Breaking My Own Rule

I have a long-standing rule when it comes to sports fandom: Unless you’re coaching or playing in the game or have a child playing in the game, don’t ever use the word “we” when referring to your favorite team. Even referring to your child’s play is borderline to me, but I allow it.

In my 14 years following the Indianapolis Colts, I don’t recall ever referring to the Horseshoe as “we” – even when they went to the Super Bowl.  I don’t play on the team. I don’t pay their salaries. I don’t even attend the games. Shoot, I’m lucky to even get to go to an occasional preseason game (although that could change soon considering how much rebuilding they’ll be doing the next few years). There’s no need to refer to the Colts as “we.”

To the best of my recollection, in my 25+ years of actively cheering for the Indiana Hoosiers, I have never knowingly uttered the word “we” when referring to the Cream and Crimson.

In fact, when I hear people refer to their favorite teams, I must confess that I kind of look down my nose at them. Not literally, of course. But I do imagine myself doing that and maybe even rolling my eyes at them.

This Hoosiers team is different. Maybe it’s because of their perseverance during some pretty rotten seasons post-HeWhoShallNeverBeNamedAgainOnThisBlog. Maybe it’s because Coach Crean has done a great job encouraging us, the fanbase, to continue our support of what they were doing. Maybe it’s because I actually felt like I could will them to upset Michigan State at Assembly Hall in 2009.

I feel more emotionally invested in this team than I have since the Calbert Cheaney era.  I am invested.

So I’m breaking one of my cardinal rules. I’m wearing this shirt with pride, celebrating the Hoosiers’ return to the Big Dance earlier than anyone really expected.

Do I think “we’re” going to go deep into the tournament? I have no idea. I sure hope so. “We’ve” been full of surprises all season. Why not a few more?

 

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Howdy. I'm Matt. My wife, Christy, and I have four kids and two dogs, I'm passionate about orphan care. I'm a die-hard fan of the Evansville Aces, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Star Wars. I'm trying to live life by the Todd family motto: "It behooves us to live!"
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