Understanding the Underdog
College football is upon us, and though I should probably be staying far, far away from it, not having a television will help keep this idol in check. It will at least keep me from spending an entire day in front of the tube watching game after game after game. But I digress.
Everyone in the state knows UAB is the stepchild of the state in sports. The fact that it is a leading research and medical institution in the country as well as the employer of over 43,000 Birmingham residents (states largest employer) gains the school no loyalty from the citizens of this great state.
Still, I digress. This is about my underdog UAB Blazers, who after transferring from sports powerhouse Auburn, I grew to love and embrace and would pull for over Auburn any day. And most people cannot understand that. UAB is horrible they say. They laugh at my Green and Gold attire. Go to the sports message boards and fans of our opponents are mocking us for even pulling for them, talking about how we're going to get killed. Folks, I graduated from there. It's the heart of my hometown. Your loyalty lies with your alma mater. You don't just pull for another school because you like it or because they're good every year. It's college, not the pros. So, besides that, why else do I embrace the Blazers? They are underdogs. Any given Saturday, they have the chance to shock the world. You Buckeyes, Bulldogs, Irish, Tigers and Tide, have to be careful that you don't blow it. You won! Woohoo! Who cares. You better have won. You are expected to win. And besides, if you didn't, all your spoiled fans would be ready to lynch you. And you win year after year after year, and still have zero national championships to show for it - or maybe one every 50 years at best.
Sure, the underdogs may never win a championship, go to many bowl games, or attract national TV ratings. But they are invited to the dance, and once every blue moon, the old paupers shake loose and steal the heart of the princess, and for an evening, become the world's darling for doing the unthinkable. Thank you, that'll be our national championship. After falling short at #3 Tennessee last year by a touchdown in the waining moments, the year before falling a field goal short in Athens to the Bulldogs, it gives me reason to think, if even not this year, the Blazers will shock the world again. Just ask LSU. Or if you want a more well rounded case, in basketball, just ask Kentucky, Memphis, or LSU. Ok, or in baseball, just ask...LSU. Just click the links, the proof lies there. There's always the excitement of the possible upset, enough to make you antsy for every game, and the delight of knowing, even if they get demolished, that you are one of only a few true fans in the whole world. I didn't say true fan of this particular team, but just true fan. Those who stick around, thick and thin, win or lose, hype or no hype, sportin your team in a 3-8 campaign - that's a true fan.
And besides, when winning becomes routine, and you never have anything to show for it besides a nice consolation game at the end of the season, how much different are we really - oh, besides the fact the the fan to the underdog is ten times more loyal.
It's nice too, like when you stink in football, to have a basketball program on the rise and the #15 nationally ranked soccer team to follow if you do happen to get blown out week after week.
And if we get pounded week after week (like we probably will this year) I can always rest in the fact that my HS alma mater can beat your alma mater :)
Go Blazers.
Everyone in the state knows UAB is the stepchild of the state in sports. The fact that it is a leading research and medical institution in the country as well as the employer of over 43,000 Birmingham residents (states largest employer) gains the school no loyalty from the citizens of this great state.
Still, I digress. This is about my underdog UAB Blazers, who after transferring from sports powerhouse Auburn, I grew to love and embrace and would pull for over Auburn any day. And most people cannot understand that. UAB is horrible they say. They laugh at my Green and Gold attire. Go to the sports message boards and fans of our opponents are mocking us for even pulling for them, talking about how we're going to get killed. Folks, I graduated from there. It's the heart of my hometown. Your loyalty lies with your alma mater. You don't just pull for another school because you like it or because they're good every year. It's college, not the pros. So, besides that, why else do I embrace the Blazers? They are underdogs. Any given Saturday, they have the chance to shock the world. You Buckeyes, Bulldogs, Irish, Tigers and Tide, have to be careful that you don't blow it. You won! Woohoo! Who cares. You better have won. You are expected to win. And besides, if you didn't, all your spoiled fans would be ready to lynch you. And you win year after year after year, and still have zero national championships to show for it - or maybe one every 50 years at best.
Sure, the underdogs may never win a championship, go to many bowl games, or attract national TV ratings. But they are invited to the dance, and once every blue moon, the old paupers shake loose and steal the heart of the princess, and for an evening, become the world's darling for doing the unthinkable. Thank you, that'll be our national championship. After falling short at #3 Tennessee last year by a touchdown in the waining moments, the year before falling a field goal short in Athens to the Bulldogs, it gives me reason to think, if even not this year, the Blazers will shock the world again. Just ask LSU. Or if you want a more well rounded case, in basketball, just ask Kentucky, Memphis, or LSU. Ok, or in baseball, just ask...LSU. Just click the links, the proof lies there. There's always the excitement of the possible upset, enough to make you antsy for every game, and the delight of knowing, even if they get demolished, that you are one of only a few true fans in the whole world. I didn't say true fan of this particular team, but just true fan. Those who stick around, thick and thin, win or lose, hype or no hype, sportin your team in a 3-8 campaign - that's a true fan.
And besides, when winning becomes routine, and you never have anything to show for it besides a nice consolation game at the end of the season, how much different are we really - oh, besides the fact the the fan to the underdog is ten times more loyal.
It's nice too, like when you stink in football, to have a basketball program on the rise and the #15 nationally ranked soccer team to follow if you do happen to get blown out week after week.
And if we get pounded week after week (like we probably will this year) I can always rest in the fact that my HS alma mater can beat your alma mater :)
Go Blazers.
