Especially when compared to college football... I dont know if its a "southern" thing, or not having a NFL team anywhere nearby while growing up (Titans came really late, I was already in college away from Nashville) but I am not that passionate about the NFL. Dont get me wrong, I am a huge HUGE NFL fan, have ordered Sunday Ticket for the last 3 years etc., but I watch it a lot more objectively, almost more just to appreciate the high quality of play and not because I live and die by how my team performs. I obviously want the Cowboys to win, but its not a huge deal if they dont.

I've also noticed that I am more passionate about the NFL when my team sucks... growing up a Cowboy fan I was too young to remember when they were REALLY good in the late 70s and I was really into them during the shitty ass Danny White/Hershel Walker years, but after they won a ton in the early 90s it almost got boring (and it was annoying to be a Cowboy fan because of the bandwagon deal), but now that they have for the most part sucked lately, I am definitely a lot more into it, but still nowhere NEAR as much as I am into the Volunteers and Wolfpack.

My gut feeling is that it has a lot to do with not being around a team growing up and the fact that college football was the ONLY thing in TN (and in my family) aside from a pocket of bball in Memphis. I have somewhat gotten into the Titans now that they are in Nashville but they are still behind the Cowboys and WAY behind the Volunteers and Wolfpack.

So, my question is, do any of you care more about your favorite NFL team than you do your favorite college team? and if so... did you grow up in or very near an NFL city? was your dad/family not big into college football?

12/11/2006 8:26:21 PM

Quote :

"I watch it a lot more objectively, almost more just to appreciate the high quality of play and not because I live and die by how my team performs."

Exactly.

Panthers lose...oh well.

State loses...my weekend is shot.

12/11/2006 8:27:47 PM

I care more for an NFL team than a college one.

its made very easy for you when you attend ncsu.

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 8:29 PM. Reason : d]

12/11/2006 8:29:00 PM

^ haha, actually hadnt considered that... even if you are joking. When I started at UT it was during the Manning era, then Tee Martin/Clausen, when every game mattered and there were several years where one god damn game (ahem, Florida and LSU once) kept us out of the NC game, so every single game was huge...

12/11/2006 8:40:55 PM

I love the NFL because of the high quality of football.

The college game does not even compare to the NFL. In the NFL yards are precious whereas in the college game they give them away in clumps.

Sure, the college game has advantages with big rivalries, team loyalty, etc but I like to see guys compete at the HIGHEST level.

I like to see guys who have perfected their craft. The ones who make tackles, the ones who throw balls in the vicinity of the receiver, the ones who dont shank extra points, etc

Also the college game is boring to me because the playing fields just arent level. Its dumb to see teams with such a distinct advantage beat up on the same bad teams year after year.


I think college basketball was a great sport before all of the talent began leaving early. Im excited about the new rules. Last year the quality of play in the NCAA tournament was unbearable to watch. The Final Four was a total disaster.

I love the NBA for the same reason most people seem to hate it. The players are amazingly talented.


Back to the NFL. NFL football is a beautiful sport if you watch how carefully the gameplans are laid out to attack weaknesses. In college its more like "okay we have this really fast guy so we're gonna hand it off to him every play and eventually he'll have 190 yards and 3 TD's"

12/11/2006 8:54:00 PM

i grew up in pittsburgh and steelers football is like a religion there. i had no choice but to be passionate about them, i essentially was raised to bleed black and gold. i am very passionate about college football as well, but the nfl seed was planted much earlier.

12/11/2006 8:56:36 PM

Yes, I am very passionate about the NFL. I never played football for any team growing up, so I guess you could say I try to live my life through the current game as it is today. I check stats alomst daily on ESPN.com. I watch the NFL network almost more than any other channel on tv.
Don't get me wrong, I love college ball, but the competitiveness within the NFL under free agency can't be matched by any other sport.

Quote :

"So, my question is, do any of you care more about your favorite NFL team than you do your favorite college team? "

Nope. Was a huge Dallas fan during the days of Elway, Irving, and Smith. Now don't care for them. Now am a Panthers fan, but will stand behind NCSU much more than the cats.

12/11/2006 8:57:08 PM

^^^ agreed with a lot of that, except for the last... I think college is just as much if not more about game plan because the teams are so different and you have so many different styles... the NFL seems more like "the good players will do good no matter what".

^ Elway??? you mean Aikman? and Irvin? sure you were a HUGE fan?? and I do all of the things you mentioned too, check stats, watch NFL network etc, but I do it more for the LEAGUE in general, not just for my one team...



