Who is your 2nd favorite College Team?
I imagine this thread has been done previously, but I can't recall it recently, and it's August 1, meaning news is silm, so why not? I always find this interesting when I discuss with M alums and fans in person: who is your second favorite college football team? What team is it besides ours that you are following, even perhaps passionately?
My answer to start: USC. I understand how some fans hate them, but for me, they were the team of my childhood. I grew up in L.A. and moved to Michigan in my last year of H.S. so it wasn't until attending M that my love of SC was supplanted. My Dad took me to several SC games as a kid, and the memories are still with me. Seeing Traveller (the white horse), the "fight on" phrase, the fight song (which I think, along with ours, is the best in college football), my Dad teaching me about "student body right," the great tradition they had starting in the 60's, all of those things were just great to me at that age. So I still catch their games when I can, and despite the Caroll violations, wish them well.
And what about yours?
August 1st, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^
Never seen a "Dip the Chips" sign, but I've seen "Shock the Chips" written on a foam hand shaped like a shocker.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
As my username would suggest. UM alum, current Tech grad student. Ann Arbor >>>> Lubbock, TX, in case anyone needed confirmation (I hope you didn't).
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
August 1st, 2011 at 10:21 PM ^
Not gunna be popular with what Golden did last year, but, the U.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
For football: Miami. My cousin is die-hard Hurricane fan and it rubbed off on me when I was little. I have always wanted a Michigan and Miami championship game, but of course I'd pull for Michigan. I'm also a traditionalist and like the powerhouses (not named Ohio, Notre Dame, and Texas).
For basketball: North Carolina (started with a hatred of Duke)
August 1st, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
I'd have to say Northwestern. I don't really know why, but I've always been fond of them. Probably because I like rooting for the underdog and well, they're almost always the underdog. The fact that I'm playing as their coach in Dynasty mode of NCAA '12 probably helps. Can't wait to go there for the night game this year.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^
Seconded. I hated NW in the mid 90's when they went from doormat to B10 champs, esp. beating Michigan.
However after that '00 game, the year when they took the spread option to the B10, I kind of liked them. I remember the announcer (think it was Gary Danielson) saying "at some point you have to credit the scheme" about their offense. (Surprising now 'cause apparently GD doesn't like the spread).
I was amazed and distraught by the 54 points NW put up because Michigan's defense had held MSU and Indiana to 0 points the previous two weeks.
I've heard good things about Coach Fitzgerald too, seems like he is maximizing the talent there and doing things the right way, too.
August 1st, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
I'll be there, I'm going to visit with a friend to help make up my mind for college, right now I'm split between Northwestern, Vandy, Michigan and UNC.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
HUSKERS! Gotta rep the home state.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
I got negged for saying my 2nd favorite team was Nebraska..
August 1st, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
And now you'll get negged even more for complaining about being negged.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
Ya, Negface McNegged
August 1st, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
bay area native and UM grad who never could root for Cal despite all the "public school ivy" comparisons, throw in harbaugh and the fact they win (recently anyway) with academic restrictions and andrew luck means I'm hauling the fam to a few games at the farm this year
August 1st, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
August 1st, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
I'll take USF because they are my "local" team now, but I keep up on all things Florida.
August 1st, 2011 at 11:21 PM ^
It all makes sense now....you ARE Rich Rodriguez! How is Florida going Rich?
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
I also follow USF. Grew up 5 minutes from campus though now I go to Michigan.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
Northern Michigan U Wildcats
August 1st, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
GVSU and Oregon. GVSU because I go there, and Oregon because they're so fun to watch. Even when Dixon & Co. torched the Big House in 2007, I still to this day marvel/shudder at the playcalling of the Ducks that day. Statue of liberty to set up a fake statue of liberty? Crazy.
For the same reason: they are just a blast to watch. And a good friend went to law school there so I can BS with him about their games. But there was absolutely nothing about that 2007 game that I enjoyed or can even recall without crashing into extreme despair.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
Texas because I go to grad school there now. But loyalty is forever to Michigan and loyalty has gotten more extreme the farther I move away from Ann Arbor.
August 1st, 2011 at 11:27 PM ^
Same thing! I went to Michigan for undergrad and now I'm getting my PhD at UT Austin.
Do you know about the Austin chapter of the Michigan Alumni Club? We meet at Pluckers in South Austin to watch the games.
Longhorns really loved to talk trash about Michigan when I was down there. But they still are pretty easy to root for.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
Any school that Rich Rod ends up coaching next.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
Pretty much what I was going to say.
Idiotic sheeple....
<br>-Chet
<br>
August 1st, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
I love what Joe Pa represents!
August 1st, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
I don't have a second, it's more of a 1A and 1B. I played 2 sports at Albion, and obviously it's not as easy to see their games. I've been known to have Michigan on TV and Albion streaming on the computer. Luckily, I doubt these two schools will play each other ever again.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
At least we have our own field. FTD
August 1st, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
But I did actually win at Albion...first time in 25 yrs! The Michigan Ohio State of the MIAA.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
Whoever plays Notre Dame, Ohio and little brother
August 1st, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
Although sometimes I will like a team here or there in a season.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
Slippery Rock
August 1st, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
I've always loved the history. I'd also have to mention GVSU and Central/Western weekend. FUN. All my friends went to one of those. My second greatest rivalry is Williams/Amherst.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
I can almost always find a reason to hate a program.
I recently came to the conclusion that I don't hate the Texas Longhorns, but I reserve the right to change this based on how the Longhorn Network plays out.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
Lived in Seattle for quite a while and got into rooting for the Huskies... just wish they were better. Some pretty poor Apple Cups in the last few years.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Army
August 1st, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
My brother lives in Portland so I guess I route for them out of default. Georgetown would be my second choice but since they are really a DIII team playing I-AA I can never see them play any more since I moved from DC.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
The Butler Bulldawgs, I fear/hope for the day when I might see a Butler v. Michigan national title game in basketball.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
My mom went to BC before transferring to Michigan so BC.
Stanford just because it's a great school.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
August 1st, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
I think I have my answer, but who do you root for in the Army-Navy game?
...of course. But I've grown into it. Since I didn't attend the Boat School, I used to justify me continuing to root for Army as "it's just another college, why should I have to root for them?" Over the years, as my identity became more and more wrapped up in the Navy as an institution and the Army less so, my allegiance shifted.
If you're wondering about UVA-VT, the answer is I don't root for either one to win. No matter which team wins, the home atmosphere will be the same - combative. That said, if that game impacted Michigan's rankings in some way, you bet I'd be hoping for a certain outcome.
The recent Navy-ND games have been some of my favorite games ever, go Navy! (beat Army!)
August 1st, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
South Carolina alum, Michigan wasn't an option back then. Maybe for my MBA. Still would take Michigan over the Gamecocks on any Saturday.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
Memphis, I grew up a die-hard Memphis basketball fan and still am to an extent (Calipari's shenanigans aside). I've also taken an interest in Georgia football since I moved to Atlanta.
The yellow jackets are right in town though! GT is my second favorite
August 1st, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
My secondary loyalty switches every couple of years based on where I live and who is good. I really loved to watch Texas and USC play in the mid-aughts. Today, I actually love to watch Alabama play. They're just so perfect is every aspect of the game on Saturdays. Saban may be evil, but he can coach him some futbaw.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^