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I have to be honest and confess that I am mystified somewhat by most fanbases' reaction to losses, or even losing streaks like ours. I want to start by stating the obvious. In our sport there is exactly one winner and one loser in EVERY contest, without exception. Considering that fact, it is prudent to accept in one's mind that losing is, at least, a possibility if you choose to compete. To extend the argument even further and take a closer look at a 3 game losing streak (like the one we are mired in), I ask you to assume equally matched teams. Most would readily concede that the sides of flipped coin are also equally matched. If on one side we put an "L" and on the other a "W" there would be a 1 in 8 chance that 3 L's would come up in a row ( I am a math teacher, trust me). Now considering that seasons are 12 games long, if you are playing schedules filled with equally matched teams, you could expect to have one 3 game losing streak every two seasons. Obviously, there are a lot of variables in CFB that don't present themselves in coin flipping, but I think it helps to look at things that way.
Obviously we don't want to be average and we hope to be superior to our opponents, tipping things in our favor more often than not, resulting in good won loss records.
I consider myself about as competitive as any person on the planet. I flat out LOVE any chance I can to compete. I mean, I couldn't give up sports until I was absolutely forced to physically. I played pick up hoops against the twenty somethings (good athletes) until my mid late 40s and actually played baseball competitively until just before my 50th birthday etc etc. I didn't matter what the sport was, I would play. Those experiences, combined with being a coach, for all those years have unrepentently beaten into my head that, despite how much I hate to, the reality is, sometimes I would lose. It just comes with the territory. But the more I think about it, knowing the fact that I COULD lose is what makes the experience of REAL competition so much more rich. When the opponent is formidable and the ensuing battle expected to be most fierce, the quality of the experience cannot be surpassed. To win under such circumstances is most rewarding, but the problem is, you have to risk the most physically and emotionally just to step into that arena.
I am having trouble processing some of the stuff I hear around here. I have to be honest. Like anybody, I have been disappointed after every loss. However, I don't for a second feel as though I have been wronged in any way or subjected to any unusual punishment. I don't feel like it is too painful to endure any more and I don't feel like I have to back off the level of my emotional involvement in order to cope. In fact, it is just the opposite. I am here for the long haul because I love the Jackets and I love the challenge and spirit of true competition. Because I am too brittle to compete myself anymore, it has become even MORE important to me to be a Ramblin Wreck fan just to fill the void.
Honestly, I am beginning to wonder if our culture has become so entitled and self-absorbed that we no longer view a loss as a loss, but rather something that we were rightfully entitled to that has been taken away due to somebody's incompetence causing undue personal injury. We no longer feel fortunate to win, just harmed if we don't. In fact, it may no longer even be considered entertainment if we don't come out on the winning end.
I will readily admit that, as a player, it was always easier to walk off the field and absorb a loss mentally than it ever has been as a coach or a fan. I think the reason is that I experienced first hand the strength and talent of the guys I was going against and, in doing so, developed respect for them. Probably also, being physically exhausted tends to quell the anger a little.
Right now our kids are engaged in a battle to turn some things around. The next game is huge. We could lose. However, we could get things back on track with a solid performance and a win. I urge you reflect on what it means to be a fan and simply stay engaged while benefitting deeply and fully from the beauty of athletic competition. The joy of winning would be totally absent if it was the only possibility. Try and remember that.
Obviously we don't want to be average and we hope to be superior to our opponents, tipping things in our favor more often than not, resulting in good won loss records.
I consider myself about as competitive as any person on the planet. I flat out LOVE any chance I can to compete. I mean, I couldn't give up sports until I was absolutely forced to physically. I played pick up hoops against the twenty somethings (good athletes) until my mid late 40s and actually played baseball competitively until just before my 50th birthday etc etc. I didn't matter what the sport was, I would play. Those experiences, combined with being a coach, for all those years have unrepentently beaten into my head that, despite how much I hate to, the reality is, sometimes I would lose. It just comes with the territory. But the more I think about it, knowing the fact that I COULD lose is what makes the experience of REAL competition so much more rich. When the opponent is formidable and the ensuing battle expected to be most fierce, the quality of the experience cannot be surpassed. To win under such circumstances is most rewarding, but the problem is, you have to risk the most physically and emotionally just to step into that arena.
I am having trouble processing some of the stuff I hear around here. I have to be honest. Like anybody, I have been disappointed after every loss. However, I don't for a second feel as though I have been wronged in any way or subjected to any unusual punishment. I don't feel like it is too painful to endure any more and I don't feel like I have to back off the level of my emotional involvement in order to cope. In fact, it is just the opposite. I am here for the long haul because I love the Jackets and I love the challenge and spirit of true competition. Because I am too brittle to compete myself anymore, it has become even MORE important to me to be a Ramblin Wreck fan just to fill the void.
Honestly, I am beginning to wonder if our culture has become so entitled and self-absorbed that we no longer view a loss as a loss, but rather something that we were rightfully entitled to that has been taken away due to somebody's incompetence causing undue personal injury. We no longer feel fortunate to win, just harmed if we don't. In fact, it may no longer even be considered entertainment if we don't come out on the winning end.
I will readily admit that, as a player, it was always easier to walk off the field and absorb a loss mentally than it ever has been as a coach or a fan. I think the reason is that I experienced first hand the strength and talent of the guys I was going against and, in doing so, developed respect for them. Probably also, being physically exhausted tends to quell the anger a little.
Right now our kids are engaged in a battle to turn some things around. The next game is huge. We could lose. However, we could get things back on track with a solid performance and a win. I urge you reflect on what it means to be a fan and simply stay engaged while benefitting deeply and fully from the beauty of athletic competition. The joy of winning would be totally absent if it was the only possibility. Try and remember that.
