Family NFL Allegiances

A week ago, I found myself awkwardly enjoying the Bears' beating the Packers, while my father steamed at the Packers' "dominance" without being able to put the Bears away.

I'd like to make the case that my family, the Schumerths, has the most diversity of National Football League allegiances of any family around. Yes, we do acknowledge a bit of a sick addiction to conflict, but in this instance, it's not really intentional. In fact, our college "fandom" is quite united--Mom and older brother Shane being the only defectors--as Notre Dame fans, through ups and (mostly) downs. But not so much in the NFL, as the 2010-2011 season finishes its first quarter.

When I was a young chitlen running around on Academy Road in Culver, we had a neighbor named Kurt who was much older than I am and into sports, so naturally I annoyingly followed him around and took on his likes. He happened to be a Chicago sports fan, including the Bears, and thus I chose my side of the fence. Unlike my Notre Dame allegiance, I have slipped into bouts of infidelity, especially the 1990s--Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Jerry Rice days--San Fransisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars during my two years of living there. I'd be lying if I said I don't enjoy the success Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, given that I lived just northeast of there during my college years. But first and foremost, I am a Bear's fan. (And the 1985 Bears were the best team of all time.)

My dad, as I've already mentioned, grew up in Wisconsin. Everyone and their mother (literally) is an obsessive Packers' fan there. Indeed, the Packers won the first two Super Bowls and justly pride themselves in their rich history. My dad's family fortunately own the rights to yearly season tickets, a coveted item in those parts. I've watched a game and eaten a bratwurst at Lambeau Field; the commitment to that team is second to none. Indeed, my late grandmother, as she ailed, could tell anyone how the Packers were doing long after she remembered who I was. Like me, my dad tries really hard to not allow his team's success affect his happiness. Like me, he, ummm, sometimes falls short.

Not to be outdone, my mom hails from perhaps the only other NFL region comparable to the Packers: the Pittsburgh Steelers. You know, Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw, and six Super Bowls. My mother is admittedly not a huge sports fan. But that doesn't change the fact that she retains a strong emotional tie to the Steelers.

My older brother, Shane, was born in Denver, Colorado and long after he moved away has kept his roots via his NFL team of choice. He doesn't watch every week, but will still tell you about John Elway and the two Super Bowls won in the late 1990s.

I don't remember Angela watching or caring about any team as we were growing up, but at some point--maybe when she left Indiana for college--she decided she was a Colts' fan. So on select Sundays, she could be seen with her Colts' jersey on, carrying on and firing up whatever New England Patriots fans were around.

Mandy, my other sister, takes on the most unique approach in the family. She does not have a team; it's a year-by-year choice. Her choice is determined by which former Notre Dame crush she's currently most into (Brady Quinn and Golden Tate are two recent choices).

My "little" brother Daniel's allegiance is probably my favorite. I recall many of his own favorite teams when he was younger (the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings, and whoever else) before he settled on the Miami Dolphins. Ironically, he's probably the most faithful fan in the family, that is to say he follows them the most regularly. I have no idea how or why he chose the Dolphins. (I'm not sure he knows.) The colors maybe?