Dual Fandom?

[MtnDevil95]

I've seen this dropped in discussions elsewhere here, and on other message boards. I think it is potentially large enough conversation to warrant its own thread.

I suspect that there are more than a few dual fans claiming App State out there. I also believe there to be a number of reasons for dual fandom.

I'll let y'all get started on your opinions of dual fandom. I am hopeful that some dual fans will explain their own personal reasons for following multiple teams/schools. Also, among the differences between college athletics and professional, is a college fan obligated to be a fan of all that school's athletic programs? Or could a fan cheer for University of X football, and College Y basketball, like cheering for the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bulls?

[AppGrad1]

Good luck with this.
I see you just joined the board. Welcome!
There have been threads and post after post on this subject. It's been beat to death.
It was beat to death on the last thread.

Others may join in but I think I'll sit this one out. I feel like a I just ran a marathon on this subject.
Go Apps!

[moehler]

Ever since I graduated from App, I have only pulled for the Mountaineers, I could careless about any other schools, but I really don't have a problem with someone graduating for App having more loyality to another school. A lot of grads are raised in a family that pulled for another school, ie: Carolina, and its in their blood to pull for that school. The only time I ever really got pissed was a couple of years ago, the people running the intermerial basketball at App, postponed the games one night, because Carolina was playing Duke, and they felt it was more important to let the students watch the Carolina/Duke game rather then doing their job, opening the gym and playing the games. They even went public and said they did the right thing. Never heard anything else about it, but I would like to believe that someone got their asses chewed out, and told if they did it again, they could go find a job in Chapel Hill.

[newtoasu]

I have multiple "fandoms."

Of course my situation is probably different from the others. I came to be an App fan by teaching at App and getting to know many of the players as students during the recent ascendency of the program (2002-2006). Despite moving back to my native Texas I am still a follower of ASU and a Yosef member. I must admit that the Michigan win, and the 3 Championships came along at the right time to cement my fandom.

I am also a big fan of my alma mater, Texas Tech. Up until recently it was easy to be a big fan of both because of the separate divisions in football. Now that may be tried. Since TT and ASU are not geographically close it is easy to be for both without angering anyone. It's also easy to not anger anyone by keeping my mouth shut for the most part about other schools and not defending them at every drop of the hat on any of the other schools message boards.

In addition I am also a big fan of my current school Angelo State (another ASU, but at the D2 level). I have a lot more invested in this ASU because I am the Faculty Athletic rep for the football team, which means attending a lot of their practices, all of their pregame functions, being with the team in the locker room, team meetings and on the sideline.

At this point I don't have to pick and choose who to root for. If it ever came to that I think I would end up not choosing sides and just trying to watch without too much emotional attachment.

[WVAPPeer]

I've seen this dropped in discussions elsewhere here, and on other message boards. I think it is potentially large enough conversation to warrant its own thread.

I suspect that there are more than a few dual fans claiming App State out there. I also believe there to be a number of reasons for dual fandom.

I'll let y'all get started on your opinions of dual fandom. I am hopeful that some dual fans will explain their own personal reasons for following multiple teams/schools. Also, among the differences between college athletics and professional, is a college fan obligated to be a fan of all that school's athletic programs? Or could a fan cheer for University of X football, and College Y basketball, like cheering for the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bulls?

I'm sure there are numerous reasons, many already mentioned, as to why fans root for other teams beside APP STATE - Myself nor my wife are APP grads - we both have undergrads from another university in North Carolina + she has Masters and Doctoral degrees from 2 additional universities - Our daughter was accepted to APP in the fall of '98 as a high school senior - we attended 2 games that fall and when she entered in '99 we bought season tickets and have had them ever since ---
One reason to add to your list is becoming attached to the university where you are sending tuition payments for 4 years, being on campus a great deal during that time, meeting other families, players, coaches, etc. - APP became a huge part of our lives - Some have said to me that one can't be a true fan if not a graduate of said school - Maybe - maybe not???
Also, many of our fans come from different places and have 20-30-40-50-60 years of experiences prior to being an APP STATE Mountaineer - readers place take a few minutes to view the enclosed video - Most know I am born and bred West BY GOD Virginian and when watching this you should sense that this so much more than cheering for a football team after one game ---

http://thebiglead.com/2012/10/02/stadiu ... lor-video/

[appbio91]

