What does it mean to be a true fan?

[IrishInFl]

Ok, so I was drinking with my source, and he said that I am not a true Kentucky basketball fan, on the basis that I do not own any Kentucky gear. So my question for the Irish Envy posters is this: Do you need to own gear for the team you support to prove that you support them?

 

[BillyIrish]

Do you know the starting five? Do you root for any other school, excluding ND of course? Were you a Kentucky fan when they were struggling? Do you think Bruce Pearl should knot his shirt at the belly button when wearing his orange jacket?

 

[IrishInFl]

Well, his real argument was that I can only root for one school. But I've been a UK basketball fan longer than I was a ND football fan! I've been a UK basketball fan since 92 or so, I was only seven, so give me a break. I became an ND football fan when I got a "next door" neighbor who's dad was a former ND football player. That's all he did was talk about ND, and somehow got a scholly from Ty when he played in northern Minnesota, which is not known for producing the best football talent.

ANYWAYS... I only root for UK basketball, no ND, no Minnesota Golden Gophers.

 

[Maddog77]

They've done studies on "fandom" and many point to people becoming lifelong fans of their favorites between the ages of 7-10.

With that being said, the true measure of a fan to me is that said person professes themselves a fan even when there isn't much to cheer about. Quoting statistics, naming rosters are fine, but not a requirement in my mind to one being a true fan. Hating rivals, however, is definitely an indicator in my mind to proof of "fandom".

By the way, you should at least own a hat for christ sakes, go spend $15 so you can be legitimate. "C'MON MAN!"

 

[irishtrain]

Wearing my ND hat around Atlanta and staring down these folks down here when they give me the look of are you really wearing that hat down here.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Wearing my ND hat around Atlanta and staring down these folks down here when they give me the look of are you really wearing that hat down here.

Brah...I live in Suckeye Ville......(Cleveland, Ohio). While there is a nice ND following, these people are so freaking obnoxious, it's unreal. I've had my house and lawn spray painted in Scarlet with "I Love Buckeyes", 3 of my ND flags stolen, etc.... Welcome to being an Irish fan....

 

[irishtrain]

Brah...I live in Suckeye Ville......(Cleveland, Ohio). While there is a nice ND following, these people are so freaking obnoxious, it's unreal. I've had my house and lawn spray painted in Scarlet with "I Love Buckeyes", 3 of my ND flags stolen, etc.... Welcome to being an Irish fan....

Wow brother- my regards and that tops me.

 

[jason_h537]

Someone who roots for a team when they suck. You dont have to be a fanatic who can name every player on the roster and commits but at least know the starters. Actually watch some games and can remeber when _____ scored that TD against _____ back 19__.

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

I' have always been an ND football fan and Have always been a UCONN basketball fan at least since the 2nd grade. When i lived in CT, my 2nd grade teachers son played basketball for them and she would get my family tickets and he son would let me down on the floor for a little bit. My oldest borther has also always loved them so that helped me being a fan for them to grow. He never gave me a chance to root for anyone else. So that is my roots of UCONN basketball.

I love the Big East as a basketball conference, but I despise all Big East Teams who play UCONN and especially hate them when they beat UCONN. Despise Syracuse, almost despise ND basketball---they are tough to beat at home. I dont think you need the gear to be a true fan, but if youre a huge fan, how is that you dont own one UK hoodie? I own 2 UCONN hoodies, 3-4 tee shirts, an ear warmer head band thing, a blanket, and a visor and a hat which i never wear because i have a big head. I guess if you know the history of the team and stick by them thick and thin and lived and died with them even when Gillepsie was there, then you're a True fan. If you ignored them the previous few years, then i question your "true fandedness" haha. You know you've reached true fandedness when all of you friends know youre a fan and they text you and call you to rub it in when they lose simple regular season games such as a text on Saturday night 10 hours after the game had ended from a guy i havent talked to in about 5 months "by the way...uconn SUCKS...LETS GO HOYAS!!!" --- Typical Michigan football fan.

