re: Why do you have to be a graduate to be a true fan?

You don't need to be a graduate to be a fan. I don't quite understand, though, people whose identity is tied up in the athletic program of a school they never attended, and we all know fans like that.

The difference in alumni and t shirt fans is that alumni tend to care about the university as a whole. I spent four of the best years of my life there, and I want it to be the best university it can be. A lot of t shirt fans couldn't care less about the academic side, and will straight out tell you that. Read this board and the OT when funding issues pertaining to LSU come up if you don't believe me.

I’ve been a diehard fan growing up. I’m a senior in highschool now, and if I don’t go to LSU next year, I’ll probably be rooting for them the same as wherever it is I’m at.

quote:

---

I moved from BR to VB,VA in 1980 at age 11. Have lived in VB ever since. My formative sports years where the late 70's, and I fell in love with LSU. Obviously, I didn't attend LSU, but am a HUGE fan since childhood, and that will NEVER change

---

I live in the Richmond, Va area, but moved from Louisiana at 33 years old. The only football team I cheer for and with a TON of passion is LSU. I didn't attend LSU, but was born and raised in Louisiana listening to John Ferguson and Jim Hawthorne with my dad.

In my opinion people born in Louisiana, but did not attend LSU are truly bigger fans than people from out of state that attended LSU and stayed in Louisiana, because it is in their blood.

quote:

---

put 3 kids through LSU so they have as big a right as anyone to be a True fan

---

I never understood the parents who do this and still aren’t fans or even like the school. Like some parents are die hard Texas or whatever team fans and have a kid at LSU and do not like LSU as a team.

quote:

---

You don't have to be a graduate to be a "true fan" of the sports teams. I was a "true fan" when I was twelve. But somebody who lived on that campus and attended classes there and made dozens of life-long relationships there is likely to have emotional attachments to LSU that would be very difficult for you to truly understand. You have true fandom, he has something else that probably also includes true fandom and a lot more.

---

This

quote:

---

Never heard people say this ever.

---

You must not read the rant vey often. LSU grads may feel more connected to the school but that doesn’t always mean they are better fans. I know a couple that graduated from LSU but think sports are a complete waste of money.

quote:

---

root canal

---

You need to take uppity attitude and get a new head coach at West Monroe before the program goes back to what it was pre-Don Shows.

quote:

---

Why do some people consider us less fans than graduates?

---

the true measure of LSU fanship is directly related to the amount of money contributed to TAF

I go to school elsewhere and am still a LSU diehard. If someone told me I’m not a “real” fan I’d just call them a gayfer, and carry on pulling for them. Most people who would say that is just needing something to make them feel important.

quote:

---

was born and raised in Louisiana listening to John Ferguson and Jim Hawthorne with my dad.

---

I listened to most every game I could on the radio as a North Louisiana kid growing up (yes, I'm also a cowboys fan so hate away). In those days most of the LSU games weren't on TV.

My dad took me to my first game as a 9-10 year old in Tiger Stadium around 1969-70 and I was hooked! However, I worked my way through school at NLU.

It always gets under my skin a little bit when I run across LSU graduates that think I'm less of a fan than they are. Many are LSU grads because their Mom and Dad paid for it.

I wore an LSU cap to a high school ball game last year in DFW. After a short conversation about LSU Football with a guy, he made it clear to me that he "actually went to LSU" in a condescending manner.

To all of you that think you are better than myself because you actually went there. Just so you know; I'll be at the Miami game on labor day weekend wearing my LSU hat whether you like it or not!