Why are you a fan for your school?

[Jason Scheer]

I figured I'd get this board going. Why are you a fan of your school? Did you attend? Were you brought up to be? Do you like the colors? I am always curious why people root the way they do

[TopCat]

Went to Grad School at Arizona. Got season tickets for football every year.

Went to undergrad at James Madison University. National Champs in football baby...!!!

[Auercat]

Graduated from the UA in 1991 and LOVE The Cats. :)

Bearing Down on Having Been A UA Hoops Fan Since Lute's Arrival And A Diehard Since I Transferred To The UA (From USC) in 1989,

Auercat

PS I was raised as a USC fan and grew up loving the Trojan football teams as a kid in the 1970s and 1980s.

[MrsWPG]

my father was one of those types of people that wore the alumni badge everywhere he went. naturally i became a ute fan and ended up going to school there.

[Bucktown]

Grew up about 40 minutes from U of Illinois. They paid for Undergrad and Graduate school for me. I got student seasons (basketball) for 6 straight years for about 500 bucks total. Suffered through Illinois winters, crap football, Lon Kreuger, Bill Self, and finally I get to enjoy up-pace bball (instead of the dreadfully slow "high-low") from Bruuuuce.

All in all, people like Illinois for it's ancient and beautiful campus and because we all suffered through the ****e hole that is the city of Champaign/Urbana.

[HASSstafa05]

Both my parents attended the UofA. been a fan since birth. and i'll be a freshman at the UofA in about a week.

[edgewood4]

This is kinda sad, but, here it goes. Everyone in my family is an avid UK fan. I have always been very contrary to everything they liked and in 1997 when I saw the bracket for the first time I immediately decided that I was going to root for Arizona and hope they met in the championship game. Sure enough, they did, and everyone knows the story from there. I fell in love with the team that year, and couldn't stop waltzing around my family saying that catchy phrase, "Simon says Championship!" Soon thereafter I began researching the Arizona basketball team and I have been an avid supporter since.

[Itamicbomb]

(In order of preference for basketball)
Duke - Class of 2007
Arizona - Mom went there for undergrad and nursing.
Michigan - Dad went there for undergrad and medical school
UCLA - I'm originally from LA, mom went there for grad school

[Sidewinder]

All in all, people like Illinois for it's ancient and beautiful campus and because we all suffered through the ****e hole that is the city of Champaign/Urbana.

Urbana's not so bad :)

[ASUHATER!]

Well I go to UA right now (class of '08). My dad went to ASU but didnt graduate, mom went to UCLA and graduated. I was always apathetic towards ASU (I'm from Mesa so everyone i know is an ASU fan). When I was little the only bball or football games i watched were UCLA. I came down to UA to get away from home and because UA is well, just better. :)

[T-Bone]

I graduated from UA last year and I'm going to law school here now so I guess UA is the only school I have a real right to like, not that anyone is forcing me. But I cheer for Miami University because that's where my dad went to school and University of Cincinnati because that's where my family is from. BTW, my dad also went to USC but I choose not to acknowledge that fact nor do I cheer for any of their teams.

[Mrs-walk-on]

My father-in-law is a U of A alumni and my husband went to all the basketball games with his family when he lived in Tucson as a child. Walk-on always dreamed of attending Arizona but gave up on that dream (possibly for me) to attend Ohio University which is a few minutes away from where I attended nursing school. I started watching the basketball games when Luke Walton was a Sophmore. I didn't become a die-hard fan until a few years ago when I began following Luke and Salim Stoudamire. Now, I don't miss a game (unless it's blacked out on Directv :fur: ), and it has become somewhat like a religious experience for me. My entire household dresses in head-to-toe fan apparel (my son even has UofA socks :D ). I get knots in my stomach at tip-off when the band plays that little song that kinda reminds me of the song from "Jaws".

[Bison79]

I was drilled with UofA by my entire family, well mother's side, it's all I've ever known.

Kind of like those people who do something their entire lives one way, because it's all they've ever known, but in a good way :-D

[alieberman]

My dad went to ASU but didnt graduate

Isn't that a given when someone attends ASU?

[11Banners]

One of my uncles went to UCLA law school, while another went for his undergrad. Then two of my cousins went to UCLA, so I had to root for UCLA. But to tell you the truth, what first got me to choose UCLA were the colors. My favorite color was blue at the time, while I didn't really like red. That's what pushed me towards UCLA and not SC.

