For the "I'll be a good fan when the team consistently wins" guy.........

[sonnygarcia]

YOU'RE PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

College football is not the "what have you done for me lately" type sport, that would be the NFL, and the players who get paid millions, not the ones who give us a thousand hours of work each year playing football in return for a "free education". That education is not really free, lets take the amount of hours that go into a sport like football and divide that into tuition costs. Probably comes out to be about a typical summer job wage.

We CANNOT get to where we want to be without proper fan support, the players see it, the recruits see it and it will be something that sits in the back of their mind. This is a college team........ KIDS......... for those of you with kids, if they start losing in their youth sports do you leave early or not show up? Christ it kills me how thick-headed some of you are, get over yourselves.

It was just a pathetic showing from a mostly pathetic fan base, lets just be blunt. Pick it up.

 

[Gopher737]

Outstanding post!

 

[1983]

i agree

But, until we beat Wisconsin, Iowa and a Michigan or two once and a while, we will have to hear that crap. What I can't understand is people look at me like I'm nuts when I tell them that despite picking very high in the seat selection process, I was probably the first person to select my seats outside of the chair backs. I choose my seats to encompass what I thought was the total college football experience and it turned out very well. Don't waste your frustration on the folks that don't get it.

 

[Goldy247]

But, until we beat Wisconsin, Iowa and a Michigan or two once and a while, we will have to hear that crap. What I can't understand is people look at me like I'm nuts when I tell them that despite picking very high in the seat selection process, I was probably the first person to select my seats outside of the chair backs. I choose my seats to encompass what I thought was the total college football experience and it turned out very well. Don't waste your frustration on the folks that don't get it.

Gopherjay - as you know I've spend years and thousands of dollars inviting guests to the games and tailgate parties in hopes that they'd get season tickets and foster some State pride. I have changed my tune. I'm rolling with true Minnesota Golden Gopher Fans and to hell with the rest. Its alot more fun hanging around the Die Hards than trying to convert the pussies. So - I agree - Don't waste your frustration on folks that don't get it - they never will.

 

[Torres9]

YOU'RE PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

College football is not the "what have you done for me lately" type sport, that would be the NFL, and the players who get paid millions, not the ones who give us a thousand hours of work each year playing football in return for a "free education". That education is not really free, lets take the amount of hours that go into a sport like football and divide that into tuition costs. Probably comes out to be about a typical summer job wage.

We CANNOT get to where we want to be without proper fan support, the players see it, the recruits see it and it will be something that sits in the back of their mind. This is a college team........ KIDS......... for those of you with kids, if they start losing in their youth sports do you leave early or not show up? Christ it kills me how thick-headed some of you are, get over yourselves.

It was just a pathetic showing from a mostly pathetic fan base, lets just be blunt. Pick it up.

Threads like these miss the point. Stop wasting your time by trying to convince people to be "better" fans. These people aren't going to become true fans because you tell them to, in fact none of them are reading this board. The point of the stadium, new mentality etc, is to win "new" fans. This will happen over time. The dome sucked the life out of the fan base for two decades. It will take more than a few weeks to build it back again. But it will happen, so have faith, have fun and, in the meantime, keep you rattle level down.

 

[GopherGod]

YOU'RE PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

College football is not the "what have you done for me lately" type sport, that would be the NFL, and the players who get paid millions, not the ones who give us a thousand hours of work each year playing football in return for a "free education". That education is not really free, lets take the amount of hours that go into a sport like football and divide that into tuition costs. Probably comes out to be about a typical summer job wage.

We CANNOT get to where we want to be without proper fan support, the players see it, the recruits see it and it will be something that sits in the back of their mind. This is a college team........ KIDS......... for those of you with kids, if they start losing in their youth sports do you leave early or not show up? Christ it kills me how thick-headed some of you are, get over yourselves.

It was just a pathetic showing from a mostly pathetic fan base, lets just be blunt. Pick it up.

This coming from a guy who never went to a single game prior to this season because he didn't like the dome. You are the last person that should be lecturing on what entails being a good fan.

 

[UpnorthGo4]

Threads like these miss the point. Stop wasting your time by trying to convince people to be "better" fans. These people aren't going to become true fans because you tell them to, in fact none of them are reading this board. The point of the stadium, new mentality etc, is to win "new" fans. This will happen over time. The dome sucked the life out of the fan base for two decades. It will take more than a few weeks to build it back again. But it will happen, so have faith, have fun and, in the meantime, keep you rattle level down.

