We all have a "rooter" for Fiami............

I became a Bobcat fan in December 2007 when I got accepted to Scripps and realized I didn't have to bother applying to any more colleges. Before that I rooted mainly for USC and Penn State, two schools I've had multiple family members attend.  I also cheered for Youngstown State, although I was too young to appreciate those Tressel teams from the 90s. I still root for YSU, and Penn State is still my favorite AQ team.  My following of USC has dropped a little since middle school/high school, but the PAC-12 is probably my favorite conference from top to bottom (outside of the MAC)

I've ALWAYS hated Ohio State, from as far back as I can remember. I don't know why or how I started hating them. Maybe it was because nearly everyone I knew growing up in Youngstown worshipped them, and I wanted to be different.  My family members weren't OSU fans either, but they never really mentioned hating them. My hatred for them only strengthened by going to OHIO and walking past the people wearing scarlet jerseys in Court Street bars on my way to Peden.

I have been a fan since 1986 when I arrived as a freshman.  Before that, I followed WVU, FSU and Texas A&M where I had family attend.  I still follow those teams but they will always take second fiddle to OHIO.

I'd like to say the same but I can't in all honesty...

I've been a Bobcat fan since the first time I saw campus from the window of my parent's car during my college visits in 1985.  I knew then that there was no need to visit any other campus...This was home and I would bleed Green & White for the rest of my days (something I hope my children say some day as well).

The reason I can't make the same claim as 695 though, is that I root for two teams every Fall Saturday...The Bobcats and whatever team happens to be lining up against Ohio A&M that particular day (yes that even goes for Miami).  

Been a Bobcat fan ever since I could comprehend the sport. My parents have taken me to games my entire life and it stuck. We've had season tickets for basketball and football for as long as I remember. As far as AQ teams go, I really loved Charles Woodson as a kid and have always loved Michigan. I go to quite a few games up here when it doesn't interfere with Bobcat games. OHIO though will always be my favorite. Rooting for them over UM in the NCAA Tournament was as easy as a decision as I have ever made.

Was a Michigan fan my entire life until I arrived in Athens in the fall of 2003. My dad's best friend played football up there and we went to games in the Big House all the time. But once I was at Ohio and saw the 110 for the first time and stood in the O Zone, I was hooked. School pride is so much better than being a fan of a school you never went to.

OT: Best Michigan game I ever attended was the Kordell Stewart Hail Mary in 1994. Dude has got a cannon for an arm and threw the ball 70+ yards in the air. People always say Flutie's Hail Mary was the best of all time, but Kordell's was way more impressive to me.

I used to actively root against A&M but it's so d&^% hard to get anyone around Cowtown to talk about anything but that when they lose, I gave it up.  It's at least as much fun to see them whine and moan and shuffle their feet when they squeak by a UAB and have only themselves to blame.  In some ways, it's better than seeing them  lose.

Bobcat fan since my freshman year of college, Ohio and Bradley (Peoria, Illinois) were the only schools I applied to...very involved with the Ozone since freshman year, convinced my dad and brother to come down with me for the Temple FB game in 2009 (it was on Black Friday) and they loved the experience! Very glad to be a Bobcat!

However, I am also a proud Ohio State fan. Both my parents were fencers for the Buckeyes (my mom was a Big Ten Champion, NOT KIDDING), but I chose on my own to root for Ohio State, and it just happened that I grew up in Columbus where most kids were Buckeye fans, too. They were the very first team I rooted for of any kind, and I am a big believer in staying loyal and true to yourself.

That said, my reaction to that particular 2010 tackle? PRICELESS, and I'm very glad I was in the 'Shoe to see it in person.

I grew up my entire life in the Athens area and my Dad was an Ohio alum. I did not attend Ohio though. I graduated a few years from Marietta College.

You, sir, have my undying respect for your judgment and decision making powers.  I like your choice of rooting interest, too.  Glad you're here.

I grew up a Miami fan as both my parents went there, and they only followed Miami. I idolized Wally Szczerbiak and was psyched to meet Travis Prentice. Roethlisberger...eh, he was alright. I still pull for Miami to do well when it doesn't affect our chances at success.

I visited Ohio and Miami, among other schools, and knew that Ohio was the right place entirely because of the journalism school. Miami's didn't compare.

I don't really have a BCS team I follow adamantly, although I do like to see Virginia Tech do well. I went on the O Zone bus (remember when they did those?!) to our game in Blacksburg in 2007 and thought it was such a cool atmospher for football. Their fans were very friendly, too. I used to be a Kentucky basketball fan when Erik Daniels played there since he went to the same high school as I did. Now, not so much.

I like this thread.



This is worth quoting and is spot on.



I hope you don't take this the wrong way shab (the spirit is only to poke fun at Miami)...but for some reason I remember there being a discussion of frat/sorority apathy toward Ohio athletics, and remember you speaking up as being in a fraternity.  I can't help but point out the humor that the poster who comes from Miami genetics  and the poster who was in a fraternity are one in the same.  Kudos to you for breaking free of the Miami tradition.

I was a somewhat big Wisconsin fan growing up (Dad went there, all my family is from there).  Started following Ohio during high school as my sister and then brother attended Ohio, and became an all out super fan as soon as I hit campus.  Wisconsin fandom slowly faded into what it is today - A very casual following or hope that they do well, but not really a true fan.  It is just nothing compared to the joy of rooting for your beloved school. 

A casual following I can understand, even for OSU if that was your team.  But I can't understand those that do true duel fandom where they spend as much or more time/energy/money on OSU than Ohio.  I just don't see how that is fulfilling.