Sh@t talkers?!

[skinsguy]

But I will add, I am a die hard VA Tech fan for football and won't pull for anybody else except for the Hokies.

[paulskinsfan]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

But I will add, I am a die hard VA Tech fan for football and won't pull for anybody else except for the Hokies.

ABSOLUTELY! If he's a UVA'er just mention the HOKIES, and UVA's pathetic record against VA's REAL team in the modern era. Its white collar snobs versus blue collar Joes, and my heart is with the JOEs. Who the hell wears coats and ties to a tailgate after all (seriously, UVA fans sip wine and dress up for games, wierd huh?)? One HellUVA joke.

[Rajmahal33]

I have problems with ppl from Maryland who used to be skins fans who then switched their allegiances to the Ravens during the season that they won the superbowl or after. That franchise is lucky they got their success soon after they moved to B'more otherwise there would be no sellouts crowds full of fair weather fans. Worse still, IMO, are the ppl who like both the Skins and Ravens. Pick ONE of them, especially because they are cross-town rivals. As a terp alum, I had to deal with these baltimorons on a regular basis talking about how great their franchise was. They claim that they have 2 rings to our 3, but then I point out that it wasn't the same franchise but rather 1 for the b'more Colts and the other for the old Cleveland Browns (one of the worst in league history prior to the move). My level of detestability for the Ravens now rivals my hatred of the Cowboys, no joke.

As for front-runners, ppl who don't anything about sports by default root for the team that is winning. Therefore to root for a team like lakers in bball, or other teams that u have no direct geographical (or other) ties is synonymous with being an uninformed fan, unless there is evidence to the contrary.

[Dantheskinsfan]

IMO, root for whoever you want, and stick with them.. But don't be that guy who is the biggest Dallass fan, and has never even been to Texas,etc.......

[#56fanatic]

This stuff is actually funny. I see people on here that are mad or angry at people who live in the area and aren't Redskin fans. Do you know how crazy that is. I am a homer, of course. I bleed burgandy and gold. but come on people. People who jumped ship to the Redskins when the colts left weren't really skins fans anyway, probably more football fans. Now they have a team back, they can call their own of course they are going to jump ship. In Charlotte, people here were Redskin's fans, when the Panthers came in, they adopted them as their own. You can't blame them for jumping ship. I personally can't stand the panthers, but when you are from the area and you get a team, you can't blame people for pulling for their team.

the fact is, there are a ton of bandwagoners out there, always will be. you, me, nobody can do anything about those people. Look at it this way, when the Skins start winning on a consistant basis, we will have some more skins jerseys floating around.

As far and the geographical thing.. I have always been and SF Giants fan, and I have never even been to SF. So, am I not suppose to root for the Giants? People sometimes just latch onto a franchise and there really isn't any explination for it.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

This stuff is actually funny. I see people on here that are mad or angry at people who live in the area and aren't Redskin fans. Do you know how crazy that is. I am a homer, of course. I bleed burgandy and gold. but come on people. People who jumped ship to the Redskins when the colts left weren't really skins fans anyway, probably more football fans. Now they have a team back, they can call their own of course they are going to jump ship. In Charlotte, people here were Redskin's fans, when the Panthers came in, they adopted them as their own. You can't blame them for jumping ship. I personally can't stand the panthers, but when you are from the area and you get a team, you can't blame people for pulling for their team.

the fact is, there are a ton of bandwagoners out there, always will be. you, me, nobody can do anything about those people. Look at it this way, when the Skins start winning on a consistant basis, we will have some more skins jerseys floating around.

As far and the geographical thing.. I have always been and SF Giants fan, and I have never even been to SF. So, am I not suppose to root for the Giants? People sometimes just latch onto a franchise and there really isn't any explination for it.

I am from Gettysburg PA, and I can assure that if Gburg were to be given an NFL team they would at best be my second favorite team. If you jump ship to a new team just because they are closer to you you were never a real fan to begin with.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

I am from Gettysburg PA, and I can assure that if Gburg were to be given an NFL team they would at best be my second favorite team. If you jump ship to a new team just because they are closer to you you were never a real fan to begin with.

