Guesstimate on # of TN Fans, True Fans

#28
#28
Coy53175 said:
Best guess on how many True TN fans there are on this planet. Guys and gals that claim TN no matter what. Not the wish wash fan who doesn’t own or wear a spec of TN orange.

My guess. 900k to 1m
Click to expand...
Don't know the exact number, but here to proudly say I am one of them!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Coy53175
#30
#30
sami said:
I can tell you from living most of my life in the NJ/NY area that despite this not being a college sports hotbed, to say the least, the two schools most represented from my experience are Penn State and Notre Dame. Both are arrogant, delusional bases that know nothing of college sports other than their team, and believe the world revolves around them. Most are 'satellite' fans who never attended or have any affiliation to these schools, and these can be the most rabid.

But the worst, by far, are Penn State grads. I knew more than a few defending Paterno vehemently during the Sandusky pedophile stuff to a disturbing extent, following the story so obsessively that you avoided conversation with them. To this day they are pining away to build another statue. I am fortunately not around these people any more.
Click to expand...
I think you meant to say State Penn.
 
#31
#31
Coy53175 said:
Best guess on how many True TN fans there are on this planet. Guys and gals that claim TN no matter what. Not the wish wash fan who doesn’t own or wear a spec of TN orange.

My guess. 900k to 1m
Click to expand...
Are you going to define “true fans”?
 
  • Like
Reactions: adam.vol
#33
#33
Dansky said:
Are you going to define “true fans”?
Click to expand...
True Fan:

A fan who supports the university’s teams no matter how shi_ _y they are.
A fan who is only a TN fan, not a SEC fan. A TN Fan.
A fan who follows the university’s sports 365.

I have been a fan since 94. Family was not into collegiate or professional sports so I was not born into Vol Nation. Attended first collegiate football game in 94 at Neyland and was baptized in the Orange. Love the university, love the atmosphere, love that there are Vols fans that are just as enthusiastic as me. Win or Lose we are the Tennessee VOLS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: adam.vol
#34
#34
I see a good bit around Georgia, saw a goid looking woman at Walmart earlier all decked out in Vol gear. Went to magic kingdom last week, saw way more Tennessee shirts than anyone else. I'd say the number is way over that op.
 
#35
#35
There are different ways to measure us.

On the raw number of fans, see above. We're Top 15, maybe Top 10 or so.

On the intensity, the devotion, of fans, we're at or near #1.

On the intelligence of fans, well, if I had to go by this forum, I'd say we are middle of the road. Lot of dumb folks, but plenty of smart folks, too.

On the politeness of fans, we're way down low. Nebraska fans famously stand to applaud opposing team players who leave the field injured. While we boo them the instant they hit the grass. Yes, yes, I know why we boo. I'm just saying. Polite fan bases applaud. We boo. We're a very suspicious, one-sided, and spiteful bunch.

So we're superlative in some ways, average in others, and pretty weak in yet others.

Overall, I like us. I wouldn't want us to be any different. Well, maybe a little smarter would be good. Otherwise...

Go Vols!
 
Last edited:
#39
#39
VFL-82-JP said:
I've always thought we numbered around 4M. So the study Tman found echoes fairly true.

The dude who did the estimating, Tony Altimore, is a Michiganite who lives in New York City. Given that there is always bias in any estimate of this sort, I would guess his numbers for most B10 schools is gonna be a bit high, and his estimates for SEC programs will be a bit low.

Appllying that bit of fuzzy math, the real numbers are likely something along these lines:

Ohio State - 11M (probably no inflation to this, since the dude is likely a Michigan fan)
Notre Dame - 8M (ditto, plus ND has a natural fan base (Catholics) nationwide)
Texas - 8M
Florida - 6M
Penn St - 5M
Michigan - 5M
Oregon - 5M (probably true, though there are gonna be a LOT of bandwagon fans in this number)
Bama - 5M (ditto)
USC - 4M
LSU - 4M
Georgia - 4M (probably more than that, but a lot will be bandwagon fans)
A&M - 4M (possibly more than that)
Auburn - 4M
Tennessee - 4M
Wisconsin - 3M
Stanford - 3M or less (Stanford is like Vandy or Northwestern; important academically, but small actual fan base)

I'd put the Vols, Auburn, UGa, A&M, and LSU (along with USCw, Ore, Mich, and PSU) all in about the same boat, 4M to 5M range. Bama will be at about the same spot as their bandwagon dissipates. Florida has more simply because their state is so populous and they're the flagship of the state education system. Ditto for Texas (California doesn't have a real flagship university, it's split among a few).

I'd certainly put Ohio St, Notre Dame, Texas, and Florida above the rest. Most everyone else on Altimore's list could be grouped together in the 4M-5M range. Including the Vols. But probably not Wisconsin or Stanford.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
Interesting that 4 of the top 5 are in the playoffs, coincidence?
 
#40
#40
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
I’m pretty sure he means “people who never think Tennessee will lose yet never complain when they do and always give them every excuse imaginable when it happens.”

I’ve never encountered those people anywhere but on message boards, but they are numerous there.
Click to expand...
After a loss I encounter many fans on message boards and out in the wild who are complaining aplenty. It's their right too. No need to try and stop them. Their actually pretty funny sometimes...
 
#41
#41
MAD said:
Interesting that 4 of the top 5 are in the playoffs, coincidence?
Click to expand...
It is certainly an interesting correlation.

One could presume that the best programs are the best because of the degree they're supported by large fan bases. Makes even more sense now that we're in the NIL era.

Or one could go full-blown aluminum foil hat conspiracy, and try to argue those four teams were guided to where they are by ESPN and the CFP precicely because they have the biggest fan bases (== more $$$).

I could certainly see the former. Not nuts enough to buy into the latter.

Go Vols!
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAD
#42
#42
UT I'm guessing 2-3M, although sometimes is seems like a much bigger #.

Cant wait to see Bama's 2025 stats!
 
#43
#43
Coy53175 said:
True Fan:

A fan who supports the university’s teams no matter how shi_ _y they are.
A fan who is only a TN fan, not a SEC fan. A TN Fan.
A fan who follows the university’s sports 365.

I have been a fan since 94. Family was not into collegiate or professional sports so I was not born into Vol Nation. Attended first collegiate football game in 94 at Neyland and was baptized in the Orange. Love the university, love the atmosphere, love that there are Vols fans that are just as enthusiastic as me. Win or Lose we are the Tennessee VOLS.
Click to expand...
That’s me,graduated after 10 years😂😂 attended every game even Stokley.
 
#47
#47
Tennessee fans are EVERYWHERE. I live in California, and every time I wear a UT hat or shirt I can count on hearing “Go Vols!”
This includes the Rose Bowl game this past week. I was one of several knuckleheads who thought it was a good idea to buy Rose Bowl tickets before the OSU game. (We paid $300+ for seats that were going for <$150 on New Year’s Eve.)
 
#48
#48
Coy53175 said:
Best guess on how many True TN fans there are on this planet. Guys and gals that claim TN no matter what. Not the wish wash fan who doesn’t own or wear a spec of TN orange.

My guess. 900k to 1m
Click to expand...
More
 
#50
#50
Carl Pickens said:
I’m not buying their study. I’ll never believe that Wisconsin and Stanford have larger fan bases than Tennessee
Click to expand...
I can't vouch for the integrity of the info. Someone ask the question here instead of google. I asked google and presented what it spit out.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top