Nice job, Torres9.

 

[sonnygarcia]

This coming from a guy who never went to a single game prior to this season because he didn't like the dome. You are the last person that should be lecturing on what entails being a good fan.

hahahaha, hey little buddy, its been a while since you've been on here to spew your garbage. You're right, I'm sorry I've didn't live in the cities until 2 years ago and even then was in the process of getting married during the prior season, I should have prioritized a little better Keep using your one worthless comeback on me


I'm just disheartened by how some of the clueless people on this board (you included) think that these kids are in some awesome situation (b/c they get school paid for) where they need to perform to win over our fan base. I was in their shoes, granted a less notable sport (baseball), where I was able to go to college and get 65% of it paid for by playing a sport. There were many times when I was sitting on a plane or a bus wondering if the scholly was really worth it, given all the responsibilities that are placed on student athletes outside of class, and knowing when I was done my educational experiences were the only thing that would matter (or help me) on how successful I was after college. We think that we can treat these guys like highly paid professional athletes where we say "once they start winning consistently then they'll get our undivided attention". These are kids who chose to come represent this particular university, and we should be thankful for that and the time they put in to try to bring attention to our state's prized school. We need to suport them no matter the situation because these young guys are incredible talents and will better flourish with better fan support, not rocket science.

Losers like you who have never been close to something like the situation they go through refuse to understand this, instead you'll just keep ripping the program because it makes you feel better.

Keep up the good work supporting our guys!!!!

 

[zman]

I was in their shoes, granted a less notable sport (baseball), where I was able to go to college and get 65% of it paid for by playing a sport. There were many times when I was sitting on a plane or a bus wondering if the scholly was really worth it, given all the responsibilities that are placed on student athletes outside of class, and knowing when I was done my educational experiences were the only thing that would matter (or help me) on how successful I was after college.

Cry us a river. If it sucked so badly you could have quit and paid your entire way like everyone else. Life is about choices.

 

[sonnygarcia]

Cry us a river. If it sucked so badly you could have quit and paid your entire way like everyone else. Life is about choices.

whos crying a river??? Just saying they put in a ton of work to make U fans proud and need to be supported better, simple as that. They make sacrifices, and fans also need to make them to be a top program. YOU disagree with that???? Didn't think so.

 

[Schnoodler]

They are our athletes at our University. If we are fans of the program then we support them. It really is that simple. If you can't do that you are not a Gopher fan you are something else.

 

[The 12th Man]

Cry us a river. If it sucked so badly you could have quit and paid your entire way like everyone else. Life is about choices.

Spoken like someone who never went through it.

Sonny, don't waste your time trying to explain the situation to people like him. I've tried. It doesn't work.

 

[zman]

You're right. I paid my way through. So what? God knows I had to get by on brains and not athletic ability.

 

[Gophers507]

hahahaha, hey little buddy, its been a while since you've been on here to spew your garbage. You're right, I'm sorry I've didn't live in the cities until 2 years ago and even then was in the process of getting married during the prior season, I should have prioritized a little better Keep using your one worthless comeback on me


I'm just disheartened by how some of the clueless people on this board (you included) think that these kids are in some awesome situation (b/c they get school paid for) where they need to perform to win over our fan base. I was in their shoes, granted a less notable sport (baseball), where I was able to go to college and get 65% of it paid for by playing a sport. There were many times when I was sitting on a plane or a bus wondering if the scholly was really worth it, given all the responsibilities that are placed on student athletes outside of class, and knowing when I was done my educational experiences were the only thing that would matter (or help me) on how successful I was after college. We think that we can treat these guys like highly paid professional athletes where we say "once they start winning consistently then they'll get our undivided attention". These are kids who chose to come represent this particular university, and we should be thankful for that and the time they put in to try to bring attention to our state's prized school. We need to suport them no matter the situation because these young guys are incredible talents and will better flourish with better fan support, not rocket science.

Losers like you who have never been close to something like the situation they go through refuse to understand this, instead you'll just keep ripping the program because it makes you feel better.

Keep up the good work supporting our guys!!!!

I do agree with the fact that they do bust their asses day in day out just for a free education and do deserve alot of respect. Like the people ripping on Traye Simmons that's not cool. He didn't have to come here. He chose too and is working his ass off playing hard and then people are gonna rip on his nick name and take all these shots at him. it's like come on be real.

 

[GoAUpher]

You're right. I paid my way through. So what? God knows I had to get by on brains and not athletic ability.

