New Years Resolution: Commit to being a Die-hard Arizona Wildcats fan

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Oct 17, 2015; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona Wildcats fans cheer their team towards the end of the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Arizona won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

We are not proposing that you cheer no matter what all the time for your Cats. We’re just asking you to think about possibly committing to trying to become supportively (new word) critical.

To help you see the difference between the two types of fans, we will give you two examples.

Here’s an example of what a True Fan would say: Our center keeps snapping the football high and away, he must be nervous or not able to adapt to his new position. The coach needs to work with him more so that he corrects this issue; it’s killing our team.

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Here’s an example of what a poser fan would say: Our center is a buffoon, I don’t care if it’s a new position for him or what, he needs to do his job and never make a mistake, and you know what? It’s all the coaches fault and this year’s team is crappy and the students get scholarships. They athletes need to be perfect and they better win and the fans better stay in the stands even if it’s 101 degree’s and they will faint and need an ambulance. The students too. They are horrible! They need to stand in the heat and take it, they’re young. I can be extremely critical and still be a fan.

You know who you are..you are the fan that gets on anyone’s case that sounds remotely supportive of a team who is struggling. One could argue that these folks are not really fans, you are using the fan disguise to mask your anger over something else.

Drew Forrester, a former radio show host, wrote an article about his Ravens fandom. He wrote that he is still a huge Raven’s fan even though they may be losing games, “I’m not abandoning them now, or ever, just because they’re losing some games.” He describes a true fan as someone who could stand up in a crowd of a teams fans and state, “I’m with them – win or lose.”

Oct 19, 2013; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats fans Crystal Nava Mario Nava and Tonantzin Nava before the game against the Utah Utes at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Bill Simmons came up with comical but surprisingly appropriate rules on being a True Fan:

Don’t wear cheap-looking replica jerseys or flimsy-looking bargain-basement hats.
Don’t wear replica championship rings as a conversation starter.
When your team wins a championship, it’s your civic duty to purchase as much paraphernalia as possible.
No hopping on and off the bandwagon during the season with the flip-flop. THIS ONE IS KEY!
Dead silence sends a bigger message than anything: [Booing is] potentially destructive…The purpose of booing your team? If you’re trying to inspire them, usually you end up sending them into a deeper funk — odds are, your team already knows it’s struggling. And if you’re trying to light a fire under a specific player, usually you end up making him, even more, nervous and tentative.
Once you choose a team, you’re stuck with that team for the rest of your life.
You shouldn’t practice “Sports Bigamy” in general. Sports teams are just like wives… you can only have one wife, you can only have one sports team.

Sep 26, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats fans Olivia Smith (left) and Keli Mendivil pose for a picture before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Test Questions, are you a bandwagon fan?:

Do you complain incessantly about your Cats? The Program? The Coaches? And then say wonderful things about the team and players when the Wildcats win?
Are you never happy about how the Cats are doing?
Do you constantly jump to conclusions about what is happening behind the scenes and in the locker room without really knowing the facts?
Do you put down and call other fans who back the Cats no matter what names?
Do you feel there are no excuses for losing a college game?
Do you profuse to talk about a sport you have never coached or played and profuse you are the expert of that sport and know exactly how a great college program should be run?
Do you just vent on social media to get attention and a reaction from people for fun posing as a fan?

If you answered yes to four or more of these questions, you could be bandwagon fan.

Here’s an idea: How about you make a New Years resolution and commit to being a Die-hard Wildcats fan in 2016!

Come over to the light side and back your team no matter what. Be critical but not mean. Be supportive and offer suggestions. Treat your fellow die-hard fans with care and if they don’t understand the situation, help educate them in a nice way. Being upset and angry all season can give you heartburn and doesn’t help you be a happy person. It’s already difficult enough to cheer for our Cardiac Cats, don’t make it harder on yourself.

A wise person once said, “Happy people have happy lives.” What this means is that if you want to be happy, then you will be. If you smile, you will feel better.

Next: Arizona Wildcats: Top 30 athletes in school history

Try it, you won’t be sorry.

BEARDOWN ARIZONA WILDCATS FANS!

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