4 Faithfuls explain why they’re 49ers fans
No. 4: Randi Oligschlaeger’s fandom was heavily influenced by her mom. Oligschlaeger tells the story about being born on the day of a 49ers game.
Do you know the old saying “born to be a Niners fan”? For Randi Oligschlaeger, it’s true. She was born the day the 49ers were playing the Los Angeles Rams in December of 1986.
Oligschlaeger said her mom was determined to watch the game after giving birth and eventually the nurses had to oblige.
“My mom told everyone if she had a girl we were going to win that day,” Oligshlaeger said. “After some back and forth with the nurses, my mother finally got her way and was put in her private room. She sat up in bed while holding me and watched the Niners defeat the Rams.”
For many, turning 21 years old means a trip to Las Vegas. Not for Oligschlaeger. She decided to celebrate the milestone birthday at her first-ever NFL game. And once again the opposing team was the Rams, but there’s a reason.
”My dad was a Rams fan,” she continued. “So it was fun to attend the game with my mother, brother and I all rooting for the Niners, while he was going for the Rams. Unfortunately, we lost, but it was still an amazing experience. Our seats were close to the top but it didn’t matter. Just being at a real NFL game was amazing.”
The 49ers were one of the most successful teams in the 1980s and 1990s. But Oligschlaeger says this era is her favorite. “I’m loving how we did last season. It’s been very exciting being a fan for so long when they were horrible and now finally seeing the team come together so well.”
It took her a while to become a football fan. Like many kids, she found it boring. It wasn’t until she was around 11 or 12 years old when she starting asking her mom questions about the sport. Like a true member of the Niner Faithful, she threw the old videotape into the VCR and her mom showed Oligschlaeger “The Catch.”
”Watching the game and seeing ‘The Catch’ is what made me not only a football fan but a 49ers fan. If I were to try to get anyone to like the Niners, I’d probably have them watch that game,” Oligschlaeger added. “That and the Ronnie Lott documentary. Those will turn you into a 49ers fan!”