I also like ND football because their fight song is amazing. Plus hating SC isn't bad either. I'm probably applying to both SC and Arizona law schools, so I might be the next Immel. You guys might have to deal with me living in Tucson for 3 years

[WayneNewton]

I'm probably applying to both SC and Arizona law schools, so I might be the next Immel.

Only taller and less angry, right?

[smashmode]

I went to UW for 2 years (I left when I couldnt figure out what I really wanted to do with my life...and my grades we're slipping because of it).

I also worked for UW medical center for 2 1/2 years.

So I have pretty strong roots with UW..

:)

[AZCatFANatic]

I grew up only knowing Arizona Athletics.
I was on the football field when I was 6 years old. I started traveling with the team when I was 7. I would hold the headsets for coaches and pick up the kicking tee in the middle of the field after every kickoff. Camp Cochise for 9 straight summers with the UofA football team will make anyone a loyal fan for life.
I have had the wonderful opportunity of traveling with the team to places such as: Notre Dame, LSU, Ohio State, every Pac-10 school except Seattle, and 2 Aloha Bowls, Sun Bowl, and the 1994 Fiesta Bowl among others. Having the opportunity to get to know so many players and coaches from so many of the sports like Baseball, basketball, golf, and football, etc. through the years has always been such a gift. Oh, the stories I can share…

Even though I now live in LA, I continue to own basketball and football season tickets. I schedule everything in my life around games. It is sick but it is who I am and it is what brings me happiness. I live and breathe Arizona athletics. It is a gift and a sickness all at the same time. I am just thankful that my new wife is so understanding!!!

[KrazyCatFan]

Was born to be raised a SUn Devil. My dad Played football for the devils his first 2 years in college before he got hurt. I didnt wanna be a sun devils fan so i went with their arch enemy. Well this is the story i heard since i was 3 when my mom taught me to say GO Cats. SO i guess i was born a WIldcat. Through these years though guess who has started wearing the Cardinal and Navy

[asuhater]

I schedule everything in my life around games. It is sick but it is who I am and it is what brings me happiness. I live and breathe Arizona athletics. It is a gift and a sickness all at the same time. I am just thankful that my new wife is so understanding!!!
Thats awesome!! Same for me! And I couldn't agree more that it is a sickness and a gift, well said. Well I was pretty much born a wildcat as well. I remember sitting in the spare bedroom with my father and watching UA basketball games on a small black and white tv. This was when Freddy "The Fox" was head coach.My father had 2 season football and basketball seats and from 1982 onward he always took me. I remember my first trip to the Kush Landfill and getting food thrown at me when I was like 8 years old and how I tried to fight the asu "fans" because they threw stuff at my dad and me. Too bad for them every time we went up there, I walked out smiling and talking trash(as much trash talk that a 8 year old kid can do)and there in lies my hate for asu and why I am so obsessed with UA. My fiancee says that I have a serious problem. I agree. My entire decor it UA and I have a UA block "A" tattoo on my right arm. Yes Im obsessed but better then being addicted to drugs, alcohol, ect... So in retrospect it's a healthy obsession. And when Stoops get's us to Pasadena...I will be there.And 26 years of pain will be eased. Go Cats!!!

[AzDave]

Grew up following Cal, but as soon as I stepped into Arizona Stadium for my first Cal/UA game as a UA student I knew I was an Arizona fan.

I'm back in the bay area so I still go to as many Bears games as I can, but they are number 2 behind the Cats now.

[93GRAD]

Grew up in Tucson and (surprise!) graduated from the U of A in 93.

[NOVABruin]

2002 UCLA grad.

I grew up in New York so I wasn't a UCLA fan at all. In fact, I was really apathetic towards their sports teams and the school itself in general. My dream was to go to Berkeley, but when I did my overnight visit for admitted students I was stuck with a Jesus-freak who took me to a bible study group on a Friday night. That, combined with the ugly broads completely turned me off to Cal, so I ended up going to UCLA.

As a huge sports fan, I just naturally embraced all of UCLA's teams and fell in love with the history and tradition of UCLA athletics (specifically basketball). Since I went to school during the Lavin era, I've only know suffering as a UCLA basketball fan. That's why I'm not one of those UCLA fans with "unrealistic expectations." I'm more than happy with UCLA eventually leveling off at an Arizona-like level nationally.

The only other team I root for is GW since I attend law school there.