Exactly. I grew up IN the District. Not in the 'burbs, but actually in NW DC. When the Expos moved and became the Nats, I had love for 'em, but I grew up going to 20 Orioles games every summer. I love the Birds despite their constant futility (much like the Skins). I wasn't about to switch my loyalties.

College is a little different though. I grew up loving the Terps and the Hoyas, but I moved to Gainesville, went to the University of Florida, and have lived here for 8 years. I friggin' love the Gators. When I bleed, it's four colors: burgundy, gold, orange, and blue. I still cheer for the Terps and Hoyas, but the Gators have become "my team." It's easy though because they're in 3 different conferences (ACC, SEC, Big East) and rarely play each other in any sport.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Exactly. I grew up IN the District. Not in the 'burbs, but actually in NW DC. When the Expos moved and became the Nats, I had love for 'em, but I grew up going to 20 Orioles games every summer. I love the Birds despite their constant futility (much like the Skins). I wasn't about to switch my loyalties.

College is a little different though. I grew up loving the Terps and the Hoyas, but I moved to Gainesville, went to the University of Florida, and have lived here for 8 years. I friggin' love the Gators. When I bleed, it's four colors: burgundy, gold, orange, and blue. I still cheer for the Terps and Hoyas, but the Gators have become "my team." It's easy though because they're in 3 different conferences (ACC, SEC, Big East) and rarely play each other in any sport.

You bring up an important point GMscud, one that I would like to address. The only time jumping ship on your team is permissable is if you like a college team and matriculate to a different school. I grew up a diehard Terps fan - my parents actually met there. When I went to Penn State I showed up with a closet full of Terps gear. Today I still like the Terps and root for them, but it's nothing compared to the love I feel for Penn State. There's just something about going to a school, knowing the players, connecting with old alumni, and remembering not just the games but the whole experience associated with going to the games, that can't be described.

So I think that's the one time you get a pass, because you don't chose to like your school's team, it's more like something that takes a hold of you. A passion kind of like Brokeback Mountain, except not gay.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

You bring up an important point GMscud, one that I would like to address. The only time jumping ship on your team is permissable is if you like a college team and matriculate to a different school. I grew up a diehard Terps fan - my parents actually met there. When I went to Penn State I showed up with a closet full of Terps gear. Today I still like the Terps and root for them, but it's nothing compared to the love I feel for Penn State. There's just something about going to a school, knowing the players, connecting with old alumni, and remembering not just the games but the whole experience associated with going to the games, that can't be described.

So I think that's the one time you get a pass, because you don't chose to like your school's team, it's more like something that takes a hold of you. A passion kind of like Brokeback Mountain, except not gay.

I hear ya. I think it would be nearly impossible to live in Gainesville for an extended period of and not become a Gator fan (unless you're a Seminole or a fan of another SEC school).

[Rajmahal33]

For me the issue isn't that a new team came here or geography or anything. The issue is that ppl who had watched the skins for 20+ years and rooted for them through the good times when they won their superbowls and called themselves die-hard skins fans at some point, just switched teams when the skins were going through tough times and the ravens happened to achieve success as soon as they got here. If you didn't have a team until the ravens came to town and then supported them from the beginning when they first moved to b'more thats fine. But to switch to the team that won the superbowl the most recently is pathetic. Also where were these so-called fans two years ago when the ravens missed the playoffs? Weren't they asking for Brian Billick's blood after losing two games in a row last year (with a 4-2 record at the time), which eventually led to them firing Jim Fassell? If you're gonna throw away years of tradition just to support a team that is temporarily winning, that's ur prerogative but to me thats despicable and as someone said before u aren't really a true fan of anything.

It's the reason I am still an O's fan and not the Nats who just came to town. I grew up watching the O's through their struggles and Cal break the record and to me thats irreplaceable, i'm not gonna just start rooting for the nats even if they won a world series.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

For me the issue isn't that a new team came here or geography or anything. The issue is that ppl who had watched the skins for 20+ years and rooted for them through the good times when they won their superbowls and called themselves die-hard skins fans at some point, just switched teams when the skins were going through tough times and the ravens happened to achieve success as soon as they got here. If you didn't have a team until the ravens came to town and then supported them from the beginning when they first moved to b'more thats fine. But to switch to the team that won the superbowl the most recently is pathetic. Also where were these so-called fans two years ago when the ravens missed the playoffs? Weren't they asking for Brian Billick's blood after losing two games in a row last year (with a 4-2 record at the time), which eventually led to them firing Jim Fassell? If you're gonna throw away years of tradition just to support a team that is temporarily winning, that's ur prerogative but to me thats despicable and as someone said before u aren't really a true fan of anything.

