One week into its reign as the king of college football, Indiana University has yet to descend from the mountaintop of glory. The same is true of its millions and millions of fans. And why should they? As many have rightly pointed out, Indiana’s victory is a triumph for the sport’s parity and the die-hard Hoosiers who have witnessed decades of their team’s irrelevancy. My colleague Thea Bendaly wrote an excellent column last week discussing her personal journey as an ancestral Indiana fan as well as the implications of IU’s historic victory. Hailing from Carmel, Ind. from a family of Hoosiers, obviously Thea can claim IU’s victory.
Something’s afoot in Bloomington, though. I cannot seem to shake a feeling of uneasiness seeing hundreds of thousands of fair-weather Indiana fans suddenly becoming passionate about their team. Indiana ranked among the lowest power-conference schools in annual attendance prior to Curt Cignetti’s arrival two years ago, yet 2025’s campaign saw the Hoosiers smash attendance records. Obviously enthusiasm for any team is higher when the product on the field is successful. Is it fair, however, to question the authenticity of the legions of Indiana fans in their nascent fandom?
I think it is.
From high school till now, I’ve been an “anthem to the alma mater” kind of fan. I cannot tolerate leaving a sporting event early. It’s how I was raised — my sister can attest to the untold multitudes of Cincinnati Reds blowout losses that we witnessed at the hands of our parents’ instruction. And that’s how it should be! Loyal sports fandom has wonderful effects on one’s character. It builds a sense of patience, tolerance for pain and humility.
We must now ask: When does a fan become a bandwagon?
Coming from heavilyRoman Catholic Cincinnati, Notre Dame fans rival supporters of the Cincinnati Bearcats and Ohio State Buckeyes in number. For many, being Catholic alone is enough to claim Notre Dame. One often hears of uncles and grandfathers that instilled in their progeny a love for the Fighting Irish despite having no personal connection to the University. Many people would consider these types of people to be “bandwagons,” in the commonly understood sense of the word. I hesitate, however, to call Subway Alumni bandwagons.
In 2007, Charlie Weis’s Irish finished a paltry 3-9, Notre Dame’s worst finish since 1960. The 2007 campaign was abject misery. The Irish suffered humiliating losses to benighted Air Force, Purdue and Navy and were shut out by rivals Michigan and USC. Going into Week 11 a putrid 1-9 to host 1-9 Duke (a non-rivalry game) for a game in 40-degree weather, one would expect the seats of Notre Dame Stadium to remain mostly empty.
That game sold out.
In fact, Notre Dame sold out every single game that season. In miserable cold amid the program’s worst season in modern history, 80,795 Irish fans found their way to the house that Rockne built. Because Knute Rockne built his house on a solid foundation — a foundation defined not by geography or academic affiliation, but instead defined by faith and loyalty.
I don’t mean to single out Indiana fans. The true Hoosier faithful deserve this win. This reality doesn’t change the fact that my cold and demented heart stays suspicious of the thousands of emergent Indiana supporters, as with any program that enjoys sudden success.
A real fan stays with their team through thick and thin, which is why I now want to present Grayson Beckham’s definitive GATEKEEP (Generating a Tolerable Entrance and Knowledgeable Emergent Enthusiasm Parameter) guideline.
Tier 1: Undisputed Legitimate Fan
- Alum or student of institution
- Have a sibling, parent or child who is an alum
This tier is quite self-explanatory, meaning that anyone with a deeply personal connection to a school is permitted to root for their team without question.
Tier 2: Potentially Fraudulent Fan:
- Merely a resident of the school’s state (unless residing in the university’s city)
- Have a “cousin” or an aunt/uncle that is an alum
This tier of so-called fandom is potentially problematic. Unless these fans are consistent attendees or viewers of a university’s team, they are a bandwagon.
Tier 3: Fraud Watch
- Have a friend who is an alum or student
- “Grew up watching them”
- Has a favorite player on the team
If your only connection to Florida is a love for Tim Tebow, sorry: You’re a bandwagon.
Tier 4: Forget About It. Not a Fan.
- Cannot name five current players
- Cannot name current head coach
These lapses in knowledge are indicative of a knowingly and purposeful lack of attention. You do not deserve to wear this team’s jersey.
Tier 5: Notre Dame Exception
- Proclaim the death of Jesus Christ and profess His Resurrection
This qualification is not required of a Notre Dame fan in good standing yet immediately grants permission to join the ranks of the Irish faithful. They are God’s team; this is undisputed.
Grayson Beckham is a freshman living in the Coyle Community in Zahm Hall. He hails from Independence, Ky. When he's not publishing woke propaganda inThe Observer, he studies political science and eloquently uses his silver tongue on the mock trial team. You can send him relevant hate mail at gbeckham@nd.edu.