[hoopsbwc34]

Lived in Arizona my whole life up to last year (well, since I was two). Have been a huge fan of AZ football as long as I can remember.

I remember my Mom <b>renting</b> a VCR from Blockbluster to record the AZ vs Colorado game in 198? because I was so upset I was going to miss the game for a tour of the Titan Missile Museum. My parents always had tickets and I'd go to several games a year...

I'm also a Michigan fan (that's where the other 2 years were spent) and I still remember watching the AZ vs Michigan game at AZ Stadium on TV and I've been dreaming of the AZ vs Michigan Rose Bowl ever since!

[tstein7240]

Embarassingly enough... I grew up a big SMU fan. I was around for the DickerJames Days (Eric Dickerson/Craig James backfield was as good as it got). Well, my high school days were w/o a college team to follow as SMU was on the death penalty.

Fast forward to when I was looking for schools to attend. Was originally thinking USC, in fact... Arizona was my "safety school". Planned a trip to visit USC and decided to stop in Tucson on my way. Ends up I was visiting campus the day they had a parade for the Final Four team (Elliot, Kerr days). From that moment... I was hooked and the rest is history.

plus, I hated the USC campus and the other schools were in the Northeast. No desire to live in snow all year

[auti]

Lived in Tucson my entire life and now attend the UofA, will be a 2007 graduate (hopefully). My dad has been a huge fan since I can remember and I have always wanted to graduate from the UofA.

[BigO]

Graduated from UA last year and have to say it was the best 4 years of my life. I miss the campus, bars, sports, everything...but I guess that's what Homecoming is for.

I started liking them in 1997 after they beat Kansas (was living in KC at the time). It seemed like everyone I lived around loved the Jayhawks and it was very sweet to see grown men cry when their "best team ever" fell to UA.

I almost went to ASU after high school because a lot of kids from my high school went there. I was at a baseball camp over Christmas vacation (at ASU) of my senior year of high school and my dad suggested that we drive down to Tucson to check it out. I was willing and fell in love on my campus visit. Best decision I ever made, bar none.

I also have a soft spot for Kansas State football and grew up dreaming to be the quarterback for USC, whom I don't hate :o (admire) unless they play UA.

[Dosia]

born and raised in tucson. dad graduated from ua. i am now attending ua (soph year). always have been and always will be a wildcat fan.

[losgatosaz05]

Born and raised as a DIE HARD CAT FAN!!!!. My kids are now following the path to bleed red and blue!.

[azhoops]

Well I go to UA right now (class of '08). My dad went to ASU but didnt graduate, mom went to UCLA and graduated. I was always apathetic towards ASU (I'm from Mesa so everyone i know is an ASU fan). When I was little the only bball or football games i watched were UCLA. I came down to UA to get away from home and because UA is well, just better. :)
Isn't that a given when someone attends ASU?

ASU Six year graduation rate- 52%
UA Six year graduation rate- 55%

:cool:

[juvi]

I was raised in Las Vegas. UNLV had that team back in 1989, so everyone I knew jumped on the bandwagon of UNLV basketball. I decided to root for the next team that beat them. That's how I became an Arizona Wildcat fan.

I also root for SDSU, since I went to school there.

[GlobalCat]

Took a field trip in 6th grade from Arrowhead Elementary to UofA for the day. Checked out the Sonoran Desert Museum, the Planetarium, and the campus. Knew that I wanted to go to UofA ever since. Watching Desert Swarm on TV and the 97 championship more than clenched it.

Could have easily gone to a more highly ranked school (Ivies were easily in reach), but at the time I wanted to be a doctor and knew UofA's med school would be cheap and lead right into a great job. Then I took chemistry :flush One international relations course later it was off to grad school and here I am!

[gumby]

Bump.

Let's hear some more stories.

Grew up in Vegas. Huge Rebel fan. Attended UNLV when they made it to their first Final Four (team averaged like 110 a game), only to lose to UNC and that ****ing Four Corners "offense." Cheers to Al Maguire for taking them down in the final.

Transferred to UofA. Been a Cat fan ever since.

[F Duke]

I went to Arizona because of Jake Plummer. During my senior year of high school, I applied to most of the state schools in Texas but really wanted to go out of state. I saw ASU play early in the football season and loved Plummer so I begged my parents to let me check Tempe out. My Mom and I flew out for a visit followed by a trip to Tucson. Tempe felt like a commuter school and Arizona was well, Arizona.

