Im more than happy to tell you how I think. I watch Tech sports b/c since I was 5 or 6 years old I have been a fan of Tech sports, introduced to it by my now deceased uncle. I have rooted for them through the most depressing times, losing every year, listening to the Ga fans and their mouths, watching the disrespect others throw so liberally at the school, not because the school itself sucks but because these other teams fans seem to get the competitive nature of sports and winning. It literally hurts when Tech loses, I dont apologize for that ! Tech makes money off of it's sports and they give free educations to the players via fan support. The individual players will be more than fine when they graduate, after all they went to Tech so Im not concerned with their overall welfare, it's secure.
Being a fan of Ga Tech sports does not mean that I have to accept poor play from players as they are correctly completing a rigorous academic demand. I should be able to watch the team I love and get upset when they fail. Im sure that going to Tech inspires student athletes to win- at everything. Would your point be valid if I were being critical of how they build a space shuttle ? most likely. But then again I wasn't raised to be a Tech sports fan because of the academics. I was raised to like Tech b/c it stands for excellence, it' the best institution in the world in my thoughts and the people who go there, even if they dont graduate, deserve respect just for getting in. But I also love and respect my wife and son and I have an obligation to point out their mistakes, not just watch them and smile at what they do simply b/c I love them.
But ultimately Tech student athletes accept free educations because of their sports abilities, otherwise they would be in school on academic scholarships. Tech and the ACC sign huge TV contracts to expose ( and take advantage of) the athletes, the athletes accept these free schollies to further themselves, as they should. Therefore when these players accept free education which can be a gateway to the NFL if not lucrative personal careers, I think they can handle my somewhat insignificant voice. For an athlete to tell me, a lifelong fan, that I am either for them or against them that is unacceptable. I've been for them for 48 years, 3 times longer than the player who said it has been alive ! Like I said I whole hardheartedly condemn the idiot who got personal !
But
I dont accept failure without complaint , I never will ! I dont accept it in my personal life and I wont from Tech players. No ! I cant play but then again If I could I would at Tech, if I could get in and I would be just as hard on myself as I am on the current players. I dont personally insult them but I do expect a LB'er who is studying physics to know where to line up, if he is on scholarship I have a right to expect him to know how to wrap up and tackle low rather than at the shoulder pads. If that makes me unworthy of being a Tech fan then expectations arent high enough of Tech sports ! I want smart football players to do the basic things involved in playing the game, When they get beat after doing that, well thats somewhat easier to handle. When they dont play smart and lose to inferior teams- as a lifelong supporter, it's another story.