Santa Clara
For me, it was my connection to Santa Clara University that got my pennant collection started. And it is still the heart of my collection (although it is now pretty rare for me to find one I don't have). The Division I football program was long gone by the time I attended SCU, but I'd see the Orange Bowl trophy (and two Sugar Bowl trophies) when I attended SCU basketabll games (watching Kurt Rambis and others) as a kid.
I also like that a) most of these pennants are very rare, and b) the competition for them is not as tough as it is for some of the other reams I collect (e.g., Giants, 49ers, Astros, Oilers).
Finally, I know I've said it here before, but the 49ers would never have existed without Santa Clara University (Owners Tony Morabito and Al Ruffo, Coach Buck Shaw, Team colors from SCU). And I was a big 49ers fan as a kid. So collecting Santa Clara items is sort of like collecting pre-professional 49ers stuff.
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