You're Either with Me or Against Me

Tim has just raised a good point. As a USD graduate, at no point can you route for Gonzaga. While there may be a desire to cheer for other WCC or Pac-10 teams in the NCAA tournament, there is a line that cannot be crossed. I mean, our cheer is "U-S-D, Gonzaga Sucks." Classy? Of course not. Catchy? For sure. 

Apparently the rationale was to increase media coverage and attention to the WCC. Although this may on its face seem like it would help USD, it ultimately hurts it. You see, the better that Gonzaga does in the tournament means the more attention Gonzaga will get. In addition, by being in the spotlight as a quality basketball program, they will increase their recruiting base. Not only over a broader area, but also to better players. Ultimately this means that Gonzaga's basketball program will become even better. 

In a conference where the second place team was nationally ranked most of the season and had single digits losses yet still didn't make the tournament, winning the WCC tournament is the best option for USD. Accordingly, at no point should a USD fan route for Gonzaga. 

On similar grounds I think that individuals should never cheer for their archrival. This occurs in a few different situations. First of all, if two teams you dislike are playing each other, you don't have to route for the team you dislike less. You can simply not take a side or even better not even watch the match. This would occur for me if the Dodgers faced the Yankees in the World Series, which would be just terrible. Secondly, it bothers me when people make bets on teams they dislike. Sure, it might be a good bet if the line/odds are good, but people need to be loyal to their favorite teams. Being a fan means not compromising your loyalty even if it would produce a financial gain.