Certainly an NFL/NHL town. Gophers are in 1st place in the Big 10 west and doing it after pretty much losing all of their running backs to injury that they thought would even play this year. That includes the Big 10's leading rusher from last year who had 160 yards against Ohio State in three quarters in the 1st game of the season before hurting his achilles. Instead of being a big story, the local columnists just talk about the Vikings and rip on Fleck when they do write Gophers. It's weird. If the Gophers hadn't lost so many guys I'd have them big favorites to win out.
Moved to MN. Interesting observations
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Certainly an NFL/NHL town. Gophers are in 1st place in the Big 10 west and doing it after pretty much losing all of their running backs to injury that they thought would even play this year. That includes the Big 10's leading rusher from last year who had 160 yards against Ohio State in three quarters in the 1st game of the season before hurting his achilles. Instead of being a big story, the local columnists just talk about the Vikings and rip on Fleck when they do write Gophers. It's weird. If the Gophers hadn't lost so many guys I'd have them big favorites to win out.
We moved to Minnesota this year and I've noticed a few Iowa State-related things.
*I see more Iowa State apparel now than I did up here 10 years ago.
*Hawkeye apperal outnumbers Iowa State apparel 10-1+.
*I see a lot of Gopher sweatshirts but maybe 3 cars with Gopher license plates. It's not "a thing" up here like it is in Iowa.
*When we lived in Iowa for a decade, I did not meet one single Minnesota alumni who lived in Ames/Des Moines. I know they exist, but that seems on purpose
*Half this town went to NDSU, or at least they're the proudest fan base
*College football exists, but it's a niche activity. It's weird to not be surronded by collegeite football fans.
All true. ONLY reason Iowa has more clothes than ISU available is because it's close and another Big Ten school. I will also add Minnesota fans hate Iowa more than Cyclone fans. College sports here is very niche...blows my mind that the U of M has an enrollment of 50,000+ and is downtown and they still struggle to get fans interested/sellouts in almost all sports. I don't see as many Hawk fans up here as you I guess. I see a ton of ISU fans with apparel and cars with ISU license plate holders etc.
Born and raised in the Twin Cities. (went to ISU obviously) The Twin Cities are 100% a pro sports town. The Gophs will always be an afterthought. Also, using MOA to judge alliances is no good. I'd be 99% of those you saw with Iowa gear are visiting.
There's a ton of Cyclones in the Twin Cities.
There's a ton of Cyclones in the Twin Cities.
I live in Minnesota, and I can assure you the whole "Minnesota Nice" thing is a complete joke. If you compare people in Minnesota versus people in Iowa, it's not even a fair comparison....Iowans are way nicer.
It really should be called "Minnesota Passive Aggressive".
It really should be called "Minnesota Passive Aggressive".
This couldnt be more spot on. Just spent the last 7 years in Minnesota and only recently came back to Iowa because we have a small family now and it's so nice to be close to help.
I just chalked it up to insecurity. Go across the boarder to WI and it's completely different. My experience anyway.
I have been told the atmosphere at CSU has improved since they got their new stadium. I haven't been to a game yet. Next door neighbor is a CSU grad and has access to a set of family season tickets. We're eventually going to go to a game. But he generally pays no attention to his alma mater's program even though he would tell you he's a sports fan.
I'm still planning to attend some AFA games because, hey, it's Division I football and right here in town. Been too busy so far this fall though.
Been to a couple Buffs games and have contemplated getting season tickets but the atmosphere is nothing like Ames.
Don't judge all of Minnesota on Minneapolis/St. Paul. Des Moines vs rural IA is a little different. MSP vs. rural MN is a LOT different.
This is a very Iowa thing, but it's really more about not having a pro team. The south and other midwest states are similar in putting their college logo on anything.
Moved to Fort Collins 2 1/2 years ago and have been to 3 CSU games this year. Game atmosphere isn’t great. Went to the Boise State game Saturday and stadium was maybe half full. Bought tickets Saturday morning for $25 on the 30 yard line row 9 lower level.
Is there ever a Cyclone game day watch here in Fort Collins?
^ QFT. I've only been here 40 some years so my "experiment" is not complete but your really right on that IMHO. I didn't go to high school with the peeps in the neighborhood so can never really be their friends. I've only been in the neighborhood since 1986 so can't yet expect peeps to invite me over or anything.
Also, double ostracized since the x moved out. If you aren't a couple you might as well be a suspected terrorist or something. A dog helps a little bit, when I was walking nieces little monster mutt people seemed to engage more.
Wisconsin is a very different culture than Minnesota, and one I strongly prefer.
Minnesota is insular and stand offish. They think the world revolves around them, and that they are vastly superior to the outside world- particularly neighboring states.
Minnesotans don’t go to the Mall of America. Small town Iowans and Wisconsinites do. I lived in Minneapolis for three years and didn’t go to the Mall of America once.
Rural Minnesotans go. But yeah, no one who lives in the Twin Cities metro deals with that **** show.
Have you checked with Alumni Association to see if there's a chapter up there? I know there is one in Denver and their fearless leader posts here sometimes. We have one in Springs but that'd be a long drive for you. If you want to come down for a game watch though we'll roll out the red carpet!
When we lived in northern Iowa, Minneapolis was always our default city for a long weekend. Once we moved to Des Moines, we pick KC probably 4 times for every 1 time we go to Minneapolis. After the last time we were there we kind of decided that there was zero reason to every choose Minneapolis over KC or really any city in the Midwest. I doubt if they miss me.
WI has some big sports fans OR they just need a reason to day drink in a parking lot.
Actually pretty big hockey culture which makes no sense to not have a pro team.
I considered moving to Minneapolis a long while ago because I thought I needed 'more' and glad I didn't for several reasons but being told all weekend how amazing the Twin Cities were didn't help.
It's a cool place for sure but folks acted like it was the only place with live music or stuff to do outdoors.
Half this thread is "Twin Cities suck" and the other half is about pro sports.
When we lived in Iowa people hated big cities. When we moved here people hated small towns. I've realized people just hate whatever it is they didn't choose.
When we lived in Iowa people hated big cities. When we moved here people hated small towns. I've realized people just hate whatever it is they didn't choose.
They are very region centric. They think everything Minnesota/Twin cities is the center of the universe. I travel to California with a buddy who lives in Burnsville, suburb of the twin cities. We were in Los Angeles and we was telling people he was from Burnsville. I tried to coach him that when you are away from home, you don't say the suburb you are from you say the city. When I'm out of town I don't say Urbandale, I say Des Moines. But Minnesotans are region centric enough they think everyone knows what and where Burnsville is, they are not aware enough to know that people from other areas know Minneapolis or the Twin Cities, they don't know Burnsville.