<![CDATA[What Made You a Browns Fan?]]>Folks, I'm interested in hearing what jump started you as a Cleveland Browns fan. And what made you a football fan in particular. There's no right or wrong answers. I'll start by sharing mine after powering down some turbo strength coffee. If you don't want to read about me and my family bond to the Browns and football - feel free to skip the next 2 paragraphs. In any event, here's how the football version of cupid's arrow found this goofy blowhard.

In honor of my father and my brother, whom I lost within 8 months of each other 2 years ago - our football niche took place in a suburb of Rochester NY (Fairport). Rochester always had a huge following of this franchise to the extent of 3-4 active Browns Backers clubs. My guess is part of the reason was we drafted 2 RBs from a storied RB tradition at Syracuse (Jim Brown & Ernie Davis). Even the uniforms had a unique resemblance in the sense of emphasizing the orange. On top of that, Otto Graham played for the Pro Basketball Champion Rochester Royals franchise at the onset of leading Cleveland to 10 consecutive Pro Football Championship Games (and winning 7 - duplicated by who?). Recruiting Upstate NY fans wasn't that tough considering a car ride to Cleveland was quicker than it was to NYC. Our first home game in Cleveland was the day Turkey Jones body slammed Terry Bradshaw with rent-a-dentist QB David Mays acting as the beneficiary game winning QB. Who knew what would eventually come of Lambert's cheap shot on Brian Sipe out of bounds? Turkey Jones knew! He replied in the precedent Lambert had already clearly established. The only major difference was Jones' hit took place in bounds before the play was whistled dead.

My intro to football was my dad putting an antennae on the roof and getting game day feeds as far away as Ottawa Canada. Meanwhile, my older brother was a kickass Guard. Organized football came so easy to him - all I could ever think of as I was appreciating his art was "must be nice." I'd always play sandlot football with him and his friends 5 years older than me so that was my training for toughness I suppose. Anyway, as my brother got older - he seemed to grow bored of the challenges football gave him in exchange for what partying and other collateral things could do for him. Not much different than a Josh Gordon today. I wasn't nearly as good or natural when we were younger; but that made him all the more tougher on me with "don't plan on messing up like I did." In 8th grade, I began hitting the weights to compensate for a height/frame that I worried might be an early show stopper. Luckily brother was in my ear saying our frame was the greatest gift we had. My Freshman year started with me worrying about making the team before I became a 2 way starter earning the performance captain honor 5 times. My final year ended on the practice field with me blowing out my right knee near the end of the last hitting practice before our semifinal final playoff game in the only 2 starts I'd ever miss to injury. 1 day later my Head Coach showed up to my house with a huge grin and gigantic surprise. He said, "You did it! You not only made First Team All County East; but you got the most votes from the coaches of any offensive lineman. All your hard work paid off!" My dad used to show up to our games with a big ass orange cone from Roch Tel in his hands and used that sucker as a microphone. Not that he needed it. Our QB used to ask in the huddle - "Can everyone hear me over Flugs' dad? If that doesn't get you guys fired up or full of goosebumps - you're in the wrong place! " My story is this - the reason I LOVE this game is because I've experienced what hard work, passion and being a student of the game can do for a willing soul regardless of pre-wired imperfections. Another reason I LOVE the game is how it brings communities, families and teammates together with memories that never die.

For those I haven't already lost in the last 2 paragraphs, my initial bond to this team began with the guy you see as my avatar (Greg Pruitt). He began as a Pro Bowl Return Specialist in the AFC in 1973 and 1974. I had watched earlier teams and the one that took the 72 Dolphins into overtime in the playoffs; but Greg Pruitt was my game changer in terms of wanting to see more at 9 years of age. My dad's influence finally did it's thing while I never stopped hearing about Marion Motley, Jim Brown and Otto Graham. Suffice it to say, I've always been a big fan of the running game in Cleveland so I'm thrilled the current regime isn't giving a golden shower to what has worked best here. Here's some statistical history of our RB position (slam dunking great stuff from our oline upfront) explaining why Farmer & Pettine are excited to return this franchise to previous successful philosophies. There was a time when I didn't ever want to see another player wearing #34 here. Man, did Kevin Mack ever change my mind about that punctuated by the smelling salts awakening Greg Lloyd required after Mack freight trained his ass.

