US sports nuts explain to me the appeal of college sports

[Yads]

This is one thing that I never understood about US culture is why are college sports so popular in the US? Is it just a byproduct of sports being popular in general? I am a hockey fan, but I don't really care about junior or college hockey so I don't understand the obsession with college bball and football.

[Victor]

games are exciting and skill level is high.

its cool to watch players develop and see them before they are pros.

[tshort]

People generally have real personal connections to universities.

CollegeBB >>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>> NBA

CollegeFB >= NFL

[MoreWineII]

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People generally have real personal connections to universities.

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I think this is the best answer. People usually know someone who attends a school they like to root for or they are an alumni themself. Or perhaps they just grew up in a state where a particular school is very popular sports-wise.

Also, pro teams tend to be focused on one city, college teams have a wider fan base.

Also, the rivalries are better (imo).

Also, it seems more genuine and the players more accessible. I don't doubt there's money flying around but it's not as blatant as it is in pro sports. College sports seem "cleaner" somehow.

[DonkeyKongSr]

[ QUOTE ]
People generally have real personal connections to universities.

CollegeBB >>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>> NBA

CollegeFB >= NFL

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this post, only until we get another NFL team in LA/OC. Then I'd reverse that equation.

[MacGuyV]

[ QUOTE ]

CollegeBB >>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>> NBA

CollegeFB <<< NFL

[/ QUOTE ]

[MyTurn2Raise]

well...I like college football and college basketball, because the games are better than the pros.

Pro football doesn't have enough plays and it turns it into a large variance fest IMO.

Pro basketball has no rules and encourages individual play over team play.

[RunDownHouse]

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Pro football doesn't have enough plays and it turns it into a large variance fest IMO.

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Huh? Why would there be any more plays in college than in the pros, much less so many more plays to significantly change the impact of variance?

[UATrewqaz]

Fan loyalty/passion is much stronger to college teams. People went to those colleges, quite often many generations. You spent alot of time/money there.

However a pro team "belongs" to a whole city? Am I supposed to be an Atlanta Falcolns fan because I've lived in Atlanta like 3 years now?

Plus pro sports are all about the money (yes I know college sports mostly are too) and free agency sucks.

[PokerFink]

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Fan loyalty/passion is much stronger to college teams.

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That's completely untrue.

See: Eagles fans, Chiefs fans, Packers fans, Oilers fans, etc.