[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 9:01 PM. Reason : d]

12/11/2006 8:57:53 PM

When the Raiders had their three year streak of success, a loss stuck with me for a couple days.

I'm still at Damon's to watch the game every Sunday, but lately I've been more passionate about the NFL offseason.

I'm not from the south, though, so I guess this doesn't do much for your theory.

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 9:00 PM. Reason : thinking about the tuck rule still pisses me off]

12/11/2006 8:59:08 PM

something that just struck me about how good the players in the NFL are. Everyone is talking about LT right now becuase he has scored 29 touchdowns so far. Everyone talks about him (whether you think so or not, that's not the point) being possibly the best RB ever to play.


I was browsing CNN SI the other day. Some past heismann winners have over 40 TD's in a season, with only 12 games. Through 12 games LT only had 26.

My point is College football is often much more exciting and the fans are much more passionate. How many NFL stadiums hold 100,000+ people?

But the level of play in the NFL is across the board Supierior.

12/11/2006 9:05:41 PM

the thing is in college if you are a great athlete you can break one tackle and then outrun the entire team (which is composed of inferior athletes)

hell against weak competition sometimes you dont even have to make a single move, burst, or read and theres just an open lane to the end zone.

In the NFL the disparity between a 6-10 team and a 10-6 team is so small its ridiculous. In fact, often the 6-10 team may even be favored at home against that 10-6 team.

Wins/losses are more up for grabs in Pro.

College has the "greatest" games and the best "stories" but the quality of football week in and week out is just abysmal compared to the NFL

12/11/2006 9:09:53 PM

you'd probably find alot of disparity not only in people in geographic regions in relation to nfl teams, but also in large population areas with a large population that didnt attend college (obviously)

not a big suprise or shock, but its just people wanting to identify with their surroundings, win or lose

12/11/2006 9:11:48 PM

NFL > all other sports combined

12/11/2006 9:14:44 PM

i can't stand professional sports, mainly due to the shallow nature of the fanship.

12/11/2006 9:19:28 PM

ooooooooooops
yes, I meant Troy Aikman...the one that is now a Fox commentator [smacks forehead]

12/11/2006 9:23:36 PM

fantasy football makes alot of people more "passionate" i suppose

and hate when the Bucs lose

but like its been said, State losing kills my soul

12/11/2006 9:23:41 PM

I am passionate about both. Carolina Panthers...I invest a lot of money and time to go to charlotte for all their home games. Heck I have even considered thinking about going to road games, that being said I am very passionate about NC STATE sports...I have gone to away games for football and gone to every home game. The thing is with college sports getting into a lot of events for free is the kicker. At the same time people believe that the tailgating and fun isn't anywhere as close in the NFL but believe you me, in Charlotte it is great seeing everyone cooking, drinking beer and the cops being very nice about it all. When in college you see as if the cops are just looking to right a ticket. I am one of those people who loves ALL sports. Panthers first, NC STATE athletics 2nd, Carolina Hurricanes 3rd, Atlanta Braves 4th, Bobcats 5th...and then just a sports fan in general after that.

12/11/2006 9:26:52 PM

I think most people are going to be more passionate about the college they attended. I got drunk with my buddies and went to nearly every football and basketball game for four years. You really get caught up in the atmosphere and fall in love with the players. I don't mind watching other
conferences, but I'm only passionate about ACC play. On the same note, my dad went to school at Purdue, loves the Big Ten, and doesn't really get into the ACC.

NFL football is always entertaining because of the big personalities, high level of skill, and the playoff race. I'm passionate about watching the NFL as a whole, where as I really only care about a small selection of college teams.

12/11/2006 9:42:33 PM

nc state is a passion, anything else is entertainment at best.

imo.

12/11/2006 10:05:22 PM

Ok, let me put it this way... is there anyone here who WOULDNT trade a Super Bowl win by their favorite NFL team for a NC by NC State?

12/11/2006 10:16:30 PM

honestly, i'd trade a superbowl win for a win over carolina. i'm probably in the minority, caring that little about the NFL (or all pro sports for that matter), though.

[Edited on December 11, 2006 at 10:19 PM. Reason : nfl clarification.]

