Townies v. Alumni

[jgeorge322]

Someone asked me this question today, who are the more loyal fans—townies or alumni. It got me thinking what the breakdown is of fans on this board. I am both, grew up in Syracuse and graduated in 07.

 

[Scooch]

Depends on what you mean by “loyal”.

If we’re talking about filling the Dome, then it’s locals, hands down.

If we’re talking about supporting the athletics programs financially, I suspect it’s relatively even, although I don’t know the sourcing of fundraising.

If we’re talking about simply being diehard fans, it’s also pretty even.

My experience is that SU alums love SU and follow the teams rabidly. They just don’t get back to the Dome all that often.

 

[jgeorge322]

Depends on what you mean by “loyal”.

If we’re talking about filling the Dome, then it’s locals, hands down.

If we’re talking about supporting the athletics programs financially, I suspect it’s relatively even, although I don’t know the sourcing of fundraising.

If we’re talking about simply being diehard fans, it’s also pretty even.

My experience is that SU alums love SU and follow the teams rabidly. They just don’t get back to the Dome all that often.

Yea i had a tough time answering the question. I said townies because id gather that townies are more diehard—like cuse losing ruins your day diehard.

 

[orangenauburn]

I'd say it's split. Townies will fill Dome if the product is good. We can be exciting but if we aren't winning people aren't showing. Alum I feel live too far from school. If it wasn't a private university, there would be a greater local alum base to support the school.

The alums carry the weight donation wise. Townies are probably a pretty small portion of the donation total.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I’m both. There’s pockets of both that are loyal and there’s pockets of both that are happy win we lose in sports.

 

[orangepassion]

None of the above, which sometimes makes me wonder why I put myself through this year after year, especially when one of my Alma Maters finished this year in the top 5.

 

[David321]

I don’t know about most loyal, but I think townies will always have the biggest numbers because SU is such an expensive university. It’s not as if it’s easy to get in there.

 

[jgeorge322]

None of the above, which sometimes makes me wonder why I put myself through this year after year, especially when one of my Alma Maters finished this year in the top 5.

Youre the ultimate fan then. What got you hooked?

 

[SUATO92]

I’d say it’s the people who pay the enormous tuition to make sure there’s a university that can field a football team.

 

[Domedog84]

So is this asking to identify ourselves or which we think are more loyal? I am a townie but I thought Scooch made some great points above about the different types of support. So not sure if I voted correctly.

 

[Gooorange]

Interesting question that hits home for me...here is my perspective. I grew up in the Syracuse area and have been a fan of a SU sports from very early on. I did not go to SU but regardless of where I have lived in my life, I have talked up SU football & basketball religiously. This inevitably leads to the questions of "did you go to SU?". I did not, however I find myself with more loyalty to SU than literally any other sports team collegiate or pro...and as we all know, that is sometimes a painful endeavor.

 

[rocklloyd]

At this point, i’m both. Grew up in Utica. Started college here in 1987, never left.

 

[David321]

I’d say it’s the people who pay the enormous tuition to make sure there’s a university that can field a football team.

And without the townies there would be no football program either, both sides need the other to exist.

 

[David321]

I live two hours away, am I still considered a townie?

 

[NJneer12]

I'm an alum. Have ST for football.

Trying to do my part. We need butts in the seats and money.

 

[jgeorge322]

So is this asking to identify ourselves or which we think are more loyal? I am a townie but I thought Scooch made some great points above about the different types of support. So not sure if I voted correctly.

The poll is identity. I can see why its confusing though. I thought that a good indicator of the better fan would be the poll results.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Let's look at this a different way:

Are the majority of fans calling for Dino's head alums or locals?

 

[721Comstock]

Let's look at this a different way:

Are the majority of fans calling for Dino's head alums or locals?

Yes.

 

[Ragman2000]

I'm both but haven't been a townie since the '03 run. In my experience based on the people I know, townies are hands down the most loyal fans who don't miss a game (on TV), etc. My alumni friends who aren't or weren't townies tend to follow the team when they're doing really well but they're not eating and breathing it the way I am or my townie breathren.

 

[qdawgg]

I live two hours away, am I still considered a townie?

That’s my question. Could only afford SUNY school but grew up watching SU FB and BB in middle school because of my brother. I lived just over an hour away and went to games in HS when I could. I guess that makes me a townie?

 

[All4SU]

I am both. But I was an alum before I was a local. Grew up outside of Utica, went to school here and stayed. I suspect the hierarchy is:

A) Local alums
B) Local fans
C) Non-local alums
D) Non-local fans
E) Wives of alums who had no idea what they were marrying into

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I will say I am both, but I am a fan of my hometown team, not my (grad school) alma mater. I do have classmates who are fans who were not townies.
I think locals are far more rabid. For many, SU success is incredible important. Bad basketball games used to cause me sleeplessness. (Much bigger bball fan, probably because my dad used to tell me about his days in the city parochial league). Until Hakim, I would regularly have dreams that Coleman blocked Keith Smart’s shot.

 

[Ragman2000]

I am both. But I was an alum before I was a local. Grew up outside of Utica, went to school here and stayed. I suspect the hierarchy is:

A) Local alums
B) Local fans
C) Non-local alums
D) Non-local fans
E) Wives of alums who had no idea what they were marrying into

100% this All4, I believe this is exactly it.

 

[texascpa]

I live in Texas and haven't live in New York (Poland) in 40 years and did not attend SU. Am I still a townie?

 

[Ragman2000]

I live in Texas and haven't live in New York (Poland) in 40 years and did not attend SU. Am I still a townie?

I would say yes as that is where and why your fandom developed.