I've been a Bama fan since the late 60s. I think I've put in a little work. Besides, I named no names.
How good is Mizzou?
- Thread starter theballguy
- Start date
As have I, but I’ve been a member and poster here for the last 15 years. I’d recommend casting your radar aside and pay attention. You’ll find most here are anything but “fair weather fans”.
Last edited:
There is a lot going on now, that wasn't happening even 10 years ago.
I'm 41. "Came of age" in the 1990s. So I lived through the Mike's era and was diehard the whole time. The one thing you could count on back then was that the team bled Crimson through and through. They couldn't transfer out at the drop of a hat. They weren't making NIL announcements the week leading into the Tennessee game.
I've said it before, but if it doesn't mean as much to the players as it once did, why should it mean as much to me? The only games I've watched from start to finish this year was opening weekend, and Georgia. I do not pay a subscription to a TV service and I will not. You cannot start making millions from NIL, threaten to transfer out if you don't get paid, sit for the year and "take your redshirt" and then transfer out, AND then expect me to pay 100 bucks a month just to watch the stupid games. MUCH less spend hundreds of dollars any given weekend to actually attend.
"They" (and I put it in quotes because you can put several different entities into that descriptor) have held a loaded gun to the head of the golden goose for a while, and have now pulled the trigger with NIL/Portal.
I'm sorry. I realize change happens. But sometimes change kills instead of bringing improvement. I haven't watched a NASCAR race in over 20 years. Has anyone else?
Last edited:
I really wish we could get most of our recruits in state and have all Alabama fans playing for us, but we need great players from all over the nation. That's what put us over the top when Saban started recruiting for us starting in 2007. It's basically the NFL right now with fewer restrictions as far as free agency. There are NFL teams full of guys getting paid big bucks and also most of those guys probably didn't grow up being a fan of the teams they are on. But, once you are on a team, as a competitor, you should be invested in being the best you can be and help your team win. You don't have to bleed the team colors, but you should be invested in your teammates.
This nails it. The jaded view of the current state of the game has not one dang thing to do with being “fair weather fans”. And truthfully it has little to do with winning and losing.
As a long time Alabama fan, I indeed do have high expectations. But those expectations pale in comparison to the expectations that coaches and players should have for themselves and the program. It isn’t just about “excellence”. It’s about “striving for excellence”. It isn’t just about “winning”. It’s about digging deep to find “the will to win”. These were the expectations set by Red Drew before I was born, then to Coach Bryant and then Coach Saban. It is answering that fundamental question everyday of saying “Am I wiling to make that sacrifice each day to make myself better AND those around me better?” And if you do those things, the “winning” will follow.
The notion of many here to find “something better to do” has nothing to do with the losses this year, This has been festering for several years now. People here loved Alabama football not just because it was successful. They loved what it represented. Things like dedication, unity, effort, selflessness and pride. With NIL and unrestricted transfer, the focus is rapidly moving away from those ideals and to egocentric and self serving positions. And it is literally killing the things that made college football great.
No, it has little to do with the losses experienced this season or the last several. It has little to do with being “fair weather fans”. It has to do with players not understanding or recognizing those standards that were established in this program long before they were born.
I understand all that and get your point. If someone decides to no longer support or watch a team, fine. That is their decision. They should not, and I'm not naming you or any other person, come back when the team starts winning again. That is what I refer to when I say, fair weather fan. As for NASCAR, I never watched, so I have no response on that. RTR! And thanks for the in depth and thoughtful reply to my post. That I can respect, as opposed to immediate condemnation.
Oh do not mistake me. I am under no illusions that we can fill our roster with state of Alabama recruits only and still compete on a national level. We must recruit nation-wide. But even for most of the Nick Saban era our players could never have been mistaken for being anything else but completely sold out for the program.
Is that still the case today? Maybe... but it does not look like it at all. I blame NIL/Portal. I do not even necessarily blame the players. They are responding to the environment they live in.
I should clarify that I don't necessarily blame the players of today. I DO include the players of years gone by who clamored for this.
Last edited:
I've perused this board for years, before that, Tidefans. Just because some of us aren't prolific posters doesn't mean we haven't paid attention. I understand that some who say they are throwing in the towel for the rest of the season, don't necessarily mean it. But why even say it? I'm not picking on any individual. I just recall having seen a few such posts here.