Good for you. You certainly didn't get by with any sort of empathy or ability to view the world from someone elses shoes.

I was a D-III athlete. I recieved NO scholarship money for athletics. I had to work my tail off to be successful in the classroom and on the field. In the summer I had to work a full time job while doing my offseason workouts (without the athletic training staff they get here). And yes it was a choice. But that doesn't change the fact that these kids go school while working a full time job and that full time job is football. So you keep on being a horse's a** about this.

 

[josh087]

There are always going to be "what have you done for me lately" fans no matter where you are. But in most college football towns there are more loyal fans than bandwagon fans.

Unfortunately when you're a college in the 13th largest media market in the US, and there are already pro sports teams in baseball, basketball, hockey, and especially football, you're going to be at the bottom of the pecking order unless you win. Plain and simple.

I'm not going to pretend to know what a college football player goes through - but as a member of the marching band, we all put in countless hours supporting the university. We worked hard, and believe me, everyone in the band wondered if it was all worth the time. Especially since we had to PAY to be in the band. Yes, we had to PAY to take the "class."

This isn't about the band, either. For every football athlete on a full ride there are many more student athletes in other sports who don't get scholarships who work just as hard as the football team. And for every athlete in every sport there are countless students not involved in sports but involved in academics who put in countless hours as volunteers, leaders of organizations, committee members, etc.

I'm not saying give everyone a scholarship. I get it. The football team makes the money - the players deserve a scholarship.

But the argument that everyone needs to support them because they work hard isn't valid. So many students doing so many different things work just as hard - without the support the football team receives.

I'm always going to be a fan no matter what. But the players know what they signed up for as a division I football player. Undying fan support isn't something that is required - especially as a college in a major market is has to be earned.

 

[GoAUpher]

I don't think they need undying support. I just can't stand the "cry me a river" bulls**t.

 

[re3886]

and I got by on both...

You're right. I paid my way through. So what? God knows I had to get by on brains and not athletic ability.

So what? does that make me better than you? worse? that is the most pointless statement ever. I had to perform on the field to keep my athletic and the classroom room to keep my academic grants. So what? we all use the tools we are given. If you have never had to spread yourself that thin, you have no idea. Best to keep out of it.

 

[Bronko Nagurski Gopher]

YOU'RE PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

College football is not the "what have you done for me lately" type sport, that would be the NFL, and the players who get paid millions, not the ones who give us a thousand hours of work each year playing football in return for a "free education". That education is not really free, lets take the amount of hours that go into a sport like football and divide that into tuition costs. Probably comes out to be about a typical summer job wage.

We CANNOT get to where we want to be without proper fan support, the players see it, the recruits see it and it will be something that sits in the back of their mind. This is a college team........ KIDS......... for those of you with kids, if they start losing in their youth sports do you leave early or not show up? Christ it kills me how thick-headed some of you are, get over yourselves.

It was just a pathetic showing from a mostly pathetic fan base, lets just be blunt. Pick it up.

just getting to this post now. i would like to nominate it for post of the year. unfortunately, the highlighted part is ohhh so true when it comes to many a stubborn minnesotan. it is all about them in the end.

 

[Goldmember]

When you're a crappy fan you demonstarte to everyone that you are a shallow, crappy person.

A good fan is a good fan because they are strong enough of a person on their own, and they don't expect some sort of emotional return on their emotional and monetary investment.

Good fans are resilient. The state of their passion is unaffected by wins or losses. It is always high, regardless of how they demonstrate it.

Leaving early while shaking your head and muttering under your breath after a disheartening play late in the game is not a demonstration of passion. It is a demonstration of weakness. People who do this, for instance, are telling us a lot all about themselves -- not the team they pretend to "support".

 

[EG#9]

YOU'RE PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

College football is not the "what have you done for me lately" type sport, that would be the NFL, and the players who get paid millions, not the ones who give us a thousand hours of work each year playing football in return for a "free education". That education is not really free, lets take the amount of hours that go into a sport like football and divide that into tuition costs. Probably comes out to be about a typical summer job wage.

We CANNOT get to where we want to be without proper fan support, the players see it, the recruits see it and it will be something that sits in the back of their mind. This is a college team........ KIDS......... for those of you with kids, if they start losing in their youth sports do you leave early or not show up? Christ it kills me how thick-headed some of you are, get over yourselves.

It was just a pathetic showing from a mostly pathetic fan base, lets just be blunt. Pick it up.