As a kid I had always been a big Arizona hoops fan from the Sean Elliot and Kerr days. I went to a lot of Rice Basketball camps when Scott Thompson was their HC. He was a a former Arizona assistant who always told the campers to root for Rice and Arizona.

[Chicat]

When I stepped on campus in '95 it was love. By the time I left Tucson in 2000 it was obsession.


By the way, great bump if for nothing else besides the hilarious MrsWPG sighting.

[dantheman10]

Duke fan growing up...applied to all big sports schools (from connecticut)...UofA vs Clemson...chose UofA w/out even visiting and fell in love from the first time i got to the mall...IMO one of the prettiest campuses in the country (girls included)...graduated in May 2010, miss T-town like crazy! still root for Duke, but if they played would go with my Cats...beardown and beat the crap out of asu please

[gumby]

When I stepped on campus in '95 it was love. By the time I left Tucson in 2000 it was obsession.
Never even visited the campus before deciding. But that would've been a clincher, for sure. Then again, compared with UNLV ... :lol2:

The sheer size and beauty (and, yes, the girls) were intimidating. And Tucson seemed green to me (coming from Nevada). Adding to that was having to step over all the fans who were camped out for a Fleetwood Mac concert to get to my dorm, and I was definitely in a positive daze. Plus, I was already of legal drinking age (it was 19 then).

[Wildcat2012]

Back in the fall of 1997 I was seven years old and just started following sports. I didn't know Arizona even existed and being from Gilbert I watched ASU a lot. I discovered Arizona when they played (and beat) ASU in the rivalry game that year and it was just instant love. Didn't hurt that the 1997-98 basketball team went to the Elite 8 and the 1998 football team went 11-1! :lol2: Now I go to school here so I'm pretty much a lifer :)

[Chicat]

Never even visited the campus before deciding.

Neither did I. I decided to go to UA based on the front page of the brochure which showed the Mall, Old Main, and the mountains in the background.

And they say advertising doesn't work... :lol2:

[BibbysTowelDude]

Born in Tucson, Raised In Tucson... Grew up watching Elliott,Kerr,Tolbert,Buechler,Dele,Stokes and on and on. There was never any doubt.

[Cats101]

I'll try to make this as short as possible...

I can remember bits and pieces of the Duke/Arizona championship game and the big party that we had at my house. Just seeing that as a kid made me like both school, actually. Fast forward a little and my new Pop Warner coaches happened to play for assu and graduated from there. I must say my family and the coaches are now close (or use to be) and we really appreciated each other. Anyway, because they went to assu and were alumni they pounded this assu thing into everyone's head. I met Frank Kush, went to football practices/events/games, didn't really "love" it to be honest, I was kind of just there.

Well, I found this new found glory for college basketball again. And I can just remember seeing Arizona on FSN a lot, loved the court, the team and especially Lute. My cousin eventually went here and I visited her once in the Spring and the rest is really history. Loved the campus, I could stare at the brochure for days. The 2005 elite 8 sticks out but I'd rather not discuss it :lol2: my best friends whole family was Arizona fans and the house was silent after the game. The 2006 Arizona/CAL football game was probably the sealing deal because the atmosphere was crazy and I wanted to be apart of it. Plus, there was no way in hell I was going to or be an assu fan. The Duke thing has faded (don't hate them though) and my loath for the scum has seemingly elevated every day. Actually being at UofA and in Tucson had made the me the huge fan that I am. I use to just be a universal college basketball/football fan, now I'm just a little biased towards anything UofA :)

[UofAlum05]

Graduate of UofA in 2005 and have loved the Cats since the start of my freshman year. There really is a bond/love for the school you went too that can't be explained. I find a huge difference in posters on this board's rationale about the teams based on if they are a graduate or just a fan of the school.

Not far behind UofA is East Carolina. My entire family (parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) went to ECU. My family suffered a tragic death in 1991. That is the same year that ECU finished 9th in the country with Jeff Blake at QB. My entire family, still grieving, went to the bowl game and hugged/cried when they beat NC State. I will have ECU in my heart forever because of that.

[Merkin]

Never even visited the campus before deciding.

Same here.

I was in SW OK at the time and my dad was transferred by IBM (I've Been Moved!) to Tucson from Poughkeepsie. I sent away for a UA catalog and almost didn't go because I really wanted to be a CSC major and all they had at the time was MIS. Was thinking of moving back to Colorado Springs, but decided to follow my family.

Never regretted it.