12/11/2006 10:18:24 PM

no. i am not passionate about any pro sports.

i will root for the home team, and players i like and ones that are on my FF roster, but pro losses don't get me down in the least bit. there was a little bit of an attachment to the Braves back in the day, but it didn't stick past little league.

i am fully emotionally invested in this here Wolfpack - i've spent six years and gotten 3 degrees at this school. also when i moved from India as an 8 year old, i moved right into zip code 27606, and my blood has been rabid ever since.

12/11/2006 10:21:13 PM

I would say that I am much more emotionally involved with State. I can't imagine myself shedding a tear of joy if the Giants won the superbowl but if State won the national championship in basketball, I'm pretty sure I would be tearing up for all the years of hardships and countless broken hearts.

12/11/2006 10:26:44 PM

yea i'd go fuckin nuts of State won a national championship

ill burn the belltower to the grrouunnddd

12/11/2006 10:31:38 PM

it just really sucks b/c my gf at carolina is possibly gonna see two national championships while she is there and im not gonna see any.

12/11/2006 10:33:39 PM

^ sidney lowe is the chosen one. don't doubt it.

12/11/2006 10:36:02 PM

Well, I'm a Saints fan... mom bartended games at the Dome for extra cash when my dad pretty much stopped supporting my brother and me. I've always been tied closely to the pro game, my brother was a Bills fan (this was late 80s/early 90s when I grew up) so he made me even more of a football fan... I've always just liked the NFL game more than the collegiate one. The Saints weren't great, but Tulane was horrid and LSU was glaringly inconsistent.

12/11/2006 10:45:38 PM

your mom's a bartender

12/11/2006 10:46:31 PM

^^^lets hope so

12/11/2006 10:48:59 PM

I care about the NFL, but only to the extent that I care about football.

College is so much more intertwined with who I am because it's what I identify with.

Like a diehard NFL (Steelers, etc.) fan, when State loses, a small bit of me loses too.

It all depends on what you relate to I think.

12/11/2006 10:50:31 PM

^^^ I kid

12/11/2006 11:27:18 PM

Quote :

"Ok, let me put it this way... is there anyone here who WOULDNT trade a Super Bowl win by their favorite NFL team for a NC by NC State?"

(long winded response)

In a dream, sure.

In real life, no. Broncos fan and I had the chance to see them win 2 Super Bowls when I was still young and was deeply enthralled by the idea of them winning the Super Bowl. Their first was in 1996. I was 14 at the time and it was such a great thing cause after all those years of coming up short and Elway seemingly never being able to get over the hump, it was finally accomplished. The Super Bowl the following year was less special just cause I just had a title the year before. Now if someone said to me would you trade the Broncos Super Bowl title for an NC State national championship in football, I would not make the trade cause I know NC State will never challenge for the national championship in football, and that fact has zero to deal with us being competitive enough or not.

Some can say that's bullcrap and that we're in a BCS conference and all this, but those people are ignoring that college football in this country is setup to guarantee certain teams always win. Florida can say how they always have one of the hardest schedules in all of college football cause they're in the SEC, and yet they play Western Carolina in November? Being a national champion is less about what you have done and more about what you have been perceived to have done. We could have gone undefeated this past year and I'd bet any amount of money that we would've still been past over for the national championship game by one of Michigan or Florida simply cause voters would look at us and say "it's North Carolina State". Call it the "Rutgers Rule". For non-BCS schools, it's called the "Boise State Rule".

I'm more passionate about State cause I went to school there and I feel a part of it. Although really "me being a part of it" is nothing but me paying them money. I've cheered for NC State since 1999. My other school I cheer for is Purdue. The reason I cheer for them is it is the family school and I cheered for them since I was a little child. So it is more an NFL-type cheering than some kind of camraderie associated with an alma mater. I've also cheered for Denver Broncos since I was a little child.

What the NFL has going for it over college is that schools do not setup schedules by ducking opponents that can potentially give losses, no arguments that could never be 100% ended one way or another of "who is better", no false romantic idea that the people out on the field are student-athletes with a 1.16 GPA and their athletic prowess has nothing to deal with preferential treatment, no playing minor league teams to prop up one's record. NFL teams are handed a schedule and just go out and play the game. Is anyone besides me happy that college football has ended cause we can let these stupid Florida-Michigan arguments ride off in the sunset, and we can now just watch NFL games where the only thing that matters is the scoreboard at the end of the game and nothing off the field matters as far as results or who plays for the Super Bowl? Why don't teams like Florida and Michigan actually play during the year? Is there any neutral fan that would not want to see that?

