OT - NFL Rooting interests

Submitted by canzior on

I remember the last time I broke something in my house watching a Michigan game. It was 2010 Penn State aka Matt Mcgloin's coming out party.  So while watching the Raiders (on Redzone) this season, I have seen Pryor and McGloin starting at qb.  Living in DC, I hear people clamor for K. Cousins to start over RG3.  I have been indifferent to Pryor, but I found myself rooting for McGloin to succeed, however I don't feel the same for Cousins. 

How deep does your Michigan-rival hate run?  Do you root against them in the NFL/NBA as well?  I still don't like Duke and I refused to own anything Carolina baby blue for 12 years following the '93 title game loss. 

MGoManBall

December 13th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^

I just root for Terrelle Pryor to start a Sunday night game so in his introduction I can hear him say "Terrelle Pryor, The University of Ohio State" one more time.

mgobaran

December 13th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^

I am a fan of the Detroit Lions.

I fell in love with the Patroits because of Ty Law, then Tom Brady. I liked Oakland when Charles Woodson was there, and now again. Regardless of QB. And I also rooted for GB to win when Woodson was on the super bowl squad.

I don't openly root against teams that have OSU players on them because those teams probably have Michigan guys on them too. 

MSU guys do not bother me. For the most part I respect their players, and have always wished them success outside of the M games. That is until recently when their fans have started showing their faces. Mostly my best friend who doesn't even care that much about football, but claims MSU/ND loyalty, and enjoys Michigan losses more than MSU wins. Anyways the fan hatred hasn't trickled down to the MSU players yet. 

canzior

December 13th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^

I tend to root for prominent Michigan players, Raiders and Packers because of Woodson, Dolphins with Henne, watching the Jags because of Denard.  I don't have a favorite NFL team however, so I tend to just not root for individual players.  It does make me smile though when I keep hearing Gholston referred to as a bust.

MGoRobo

December 13th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^

As a Patriots fan I do have a soft spot for Mike Vrabel. Then again, I was a Pats fan before I became a Michigan fan in 2007. 

Also, along the same lines, as a Bruins fan it's a bit annoying having Bartkowski (Ohio) and Krug (MSU) on our team, but I definitely won't complain if they score for us. Cheer when they score, and then mutter a well-placed "Fuck Ohio" or "Fuck State"...that's how I tell myself it's ok.

taistreetsmyhero

December 13th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^

strangely supercedes my hatred for osu football players in the nfl. for example, i love the pistons, but i never liked grant hill. kyle singler is the ghouliest ghoul ever, and it makes me sick that he is a half-way decent.

in terms of osu and msu players in the nfl, i dunno, maybe it's because i play fantasy and i'm just used to taking players i don't like. i took leveon bell when he was available in the last round of the draft and was happy to do it. i played pryor one week and thought it was funny.

 

mGrowOld

December 13th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^

Well as a Browns fan I dont think I even know what "professional" football looks like.  I can tell you though that when Braylon played for the Browns and was doing well he was known as "Cleveland's own Braylon Edwards" but when he started dropping everything thrown his way he became "that fucking asshole from Michigan".

Bambi

December 13th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^

Once they reach the pro's, my dis-like for them fades for the most part. If they do well, good for them, if not oh well. Unless they were just a general douche bag in college, in which case I root against them, but that goes for non-rival team's players as well.

User -not THAT user

December 13th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^

I do tend to pull for NFL teams outside my hometown (Falcons...*sigh*) that have more Michigan Men on the roster, which means I've been a Patriots fan since 2001.

I have been known to use the term "BUCKEYE SCUM" when watching TV and players from "that school in Ohio" are identified by college.

And I MAY have taken undue pleasure in the stupidity of one Plaxico Burress resulting in legal trouble for accidentally shooting...himself...by saying "That's why you went to Michigan State".

So...yeah, Michigan football extends beyond the B1G for me, too.

quigley.blue

December 13th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^

I am a Niners fan, and I know that Alex Smith isn't The Answer, but I really didn't like what they did to him last year, and I've been rooting for him and the Chiefs all year as a result.