Marion Motley (1946-1955) 12 game seasons

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

46 601 8.2 5 10 188 1

47 889 6.1 8 7 73 1

48 964 6.1 5 13 192 2

49 570 5.0 8 15 191 0

50 810 5.8 3 11 151 1

51 273 4.5 1 10 52 0

52 444 4.3 1 13 213 2

Jim Brown (1957-1965) 12 game seasons until 1961

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

57 942 4.7 9 16 55 1

58 1527 5.9 17 16 138 1

59 1329 4.6 14 24 190 0

60 1257 5.8 9 19 204 2

61 1408 4.6 8 46 459 2

62 996 4.3 13 47 517 5

63 1863 6.4 12 24 268 3

64 1446 5.2 7 36 340 2

65 1544 5.3 17 34 328 4

Leroy Kelly (1964-1973) 14 game seasons

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

66 1141 5.5 15 32 366 1

67 1205 5.1 11 20 282 2

68 1239 5.0 16 22 297 4

69 817 4.2 9 20 267 1

70 656 3.2 6 24 311 2

71 865 3.7 10 25 252 2

72 811 3.6 4 23 204 1

73 389 2.9 3 15 180 0

Greg Pruitt (1973-1981 in Cleveland) 14 game seasons until 1978

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

73 369 6.0 4 9 100 1

74 540 4.3 3 21 274 1

75 1067 4.9 8 44 299 1

76 1000 4.8 4 45 341 1

77 1086 4.6 3 37 471 1

78 960 5.5 3 38 292 2

79 233 3.8 0 14 155 1

80 117 2.9 0 50 444 1

81 124 4.0 0 65 636 5

Mike Pruitt (1976-1984) 14 game seasons until 1978

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

76 138 2.7 0 8 26 0

77 205 4.4 1 3 12 0

78 560 4.1 5 20 112 0

79 1294 4.9 9 41 372 2

80 1034 4.2 6 63 471 0

81 1103 4.5 7 63 442 1

82 516 3.6 3 22 140 0

83 1184 4.0 10 30 157 2

84 506 3.1 6 5 29 0

Earnest Byner (1984-1988 & 1994-1995) 16 game seasons (Made 2 Pro Bowls for Washington)

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

84 426 5.9 2 11 118 0

85 1002 4.1 8 45 460 2

86 277 2.9 2 37 328 2

87 432 4.1 8 52 552 2

88 576 3.7 3 59 576 2

94 219 2.9 2 11 102 0

95 432 3.8 2 61 499 2

Kevin Mack (1985-1993) 16 game seasons

Yr Yds Ypc TD Rec Yds TD

85 1104 5.0 7 29 297 3

86 665 3.8 10 28 292 0

87 735 3.7 5 32 223 1

88 485 3.9 3 11 87 0

89 130 3.5 1 2 7 0

90 702 4.4 5 42 360 2

91 726 3.7 8 40 255 2

92 543 3.2 6 13 81 0

In a place where football and tradition doesn't ever hide under a roof - the only way to accomplish thy will be done has always come from a philosophy of "RUN IT MAN!"

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/37286/what-made-you-a-browns-fanRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 16:29:57 GMTSat, 20 Jun 2015 16:17:57 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 23:01:50 GMT]]>The Municipal Stadium, Bernie and the Pumpkin Head crash hats! 🙂

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/514144https://brownsboard.com/post/514144Tue, 30 Jun 2015 23:01:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:14:07 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

Take Adebayor, he might be useful.

