The Dallas Cowboys posted an application via Twitter on Jan. 10 for those interested in becoming fans of the team, allowing students and community members to see if they make the cut as true fans of the team.
“We always have the die-hard fans, but you see a lot more people come out wearing Cowboys gear when they’re winning,” said Reed Puckett, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas majoring in exercise science. Puckett was referring to fans that act as Bandwagoners.
Bandwagoning, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a phrase often used in the sports world to describe opportunistic fans whose support for a team is based simply on the organization’s recent and usually unpredicted success.
In an attempt to detect “bandwagoners” inside the fan base of the Dallas Cowboys, the franchise adopted a bandwagon fan application created from a supporter and made it official through social media, according to www.NESN.com.
The application, which was attached to the tweet, included questions aimed to weed out the bandwagoners. The questions included a range of topics such as previous experience rooting for the team, whether or not the applicants have “talked trash” on the Dallas Cowboys, and also included photos of past players for the applicant to name.
Another question asked whether or not the applicant would be willing to work on Thanksgiving Day, a requirement many Cowboys’ fans say is crucial.
“The amount of exposure for Dallas has been good for fans, but also for the league,” said Amy Fish, a senior majoring in psychology from South Carolina. “The NFL ratings went down early in the season, and myself and most people attribute the ratings rise to the success of the Cowboys. People love to see the Cowboys do well.”
But some fans are cautious to climb aboard given the recent history of gaffs and let-downs of the Cowboys. Fans say most of these disappointing seasons have been blamed on Romo, and they say the team is now heading in the right direction given his absence. The Cowboys lost starting quarterback Tony Romo during a preseason game to a broken bone in his back, according to ESPN.
“I think a lot more people are ready to see the Cowboys win since Tony Romo is gone,” said Puckett. “Romo was one of the main factors in people not liking the Cowboys for a long time.”
During their 2016 season, Dallas shocked the football world not only by winning their division, but by earning the No. 1 ranking in their conference and securing a spot in the divisional round of the playoffs.
However, on Jan. 15 the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-34 in their divisional round, a loss Puckett said will rid the fan base of the bandwagoners, and the true fans will continue to support their team all year long.
For those interested in applying to become true fans of the Dallas Cowboys, the application is available on www.NESN.com.
Writer: Patrick Campbell