As a resident of DC, my distaste for the Washington Football Team goes much deeper than Kork Coupons.

BraveWolverine730

December 13th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^

I'm a Falcons fan so that dictates my rooting behavior. I cheered on TJ Duckett and Michael Jenkins while they were here (though Jenkins was mediocre and I did call refer to him as "that stupid Bukeye" alot).  For the most part though, it seems that there aren't a lot of UM/MSU/OSU guys involved in the Falcons games/rivalries so it's a non-issue. 

AriGold

December 13th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^

but only by default since I have grown up watching them when they had Barry Sanders and he was incredible to watch...other than that I could really care less about the NFL..I mean, I'm glad when Michigan players do well, but it is so predictable and boring (most of the time) compared to college ball that people need to have fantasy teams just to keep up their interest!

Tuebor

December 13th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^

NFC Lions - Local team gets priority, 6-3 to 7-6 why must you toy with my heart.

AFC Patriots - Love Tom Brady and the 2001 Super Bowl was special.

 

Honestly I don't watch that much NFL until the playoffs though.  If I see a former Michigan player I tend to remember his days at Michigan.  The only two players I have actively rooted for in the NFL were/are Brian Griese and Tom Brady.  I loved me some Quarterback U.

LSAClassOf2000

December 13th, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^

I've always felt that once the players on rival teams made it to the pros, it didn't make much sense to actively root against them anymore, at least generally, because while they may be alums of a school you can't stand, they don't play for that team anymore. I mean, as a Lions fan, I cheer on a team that right now has alums from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska and the like but I still cheer for their success with the Lions. I will root against other NFL teams, of course, but it is never directed more at any one player solely for their university affiliation. 

JHendo

December 13th, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^

Fantasy Football.  It has changed the way many people root for NFL teams.  The Lions are my team, but the bond between a man and his FF players is a strong one.  For the past 3 or4 years, Aaron Rodgers and Vincent Jackson have been mainstays on all of my fantasy football teams.  So accordingly, I have a vested interest in the success of the Packers and the Bucs (formerly the Chargers for Jackson), even though it directly conflicts with my primary team. It's a weird way to look at things, but I just can't help often siding with whoever has made it onto my lineup.

U of M vs MSU/OSU/ND is really only used as a tiebreaker who I cheer for (i.e. - if there is no obvious option in the Superbowl, amount of Michigan and WMU players minus the amount of OSU/MSU/ND players determines who gets my support).  However, it does play a crucial role in who I allow on my Fantasy Football team when at all possible (draft a player from Ohio?  You kiddin' me?!?!), so I guess it does all come down to my hatred of our college rivals when you look at it that way.

ak47

December 13th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

You aren't the only one, so don't take this an insult but I hate this trend in fans.  You are willing to spen money on tickets to support your team but when it comes to potentially losing 20 dollars in a fantasy league you pick the 20? I don't get it.  

The only reason I could see rooting against my team is if thousands of dollars are on the line which is part of why I generally don't get involved in big money leagues or ever bet against my own team.  I couldn't imagine rooting against the ravens last year for any reason, or against michigan basketball because I had us losing in the sweet sixteen in my bracket.

JHendo

December 13th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^

I've never been a huge NFL fan..  Growing up, yeah we watched the Lions, but all of our fanhood devotion was spent on Wolverine basketball and football.  I couldn't even say I watched it every Sunday until I really got into fantasy.  It has given me a reason to be a fan of the NFL, and thus, I feel no shame in allowing my fantasy team to have a strong pull in determining who I cheer for.  It's really the only way I know how to be a pro football fan.  I can recognize it's annoying to more orthodox fans, but I guess it ties into how I feel about the Walmart Wolverine thing:  If you want to cheer for the same team as me today, I don't care if it's just temporary, and I don't care to know your reasoning behind it, nor should it matter anyways.  Just pull up a chair, grab a beer and enjoy the game.