With his curse the plane might crash

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/514080https://brownsboard.com/post/514080Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:14:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:53:59 GMT]]>

@londonbrown said:

Awesome stuff Howie. I am also back this year for my second trip in a row and bringing my two best friends over, one of whom has already become a Browns fan because of my chatter, the other will hopefully follow.

Take Adebayor, he might be useful.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/514071https://brownsboard.com/post/514071Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:53:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:51:59 GMT]]>

@howiedawg said:

Go Bloody Browns!

Awesome stuff Howie. I am also back this year for my second trip in a row and bringing my two best friends over, one of whom has already become a Browns fan because of my chatter, the other will hopefully follow.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/514067https://brownsboard.com/post/514067Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:51:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 03:04:54 GMT]]>

@erniecamacho84 said:

I killed several people in a previous life.

It's true what the Hindus say, Karma is a bitch.

LOL!!!!! 😆 :lol:

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513982https://brownsboard.com/post/513982Tue, 30 Jun 2015 03:04:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:14:44 GMT]]>I killed several people in a previous life.

It's true what the Hindus say, Karma is a bitch.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513954https://brownsboard.com/post/513954Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:14:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:14:40 GMT]]>The '64 championship game was my introduction to the Browns. We moved here from the Eastern Shore of Maryland in '63 and football wasn't a big thing. Started paying attention in '65, and I'd have to give Gib Shanley and Jim Graner a lot of the credit. Loved listening to the games on the radio. Leroy Kelly and Gene Hickerson were my favorites and still are to this day.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513953https://brownsboard.com/post/513953Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:14:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:04:37 GMT]]>Being brought up on W. 47th St. between Dennison Ave. and Storer Ave. Father used to take me and older brother to games on a CTS bus for a dime a piece.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513833https://brownsboard.com/post/513833Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:04:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:34:38 GMT]]>This is a nice thread you started Flugel. I have liked reading these stories on how we all came to be Brown's fans.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513814https://brownsboard.com/post/513814Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:34:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Mon, 29 Jun 2015 00:55:26 GMT]]>Great stories guys

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513721https://brownsboard.com/post/513721Mon, 29 Jun 2015 00:55:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Sun, 28 Jun 2015 20:56:12 GMT]]>I think I told this forum already once about how I became a Browns fan, but I think it's worth telling it once more.

I'm Italian and Italy is definitely not an American Football country (we have a local league but the number of supporters is quite limited and the level of the game quite low). We started getting some NFL games on TV in 1981 and the first game I watched was 1982 Superbowl between 49ers and Bengals. I got hooked on football since that game, but I could not quite grow any particular relationship to any NFL team until...until January 1988. In January 1987 we got an NFL playoff game live on TV for the first time ever. That game was Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns. I did enjoy the game and admired the drive that John Elway put together to tie the game and then win it in OT. I felt somehow sorry for the home team fans for that game they almost won, but I could not know that one exact year later I was actually going to become one of them.

January 1988: sitting on my couch I watched the replay of the Cahmpionship of the year before, this time at Denver. I saw that team in orange and brown, that I remembered losing the crazy game the year before, coming back to almost win the Championship until a crazy goal line fumble ended the game.

There was the spark and I had found the team to root for. Since January 1988 I've been a true Cleveland Browns fan.

Before the internet era it was extremely difficult to follow my Browns from Torino, Italy. Imagine the difficulty in following what happened in 1995 and the years after... But the Browns came back in 1999, and internet made it easier to keep track of the news and games.

Today with NFL Game Pass I spend my Sunday nights watching the Browns games (and many others) and sometimes I get in the tavern and have some Browns talk with other fellow supporters from Cleveland.

I think we all deserve a great season from the Browns: is this the year?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513689https://brownsboard.com/post/513689Sun, 28 Jun 2015 20:56:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:38:08 GMT]]>

@howiedawg said:

Go Bloody Browns!

"Right, (quite right) you're bloody well right

You know you got a right to say

Right, you're bloody well right

You know you got a right to say"

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513598https://brownsboard.com/post/513598Sun, 28 Jun 2015 12:38:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:49:23 GMT]]>

@howiedawg said:

Go Bloody Browns!

