extent. We need our own turf.<BR/><BR/>As far as anyone else's vhoice of team, who gives a damn. Live and let live. I was at USC games in the 90's with barely 25k fans in the coliseum and now its regularly over 85k. Good for SC, more money and the games are more fun with more fans. I just hope some of the stick for the long haul.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978284603123219734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-54738497603399573072007-10-25T18:12:00.000-04:002007-10-25T18:12:00.000-04:00The best thing is this, one of my closest friends ...The best thing is this, one of my closest friends is a diehard hurricanes fan. His dad went there and he grew up right down the street from the school. Then his mom took his dad to the cleaners in a divorce and his dad declared bankruptcy. he couldn't afford to go to a private school and didnt have the grades to get into UF so he had to go to FSU. That is about as funny as you get. OH yeah he met his wife there and they are nasty to one another the week of that game.The heroin sheikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16860402732123149415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-2962837358189549352007-10-25T17:59:00.000-04:002007-10-25T17:59:00.000-04:00just realized alexander already said essentially t...just realized alexander already said essentially the same thingUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451238702322123480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-32612037497526792922007-10-25T17:56:00.000-04:002007-10-25T17:56:00.000-04:00rooting for a school you didnt attend is like chea...rooting for a school you didnt attend is like cheating on your wife. the other girl may be hot, and you can rationalize all you want, but she's not yours, so f*&K offUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451238702322123480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-70653488089184639392007-10-25T17:23:00.000-04:002007-10-25T17:23:00.000-04:00Another thought beyond my own experience…Interesti...Another thought beyond my own experience…<BR/><BR/>Interestingly, I don’t blame Dan for dumping Northwestern. Growing up in Chicago, we just don’t care about college sports. The Illini are too far away, and have sucked for too long. Northwestern is a doormat. Sure, there is Notre Dame (of whom I was a fan until my rejection letter came in 02, just in time), but once the Bears start…everything else is irrelevant. If it’s hard to be excited in Evanston or Chicago, why would you carry it anywhere else? Its not like NU has an extended alumni base that cares much for sports. Northwestern is an academic school. Period.<BR/><BR/>Like Dan, I am a college sports nomad myself. With no childhood team left as I left for college, I hoped to embrace my alma mater. Ooops, I went to a MAC school. Miami (OH) can only carry you so far on Saturday afternoons. Yes, I attended every game when I was there, which is better than most can say, but after Big Ben and graduation, the passion has waned significantly. Let’s not even discuss MAC basketball. CCHA hockey on the other hand, I fully embrace. In all likelihood because the RedHawks were so good.<BR/><BR/>I’ve gone through phases with teams because of girlfriends, mascots, announcers, stadiums, colors, and nothing has stuck. Maybe grad school or a wife would settle me down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-28147599619919920952007-10-25T17:10:00.000-04:002007-10-25T17:10:00.000-04:00Well, I don’t claim to have a fanhood story as ori...Well, I don’t claim to have a fanhood story as original as Dan’s, as I am purely inheritance/geography with the White Sox, Bears, Bulls. Like many/most, my teams are started with my grandpa, continued with my dad, and now me. My grandpa, however, chose the Sox (and actually the Chicago Cardinals NFL team) just to be a jackass. He grew up about 5 blocks from Wrigley and wanting to be different from his friends, chose the south side teams. Thank god he did, calling my dad and grandpa from college after the WS in 05 and hearing two grown men (my idols) act like kids was one of the happiest moments of my life. While I don’t think a moment like that means my fanaticism is more than Dan’s for UF, its something that he will never experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-5455345924536509682007-10-25T17:08:00.000-04:002007-10-25T17:08:00.000-04:00I have lived my entire life in Ohio and I root lik...I have lived my entire life in Ohio and I root like a mother for the Indians and Cavs (don't care so much about the Browns, never have, though I'll watch them on TV and go to games if invited). <BR/><BR/>I went to a Div. III school here in Ohio, but my brother went to OSU and I grew up watching them and rooting for them, so I've continued right on through. My dad also roots for OSU even though he, like me, is not an alum and went to a Div. III school. <BR/><BR/>Now, I get all sorts of shit from my friends because I root for OSU and didn't go to school there. I try to explain to them that most of the state of Ohio claims allegiance to them based on the whole "Ohio STATE" part of the name, and I get dismissed and called a frontrunner. I then try to explain how my own school doesn't even play on a field with STANDS and I had to root for someone, so why not the school that best represents the state I was born, raised, and still live in. That ALSO gets called all the time. <BR/><BR/>Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing wrong here. It isn't like I picked some team out of a hat, or chose the best team in the country at the time (I was born in '72, so I sat through a LOT of Earle Bruce and John Cooper). But now that we're good, I hear it all the time how I'm some Johnny-come-lately frontrunner. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, Dan, I think my reasons are if anything MORE legit than yours, so I wanted to let you know that sometimes, people are just haters and that's that. Try to take it with a grain of salt.hutlockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02383359405494669997noreply@blogger.com