Everyone Murders

December 13th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^

I got over a lot of my disdain for rival players on pro teams when Chris Spielman joined the Lions.  Buckeye or not, he was a really good LB for the Lions, and all evidence seems to indicate he is a really good guy in life, too.  Spielman helped me realize that simply being from a rival is not enough to make me dislike a pro player. 

Howevah, if a rival's player was a douche in college, I tend to pull against them.  Drew Stanton?  Check.  T-Peezy?  Check.  Manti T'eo? Check.  Etc.

TrueLT

December 13th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^

I'm a Giants fan so I had to give up on my rival hate when Justin Tuck joined, but there are a few players who personally stick out across NFL and NBA I enjoy rooting against- Golden Tate, Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger to name a few

Buccaneer_9

December 13th, 2013 at 1:38 PM ^

Once they leave Michigan, I don't care.

I only root for guys that play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Yes, I rooted for Joey Galloway, David Boston, Will Allen, Rickey Dudley, Tim Brown, Demetrius DuBose, Sean Mahan, Maurice Stovall, etc. when they played for the Buccaneers.

I like to see guys from Michigan have nice careers, but if they don't play for Tampa, I'm not crushed if it doesn't pan out.

Brendan

December 13th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^

Same for me with the Lions. Nice to see guys like Tom Brady do well, but I get so bummed out about teams I like losing that I can't really bring myself to care about players on teams I don't root for just because they went to michigan.

Blerg

December 13th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^

Greg Oden went to my rival high school and graduated a year ahead of me. Then went to OSU, and now is on the Heat.  So...I really hate that guy.

The Geek

December 13th, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^

Especially when he would say "THE Ohio State University" during his introduction.

[Edit: Also rooted against Mateen Cleaves, even as a Piston. Just cuz.]

Brodie

December 13th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^

I am a Lions fan. That is what I am. I cheer for players who play for the Lions and against players who play against the Lions. Michigan plays on Saturdays, we don't get points for how rad Tom Brady is or how bad TP is. Conflating the two is of no interest to me... maybe in games where I have no rooting interest I might key in on a favorite Michigan alum, but this is way secondary in my mind.

I can only put it this way: I would not vote for a political candidate who was not ideologically aligned with me just because they went to Michigan and I would not vote against a candidate whose policies I supported because they went to OSU or MSU or Notre Dame. The same goes for other sports 

uminks

December 13th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^

I like college football much better than the NFL. Probably due to the fact that I grew up a Lion's fan and they have been very disappointing over the last 40 years that I've been a fan. Strange that I never switched NFL teams I rooted for, since I've lived more of my life now outside the state of Michigan. I guess for many of us the team you grow up with rooting for, remains the team you root for life!

I like to keep track of the NFL teams where former Michigan players play for.  I don't really care to keep track of where rival school players end up in the NFL.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 13th, 2013 at 4:04 PM ^

Honestly, college rooting interests go almost completely out the window when it comes to the NFL.  I separate the two with a brick wall.  Charles Woodson's on the Packers?  Screw him, until he is no longer on the Packers.  His success is Green Bay's success, and screw Green Bay.

Actually that's kind of a really extreme case where his Michigan roots were able to sway me just a little.  But it's an example.  Generally, I'll root for a guy if he's not on a team I hate and hate a guy if he's not on a team I love.  But the fact that I delighted at watching Reggie Bush give up his Heisman does not prevent me from going WOOOOOO REGGIE REGGIE now that he's on the Lions.  And if, God forbid, Denard Robinson ended up on Green Bay, I absolutely loved watching him play for Michigan and respect the shit out of him for the kind of person he is, but if he's in a Packers jersey I hope he gets stuffed at the line every single time.

RickAndScott

December 13th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^

I root for Michigan players to do great and when they are a big part of the organization's fabric (Brady, Woodson, etc.), they become one of my favored teams come playoff season.

I have never rooted against a player in the pros because they went to a rival and I doubt I ever will.