I grew up in New Jersey. Being a Miami Hurricanes fans is something that does not compute in regards to that fact. However, fandom is something that can be surged into your DNA at any point in life. In younger years, I got really into football. Beyond the simplicity of looking at cool uniforms and saying things like, “look at how fast he can run.” I started to understand the rules of the game, retaining names of players, and feeling passionately connected to wins and losses.
In the region that I’m from, fandom is a heritage. It’s a trust that’s passed down generationally.