Big 5 Allegiance

[20thandolney]

This is something that I have been curious about. Please select one option below. If you vote for option three or four, please feel free to leave that team below and why. 

[20thandolney]

I voted #3. I love the Big 5 and God knows I have tried but I can't root for Nova. I do like Jay Wright though.

[theneumann64]

Not from Philly, have no problem with Nova or Penn. Do not like St. Joe's, and hate Temple with the passion of one thousand suns, so not totally sure which option I would be.

[luhoopsfan]

I too struggle to cheer for Nova... Sometimes I do, but even when I think I am cheering for them and they lose, I find myself sort of happy.

Full disclosure, when Nova got called for that travel against UNC that year in the tourney I was really pissed off

[20thandolney]

Apr 2, 2013 19:53:13 GMT -5 theneumann64 said:

Not from Philly, have no problem with Nova or Penn. Do not like St. Joe's, and hate Temple with the passion of one thousand suns, so not totally sure which option I would be.

Yeah this is fair. For options 3 and 4 I should have put except one or two teams. I think that is fair. It you don't like 3 teams,  I don't think you can be considered a Big 5 person at all. So, I guess, those who dislke two teams go with options 3 or 4 depending if you are from Philly or not. 

[SICguy84]

Number 3. Cheer is a strong word for me. I cheer and love La Salle.

I passively support, by paying attention to (especially during NCAA time) Temple, Villanova, Penn and Drexel. I cannot, I have not, and hopefully never will support Saint Joseph's University of Pennsylvania in any shape or form. I actively root against the Hawks at any chance I get. I’ve had some pretty foul experiences with their fans over the years. The arrogance, the contempt, and the general nastiness directed at La Salle over the past 20 years or so have soured me on the Hawk folks.

That ‘Cinderella’ internet video about La Salle floating around has a sound bite with Anna Melnyk Allen, assistant dean. Allen says that in 2004 La Salle cheered for and got behind SJU (of PA) on their NCAA run, not me, I was an Oklahoma man that day.

Temple – Younger but bigger brother in urban Philadelphia.
Penn – Ivy Leaguers
Villanova – What La Salle would have been had they moved to Springfield Twp. with the high school in the 1960’s.
Drexel – Engineering school.

[crayzeeguy]

Always root for La Salle. Only will ever root for the other Big 5 teams if La Salle has already been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. That was much easier before this year.

[phillysports07]

Voted #5 born and raised in Philly. Hate nova, hate st. joe's, hate temple and Penn is just whatever. I bleed blue and gold went to La Salle for H.S., College and Grad school. I just can't cheer for anyone else but La Salle in the big 5.

[20thandolney]

Is there a way to edit polls?

[ltrain38]

Sort of a complicated question for me. I find myself rooting against the other Big 5 schools in the regular season, because I want our team to clearly stand above them. But even though I sometimes don't want to, I find myself pulling for them in the tournament, even this year when we're still playing, although I am really happy that we went the furthest. Not sure what it will be like in the future, now that we're this good. I can admit that I wanted to take them down a peg before we made our run, but this season healed a lot wounds.

I guess I root for them all, but probably not all the time. I root for them as long as it's clear that we're the best team in Philly. Had more trouble with the "I am (or am not) from the Philadelphia area" part of the question. Lehigh Valley, but my parents are from Delaware County. I was very aware of the Big 5 tradition as a kid, so I guess that's what you're trying to measure.

[victoriouslasalle]

Apr 2, 2013 19:44:49 GMT -5 20thandolney said:

I voted #3. I love the Big 5 and God knows I have tried but I can't root for Nova. I do like Jay Wright though.

this sums it up for me.

[big5explorer]

I'll never forget the joy of watching Nova win it all in 1986. And the sheer disappointment of seeing them try and dismantle the Big 5. I've never forgiven them for it. And never will.

Go Big 4 + Drexel!

[ck]

Do not like Villanova, especially since Rollie tried to get out of playing the other teams every year and then lied about it.

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2013 20:58:20 GMT -5 big5explorer said:

I'll never forget the joy of watching Nova win it all in 1986. And the sheer disappointment of seeing them try and dismantle the Big 5. I've never forgiven them for it. And never will.

Same goes for me. I've lived my entire life in Philadelphia and a near suburb and rooted for all the local schools until Nova went bigtime on everyone after winning the national title. Then came the internet and basketball messageboards, and because of that, I've developed a strong dislike for the fanbases of St Joe's (PA), Temple, and of course Villanova. I still like most of the players and coaches for the local teams (save for Massimino, Martooni and Kanecevic). Most conduct themselves with class and play/coach the right way. But I find it hard to root for them because of their obnoxious online fanbases. Don't have a problem with Penn or Drexel and wish them nothing but success.

[lasallescreamer]

I root for other Big 5 teams except Nova. However, I feel badly because I do like Jay. But, I hated Rollie so-so much-that its still hard. I HATED Lappas as well. I actually enjoy watching non-LSU games bec. I love BB. Hard to enjoy watching our games because its too personal and I am too emotionally invested.LSU will always be my passion, buts its nice to watchPenn play at the Palestra.

[MisterD]

Not from the area, cheer for Temple, actively root against Villanova and St. Joseph's of PA, indifferent to Penn.