Getting into College Part Two: Picking Teams

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Earlier this week, I wrote an article explaining how I had voluntarily extended a naked arm into the autumnal night to allow myself to get well and truly bitten by the College Football bug (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/255526-getting-into-college-a-view-of-college-football-from-across-the-pond).

While I wasn’t that surprised by the courteous and warm welcome I received by those already in the fraternity, I was a little taken back by the principle that it was OK to follow a team in each conference. I guess the idea isn’t so alien as I suppose I can already confess to following the Orioles in the AL and the Mets in the NL and the Packers in the NFC and the Jets in the AFC.

Looking deeper, I also realised that I'm guilty of doing the same in European football. I am a lifelong Tottenham fan who has also adopted Milan as a team to cheer for in Italy. Supporting two teams and investing the same emotion and energy into both is something which I struggle with, so I combat this with petty semantics. I say that I “support” one team and simply “follow” another.

Perhaps the root of support and allegiance is an article for another day because right now, I wanted to respond to all those who encouraged me earlier in the week and reveal, after many hours of research and thought, which teams I have decided to adopt in the respective Division I conferences and try to offer some justification.

In most cases, my reasoning and logic will seem absurd, but probably no more absurd than the demographic, political, geographical, or religious reasons that tend to govern why soccer fans in Europe support their teams. Anyway, getting to the root of that is for a different piece. Here, for better or for worse, are my choices:

ACC: Clemson Tigers

This is already decided for me. A very good friend of mine's family name is Clemson, so we naturally gravitated toward the Tigers. This is about as illogical as it comes, but this one is locked in and despite the teams listed below, Clemson will be my No. 1.

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