George,
At least in the case of West Virginia University, there is a great personal attachment with the university, the state, and the people who grew up or lived there. I must say we, those who attend WVU, live and die by the athletic successes or failings of the school. When Greg Jones won the national wrestling title this year, I was pleased not only for him but his brother, Vertus, who was a standout wrestler, and the coaching stuff all of whom I met and knew through my previous life as a sports writer in West Virginia.
It’s all in good fun, except for in soccer-loving countries that go after the refs after a bad call. Those fans make me second guess wanting to be a ref for the upcoming sports year.