My wife and I are both Mountaineers and our daughter is there now. I don't pull or care about any other college athletics other than App. Not to say I don't watch but could not care less about outcomes. Some friends we graduated from App with have a daughter at another ACC school. They still come to App games but I have to listen about how it is bigger and better over there. It is not sustainable. I really hope they don't renew next year because one day when I have had a few I am going to go off and I don't want that to happen. I undrstand their dual fandom. But your loyalty has to be one place or the other. I don't care what the score is down there especially during an App game. Go there if that is your first team and where you want to be.

[WVAPPeer]

and let me add this - if APP were playing WVU in football this Saturday - next Saturday - next year, etc., - I will be on the APP STATE train !!!

[mtnjax]

My parents and I are also Duke fans and always pull for them to be successful. We even went to the bowl game in CLT last year. We also have a milder rooting for Texas Tech football since my sister and brother in law are going there to get their PhD's.

But first and foremost we are App fans and that trumps all. My dad and I both graduated from there. And even though my mom didn't she still loves App

[DaphneUrquhart]

I suppose one could say that I am a dual fan. The reasons for that are quite simple:

1 - I was born in Birmingham, AL and grew up on Alabama football. My roots are in Alabama. I've been an Alabama fan for over 50 years through thick and thin. No, I'm not a Nick Saban fan. I'm an Alabama fan.

2 - Since we moved to NC when I was still a kid and in-state tuition made much more sense with two older brothers already in college, I went to what was then the toughest to get into academically state funded school in NC. That means I went to Carolina in the late 70's. Our football team was good; our basketball team was good. Those were great days to be in Chapel Hill. I'm still a Carolina fan even though I think Roy Williams is a bit of a brat and the academic scandals with the athletics department in Chapel Hill are disgusting.

3 - Our younger son enrolled at App in 2005. We started supporting the school financially (Appalachian Fund and Yosef both) because we've always supported what our kids were involved in. That financial support grew to respect for the academics at App as well as the athletics. Our son graduated in 2009 and gives back to his alma mater. My husband and I still support App financially through both the Appalachian Fund and Yosef. We are App fans by choice.

So ...
1 - fandom by heritage
2 - fandom by alma mater
3 - fandom by heart
All valid; all good. If any of those schools are ever to play one another, I'll go with my heart and pull for App.

[TheMoody1]

My wife went to South Carolina so I have to act like I care if they win or lose.

[Gonzo]

I'm an App fan because I went to undergrad at App. I'm a Panthers/Bobcats fan because I grew up in Charlotte. I'm a Canes fan because I'm from NC. That's about it for me. It's always taken a real connection to get me emotionally invested, not just feeling obligated to chose a certain t-shirt in Walmart. I have family connections to a number of ACC schools, but I really couldn't care less about any of them.

People don't take too kindly to UNC talk on the MMB (A) Because it's disrespectful to Appalachian to talk about other schools on OUR message board; and (B) because UNC is the oppressive mothership that stockpiles disproportionate amounts of UNC System money, actively quells the growth of every other UNC System member, gets away with any and every NCAA violation known to man, and yields some of the most arrogant alumni in the country.

[IGgreer]

I follow UNC basketball because none of you bums bother to show up for our basketball games and create some sort of atmosphere that good players/coaches would be attracted to.

[WVAPPeer]

"No, I'm not a Nick Saban fan. I'm an Alabama fan."

Come on Daphne --- Saban is a great West BY GOD Virginian!!! -

[Maddog1956]

It's simple to me, just because someone likes chocolate doesn't mean they can't like vanilla. Would one be a favorite that you really would like to have more of, but will still eat the other if available, sure! Could one be more a boutique flavor that you would die for, and the other just a common more readily available flavor that everyone knows, APPsolutely! If you knew your favorite flavor wouldn't be available at your local store would you not "pull" for them to carry your next best flavor? YO..sef you would.

