Are Cowboy or Steeler fans just FANS because their older relatives were?

Question

Lets be honest. Most of these so called "true fans" have no clue what these teams are all about. I mean in pittsburgh yeah and also in Dallas. But i mean a bunch of cowboy or pittsburgh fans in MONTANA?? Really. I mean how much do they really know about the team? Do they even know the stadium name or can they name 5 players on their so called FAVORITE TEAM? I think alot of these big named teams have larger fans because their relatives told them they have to like the team. That or in life they suck so they pick a winning team to make themselves look better. Im not saying ALL the fans of the teams i mentioned are bandwagon but a good majority.

Answer 1

Duh.... thats all it is!!!!!!!

Answer 2

In the 1970s the steel industry was thriving in Pittsburgh at the same time as the Steelers were good. In the 1980s the industry collapsed and the population in the city is half of what it was. (The popular misconception is that the area has shrunk also, this is not true, there is more population in the suburbs now then the city itself.)



The population moved to where there was work. Nobody stops supporting their team if they move unless they know nothing about the team. Therefore they know stuff about the team. I personally know Steelers fans that live in Europe that pay to get the games and watch them in the early morning hours. I have never meet a Steelers fan that could not tell you what they thought of the direction of the team or what they thought about the last game.



Why don't you try to engage any of these Pittsburgh or Cowboys fans that are everywhere in an intelligent football conversation and see for yourself.

Answer 3

I am a lifelong Cowboy fan who wasn't born in Dallas. Texas either, for that matter. My situation was somewhat regional. I grew up in Alabama in the 70's. Since there are no professional teams in Bama, we got regional games. Since the Cowboys were the chit in the 70's and we were relatively close, we got Cowboy games every week. I was completely enamored with the Boys as a kid and have been a fan ever since. There are a lot of Cowboy Fans out there that are fans for this reason. Not every state, such as Montana, has a pro team so you cheer for the one you see the most. My Mom likes the Cowboys because I do. Although she couldn't tell you much about the rules of the game, she nonetheless cheers her head of during games. She doesn't keep up with records or stats or any of that kind of thing but, she is a Cowboy fan for sure. Does this make her a bandwagon fan. No... She purchases Dallas gear, for me and her. She will watch some of the games and asks me every week how they are fairing. She has her Alabama Crimson Tide vanity plate on her crimson Lincoln, but couldn't tell you the starting QB for the Tide this season. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who are like my Mom. Not everyone is die hard like the folks in this forum. So, to answer your question, there are people who are fans of a given team due to family ties. That doesn't make them Bandwagon, though. It makes them casual fans.



Now, why do you call out the Cowboys and Steelers, specifically? The above mentioned facts apply to any team. Any team, i.e. the Cardinals, will get their fair share of Bandwagon fans when they start performing well. If KC turns it around this year, you will see Chief fans crawling out the woodworks. It's just the way it is. People aren't going to be loud and vocal when their team sucks. However, when they start enjoying some success, the people have something to brag about and do.



I don't mind the casual fan at all... what I hate are the folks who jump from team to team depending on their performance. Like a fan who is a Steeler, Cardinal, Celtic, and Phillie fan this year but, next they will become "fans" of whomever is the champs that season. That's a true bandwagon fan for you.

Answer 4

Or... and this is just an idea... there are only 32 professional teams and in only 22 states. That means more than half of the nation doesn't have a football team in any of their cities. Do you mean to tell me that the people living in these states shouldn’t be allowed to like any football teams because they aren’t in Montana or Wyoming or Virginia?



Maybe they are fans of a certain team because they DO know about the team and the players on it. Chances are some of it has to do with teams their parents or neighbors like (just because that’s what you are exposed to most often), but just because you don’t live in the same city of the team you like doesn’t mean you can’t be a fan. I’m a Bengals fan and live in Detroit. My dad was a Bengals fan and, growing up, I got to watch a lot of their games and wore shirts with their logo on it. I started out as a fan of that team because it’s what my dad liked, however, NOW I know more about the team than probably anyone else in this state and follow their schedule, players, team news, etc very closely. Not living in Cincinnati (or even Ohio) has absolutely nothing to do with my knowledge of the team.



Maybe your thinking backwards and the reason the teams ARE big name teams is BECAUSE they have such a large fanbase?



You probably also assume that anyone that likes a team that is doing well is a band-wagoner if they aren't from where that teams is.



You, sir, are the worst kind of fan. You are the fan that has something negative to say about people liking anyone else's team, including your own.

Answer 5

Well, I think there are generally two reasons why fans become fans of teams.



As it relates to your question, there are those who are fans because of their family members. For example, football is similar to politics in the respect that, whatever party your Mother or Father were apart of (Democrat, Republican) usually the whole family follows that tradition. Back to football, its pretty much the same. There are some family members who love a team based on that family tradition. I don't doubt this to be true. Mainly because it keeps the family closer if everyone follows the same team, and secondly because it is tradition. So I do think that is part of it.



