I find it's pretty easy for me to get into a sport I'm not usually that into if they have a local connection and are doing something cool like winning. Take Sporting KC, for instance. I've cared a lot more about watching their games this year than any of the Royals games, even though I've still watched 90% of the Royals games. I think I'm more likely to follow another local team that's being successful in a different sport rather than picking a different, non-local team in a sport I already watch.
The Royals have successfully weaned me from much desire to go out to the K to see games, which kind of makes me sad when I think about it. But their decades of suckiness combined with shrugging their shoulders at a downtown stadium combined with the them parkization of the stadium have left me where all that happens when I go out there is I sit and get angry at the stupidity of that franchise and Jackson County. No reason to waste my time or money on that. My fantasy baseball teams leave me with lots of interest in baseball generally.
I think it would not necessarily be that hard to find another college team to support. You can find a team that isn't going to play the Cats much, if at all, and there are all kinds of connections you can use to hook into the team (family members who attend, good friends who went there, living close to the school, etc.). I think the hook is what's kind of critical.