Maybe because this is a forum in which people are allowed to express their thoughts and opinions just as you and I are doing now? And the good thing about it is that we don’t need to agree as long as we remain respectful of each other.
I agree. But there are positive thoughts and toxic thoughts. Of course, folks have the right, and thankfully so, to express themselves. But what good comes from expressing toxic thoughts? Perhaps I am wrong. It's certainly possible. Just expressing MY thoughts on some posts I've seen of late. Thanks for disagreeing with me in an adult manner. Kudos.
Once again the notion of something being “toxic” is a matter of opinion. Is it criticism of our program? Yes. Is that criticism as it relates to the “state of the game” and our program fair? Yes. Is it constructive? Maybe or maybe not.
One person or a handful saying “this stuff is destroying the game and I’m done with it” may actually do very little. Not even a footnote on its impact. However, if that notion does become pervasive enough that it begins to impact the bottom line (revenue) then those thoughts and comments my actually have a positive effect on those making the decision about the game we love.
Consider something away from football. The Bay of Pigs invasion was considered one of the greatest political blunders of all time. The classic case of Groupthink. A situation of everyone “agreeing to agree”. No one willing to be a dissenting voice. No one willing to offer alternative thought.
I don’t post here because I need the affirmation of others. I post here because I love Alabama athletics and enjoy the discussion. And I’ve probably been wrong more times than I’ve been right. But the good thing is that does give me pause to exam my own conclusions.
I "EXPECT" to beat Mizzou, I think. Previous expectations haven't been met. Mizzou is probably a better overall team than Vandy so at this point I "HOPE" we beat Mizzou. With homecoming distractions and the current discombobulation of this team I won't be shocked with another poor showing that might result in another loss. Yes, Mizzou can beat Bama if that weirdly shaped ball bounces in their favor.
My apologies as well for side tracking. Back to Mizzou. I’m not buying the double digit point spread. The past three and half games has shown me this Alabama team is like the patient with ADHD. It is “consistently inconsistent”.
If Mizzou is able to establish some sort of a running game (100+ yards) which takes the pressure off Cook and the receivers, it could be a long afternoon.
If Mizzou is able to establish some sort of a running game (100+ yards) which takes the pressure off Cook and the receivers, it could be a long afternoon.
He's gently telling you you're better off reading the room and learning the vibe we have here rather than kicking in the door.
"It's not just what you say, it's how you say it."
RTR
I think we should beat Mizzou by 2 TDs. But I'm concerned that they'll get a pick-6 or break a couple of big plays to get a lead early. Then, their confidence soars and we get frustrated, lose our composure, and keep shooting ourselves in the foot. That could happen. But I'm sincerely hoping it won't and we'll take care of business.
I think the only way we lose this game is if we beat ourselves.
I think the only way we lose this game is if we beat ourselves.
I kicked in the door? If it came across that way I failed in wording my post properly. What I meant was, we all need to do some soul searching and determine if we are really Bama fans, or just fans of winning and championships, because those things aren't going to be as prevalent for at least a year or two (hope I'm wrong about that). I don't see that as overly aggressive, especially since I didn't call out individuals. But maybe I'm wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. I apologize to anyone I've offended. RTR!
Well said. But I wasn't referring to criticism of the team's play, or even coaching, and I'm certainly not a fan of the current direction of college football; I was only criticizing openly admitting to possibly throwing in the towel and no longer watching games. Maybe I was wrong to do that. It's possible. But being a Bama fan for many years it struck a nerve with me. Maybe I should go back to merely perusing and not commenting. I seem to have ruffled a LOT of feathers, when I only meant to ruffle the feathers of a very few. Thank you for your well thought out rebuttal and RTR.
I totally agree that the vast majority here are true Bama fans. If I thought otherwise, I wouldn't have perused this board for years. I'll confess why I never signed up until after Saban's retirement and it's rather comical and a tidge embarrassing. I don't recall the date I started visiting this site, but it was soon after Tidefans became pay to play. Bama was rising to the top at that time, and having perused for a while, with Bama winning and winning during that time, I was afraid I'd jinx us if I signed up. lol. Yeah, stupid, I know, but you know how fans can be.