The second reason has to do with where you were born. Sometimes fans move to different states, say "Montana". However they were originally from Dallas or Pittsburgh. My point is sometimes its about where their family is from, or where they grew up. One last reason is because they want to be fans of a team with a rich history. Both teams were very successful. So many jump on because of that past or present success, they are bandwagon fans in essence.

Answer 6

Uhm....fanhood can be inhereted from one generation to another. It's how like 90% of people become fans.



And the Steelers have such a wide fanbase because of the collaspe of the Steel industry, alot of people moved from Pitts, but they stayed true to the Steelers, then taught their kids to be Steeler fans. Just like Oklahoma has alot of fans in California, because the Oklahomans left for California during the dust bowl....taught offspring to be Sooner fans.



Within 10 years, you will begin to see the same thing happen with Saints fans, many were displaced and never went back to New Orleans after Katrina, but remained Saint fans, and will raise their offspring to be Saints fans.



Take me for example. I was drug to my first football game at 5 months old. My parents, my grandparents...Oklahoma fans. So that makes me a bandwagoner? Trust me, the OU gets enough of my money during football season that a bandwagoner I aint.



Any fan that can watch a team win less than 6 games and admit they are a fan, is a fan. Furthermore, a uber fan will continue to attend games.



Any fan that will tell you exactly what is wrong with her team, but will slap a non fan for saying the same thing, is a fan.



So, since hereditary is out, what is the proper procedure for becoming a "true fan?" I mean, obviously you and only you know all about the proper way to become a fan of a team.

Answer 7

What the hell does where you live have to do with who you like? That's like saying that Browns fans have to root for the Ravens because really that's their team. I live in NY and have been a Cowboys fan from five years old and I am now thirty-eight, Marion Barber, Flozell Adams, Miles Austin, Ken Hamlin and Bradie James, there is 5 for ya. Here is a better question for you - why do fans of other teams worry about other teams fans?

Answer 8

I kinda feel that is how a majority of people pick their team anyway. Since you seem so knowledgeable on the psychology of becoming a fan, how should people chose? Sorry that Dallas and Pittsburgh have more fans than your team. Get over it.

Answer 9

Part of what you are getting at is a little something called TRADITION! I can't speak for Dallas, but I can for Pittsburgh. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, my grandfather went to every Steeler Super Bowl in the 70's and he took me to a game or 2 growing up. I am a HUGE fan, even when we suffered through the team's bad times.



It is like politics. People often join the same political party as their parents or people of influence. But also with Pittsburgh, a lot of people had to move when the steel industry declined, causing Steeler fans to relocate and take their passion with them, rather to support a team they had no ties with.



It is inevitable there will be bandwagon fans after any team wins a Super Bowl, talking about "Bucs fans," "Colts fans," "Patriot fans," or my favorite, "Sometimes Giants, Sometimes Jets fans."

Answer 10

I doubt it most of them are bandwagon jumpers, weak minded people who dont have the sack to pick one team and ride with them through good and bad. I got no respect for those chumps Iv been a Raider fan since I was born and as you know its been pretty bleak in Oaktown for the past few years but I still stand with my team

Answer 11

Fans can root for whoever they want!I live in Hawaii and I go to every Chargers home game 2,500 miles away!Just because people live far from the team they love doesn't mean they know nothing about the team!

Answer 12

Im a Denver Bronco fan all the way but i do have 2nd favororite but thats it! Steelers NOT BECAUSE they won some superbowls or beacusee there good i hate people that say they like one team then turn around and say they like another just because there teams doin bad and the next best team is doing great! I HATE THOSE PEOPLE! I have been a Denver fan all my life since my dad sat me down with him on the couch when i was in diapers.. we watched john elways path to victory......Denver and pitsburgh have been myfavorites through worst times and throught great times...i dont change my team because their doing bad or they are on a losing streak. To be a True fan you have to stick the bad times out sort of like marriage through sickness and health to death do us part. sickness meaning its not a good season or year for your team Health meaning there on fire everyone likes them and there on there way to a superbowl, death do us part meaning "A FAN FOR LIFE"!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 13

it's a dxm GAME !



they can be fans for whatever reason they want to be..



And why are you picking on the Steelers and Cowboys?

if what you say is true, then it fits ALL teams and fans.



Sounds like you're jealous to me.



why are YOU drinking so much hater-ade?

Answer 14

I am a cowboys fan b/c I lived in Dallas for 5 years and went to school down there. Also one of my friends was a cowboys cheerleader. She used to hookk me up with family and friends tickets on the first row.

Answer 15

I tell you I live in columbus,ohio and the pittsburgh fans are nuts thy love them no matter what dallas fans aren't not so big here but i do know know people that love them

Answer 16

It's a great country that we live in. We can cheer for anyone we want, and for any reason that we want.



You really should proof-read your questions before you submit them. You are the one that comes off sounding like a whiny sixth grader.

Answer 17

they are bandwagon fans who root for them when they win, like all the steeler fans now are! how sad!! how pathetic