2nd Favorite School?

[PGY Tiercel]

I'm from Pennsylvania -- can I still root for B.G.?

No. You can only be a Penn state fan.
Now heres a question. I was born in New York, lived in Conneticut until 7, then spent the rest of my life in Northwest OH, (Until my move south). Since most of my life was spent in Ohio, should I be an OSU fan, or can I still prefer Michigan.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Garrrrrr, them's fightin words.


Sorry, I was just in the mood to make a pirate noise.


God I hate Penn State.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

I think that means you have to root for Buffalo. you know they've renewed their commitment to football.....

[1987alum]

Maybe this is OT, I dunno ... but it always bothered me when people would root for schools that they have absolutely no connection to. I mean, my friend's kid roots for Ohio State ... his Dad went to a MAC school That Shall Remain Nameless. So it seems he roots for Ohio State ... because he lives in Ohio and Ohio State is the biggest school in the state.

I refuse to get swept up in the Penn State hoopla and have since I moved to the state more than a decade ago. It's good for business when they do well, so that's nice, but that's the sum and total of my interest. While I wouldn't overtly tell Noah not to root for PSU - I mean, I have nothing against them, so why would I? - I'm not going to push him to root for Penn State just because he was born in and lives in Pennsylvania and Penn State is the biggest school in the state.

It's interesting to see how folks get their rooting interest. Some are bandwagon jumpers, others just follow the pack. I guess I feel the need for a real connection before I can really, truly get pumped about a team or school.

[Guest]

O.K., this might irritate some, but I can't stand when people from Ohio root for Michigan.

Why is that? Does your place of birth automatically dictate who you root for in collegiate athletics?

Yes, that has to be what I meant. Actually....

No. But, Ohio State and Michigan are archrivals and, like it or not, Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system. People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

Plus, it seems that many of those in Ohio who root for Michigan do so just to be “contrarians” and because they have nothing else going for them. That is, these people are not going to get recognized for anything else, so they try to make their "noise" by being a Michigan fan in Ohio. You know, like the guy who needlessly revs his motorcycle engine for 15 minutes.

Of course, there are certain contingencies like one being born in Michigan or having attending UM.

Come and get me!

[Metz]

People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

Plus, it seems that many of those in Ohio who root for Michigan do so just to be “contrarians” and because they have nothing else going for them. That is, these people are not going to get recognized for anything else, so they try to make their "noise" by being a Michigan fan in Ohio. You know, like the guy who needlessly revs his motorcycle engine for 15 minutes.

While we do have a choice who we root for, we don't have a choice where we are born and live. I would rather live in Michigan honestly. Mostly because I'm fat and it's colder up there so I'd sweat less, but yeah, I'm not going against my own state because I didn't have the option to choose my own state.

[TG1996]

But, Ohio State and Michigan are archrivals and, like it or not, Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system.

If that hole in Columbus is the "flagship", where do I find the lifeboats?

[PGY Tiercel]

No. But, Ohio State and Michigan are archrivals and, like it or not, Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system. People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

By this arguement it seems that you think people should become fans of the "main" university of whatever state they move to do. With the number of moves I have planned over the next 15yrs, I could end up with quite a collection of XSU sweatshirts. Plus, I am looking into australia for a couple of years, Do I have to become a Fan of the Aussie Rules team in whatever state I'm in. And as said earlier one has no choice in place of birth. If you have no ties to any particular University, why not choose who you root for on the basis of school colors or mascot.

[UK Peregrine]

Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system. People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

Tis neither here nor there, but I'm pretty sure OU has been designated Ohio's flagship university, not OSU. Don't ask me why, because I'm not quite sure why. But Ohio University is always listed as the flagship university of Ohio. FWIW, flagship university is not real PC anyways when referencing a college. In fact, it it is usually frowned upon by most schools and administrations.

When it comes to rooting for a school, I see no problem with whatever oneself sets as their individual criteria for rooting for a team, even if it has to be OSU or UM. Whether those criteria are living in the state, born in a state, attended the college, grew up with parents that liked the team, got to watch them on TV a lot more, like their colors, etc... It doesn't really matter. If these fans pick a team for a specific reason and can defend it, so be it. Personally, I wish they'd all just wise up and be BG fans.

The next question I would then like to pose based on what I've read so far, is do you dislike the converse, that is people who live in Michigan and like OSU. I realize that in order to not sound like a hypocrit you have no choice but to answer that these people bother you equally as well. But I'm curious nonetheless.

Oh and BTW, my daughter is going to have one hell of a time selecting a school to be a fan. She was born in Michigan, lived in Ohio, currently lives in Kentucky and her father is a BG fanatic.

[Guest]

Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system. People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

Tis neither here nor there, but I'm pretty sure OU has been designated Ohio's flagship university, not OSU. Don't ask me why, because I'm not quite sure why. But Ohio University is always listed as the flagship university of Ohio. FWIW, flagship university is not real PC anyways when referencing a college. In fact, it it is usually frowned upon by most schools and administrations.

