This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.Happy Independence Day Weekend! This is our first post of NCAA Football 11 sponsored posts throughout the week. During the series, we value your input greatly.

EA Sports is making this week all about the fan, and today the network is discussing how we all became fans of our respective teams.  My story isn't all that exciting as both of my parents graduated from Florida State and being a 'Nole is in my blood.  A few months back, however, member and frequent contributor MiamiNole shared his story with us:

I am from Miami, but I transferred to FSU because I wanted the college experience. I was a Cane fan, and thought I would go to FSU games and root against them. When I first started going, I would mockingly ask how to do such an intricate chop. Along the way though, something happened. I got sucked into the atmosphere. Seeing Garnet and Gold everywhere became exciting. The tailgates on game day, banging on the drum in the Union before, and the celebrations at The Winkle after; well it was just awesome. Not to mention, the friendliness of the town called Tallahassee. The atmosphere was what I had always wanted to experience. I don't know when it happened exactly, but at some point, I started hating that Miami was doing something. I think a big part of that was being a Miami fan that could not find any other fans that werent on a band wagon. Seriously, ask a UM fan who Kenny Kelly is, 80% have no idea, forget Clement, Covington, or any other guy that played on that team when Butch was rebuilding.There was also the great victories. I got to see us beat Florida with Rix, I went to the first ACC championship. I drove to Nashville and watched our band obliterate Kentuckys. There was a game too? I missed it :/

Again, Im not sure when it happened, but I remember the whole aura of FSU. I got sucked into the culture. Unfortunately I went when Jeff was the OC and Bobby was asleep at the wheel, but I still had a ridiculous amount of amazing memories. I like to think that becoming a fan during those times (read: never really in conention for the nat'l championship and abandoning UM when they had Dorsey because I realized I wasn't a hurricane) will make me appreciate the success all the more when we return the promised land. Thinking about it now though, I am hungry for success. I was at the Penn State game, my last home game was Zook being carried off of Bowden field.

Many of you have already shared your story with us here, and if you have some time, I encourage you to read the comments to learn some of the amazing background stories posted on the original story. Also, I apologize for this somewhat duplicative article.  The prompts will get better throughout the week, I promise.  If you've never signed up or have signed up but were afraid to comment, now would be a great time to share your story!