I'm not gonna pretend i can spout off rosters from when i was in 2nd grade thru like 8th grade but i remember players and certain shots (Tate George against Clemson in sweet 16), crazy battles (Ray Allen vs Allen Iverson in the Big East Tournament), unlikely victories (UCONN upset of Duke in 99), and crushing defeats (Christian Laettner Elite 8 buzzer beater).

 

[IrishInFl]

I' have always been an ND football fan and Have always been a UCONN basketball fan at least since the 2nd grade. When i lived in CT, my 2nd grade teachers son played basketball for them and she would get my family tickets and he son would let me down on the floor for a little bit. My oldest borther has also always loved them so that helped me being a fan for them to grow. He never gave me a chance to root for anyone else. So that is my roots of UCONN basketball.

I love the Big East as a basketball conference, but I despise all Big East Teams who play UCONN and especially hate them when they beat UCONN. Despise Syracuse, almost despise ND basketball---they are tough to beat at home. I dont think you need the gear to be a true fan, but if youre a huge fan, how is that you dont own one UK hoodie? I own 2 UCONN hoodies, 3-4 tee shirts, an ear warmer head band thing, a blanket, and a visor and a hat which i never wear because i have a big head. I guess if you know the history of the team and stick by them thick and thin and lived and died with them even when Gillepsie was there, then you're a True fan. If you ignored them the previous few years, then i question your "true fandedness" haha. You know you've reached true fandedness when all of you friends know youre a fan and they text you and call you to rub it in when they lose simple regular season games such as a text on Saturday night 10 hours after the game had ended from a guy i havent talked to in about 5 months "by the way...uconn SUCKS...LETS GO HOYAS!!!" --- Typical Michigan football fan.

I'm not gonna pretend i can spout off rosters from when i was in 2nd grade thru like 8th grade but i remember players and certain shots (Tate George against Clemson in sweet 16), crazy battles (Ray Allen vs Allen Iverson in the Big East Tournament), unlikely victories (UCONN upset of Duke in 99), and crushing defeats (Christian Laettner Elite 8 buzzer beater).

Mentioning this to a UK fan is just plain mean.

Brah...I live in Suckeye Ville......(Cleveland, Ohio). While there is a nice ND following, these people are so freaking obnoxious, it's unreal. I've had my house and lawn spray painted in Scarlet with "I Love Buckeyes", 3 of my ND flags stolen, etc.... Welcome to being an Irish fan....

Ok, while FSU fans are certainly not as many law breaking from the sounds of it, they certainly do say stupid things. For example, last weekend I got into a debate with a fan at the bar. He said that FSU offered more than any other school. I almost spit beer out my nose when he said that. First he responded by saying that ND was just a NFL pipeline because of Jimmy and Golden leaving early. I explained that saying thats a FSU fan makes no sense. Then he said FSU is just as good academically as ND. I said if the prospect wanted to learn about the world's largest magnet, he was correct. Oh, and he said that the standards were tougher to get into ND, yet said FSU was still better academically. Finally, he pulled out the classic join the Big 10 garbage. Haters are funny.

 

[obi wan mahoney]

He's just wrong...
ND..." The average student admitted for the class of 2013 was ranked in the top 4% of his or her graduating class. These students also scored well on Standardized Tests. For the class of 2013, the middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1390 and 1490 on the SAT and between 32 and 34 on the ACT."
FSU..." The academic profile of the middle 50 percent of freshmen accepted in 2011 was: 3.6-4.2 academic GPA; 25-29 ACT composite."

 

[BobD]

What does it mean to be a true fan?

When your cardiologist (with your wife in the room) asks whether you've been under any stress lately, and the first thing you think of is your team, but you don't say anything, because you don't want him to suggest not watching the games.

 

[NDOM]

What does it mean to be a true fan?

When your cardiologist (with your wife in the room) asks whether you've been under any stress lately, and the first thing you think of is your team, but you don't say anything, because you don't want him to suggest not watching the games.

ROTFLMFAO! So true