How old would a "what have you done for me lately" fan of Gopher Football have to be? I would say they would have to be in their 50's or 60's right? I would guess the vast majority of us on this board have NEVER seen a good season of Gopher Football. I agree with your general point,l but I also sympathize with those who feel like it's not worth their time. I know I would be lying if I said the thought never crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn't "care so much" about Gopher Football. We've seen schools like Iowa, Northwestern, and Wisconsin reach the top of the Big Tean (and more than once each), but Minnesota can't find a way to get it done? That is pathetic (note that doesn't mean any person associated with Minnesota is pathetic, just the results of the last say 25 years). Big time college footbal is a big business, it is much closer to the NFL than it is youth sports. Again, I agree with like 90% of your main point, but I do see two sides to the issue.

 

[Schnoodler]

The only times I've felt that I shouldn't care about Minnesota Gopher football or basketball is when it clearly looked as though we werent' trying. The last couple years of Mason, and Munson. That's been about it. I even loved the Wacker years.

 

[ulfr]

If being a fan means showing up to the stadium early, showing up to campus hours early, never leaving a game until the final alma mater is sung [no matter how badly we are losing], following recruiting or showing up to victory walks, luncheons, and spring games I am proud to be a fan and season ticket holder for a decade. I have long too been bothered by this city's propensity for leaving sporting events early.

I take umbrage, however, with the notion that as fans we ought never be critical of the coach or members of the team. I am not suggesting chanting or taunting the coach or players. That being said, raising questions about the coaching or their decisions whether or not to play struggling players is hardly the hallmark of a bad fan. Groaning over bone headed misplays whilst sitting in the stands is hardly a crime against Gopher Nation, nor is writing about one's frustations on a fan board.

Further, these kids aren't playing on a sixth grade flag football team; they are men who have decided to play football at the highest level of collegiate sport. For example Traye Simmons has not looked particularly sharp in his coverage at times this season and, as noted above, has been criticized for it. In interviews this spring Mr Simmons has expressed interest at playing football professionally, going so far as to say he almost declared for the draft last winter. If Traye thinks he is going to the next level he had better get used to a little fan chatter on message boards! Having heard some of the things that will get screamed at pro-bowl caliber athletes by their own fans I can only imagine what he might be in store for

I'm just disheartened by how some of the clueless people on this board (you included) think that these kids are in some awesome situation (b/c they get school paid for) where they need to perform to win over our fan base... We think that we can treat these guys like highly paid professional athletes where we say "once they start winning consistently then they'll get our undivided attention". These are kids who chose to come represent this particular university, and we should be thankful for that and the time they put in to try to bring attention to our state's prized school. We need to suport them no matter the situation because these young guys are incredible talents and will better flourish with better fan support, not rocket science.

This quote immediately reminded me of one thing...
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[Rick Mons]

I take umbrage, however, with the notion that as fans we ought never be critical of the coach or members of the team. I am not suggesting chanting or taunting the coach or players. That being said, raising questions about the coaching or their decisions whether or not to play struggling players is hardly the hallmark of a bad fan. Groaning over bone headed misplays whilst sitting in the stands is hardly a crime against Gopher Nation, nor is writing about one's frustations on a fan board.

We probably agree more than disagree. What drives me crazy about those who complain is the lack of balance (or context) and the expressions of opinion as factual. (Well, there's a third one: saying a player or coach "sucks" and pretty much leaving that assessment out there. But that's just me.)

 

[Schnoodler]

There is a difference between talking about sport and attacking an individual. There are no gods on the football field, and there are no players that suck. Only athletes playing as well as they can, making mistakes, having successes.

 

[Khaliq]

There is a difference between talking about sport and attacking an individual. There are no gods on the football field, and there are no players that suck. Only athletes playing as well as they can, making mistakes, having successes.

I'm relatively comfortable saying Brian Russell sucks.

 

[upchurch]

When you choose to put yourself into a high profile position, you have to accept everything that comes with that. That includes fan comments. But it also includes adulation and a ton of perks. In essence, these players are professionals because they are being paid to play football. They are supplied much more than a free education. They get a heads up in jobs and other perks after football. They get a chance to travel. And above all, they get to play the greatest sport in the world. Is that worth getting ripped on by some of us frustrated fans? They have to decide.

 

[MNCH]

There is a difference between talking about sport and attacking an individual. There are no gods on the football field, and there are no players that suck. Only athletes playing as well as they can, making mistakes, having successes.

Good post!