I once had a man, much wiser than me, make this argument about college football fans. He felt as though you should not be allowed to cheer for a college football team unless: a) you LIVE or HAVE lived in the state of the team you are cheering for or b) have received your eduction or part of your education from that institution (this includes in my opinion sending your child to that institution.) I agree 99.9% with this wise person.
If I were the 'Commissioner of Sports' (I stole this from Mike and Mike on ESPN), then I would pretty make that the rule across the United States. I am very passionate about this statement in fact. I would change it a little by saying that you can not CONSIDER yourself PART of that institution if A) you didn't or don't live in that state or B) do not have any thing invested in that institution educationally. I feel as though you can be a FAN of any college team in the nation if you choose to do so. But by not meeting the A or B criteria, then you have ABSOLUTELY no place to talk trash about anything dealing with that institution. Now I know that talking trash is part of college sports and that is what all rivalries are about. But NOTHING aggravates and annoys me more than to talk to someone who considers them self a part of that institution and doesn't meet the above criteria. It used to make me so mad I could chew nails. I'm a little more relaxed now but only because I choose NOT to talk to anyone about college football if they don't meet the criteria. I'll talk football with them, but if they start saying WE or if they are the type that everything you say goes right back towards their team being the best that God has ever made and yours the worst, then I usually just call them a fool and walk away.
Example one: I mean really, think about this. Here you are talking about a game with someone, let's just say the Georgia Florida game. You say, 'man, that was a great game. Both teams played well, Florida was just the better team.' Florida fan comes back and says, "Georgia sucks, will always suck, they are a bunch of criminals and God hates them". OK, first of all....that person probably NEVER went to that institute and has probably NEVER lived in the state of Georgia. Wearing jean shorts and wearing a mullet does not make you a FLORIDA GATOR. You are just a FAN of the Florida Gators. Why would I argue with you?
Example two: You get on Facebook and people are on there saying "It's great to be a Auburn Tiger". OK, I know you, I know you didn't go to Auburn,I know you have never lived in Alabama or even close...so you ARE NOT AN AUBURN TIGER!!!!! Shut your mouth! or at the very least you could post "it's great to be as FAN of the Auburn Tigers" and I would almost let you slide!!! This DRIVES ME NUTS!!!! Why would you even say that?!?! I mean I love Duke Basketball. I have been a fan since 1991 with Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley and Christian Laetnner. I am a huge fan of Coach K. I've read all his books and have studied all about his coaching. But you know what...as much as I love their basketball team, I am just a FAN. I am NOT a Duke Blue Devil!!!! I have never LIVED in NC nor have I been to school their. I am a FAN. I do not talk trash to anyone about how good they are. I cheer for them and love it when they win. Heck, I even have some Duke basketball shirts that I wear from time to time, BUT I KNOW THAT I AM NOT A DUKE BLUE DEVIL and I keep my mouth shut!!!!
Can you tell this annoys me to no end? I am a proud Alumni of the University of Georgia. I love that place. I spend 3 of the best years of my life there and I am very passionate about that institution. I have many friends who attended other institutions or have lived in the state of the college team they cheer for. I can talk trash and pick on them with the best. But you know what? I will do that because they have something invested in that team (other than, 'I like their colors' or 'my mom went there' or 'my family has always loved that team'. OK, like I said YOU CAN BE A FAN....BUT DO NOT CONSIDER YOU SELF OF THAT PARTICULAR TEAM.
other situations to consider:
1. my brother sister have lived in Colorado....then they can be a Colorado Buffalo if they want!
2. my brother in law attended the University of Colorado...so he is a Buffalo.
3. one of my best friends was born and lived in Miami, FL. He calls himself a Florida Gator....and you know what....HE IS!!!
4. I have several friends that call themselves Yellow Jackets...some attended Tech, some didn't. But you know what...they live in Georgia so YES, they are Yellow Jackets if that's who they choose to be.
5. I one friend who is a Bama fan. He knows his place. He never lived in Alabama and never attended the school. He REALIZES he is not part of that institution.
6. I know a TON of people who consider themselves to be Georgia fans. Most of them have not attended one single class at the University of Georgia. Many of them are passionate UGA fans. Tattoos, car decals, houses decorated red and black, etc. and you know what...THEY ARE GEORGIA BULLDOGS....THEY LIVE IN GEORGIA!!!! They can say whatever they want, talk as much trash as they want, and yell 'Go Dawgs' as much as they want!!!! If you are an Auburn Tiger or Florida Gator or WHATEVER.....AND YOU DON'T like it....WHO CARES!!!! Move you sorry butt to another state! YOU LIVE IN GEORGIA!!!! This is the home of the DAWGS and the JACKETS!!!!!
7. I have buddies who have lived in Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina and they cheer for those teams and even some cheer for them passionately. THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST FANS!
So, in a nutshell, if you live in Georgia, you need to choose....Georgia or Georgia Tech (do the others really matter?!??!) You CAN call yourself a Bulldog or a Yellow Jacket all you want!!! YOU LIVE IN THIS STATE! But if you consider yourself an AU Tiger, a Gator, a LSU Tiger, or anything else...then remember, YOU ARE JUST A FAN UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING INVESTED IN THAT UNIVERSITY OR STATE!!!
Whew, off this soap-box...just had to get that out! Comments and more examples are welcome below!!!