NFL is purely a game. College football is purely politics. I love NC State and am passionate about them, but for actually watching a game, the NFL is more enjoyable. I don't think it has anything to deal with skill level, skill is relative. It just comes down to if your team wins, there is no caveat, you can just go drink a beer and enjoy the win.

Quote :

"I love the NBA for the same reason most people seem to hate it. The players are amazingly talented."

The NBA has a few talented players, but the NBA itself is incredibly boring. How anyone can bear to watch it is beyond me. I can watch a college game between 2 teams I do not care about and be entertained. After 3 minutes of an NBA game, I'm looking for the remote.

Put it this way, when a one-man team like last year's Miami Heat can win the championship, how can the players be amazingly talented? (not to mention the refs calling fouls when a guy isn't even touched)

[Edited on December 12, 2006 at 12:01 AM. Reason : /]

12/11/2006 11:48:34 PM

Quote :

"if someone said to me would you trade the Broncos Super Bowl title for an NC State national championship in football, I would not make the trade cause I know NC State will never challenge for the national championship in football"

dammit, that makes no sense... I am saying IF it could happen, would you give up a NFL championship for a State National Championship, how "realistic" it is doesnt matter

12/11/2006 11:56:06 PM

^ you'd think that the fact that it would never happen otherwise would make you want to trade for it more.

superbowls are meaningless anyway. any team can win it any year. i'm sure it's exciting if you actually care about the nfl (i don't), but it's not the accomplishment it used to be.

Quote :

"Some can say that's bullcrap and that we're in a BCS conference and all this, but those people are ignoring that college football in this country is setup to guarantee certain teams always win."

while that is undeniably true, it is not impossible to become a contender, but it takes work and it takes dedication to building a program. my feelings towards the nfl aside, a football NC means a lot more than a superbowl win, b/c you really have to spend years working at it, unlike the superbowl. that's how i see it, anyway.

12/12/2006 12:09:02 AM

^ yup

Quote :

"We could have gone undefeated this past year and I'd bet any amount of money that we would've still been past over for the national championship game by one of Michigan or Florida "

no, they wouldnt. If an ACC team goes undefeated and all the other teams have one loss there is no way they wouldnt got to the NC game

12/12/2006 12:12:41 AM

Quote :

"dammit, that makes no sense... I am saying IF it could happen, would you give up a NFL championship for a State National Championship, how "realistic" it is doesnt matter"

...I guess so. I know I'll get another Super Bowl at some point though with the Broncos, probably in the next 10 years. I doubt I'll see a national football championship ever in my lifetime for NC State or Purdue.

Quote :

"no, they wouldnt. If an ACC team goes undefeated and all the other teams have one loss there is no way they wouldnt got to the NC game"

There is too a way. Harris Poll and coaches could vote Florida and/or Michigan ahead of NC State. It was what they were going to do to Rutgers if they went undefeated. How are we any different than Rutgers? Not to mention computer ratings.

[Edited on December 12, 2006 at 12:19 AM. Reason : /]

12/12/2006 12:15:48 AM

Quote :

"If an ACC team goes undefeated and all the other teams have one loss there is no way they wouldnt got to the NC game"

that's up for debate (although i'd hope the acc team would get the bid). however, hypothetically speaking, if we went 9-3, 9-3, 10-2, 11-1, 10-2, splash some good bowl wins in there, an acc championship or two, then you're starting to get some preseason recognition, and that's all it takes. once you get into preseason conversation, it's your opportunity to lose.

like i said, it's not easy, and it takes time, but it's not impossible. if it was, army and navy would still be contending each year.

12/12/2006 12:17:39 AM

No, trust me, if a BCS conference team goes undefeated, wins their conference, and in this case a conference championship game, and no other BCS conference has an undefeated team, they WOULD go to the NC game. No debate, no discussion, book it

[Edited on December 12, 2006 at 12:36 AM. Reason : d]

12/12/2006 12:35:54 AM

i became passionate about the NFL once i moved (far) away from raleigh (to a city with a pro team) -- it became my substitute for nc state football

i still watch as many state games as i can, get pissed off over losses, throw things at the tv when we do stupid stuff, etc -- but it wasn't the same not being able to go to games and not having anyone to really able to relate around me (i definitely became known as the crazy obsessed fan in my group of friends, many of whom didn't go to a school with big time athletics so they didn't really understand)

i initially bought chargers tickets 'cause they were cheap and just 'cause i like going to football games, tailgating, etc - figured i could cheer on the home team (honestly didn't expect them to do very well, considering they hadn't had a winning season in 10yrs)

it didn't take long until i'm crazy about the chargers too -- losses really get me down (although there aren't many this year), i get nervous when games are on the line, i take offense when people talk shit about the team, etc

that's only after 3yrs though, so i guess i could be considered bandwagon (not sure how fanatic i'd be if they still sucked, no way to figure that out i guess until they hit a rough patch and i see if i'm still around) -- however, i only became a state fan once i went to school there so that passion was created in 4yrs...