My family is mostly still in Tucson, dad retired there.

[TucsonClip]

Family has had season tickets my entire life (the year Lute took over). Born and somewhat raised in Tucson, went to every home game until 1990, when we moved.

My mom used to take me after school (grade school) on Friday's to go watch UA practice. Never had more fun in my life, sitting through those practices listening to Lute yell, "Hands up on D, B Dub!"

Was able to witness, B Dub attempt a dunk from the free throw line in a shoot around slam dunk contest, after practice. Kenny Lofton flying all over the floor collecting steals and break away dunks.

Sean Elliot "They want me in the N-B-A!", being every kid from Tucson's role model/Michael Jordan.

Blaring "Wild About the Cats", at any moment and having everyone in sight rap along.

The Gumbies.

Matt Othick and Matt Muehlebach

Being at the airport when UA came back from the '88 Final Four and getting my picture with Lofton, Kerr, Elliot, and all their autographs.

The winning streak at McKale.

Harvey Mason

Steve Kerr for 3! Steeeeeeeeeve Kerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. "Ill drill it in from 3 point laaaaaand."

The '01 Final Four and being able to interact/boo with 3/4 of the crowd in Minneapolis who were cheering for UA against Duke.

'07 in Chicago when Bayless had that monster dunk against Illinois to essentially seal the game. Running around Wrigleyville, screaming U of A!

There are too many moments to put into this post, but I will never forget the times I met Lute in the basketball offices and the Friday afternoon practices I was able to attend at a young age.

We are all fans because of Lute, and thats the best memory I have.

[Salty]

Went to the Fiesta Bowl when I was three years old to see the beating of Miami. Barely remember the 97 championship at seven. Went to the Holiday bowl when I was 8. Cried in 2001 when Arizona lost to Duke. Started going to every home UA football game in 01 and haven't missing one since. Cried my heart out when I was 15 and Arizona lost to Illinois in the Elite Eight.

It's just in my blood. The U of A has been as big a part of my life as, well, anything really. Parents are alums. I'm from Tucson. Now a student. Brother goes here. The school is a part of me.

[1stNGrant Frys]

Here is what you can tell marginal fans: every win increases the exposure to your school thereby increasing the value of your degree.

yeah its a spurious argument that won't hold much water under careful examination, but take like a Nebraska or Kansas (who I'm sure are both fine learning institutions in their own right)...and compare them to a similar sized non-sports schools that are better in academics (say an Ohio University and all the SUNYs of New York)... and your average Joe will probably think of the big name sports schools as equal or greater stature overall.

Hell if you went to a selective, expensive but small and obscure liberal arts college (Little Lord Fauntleroy School for Albino Hemophiliacs )you'd probably spend a lot of time explaining that its not some online school.

[gumby]

Family has had season tickets my entire life (the year Lute took over). Born and somewhat raised in Tucson, went to every home game until 1990, when we moved.

My mom used to take me after school (grade school) on Friday's to go watch UA practice. Never had more fun in my life, sitting through those practices listening to Lute yell, "Hands up on D, B Dub!"

Was able to witness, B Dub attempt a dunk from the free throw line in a shoot around slam dunk contest, after practice. Kenny Lofton flying all over the floor collecting steals and break away dunks.

Sean Elliot "They want me in the N-B-A!", being every kid from Tucson's role model/Michael Jordan.

Blaring "Wild About the Cats", at any moment and having everyone in sight rap along.

The Gumbies.

Matt Othick and Matt Muehlebach

Being at the airport when UA came back from the '88 Final Four and getting my picture with Lofton, Kerr, Elliot, and all their autographs.

The winning streak at McKale.

Harvey Mason

Steve Kerr for 3! Steeeeeeeeeve Kerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. "Ill drill it in from 3 point laaaaaand."

The '01 Final Four and being able to interact/boo with 3/4 of the crowd in Minneapolis who were cheering for UA against Duke.

'07 in Chicago when Bayless had that monster dunk against Illinois to essentially seal the game. Running around Wrigleyville, screaming U of A!

There are too many moments to put into this post, but I will never forget the times I met Lute in the basketball offices and the Friday afternoon practices I was able to attend at a young age.

We are all fans because of Lute, and thats the best memory I have.
Love this post. It's too bad they went on to close practices.

Damn agents and assorted blood suckers.

Haven't seen very many games at McKale since we've been really good. Could always see them at McKale North, though.

1988 was a magical season.