Would love your feedback.

So I'm minding my own business at work on a slow day yesterday and get an email from someone we'll just call Colleague One. He sent an email to me and someone we'll call Colleague Two (a Hoo). He said in the email, that he wanted to devote more time to being a college football fan (I love the commitment). And he wants to start following a team, but not sure which one. So he was seeking the help of the "resident experts".

Of course, as soon as I see this email, I start getting fired up. So I immediately sent a Zoom link to him and Colleague #2. Within two minutes, we were on a long but awesome Zoom meeting ("awesome Zoom meeting" an oxymoron, I know. But I digress). Anyway, Colleague One laid out his general thoughts and beliefs, and then we went on from there.

Here is his criteria. But he said he was totally open to something out of the box.

1. He isn't anti-blue blood. But doesn't want to be looked at as a bandwagon or front runner (Alabama, Ohio State, Clemsonyou know, the usual suspects).
2. He grew up in Maryland and we work in Pennsylvania, so he doesn't want to follow Maryland or Penn State (shouldn't be too hard to do LOL. Hate those guys.)
3. He wanted to avoid the UVa-Tech rivalry, because he wanted to not inject himself into the friendly banter between myself (we'll call me Colleague Zero) and Colleague Two.
4. He wants a team whose games televised regularly.
5. While he isn't completely against the Pac-12, he doesn't want to stay up late to watch all their games.
6. He doesn't want a scrub program that loses all the time (not mentioning any names, but Vanderbilt comes to mind). He wants someone who is decent and has a good chance of getting better. In other words, the elevator can be on a lower level, but the arrow should be pointing up.
7. He wants someone from a power conference for the most part (sorry, Boise).
8. He is not in a hurry to make this decision on a specific team. But wants to watch more games.
9. He writes "history, culture and location, coaches, or even scheme could and should play a factor in the decision."
10. He also likes baseball and it might help if the school was decent at baseball. Basketball not really a factor though.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

1) Who are your "side teams" that you follow, even if you are totally committed to Our Great Hokies?
2) With the criteria enumerated above, offer a team or a shortlist of teams that you would recommend to Colleague One.

I think I will cross post this on The Sabre for maximum participation.

I have not given my specific recommendations to Colleague One just yet. I'm taking my time here in the off season.

Thanks for reading. -Maroon Baboon
[Post edited by Maroon Baboon at 02/25/2021 6:42PM]