12/12/2006 3:50:12 AM

i'm passionate about my fantasy players...i don't claim a particular team although i grew up a browns fans

12/12/2006 4:16:04 AM

I'm definitely more passionate about the NFL than I am college ball.

I grew up just outside Kansas City, and, even though my dad is and was a huge Kansas State fan, I've become more devoted to the Chiefs. I've been to dozens of Chiefs games, and nothing else has compared to that atmosphere. I still cheer for K-State and NC-State but it doesnt upset me when they lose. I'm also a Royals fan.

So to answer your question: No, I would never give up a Chiefs Super Bowl win for an NC-State or K-State NC victory.

BTW: All you new Chargers fans sicken me...

[Edited on December 12, 2006 at 4:36 AM. Reason : .]

12/12/2006 4:36:05 AM

Quote :

"I'm definitely more passionate about the NFL than I am college ball. "

12/12/2006 4:47:51 AM

Quote :

"nc state is a passion, anything else is entertainment at best. imo."

Right on. And to JayBee, I'd trade 1 million Panther SuperBowl wins for a single NC State National Championship.

12/12/2006 8:15:52 AM

i wouldnt

a million superbowl wins would pump so much money into the state its redunkulous

12/12/2006 8:17:10 AM

I'd still trade

12/12/2006 8:20:43 AM

very passionate

but i'd take a ncst/nd national championship over a bears/giants superbowl any day of the week because with them, its more than just city allegiance, its the paper on the wall

12/12/2006 8:40:56 AM

College Bball > *

12/12/2006 10:23:13 AM

The only sports teams I am passionate about are the Braves, Wolfpack Football, and Wolfpack Basketball. I generally root for three NFL teams (the Jags, Falcons, and Panthers in that order, Chargers are creeping up), but don't live and die with their success. I'm happy when they do well, but don't get upset when they don't.

With the Braves or the Pack, I follow every game closely and care how they do. No NFL team envokes that response in me. I love to watch the NFL though and love the fantasy aspect of the game.

12/12/2006 11:08:32 AM

I care more about the NFL because the Panthers dont let me down AS MUCH as the Wolfpack

12/12/2006 11:17:29 AM

Quote :

"I love the NFL because of the high quality of football. The college game does not even compare to the NFL. In the NFL yards are precious whereas in the college game they give them away in clumps. Sure, the college game has advantages with big rivalries, team loyalty, etc but I like to see guys compete at the HIGHEST level. I like to see guys who have perfected their craft. The ones who make tackles, the ones who throw balls in the vicinity of the receiver, the ones who dont shank extra points, etc Also the college game is boring to me because the playing fields just arent level. Its dumb to see teams with such a distinct advantage beat up on the same bad teams year after year. I think college basketball was a great sport before all of the talent began leaving early. Im excited about the new rules. Last year the quality of play in the NCAA tournament was unbearable to watch. The Final Four was a total disaster. I love the NBA for the same reason most people seem to hate it. The players are amazingly talented. Back to the NFL. NFL football is a beautiful sport if you watch how carefully the gameplans are laid out to attack weaknesses. In college its more like "okay we have this really fast guy so we're gonna hand it off to him every play and eventually he'll have 190 yards and 3 TD's""

I agree with that entire post. Even the part about the NBA. Well said.

But it's also true that a loss by my college team affects me more than a loss by my NFL team. I follow college football simply to follow one team, and generally don't care about watching the other games, unless it's like a 1 vs. 2 matchup, and I have nothing better to do. But I'll watch every NFL game I can see.

Part of it comes down to this I think: The expectations of a college team are different (assuming you're following a good college team ). In the NFL, if your team goes 11-5, that's an awesome season. So one loss probably isn't going to get you down, and you know you still have a great shot for the SuperBowl. In college, one loss probably puts you out of the national championship race, and two losses definitely does. So losses are, in general, a much bigger deal in college.

12/12/2006 11:48:03 AM