Personally my wife and I graduated (undergrad and grad) from APP and currently have two daughters at APP and hopefully a son next year as well. APP is the only school I give funds to. But is there others I "pull" for yes or there isn't any need for me to watch 90% of the games on TV or have anything to talk about.

As far a "pulling" for a school, I will usually pull for any NC team (any sport), UNC over Duke and sometimes ECU over either. Have I ever wore a UNC shirt yes (mostly at UNC games). Why because they are from NC. Do I think the world has to stop because one of their games is on...NO.

Do I get pissed when I got into a bar to watch the Panthers and they have one TV with them on and 3 with Green Bay or P'burg (etc), YES.

[MAD Doctor]

I don't care what other's situations or loyalties are, but if you are at APP, or on our MMB, etc...you should have the tact and common sense to keep those other teams to yourself. I might watch an Alabama-LSU game in my living room, and find myself pulling for one or the other, but I won't wear their colors or claim to be a "fan."
Both myself and my son are proud App alums, but I certainly welcome all the many others who didn't attend here to enjoy the experience with us. Our support and love for ASU unites us. The more the merrier.
But if you have bought into the Herbstreit/ESPN hype and you somehow believe that unless you are a fan of a "Power Conference" program, then you are somehow missing something, go to Wal-Mart and help yourself. Just don't come into our house wearing it or talking it.

We are APP STATE- The only North Carolina university to win an NCAA Football Championship, at ANY level.

[SpeedkingATL]

I grew up in a household where my older brother graduated from UNC-CH and my parents were/are still huge Tarhole basketball fans. I of course graduated from App and that is my only commitment for all college sports. For the last 40 years or so my parents have become UNC-CH basketball fans and App football fans as the App basketball program has not given them much reason to follow them and pretty much the same with Tarhole football. I guess everyone loves a winner.....

[bcoach]

I am ASU football all the way. I follow another team in BB because for some reason my TV just will not pull in those APP BB games. I also followed the BB team before I had any connection to ASU. If ASU were ever to play against the BB team I pull for now I would be pulling for ASU.

[Gonzo]

I assume the few of you that don't follow App hoops because "they don't give you much reason to follow them," are going to be absent from KBS for the rest of the season.

What a joke.

[Maddog1956]

And I think that comparing who is a fan or not a fan is kind of like deciding who is a Christian or not. I think sometimes it just better to take people at their word and let it go.

[MtnDevil95]

First, I love college athletics. Specifically football and basketball, I could watch just about any 2 teams play and enjoy it. Fortunately my wife is a big football fan, so our Saturdays at home in the fall will have multiple TV’s playing multiple games from noon to late into the night (my father-in-law played the O-Line for the University of Washington in the late 1960’s so we are often up late watching PAC12). I connect my laptop to one of the TVs to stream App State, when it’s available to do so, otherwise I stream the radio feed through the stereo.

I was born and raised in western North Carolina and my mom has her undergrad from Duke. Growing up we had season tickets to Duke football, and attended several ACC basketball tournaments. I have my undergrad from App State, where I fell in love with the university. I’m a loyal fan of Appalachian, but Duke holds a place in my childhood that cannot be replaced. My Christmas present to my mother last year was 2 tickets to the Belk Bowl, and I went to the game with her. I also have an MBA from Fuqua at Duke and used the graduate student access to attend as many games at Cameron as I could.

My money my membership and my heart goes to the Yosef Club, and I attend as many App games as I can, including the SoCon Tournament in Asheville the last 2 years running, but I am also a Duke fan. I am an App fan first, and should the 2 schools ever play each other in any sport, without hesitation, I cheer and support Appalachian.

I do get the respect of not mentioning other teams on this board, and do apologize to anyone and everyone for the flippant comment that derailed the Price thread so badly. I had no idea how quickly the board would chase a glimpse of a rabbit down the hole.

I think in some cases references to other programs is appropriate, but only as to draw direct and germane correlation to App State.

Maddog1956 - right on.