Great Tale Howie Dawg.

Whatever happened to your friend, Jamie Berger? Cuyahoga Falls isn't far from me.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513374https://brownsboard.com/post/513374Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:49:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:15:09 GMT]]>

@mudfly said:

That was a great read HowieDawg.....Interesting to see so many Browns fans posting here from across the pond.....

As a twist of fate, I have a brother who lived in the UK for a number of years and now he(and his son) are soccer fanatics who cant enough.....first time I visited him, I was ready to hit the road and start seeing the sights, but had to sit & wait the whole day till their games were over......ha!

To be fair, that way round the games are less than 2 hours, unlike if he had to wait for a browns game to finish 😉

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513347https://brownsboard.com/post/513347Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:15:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:03:08 GMT]]>

@howiedawg said:

Go Bloody Browns!

That was a great read HowieDawg.....Interesting to see so many Browns fans posting here from across the pond.....

As a twist of fate, I have a brother who lived in the UK for a number of years and now he(and his son) are soccer fanatics who cant enough.....first time I visited him, I was ready to hit the road and start seeing the sights, but had to sit & wait the whole day till their games were over......ha!

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513343https://brownsboard.com/post/513343Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:03:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:23:22 GMT]]>"and a young rookie called Eric Metcalf takes some reps for his new team." - now that alone was worth the price of the ticket, the only U. Of Texas player I ever liked watching even against us.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513334https://brownsboard.com/post/513334Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:23:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Fri, 26 Jun 2015 12:02:17 GMT]]>I became a browns fan in 1988. My first trip to the US was when I was about 13 in 1981. I was so excited about being in America - I had always wanted to go, the first night we got to the hotel in Orlando i put the TV on and this game I had heard about was being played on TV. The big crowds, the pads, helmets, razmataz and bone crushing hits grabbed me instantly. What I couldn't work out but loved, was that you were allowed to flatten opponents who WEREN'T CARRYING THE BALL! I played Rugby at school and that certainly wasn't allowed. I was hooked.

I flirted with becoming a Tampa Bay Bucs fan as this was the first place I set foot on in the US, but a waiter at the hotel told me that they were awful and I should think hard about that before I committed!!

So the next 7 years saw me becoming an overall NFL fan, a fan of the game but with no family in the US, no real connection, I didn't have a team. Then one night I met a guy called Jamie Berger. Jamie was from Cuyahogha Falls Ohio. he was the friend of a friend working in London and over a discussion he realised that I loved football. He asked me what team I followed and I told him none - he told me straight out that i was now a Browns Fan. He did not give me a choice. He went into great detail telling me that they were the best team i the history of the game, practically invented the modern game. He told me about Paul brown, the Municipal stadium, no logo, no cheerleaders, blue collar, hall of fame inductees, the fans, the dawgpound and thorwing dog biscuits at the opposition whilst stripped half naked barking like rabid wolves in something called the Dawgpound. How could I say no to that.

I was a Browns fan and proud. Then the NFL announced a series of exhibition games that were to be played in pre-season in Wembley Stadium in England. Guess what, Kosar's Browns would face Cunnigham's Eagles in August 1989 in London. Jamie's parents bundled up a parcel with hats, shirts and banners and shipped it all to us in the UK. I was actually going to see the Browns play! I remember that day so clearly - we tailgated at Jamie's house and then hopped on the train to Wembley.

I got to see the team that went on to beat the Steelers 51-0 in the opening game that season. I saw Webster Slaughter haul in a one hander right in front of me. I saw Bernie's ducking and diving, foot back stance under center, Clay Matthews hit people really hard and a young rookie called Eric Metcalf takes some reps for his new team. We lost, but hey it was pre-season and, little did I know then, I would get used to losing.