When it comes to rooting for a school, I see no problem with whatever oneself sets as their individual criteria for rooting for a team, even if it has to be OSU or UM. Whether those criteria are living in the state, born in a state, attended the college, grew up with parents that liked the team, got to watch them on TV a lot more, like their colors, etc... It doesn't really matter. If these fans pick a team for a specific reason and can defend it, so be it. Personally, I wish they'd all just wise up and be BG fans.

The next question I would then like to pose based on what I've read so far, is do you dislike the converse, that is people who live in Michigan and like OSU. I realize that in order to not sound like a hypocrit you have no choice but to answer that these people bother you equally as well. But I'm curious nonetheless.

Oh and BTW, my daughter is going to have one hell of a time selecting a school to be a fan. She was born in Michigan, lived in Ohio, currently lives in Kentucky and her father is a BG fanatic.

Regardless of whether or not OU has been "designated" the (to be non-PC) flagship university (if this is the case, I'd be interested in seeing a citation), Ohio St. is the flagship university for all intents and purposes. It is the biggest in terms of student body, programs offered, prestige (referring, of course, to graduate and professional programs), name recognition, athletic reputation (on the field, that is), etc.

As regards people in Michigan rooting for OSU...IF these people don't bother me equally, then I am not necessarily a hypocrit. This is because my relation to people from Ohio is different from my relation to people from Michigan (in important, relevant ways). Now, IF I was from Michigan (gasp), would I have the same view about people from Michigan rooting for OSU? Probably.

Obviously, your daughter should be a Texas fan.

[Guest]

No. But, Ohio State and Michigan are archrivals and, like it or not, Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system. People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

By this arguement it seems that you think people should become fans of the "main" university of whatever state they move to do.

No, that is by no means an implication of my argument. I just think they shouldn't be fans of the archrival of a university in their state unless they have a specific tie to that archival (I did offer a qualification in my original post). I must admit, it still bothers me when people who live in Ohio, but have ties to UM, root for UM. But, that is simply because I hate UM so much.

With the number of moves I have planned over the next 15yrs, I could end up with quite a collection of XSU sweatshirts.

Again, not true. Just don't hop on the "enemy" state's bandwagon.


Plus, I am looking into australia for a couple of years, Do I have to become a Fan of the Aussie Rules team in whatever state I'm in.

No, just don't start rooting for the All Blacks when they play the Wallabies in rugby.

And as said earlier one has no choice in place of birth. If you have no ties to any particular University, why not choose who you root for on the basis of school colors or mascot.

Because that is lame.

[Guest]

No. But, Ohio State and Michigan are archrivals and, like it or not, Ohio State is the flagship university of the state system. People from Ohio rooting for Michigan always struck me as being akin to one rooting against one's own state.

By this arguement it seems that you think people should become fans of the "main" university of whatever state they move to do.

No, that is by no means an implication of my argument. I just think they shouldn't be fans of the archrival of a university in their state unless they have a specific tie to that archival (I did offer a qualification in my original post). I must admit, it still bothers me when people who live in Ohio, but have ties to UM, root for UM. But, that is simply because I hate UM so much.

With the number of moves I have planned over the next 15yrs, I could end up with quite a collection of XSU sweatshirts.

Again, not true. Just don't hop on the "enemy" state's bandwagon.


Plus, I am looking into australia for a couple of years, Do I have to become a Fan of the Aussie Rules team in whatever state I'm in.

No, just don't start rooting for the All Blacks when they play the Wallabies in rugby.

And as said earlier one has no choice in place of birth. If you have no ties to any particular University, why not choose who you root for on the basis of school colors or mascot.

Because that is lame.

[UK Peregrine]

Regardless of whether or not OU has been "designated" the (to be non-PC) flagship university (if this is the case, I'd be interested in seeing a citation), Ohio St. is the flagship university for all intents and purposes. It is the biggest in terms of student body, programs offered, prestige (referring, of course, to graduate and professional programs), name recognition, athletic reputation (on the field, that is), etc.

For all practical purposes, I agree that OSU is the flagship insititution of Ohio in most respects. Still, I've seen OU referred to as the orginal flagship institution of Ohio. I don't have time right now to find the orginal reference, but in the meantime here is an article at least shows that both OU and OSU are now considered flagship universities in Ohio.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/ ... -table.htm

[BGFalcons232]

before i came to bowling green some four years ago now, penn state used to always be my favorite college football team. i never got into ohio state and could care less about michigan and i hated the hype behind notre dame from day one.

then i came to bowling green and developed a great hatred for AN ohio state university and the pompus attitude their fans carry. that whole "the" ohio state university thing really gets at me. then i went to the game in 2003 and had to listen to the aOSU fans tell me after the game that we never stood a chance even though we were driving for the tying score (actually, possible game winner as urban is on record as saying he would have gone for two).

needless to say, BG is now my favorite team in every sport. number two is penn state. i always liked their football team, mainly because i liked joe pa as a coach.

least favorites? that's a longer list.
1. toledo
2. notre dame
3. ohio st.
4. pitt (being from cleveland, anything from pukesburgh has to be on a least favorites list)
5. miami (ohio)

[TG1996]

(actually, possible game winner as urban is on record as saying he would have gone for two).

Well that was an easy choice for Urban to make, considering he was coaching Utah at the time.