FanNation - The Republic of Sport

OK... maybe it is time to take the kid gloves off here... this is a biot dated (from the end of the 2007 season) bt applicable.


I will use an extreme example, but all of you have encountered these people, and a few of you might even be one of these.

After the earlier BCS bowls and before the NC game, while perusing the TDs I stumbled across a female fan who was claiming to be so disenfranchised with NCAAF that she was swearing off the sport. She was disappointed her team wasn't playing for the NC, and disappointed the team she hated (OSU) was playing in the NC game, even though after some inquiries she could not name a more deserving team (I didn't have to give reasons against other teams, I just listed the viable candidates - she provided the reasons).

What's worse - her favorite team - USC! Despite 2 losses, her team had once again won their conference, got a bid to the Rose Bowl, posted an extremely impressive showing against Illinois, was a shoe in to finish in the top 5 in the voting polls, and was already considered a favorite for the conference and NC in 2008 - and she felt disenfranchised?

My advise was simple - get some perspective or leave - all college sports. Period. If you can't be happy with USCs success, you can't be happy being a fan of any college football team. There'ss more to root for than NC games. If this is your perspective, you have no business watching college sports. It is 1 thing to demand perfection from professional adults, it's another to expect it from amateur teenagers and early 20 somethings.

Perhaps she could learn from the team and fans she hated so much that it was overshadowing the fact her team again posted a great season. They started the season predicted to finish 4th in their conference. A quick glance at all the under classmen on the roster had Buckeye fans thinking 4th was optomistic. When they found themselves in the NC hunt they were ecstatic. When they lost that chance in a game against Illinois they were still happy with how much better their team had finished compared to what they expected - in all honesty they would have been happy with a top 4 conference finish. They ended the season celebrating a win over their rivals and a chance to loose to USC in the Rose Bowl (I would have rather played anyone anywhere than USC in Pasadena). Meanwhile, she felt disenfranchised after USC's season and 2008 outlook?

Again, what she needed was to learn some perspective from the fans of the teams she hated so much.

If you even remotely resemble this lady, don't waste your time with anything resembling an excuse or explanation.

Leave college sports now, as fast as you can log off, randomly change your password, delete all links to college sports related sites, never to return - for your good and the good of your team - leave - because you have completely lost any and all perspective and have nothing of value to add.

I agree with this. OU fans are spoiled with their success. As I said, I'll get over my disappointment with the NCG and there can be no doubt the Sooners had a darned good season - one that many teams would give their eyeteeth to have.

I don't count for everyone in Austin but i always cheer for the Big 12, I won't pick fun though I imagine losing 5 straight bowl games is hard to get over. Then again I wouldn't know how tough it is, Texas win's their Bowl games. Sure would of liked to see Florida lose though granted not nearly as much as Joklahoma fan's did.

Are you just savoring the moment by sticking the knife in and twisting while I'm down? You seem to be sending mixed signals. And UTx doesn't ALWAYS win their bowl games, just as OU doesn't ALWAYS lose theirs, despite recent history. Our allegiance to a particular team shouldn't lead us to disrespect a different team and all of its fans. Rivalries are fun when they stay within certain constraints but they can become ugly, too.

I am sorry you are leaving the season with such a bitter taste in your mouth(I read your other blog). I have read many of your posts and see you as a good and knowledgeable fan. Prove It makes great points about finding the good things about college football and not expecting or demanding perfection. I find sympathy with your feelings about the disrespect that comes rather undeservedly with playing for a national championship and losing. Most of it seems to be coming from fans of teams that wanted to be there instead of you. Someone has to lose and Florida was a very good team that Oklahoma played almost to their equal. As an aside, I wish you hadn't brought Tebow's faith into it. I think people should not try to judge anyone else's faith or non-faith, or the way they live their faith or non-faith. I realize it was probably heat of the moment for you and that behaviors from either side of that particular fence can be irritating to those on the other side.

I appreciate your understanding and meaningful comments on my blog, JP.

As for Tebow's faith - I wish he didn't bring it into the games so openly. By doing so, I'm afraid it stimulated my comments on it. I just don't believe it's necessary or appropriate to make a public show of one's faith in a football game. But that's just my opinion.

what a sadand pathetic loser thunderboomer is-and what joke of a conference the big12 is-60 points huh u could barely even get 14 nice offense espically made for the big 12 but not when playing a real team from a real football conference THE SEC RULES ONE AGAIN CHOKELAHOMA

face it ou sucks in bowlgames and against texas

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 03:48 PM ET  01.14 by orlarkman

what a sadand pathetic loser thunderboomer is-and what joke of a conference the big12 is-60 points huh u could barely even get 14 nice offense espically made for the big 12 but not when playing a real team from a real football conference THE SEC RULES ONE AGAIN CHOKELAHOMA

I'll try to get over this verbal thrashing. It will be a challenge, given the articulate nature of the comment.