How can you like different schools in college sports. Its so weird.
It's been explained. Miami basketball didn't exist for almost two decades. Then for it's first decade back it wasn't relevant and was not at all covered by the media outside of Florida. UM being a national brand makes it a school very likely to have fans of other schools. Especially in basketball.
I understand what you're saying (1971-1984) but I don't buy it except for a small % of fans.
Let's assume you start being a "fan" of something at age 7, even then you really don't understand much. So if you were born between 1964 - 1977, maybe I could see it since the product didn't exist (more to come later).
Also, consider that 1980 was when we started having success with the football program. Even then, if you were born between 1973 - 1976, you hardly understood this early period in college football.
So if it was the football program that brought you here or began your affiliation, then those born between 1964 - 1972 began being fans when we didn't even have a basketball program.
Keep in mind between 1968 - 1979, we hardly had any success in football. We were awful, we had 2 winning seasons (both 6-5). My guess is that unless you were raised on it or went here, then you likely didn't develop you're affiliation with Miami during this period. So basically those born between 1961-1972 weren't likely drawn here randomly during that time because we were awful.
So where does that leave us...
We sucked in football from 1968-1979.
We had no basketball program from 1971-1985.
That leaves (1980-1985) when there was success in football but no basketball program. So if you were born between 1972-1977 and began being a fan because of the football program, then at least you have the "excuse" that you can't support something that doesn't exist. With that said, it is clear these people only support a winning program.