Portrait of a Superfan, Part 3

We have been examining some of the characteristics of the Georgia Tech Superfan, and have looked at dress and habits. Today we will look at the habitat and other distinctive features of the Superfan.

Habitat

• There are two primary locations where superfans generally live: in the Atlanta area and not in the Atlanta area. Superfans live in the Atlanta area for obvious reasons. Georgia Tech fans live all over the world, but those living outside of the Atlanta area generally have left the majority of their fan friends in Atlanta and are generally alone in their celebration of Georgia Tech athletics. This works together with the nostalgia that all fans feel to create the superfan.
• In any environment, especially environments where the population has been put together with people from across the country and from different backgrounds, especially collegiate background, there is a need to be overly supportive of the college you attended. Superfans will generally have some piece of GT paraphanelia somewhere in their office space displayed as one would a picture of a spouse or children.

Distinctive Features

• Whenever GT plays the team of a coworker, the superfan begins the trash talk at least one week before the game takes place, longer in the case of a rival or nearby school such as Clemson, Auburn, or Georgia. In the case of a victory over a coworker's school, trashtalking will continue for at least a week. In the case of a loss, complaining about referee bias or ineptitude will be heard for up to a week. Commenting on the lack of moral fiber, dedication to academics, or general thuggishness of an opponents players is also fairly common. Trashtalking to Georgia fans in the workplace is acceptable and commonplace for 11 months of the year, 12 in the case of a victory over leghumpers. In the case of a victory for Hooch Nation, however unlikely, the month of December is reserved for unbridled anger, inward reflection, and the development of new material for the next 11 months. This is the hibernation period for the superfan.
• During sports seasons, especially in the fall, the best place to spot a Superfan is on the campus of Ma Tech. Superfans come out early, usually 8-12 hours before game time to begin tailgating. The only exception is if a Superfan has a mate. This will delay the arrival of the superfan to approximately 15 seconds before the game begins. The superfan will make all sorts of excuses for their tardiness to their fellow fans, always maintaining tactful regard for the mate in tow.
• At some point during the game, usually the middle of the third quarter, the superfan will make some sort of careless remark to which his mate will take offense. At this point our specimen will have a choice to make: does he console his mate and apologize for stating what he has been thinking ever since 7 in the morning when he wanted to be at the tailgate but couldn't because his mate had to take an hour and forty five minutes to get ready and "didn't see why we had to be there so early.", or does he run with his statement and put off apologizing until the next day?

What would you do? Are you a Superfan?

-yb