[alnorth]

regarding student population and alumni: there are lots of people who follow a college team even though they never went to that school. Notre Dame is one obvious example of this.

This is just anecdotal, but I have an uncle who is an absolute die-hard Auburn fan. Goes to several games a year, always wearing an AU hat, always ready to talk SEC football. He also never went to college. That doesn't matter though, because if you live in SEC country, chances are good you are going to follow SEC football because everyone around you is going to games and talking about it Monday morning.