Always have been an Ohio State fan in both sports, first and foremost. That has grown since becoming a student but I've always been a pretty big OSU fan. Out of my hatred for Duke grew a fondness of UNC basketball, but I was definitely rooting for OSU over UNC in all of their recent matchups.

Like others have said, I couldn't give a shit less who other people root for.

I follow my alma maters (Rice and Northwestern) in all sports. I was born in Wichita, so I follow Kansas basketball, and I've been a jayhawk fine all my life. I also follow Wisconsin football, since I live here, and Ohio State football to a lesser degree, because I lived there for 15 years.

Obviously, I am a Buckeye fan through thick and thin, in ALL SPORTS. I am an OSU ALUM. I root for the UNIVERSITY, period. I also have a degree from Dayton, so you could say I am a closet Flyer fan.

I will not bash those who root for one team in one sport, and one in another...but I do scratch my head on those to be honest. Its college sports, so in my world, I root for the college itself. Its not like pro sports. But to each his own I guess. Just doesn't make much sense to me to be honest. But w/e.

I also found this comment interesting and wonder the samething to those who root for two different teams:

"I wonder why there are zero fans of Baylor in football and Northwestern in basketball? Or any other combinations of teams that are not very good?"

cbf, good post. Surprised this came from you.

I'm a buckeye fan first and foremost for all sports.

However, I do have certain other teams that'll i'll root for or watch in football and basketball based on factors such as players, systems, etc.

For football, i'll follow teams with pass-heavy offenses such as Hawaii and Texas Tech. Also follow Alabama because of Nick Saban and I follow Cal and Georgia Tech because I enjoyed watching Jahvid Best and Jonathan Dwyer play.

For basketball, I follow Texas Tech as well, but not as much since Bob Knight left. Follow Tennessee because I like their style of play.

I'd say most of the "good combos of both sports" have to do with those teams being more visible/memorable for younger fans to start liking or following at a young age. Most people become fans prior to even hitting puberty, and it's just not likely that you would become a fan of Baylor or Northwestern unless you are from that area. How would you even be exposed to them, especially for many of us who became fans of sports in the 80's when media coverage was a fraction of what it is today?

It might be easy to call people bandwagon or fairweather fans, but the important thing is having some roots for following that team and to stick with them for a lifetime. That is what makes a fan in my opinion. For someone like Killer_Ewok for example, he's stated how he started rooting for Syracuse in basketball and Notre Dame in football. Clearly, at the time, both of those schools were far more visible in those respective sports and it was easy to be a fan of both. The important thing is sticking with them for good.

Great post, Azu. I completely agree with the exposure/visibility theory. For those of us who chose a team to support at a young age, I would say that television exposure to those schools had a huge effect on our choices. The more you see something, the more familiar you become with it, and more often than not, the more you like it.

I also think that increased college attendance and mobility drives "split fanship." In 1940, you were born in a state, lived in that state, and if you attended college (not that many people), you attended college in that state. You stayed there most of your life. That made picking a team easy.

We're much more mobile now, and that creates opportunities for honest split fanship.

What I don't really like are the people who just jumped on a bandwagon--Bulls fans, and then Spurs fans, and then Lakers fans . . . I have a friend who is a Duke basketball fan and Notre Dame football fan, even though he's from California. He also grew up rooting for the Bulls and the Cowboys. That's just nonsense.

CBF, I actually get a lot of "bandwagon" comments thrown my way. I understand why, I root for:

-Notre Dame Football
-Indiana Soccer
-Indiana Basketball
-Indianapolis Colts/Cleveland Browns
-Indianapolis Pacers
-Cleveland Indians
-Detroit Red Wings.

I get it. Im all over the map (kind of). But my story is easy. My dad grew up Catholic in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He (along with every Catholic in Indiana) is a die-hard ND fan. That was just a natural progression for me going to games as a kid and watching on TV. I was born in Fort Wayne as well, although never lived there. Moved to Toledo, Ohio immediately after birth (adopted). My dad was also a die-hard Indiana basketball fan (outside of northwest Indiana, the whole state is a Hoosier state). So that progression was natural for me as well. Went to my first IU basketball game when I was 2 years old. First memory is of AJ Guyton getting a 3 and being fouled as a freshman in 1995 (I think 95). I was born in 1986, so ND and IU havent exactly been "powerhouses" in my 21 years lol.


For the professional level. Its really pretty easy. Red Wings are 45 minutes north and on TV every week. Our papers and news have always covered them. No Columbus team when I followed NHL. For the Indy stuff, well my aunt lived in Indy and my first game was when Marshal Faulk and Jim Harbaugh were there. Cleveland was in Baltimore so I didnt really have a team. Ive been die-hard since. Pacers, well I have always loved Reggie Miller. Ive been able to attend a lot of his games and met him 3 times. I do follow the Browns ALMOST AS CLOSE as the Colts now since the return in 1999, but the Cavs I never really got into them. I love LeBron so I guess I want him to win, but I wouldnt say im a fan.

I love the Tribe, really no one else to root for anyway, but my dads best friend is Bob DiBiasio (PR Director for Tribe) and he got me tickets my whole life.

In Toledo we get the Cleveland market and Detroit.

So I guess, I am all over the map, but hardly bandwagon. Im not sure what others stories are, but I would assume most people have pretty logical reasons like I do.


NOTE: I do follow all IU sports very closely and support them all. I would cheer for IU football over ND, but I doubt I ever have to worry about it

centralbucksfan wrote: Obviously, I am a Buckeye fan through thick and thin, in ALL SPORTS. I am an OSU ALUM. I root for the UNIVERSITY, period. I also have a degree from Dayton, so you could say I am a closet Flyer fan.

I will not bash those who root for one team in one sport, and one in another...but I do scratch my head on those to be honest. Its college sports, so in my world, I root for the college itself. Its not like pro sports. But to each his own I guess. Just doesn't make much sense to me to be honest. But w/e.

I also found this comment interesting and wonder the samething to those who root for two different teams:

"I wonder why there are zero fans of Baylor in football and Northwestern in basketball? Or any other combinations of teams that are not very good?"

It's kinda like you suspect someone is a gay douche of a human being that is white trash, and then they relieve all doubt you ever had.

Thanks.