Go, teams, go!

MANHATTAN, Kan. - How interesting that as one grows older, one’s college allegiances seem to expand.

My sister Linda and brother-in-law Dick are a good example.  And let’s see if I get this right:  They both studied at Purdue, met at IBM but ended up at the University of Illinois working for a bit; Dick then worked for the University of Kansas, then at Stony Brook University on Long Island. Dick now works at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  (Linda decided to retire after a stint at Stony Brook.)

I was reminded of this while walking today with son Zach on the campus of Kansas State University.  You see, Zach enrolled at the University of Missouri a year ago, but it wasn’t quite what he expected.

So he moved to K-State this fall; he loves it. It's a great place ... the school is pretty amazing.

As we walked the campus, we caught the spirit.  If you don’t know, K-State’s primary color is purple. You see it everywhere here – on police cars, on trash cans, on liquor-store signs promoting the new purplish Bud Light cans.  As you’d expect, we proudly donned new shirts that were as purple as a grape. 

This also meant adding another favorite school to my list.  This list is important, because the fall football schedule is heating up. 

Here’s how I now stand as a fan: First, I love the Fightin’ Scots of The College of Wooster in Ohio, where I started as a freshman; then there’s the University of Illinois, where I transferred and earned my journalism degree. There’s also the University of Missouri, because we have family ties there; plus Rockhurst University, where I earned an MBA; then the University of Tulsa, where daughter Meghan earned her geology degree.

And now, big-time, K-State.

Oh, I better throw in the University of Kansas, because I know some grads from there, plus KU is everywhere in Johnson County, Kansas, where we live.  

And maybe I should throw in University College Cork in Ireland, where Meghan spent a semester.  Plus Michigan State, because we vacation up there; and oh, the University of Wisconsin, because we lived in Milwaukee for a bit (and that’s where Meghan was born).

Then there are the “Fightin’ Roos” of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  I’ve been swimming in the Kangaroos’ pool for exercise since arriving in town in ’87. (“Above Water,” remember?)

Goodness!!  I could go on …

I’m sure this is pretty typical.  As folks move around the country, they get exposed to new schools, new teams, etc.

Then again, a lot of folks decide on one school above others.  They become not just fans, but exclusive, flagrant fans.

I guess that’s okay.  For me, though, I take my victories when I can.  Any statistics guy will tell you that, the more teams in the mix, the better the odds of seeing a win on the ESPN scoreboard.

And the fact is, each one of these teams has a firm hold on a portion of my heart.  To elevate one over the other would be unjust.

So (big breath) …

Go Scots! Go Illini!  Tigers, too! 

Fly, you Hawks!

Blow ‘em down, you Golden Hurricanes!

Wildcats – scratch and claw!

Jayhawks?  Uh … better just listen to the big guy, Mangino.

Spartans! Slay those foes!

Take a big bite, you Badgers!   

'Roos … well, just bounce a lot.

Which leaves University College Cork.  I couldn’t find a team name for the Cork clan. So I’ve settled for “Corksters.”  

Probably not the best.  But then again, I can hear the burly chant now on those Irish “football” fields of green:

“Bottle up them boys, lads, bottle up ‘em tight.  Screw ‘em down tight, lads, before it becomes the night.

“’Cause we’re the Corksters from County Cork, where the Blarney Stone sits nigh.

“So by God we’ll be corkin’ their souls, ‘til we kiss their a - - - -  goodbye.”

Doesn’t quite have the ring of “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk.” 

But it makes the point.