So that's how it all started for me. I followed the browns via newspapers until the internet came about. Cried into my beer like you all did when modell made his decision and got excited when we came back. But what turbo charged my addiction to the Browns was actually coming to Cleveland. I live in a small village in England, population of about 200. we have a pub. I met this guy there in 2003 called Gareth, G-Man o this board. We had known each other for about 3 years before I mentioned to him my love of Amercian football. Bizarrely, he was also a Browns fan. It's hard enough to find anyone over here who likes the NFL never mind has a team, never mind lives in your tiny village never mind a damned Browns fan!!!!

We decided to go to Cleveland together and later that year it's exactly what we did. Browns beat the Seahawks in overtime in 2007 via the sweet boot of Phil Dawson. What a first game. Seriously one of the best moments of my life. Well, this september we make it back "home" to Cleveland to see our gang of close close friends and the Browns for our 10th home game on 9 trips. record so far is 3-6. But what the hell - we love the Browns, Cleveland, Ohio and the amazing people we know and are yet to make friends with.

Go Bloody Browns!

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/513319https://brownsboard.com/post/513319Fri, 26 Jun 2015 12:02:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Wed, 24 Jun 2015 01:49:44 GMT]]>I moved to NE Ohio right before the Browns came back. I actually (thought I) hated watching the Browns when I lived there as I was accustomed to watching the Cowboys in their heyday and the Packers with peak Farve. We moved three years later and by about the second week of the season I realized I missed watching the Brownies. I've been hooked, probably to my detriment, ever since.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512955https://brownsboard.com/post/512955Wed, 24 Jun 2015 01:49:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Wed, 24 Jun 2015 01:30:46 GMT]]>

@baconhound said:

Father, that's why he gets no card today

LOL. Man if I only had read this in time. Would have been a good one to pull on my dad.

Same for me though. Grandfather returned from WW2 and saw the first Browns game ever played. He was from Xenia. Father was born in Columbus and had no other choice but the Bucks and Browns like my grandfather. I followed suit and am a diehard for life even though I have never stepped foot in CLE

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512948https://brownsboard.com/post/512948Wed, 24 Jun 2015 01:30:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:20:42 GMT]]>

@nordawg said:

I mean Rocky, Herb, Nellie from the Sox. i thought that was soooo cool. From then on i want to support all the Cleveland teams.

i had a Milt Plum Card. And Frank Ryan card, but the reason i wore my # in football was because of Gary Collins. Yes i was on the edge of my chair durning the 64 game.

Colts D focused on Warfield and Collins made them pay.

Colavito, Score and... Nelson Fox???

Saw one of "The Rock's" 3-homerun games.

How good could Herb have been excepting that line drive?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512850https://brownsboard.com/post/512850Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:20:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:56:10 GMT]]>

@axe said:

I grew up a Browns fan because I was born in Euclid and grew up 30 miles east of Cleveland back in the Collier, Ryan, Jim Brown, Groza, Warfield, Kelly, Bo Scott etc etc days..... I was transplanted to Florida in 73 as a young man and became a Bucs fan at their inception.. I vividly remember 0-26.. No fan anywhere should have to endure that.

So, as a result I am a Bucs fan first.. And a Browns fan second..

I never thought I would see the Bucs win a Super Bowl... I believed without question I would see my Browns win one first. FUCK YOU ART MODEL!!!

I WILL see the Browns win a Lombardi in my lifetime..

I'm not really a fan of TBay anymore, but that was the team I rooted for when the commie Art took the team to Ratbird area. I liked Warren Sapp & Warrick Dunn.

I still think it was stupid for them to erase Buccaneer Bruce and the creamsicle uniforms.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512779https://brownsboard.com/post/512779Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:56:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 23 Jun 2015 03:12:17 GMT]]>

@the-muni-lot said:

I'm a Browns fan in Nebraska too. I guess we were just lucky. I've lurked on this board for a long time but your post inspired me to respond.