It's the reason I am still an O's fan and not the Nats who just came to town. I grew up watching the O's through their struggles and Cal break the record and to me thats irreplaceable, i'm not gonna just start rooting for the nats even if they won a world series.

I am glad you brought the O's into this. I think I can relate to why Panther fans jumped off the skins, or the Ravens fans jumped off also. I was a HUGE O's fan. (also a SF Giants fan, but that was because I played for the Giants in little leage and just kept up with them) I had season tickets to the O's. I still root for the O's, but if a team were to be moved to charlotte I would certainly root for them as well. and here is the reason : PETER ANGELOS!! I can not stand this guy. He wanted to compete and spent the money to compete every year though the early to late 90's. which we went to the ALCS two years straight, had one of the greatest managers of our time (Davey Johnson). One, he couldn't handle Daveys "I wont take any of your crap, its my team" attitude and fired him the year he won manager of the year. plus when he got word DC was thinking of bringing baseball back, he got rid of all the good players and put a mediocore team on the field, knowing attendance would drop, then cried that they would never survive with another team in the area. He has driven the O's into the ground! I still root for the O's, but am not as die hard as I once was, because of his sorry ass. So, I can see how some people could root for the skins all those years under Cook, then get fed up with Danny and his ways, and free spending, mediocore teams and jumping to the Panthers, or Ravens, or who ever.

Now, I could never jump ship from the skins, no matter what. But I do understand why people do it.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

It's the reason I am still an O's fan and not the Nats who just came to town. I grew up watching the O's through their struggles and Cal break the record and to me thats irreplaceable, i'm not gonna just start rooting for the nats even if they won a world series.

I think that's an interesting point, however, I do find myself pulling for the Nats, too. They're not "my team," but I do like them. Not as much as I like the Mets (cause I like the way Reyes and Wright play) or the Marlins (cause they're no real threat, but I love Cabrera and the D Train). The funniest thing about this is that all 3 teams are in the NL East, cause I'm not a huge NL guy I like a lot of the NL teams. I don't really hate any NL teams.

Anyway, while I agree with your point because the O's will always be "my team." I will still root for other teams. The same way I do with the Skins. That's my team, but I like to watch a bunch of others.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by paulskinsfan

ABSOLUTELY! If he's a UVA'er just mention the HOKIES, and UVA's pathetic record against VA's REAL team in the modern era. Its white collar snobs versus blue collar Joes, and my heart is with the JOEs. Who the hell wears coats and ties to a tailgate after all (seriously, UVA fans sip wine and dress up for games, wierd huh?)? One HellUVA joke.

Well, didn't read this one until I already wrote to "beware the guy in the UVa hat," now I feel all of a sudden compelled to defend my University. I'll just say that, like all stereotypes, this one grossly oversimplies the populations of the two schools. Al Groh has also been fairly successful in scaling down the tie-wearing and such. I would further point out that dressing up for football games is hardly a UVa specific characteristic. I am now pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina and girls wear sundresses to games as they do at many of the other SEC schools (including Auburn, who did beat VA Tech in the Sugar Bowl a couple of years ago). It is more of an "Old South" nostalgia (which has its own problems) rather than a "white collar" phenomena (both elitest, perhaps, but not exactly the same). Not sure when you want to start the "modern era" either, but the all-time record between the two schools is 37-44-5 so not nearly as lopsided as you imply. I will admit that the past decade has been pretty rough, but when UVa has had a quarterback they have done well (Aaron Brooks, wins in 1997, 1998) and Matt Schaub (win in 2003). I will let everyone get back to talking Redskins now, but you know how it is, it is ok to make fun of a team yourself, but when someone else does so you feel compelled to respond.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

But I will add, I am a die hard VA Tech fan for football and won't pull for anybody else except for the Hokies.

You better be careful Skinsguy, you might end up getting back hand slapped by Gabe.