Non-Alumni Fans

The fact is that these respective teams are public relations tools. Both schools want the subway alumni fans. More fans equal more revenue for programs and more publicity and good feelings for the university. At some MSU fans will realize this and stop using this hypocritical argument.

My mom and dad are both from Michigan originally.  I lived there personally for several years.  I have a brother and a sister who were both born in Ann Arbor.  My mom and 8 out of my 18 total aunts and uncles are Michigan alumni.  My parents have been season-ticket holders for decades (since my mom was a student there) even though they have lived in Kansas, Texas, and currently in California.

I did not attend Michigan for financial reasons, so are they saying I can't be fan because I decided not to attend because I couldn't afford it without a scholarship? BS. I am as big a fan as anyone (as my wife will attest) and it has been engrained in me since birth.

Now, I have never been a fan of ever referring to Michigan or any athletic teams with "we", but that is personal preference.

Sparty gonna Spart...

They are upset because no one outside the state of Michigan gives a rat's ass about Michigan State. Big programs like us have fans across the country and even the world.

Because I don't have a degree from the Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.

First of all, Sparty has PLENTY of in-state fans that are not alums, and they don't complain about that.  But their school has no national appeal.

Second, I gave a talk yesterday to a Rotary club and met a Spartan.  His granddaughter just asked him if she should go to MSU or U-M, and why.  He responded: "If you want to have a good time, go to Michigan State.  If you want an education, go to Michigan."  Michigan's academic and athletic prowess make it a package that very, very few schools can come close to matching.  Even Spartans know this deep in their soulless hearts.

Finally, I am not a U-M grad, but much of my family is.  My aunt actually raised money for the university on a full-time basis for years after going to school there.  U-M has been in blood and on my TV since I was born, but getting a scholarship and the opportunity to play college sports elsewhere lured me away.

Saying you can't be a fan of a school you didn't attend is akin to saying you can't support a professional sports team if you don't live in that team's city.  It's pure jack-assery, and exactly what I expect from MSU.

I'm not alumni I might as well quit life too!

I think this argument that State fans make is ridiculous. I'm a senior in high school, living in Illinois. For whatever reason, I've loved Michigan since I was in elementary school. I more than likely won't be able to go there due to out of state tuition. To say I can't root for them is absurd.

I grew up going to Michigan football games in the seventies and eighties. I've been to more games than most alumni. I didn't go there for a variety of reasons, but why shouldn't I feel a connection to the University of Michigan?

The idea that only alumni have the emotional bond to be fans is silly. I think he'd have a better case if he argued that only former players can be fans. After all, only they have really shared in the emotional bonding and struggles of an athletic team. What do alumni know? They just paid their tuition.

This would be true for pro sports as well.

graduate degrees from Michigan.  My dad, his MBA and my uncle HIstory and Law degrees from Michigan.  I was a legacy, that chose to go to a smaller school.  In retrospect, I wish I had gone to Michigan, but I received an excellent education and college experience.  I wanted to be farther from home, being from Jackson.

I have been going to Michigan games since I was two.  It's the only school I know and have an impossible time rooting for any other team except those that play against ND, MSU and Ohio.  I think Oklahoma would be my second favorite, but there is really no connection.

I'm a non alum fan as well. I lived in Michigan until I was 13, then moved down south. My dad is an alum and I would love to be, but life happened earlier than expected, so I attended school close to home.  I love Michigan sports and even when I finish graduate school at UT I will still be a die-hard Michigan fan.

I've been a huge fan of Michigan since I can possibly remember why should that change because I chose a different school to attend?

One things I've started pondering the past few years:  So people say, be a fan all you want but maybe don't bash the other school's academics (cough *Michigan State University* cough).  So, okay, on the surface that makes sense.  However, I feel maybe to a certain extent, that the things UM is about other than sports SHOULD be used as reason to cheer for (again not to go on the offensive with).

Let's say people begin to like Michigan early on in their lives, and it sticks, they're a die-hard and lifelong fan but never attend or live in Michigan.  This is all gravy as far as I'm concerned. 

And then, as people get older they realize how great an institution UM as a whole really is and all the great things about it/them; shouldnt that maybe even harden the fandom because people who didn't attend CAN say these great things about it?  Can't people who are from out of state or who couldn't get in or who chose to go elsewhere or who couldn't afford it, utilize the defense that they root for an institution that does things better than many other do and that notion has helped secure their fandom?  I'm not saying to go around and gloat about UM and talk smack about other schools/institutions, that's silly to begin with, but is one able to stick up for their team/school by acknowleding certain things that make the team/school great that aren't necesarrily sports related?

 

I know plenty of fans who didn't go to Umich that are way bigger fans than some of my out-of-state roommates were at Michigan. 

I've been a Michigan fan since birth. (Seriously, my first baby pictures are with Michigan stuff) I currently go to GVSU, and that will never change my fandom. This is why Michigan is such a powerful brand, they accept anyone that will root and buy merchandise. MSU wont.

The notion that you cannot be a true fan without attending a particular school is downright annoying. If anything, it stems from the jealousy of fans of programs that don't receive the same degree of recognition that accompanies having a large, widespread fanbase.

The only thing that mildly irks me from time to time is when people that aren't students, alumni, faculty, etc. refer to themselves as not just fans, but as "Michigan Men."

This subject comes up every year.  Let's try not to worry about it.  It's jealosy over the Michigan brand.

I live and pay taxes in the state of michigan that help fund all the public schools including michigan, msu and even grand valley. Ill cheer for whoever i feel like! I also dont say we but i don't really care about it. Why is this such big deal? Guess what? Fans generally identify with the teams they support. Without fans there are no teams. I've been going to games since i was a little kid. Unless my children up at another school, ill always cheer for michigan. I'm convinced that people who worry about this stuff must not have any actualy problems with their own life. I mean seriously, how empty is your life to the point where this becomes a legitimate concern?

I use to work with a self-proclaimed "Biggest MSU Fan" that went to WMU that made the argument to me that Michigan was worse, because we had more fans that didn't go to our school......

 

Fact is, both schools have most fans not in their alumni base.  Who cares?  Only those looking to whine that is who.

I can't root for the lions, red wings or tigers since I wasn't a member of their organization.

I don't really see why people feel the need to justify their fandom. This is about as puzzling to me as Michigan State fans' reactions to academics jabs.