[JaredL]

I think the problem is lack of connection with the team. People generally feel that you must have some real connection to the team whether that's through being from the city, having relatives there, going to that school or whatever.

Also, guys that always go for the top teams have never really suffered like the "true" fans. Part of this is just being surrounded by other fans and going through the pain of losing seasons. To emphasize this point, I brought up that Mebenhoe, unlike I believe Clarkmeister, had never actually suffered through terrible seasons as a Duke fan. He replied pointing out two or three seasons one of which was actually bad and another in which they made the NCAA tournament.

I am a Pittsburgh fan. I go to grad school here. I don't consider myself a bandwagoner (I have started cheering for the Pirates for example) but the last couple years I have been much more into the Steelers than my first year here. The reason for this IMO is that I feel much more connected the city and the area. My first year here I hated it, last year early on I didn't like it but found it acceptable and now actually like living here. None the less, I still don't feel I at anywhere near the same level as Iggy et al who are from here and have loved these teams forever, for the reasons I mention above.

Jared