In all seriousness, when you grow up in Nebraska you generally aren't born into an NFL team. I mean we are a bit of a no man's land for that kind of thing. The western part of the state is mostly Broncos and the eastern part is mostly Chiefs I guess (with a handful of Bears, Vikes, and Packers fans), but really everyone just kind of falls into a team for various reasons. I guess no one can accuse me of bandwagoning on a team due to recent success, haha.

(By the way I've had 18 county plates on my car before. My 96 year old grandma still lives in Gothenburg.)

Wow, small world.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512746https://brownsboard.com/post/512746Tue, 23 Jun 2015 03:12:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 23 Jun 2015 02:04:09 GMT]]>I actually have a pretty cool story to this. I was born in Dayton at good ol' Wright Patterson AFB in the glorious year of 1989. Moved around a lot as a kid naturally but I always between my 2 brothers and I drew my heritage most near and dear to Ohio.

I had an interesting choice and two unique backgrounds to choose from. My grandfather (dad's dad) played in the MLB with the Indians and loves Cleveland Sports. My dad has always rooted for Cleveland sports as well, but roots hard for the Reds as well. Why you may ask? My grandmother (dad's mom) knew the late great Marge Schott as high school friends and they went to ALL the classic Big Red Machine games. So hear I am, these two awesome reasons to support both major Ohio sports towns. Then came the playoffs of 2002. Mind you this puts me just at 13 years old, just when football starts to make sense. My dad has never been a man to show emotion, but the pure passion he showed for our Brownies during that lone, lone playoff experience of my natural lifetime (let that sink in) was enough to turn me into Cleveland for better or worse.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512738https://brownsboard.com/post/512738Tue, 23 Jun 2015 02:04:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What Made You a Browns Fan? on Tue, 23 Jun 2015 01:27:03 GMT]]>

@broganreynik said:

Living in Nebraska, there isn't really a natural team to root for. A lot of Donkey fans around here, and the Pollocks all root for the Packers. I was never interested in either growing up. I'm a die-hard Nebraska football fan, only missed three games since 1993. So, when Scott Frost entered the league when I was 12, I became a fan of the Jets.

NFL was never really my big interest. I'd watch it, but I didn't really care that much about how the Jets did, so when Frosty went to the Buccaneers, it was easy for me to jump ship. Then Frost went to the Browns, and being a douchebag teenager, I didn't want to be a Browns fan, and went back to the Jets.

Fast forward to Bill Callahan running NU football into the ground, and running off to NY. Being a Husker fan made me question my allegiances again. Bear in mind, I still wasn't much of an NFL fan, just felt like I needed to have a team.

I decided to give the Browns a shot. They had classic uniforms, have probably the most collegiate like fan base, and they were really the rightful heir to my allegiance.

Turns out, being a Browns fan was what I needed to jump start my NFL fandom. Nebraska football is still first and foremost, but I find myself living and dying with the Browns on Sundays, just as I do with the Huskers on Saturdays.

I'm ashamed to say I shunned the Browns at one point, but I'm proud to say they're my team now.

That may seem like a stupid reason to be a Fan of a team, or like I'm not really invested in it as much as others, but I am full-fledged Brownies till I die.

It's also a lot better reason than why I'm a Knicks fan. I loved their arena music when I was 8, and just stuck with them.

I'm a Browns fan in Nebraska too. I guess we were just lucky. I've lurked on this board for a long time but your post inspired me to respond.

In all seriousness, when you grow up in Nebraska you generally aren't born into an NFL team. I mean we are a bit of a no man's land for that kind of thing. The western part of the state is mostly Broncos and the eastern part is mostly Chiefs I guess (with a handful of Bears, Vikes, and Packers fans), but really everyone just kind of falls into a team for various reasons. I guess no one can accuse me of bandwagoning on a team due to recent success, haha.

(By the way I've had 18 county plates on my car before. My 96 year old grandma still lives in Gothenburg.)

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/512737https://brownsboard.com/post/512737Tue, 23 Jun 2015 01:27:03 GMT