🏈 Bama fans bored with the winning? Really?

[silvermetalflake]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...79037120239331200.html?ru=yahoo?mod=yahoo_itp


Discuss.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

First, welcome to 1980.

Second, I found one factual flaw in the article. In terms of growing boredom, the writer refers to students as "first offenders". They are serial offenders. Each year, tickets available to the students should decline by the percentage unused the previous season. If over 95 percent are used, increase the amount five percent. That might change their outlook (doubtful), but it would sure allow us to fill the upper deck student section.

As a kid and young teen in the seventies, I thought it was natural that Alabama be in the championship mix every year (it is natural and consistent with all that is right in the world, by the way). That championship mix thinking evolved into a "we have to win it every year or I'm crushed" thinking as we were left wanting in '77, and won it all in 78 and 79. In 1980, when we had a flat game and a last minute turnover inside the five, everyone thought the world would end (it was Miss. State after all). The following Friday, we're hanging out in our field house waiting to play our high school game, listening to the radio. In a part crazy, part marketing stunt, a local Bham DJ locked himself in the studio and began playing "The Tide is High" nonstop. It went on for hours. It was fun, and very therapeutic.

My youngest son is 15, the same age I was when we won in '79. To help him gain perspective and have some appreciation for how special this time in Bama history is, I told him we were national champions when I was 15, too. Then 28. Then 45. It began to sink in for him how distant the wait can be between championships.

RTR,

Tim

 

[Mahout]

Must be a sample of one.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Bored with winning? Hell no. I'm enjoying the Saban Express to the fullest until the last stop... cause when it's over it's gonna suck.

 

[bamafan4ever]

I remember the whole "Tide is High" stunt, Tim. Good memories and later, the Mark and Brian parodies were awesome before they hitched their wagon to LA.

I think this writer has it all wrong. You take one student's comment about waking up for an 11am kickoff against Western Carolina and come to the conclusion that the BAMA fan base is bored with winning? That is quite a reach. I think the Alabama fan base is content and expectations are at their usual lofty levels. I will admit that recruiting has become kind of a yawn at times in recent past but only because the program is in such good hands with CNS at the helm. Bored with winning? No way.

 

[bama alum]

I remember the whole "Tide is High" stunt, Tim. Good memories and later, the Mark and Brian parodies were awesome before they hitched their wagon to LA.

I think this writer has it all wrong. You take one student's comment about waking up for an 11am kickoff against Western Carolina and come to the conclusion that the BAMA fan base is bored with winning? That is quite a reach. I think the Alabama fan base is content and expectations are at their usual lofty levels. I will admit that recruiting has become kind of a yawn at times in recent past but only because the program is in such good hands with CNS at the helm. Bored with winning? No way.

Mark and Brian...Were they ever!! "Huff, the Anchorwoman" PRICELESS!

A kid complaining about waking up early to go to what would be a blowout game isn't bored; he's selfish. Too much MEEEEEEEEEEE in that kid.

 

[TerryP]

I remember the whole "Tide is High" stunt, Tim. Good memories and later, the Mark and Brian parodies were awesome before they hitched their wagon to LA.

I think this writer has it all wrong. You take one student's comment about waking up for an 11am kickoff against Western Carolina and come to the conclusion that the BAMA fan base is bored with winning? That is quite a reach. I think the Alabama fan base is content and expectations are at their usual lofty levels. I will admit that recruiting has become kind of a yawn at times in recent past but only because the program is in such good hands with CNS at the helm. Bored with winning? No way.

I was just thinking about that five/six hours ago when I was watching Sportscenter.

I noticed a quick note on the "ticker" about Stephon Gilmore and the thought crossed my mind how often I see kids names mentioned on national TV that we were in the final mix for their signature. There's a lot. Remembering Gilmore is from out-of-state made me think about how many kids we've signed from out-of-state the last few years.

Bringing that point back to home...

It's not so much a point of recruiting being a "yawner" with me but it's a case where grabbing information about where kids are going to sign isn't as readily available today as it was five or six years ago. The biggest reason why? In my opinion it has to do with how easily getting information on a kids thinking was when we were concentrating on players within a few hundred miles of campus. Now, trying to get a feel for what a kid is going to do when he plays football in Maryland?

Without the ability to research and find out what's happening on the recruiting front has led to a bit of an apathetic attitude towards recruiting. It is what it is but in the end it's all good is about the only way to follow the season.

 

[TerryP]

Sidetracking the thread just a bit with a question.

Is losing a game now as big of a deal as it was seven or eight years ago?

 

[planomateo]

First, welcome to 1980.

Second, I found one factual flaw in the article. In terms of growing boredom, the writer refers to students as "first offenders". They are serial offenders. Each year, tickets available to the students should decline by the percentage unused the previous season. If over 95 percent are used, increase the amount five percent. That might change their outlook (doubtful), but it would sure allow us to fill the upper deck student section.

As a kid and young teen in the seventies, I thought it was natural that Alabama be in the championship mix every year (it is natural and consistent with all that is right in the world, by the way). That championship mix thinking evolved into a "we have to win it every year or I'm crushed" thinking as we were left wanting in '77, and won it all in 78 and 79. In 1980, when we had a flat game and a last minute turnover inside the five, everyone thought the world would end (it was Miss. State after all). The following Friday, we're hanging out in our field house waiting to play our high school game, listening to the radio. In a part crazy, part marketing stunt, a local Bham DJ locked himself in the studio and began playing "The Tide is High" nonstop. It went on for hours. It was fun, and very therapeutic.

My youngest son is 15, the same age I was when we won in '79. To help him gain perspective and have some appreciation for how special this time in Bama history is, I told him we were national champions when I was 15, too. Then 28. Then 45. It began to sink in for him how distant the wait can be between championships.

RTR,

Tim

Did he respond with a...its 15, 17, 18 for me :bluebiggrin:

 

[bamafan4ever]

I would say "yes", Terry, at least for me it is. I was at the LA Monroe game in Saban's first year and it was an embarrassing loss but nothing like it would be if BAMA lost to, say, Colorado St. in a few weeks. The weekend of the A&M game last year was absolutely miserable.

 

[planomateo]

Speaking of Colorado State, their running back Donnell Alexander is DT's son.

Chalk that up to trivia of the day.

 

[Hardkore]

Sidetracking the thread just a bit with a question.

Is losing a game now as big of a deal as it was seven or eight years ago?

I would think not as bad now with the play off system to be starting. Losing one game,not really. Losing 2 or 3, more so yes. Just last year after losing to TA&M it seemed we were out of the running for sure until the other two teams both lost their games a week or two later.

 

[TerryP]

I would say "yes", Terry, at least for me it is. I was at the LA Monroe game in Saban's first year and it was an embarrassing loss but nothing like it would be if BAMA lost to, say, Colorado St. in a few weeks. The weekend of the A&M game last year was absolutely miserable.

I realize now saying seven/eight years ago is still within the Saban tenure. (twasn't counting)

Let me put it this way. A loss now is more disappointing to me than it was back in Shula's era. Back then, it was a situation where I found myself thinking "we can win IF..."

Now, going into any game it's "we should win..."

 

[TerryP]

Speaking of Colorado State, their running back Donnell Alexander is DT's son.

Chalk that up to trivia of the day.

Sidetrack, again. Clowney couldn't hold his jock strap when it came to changing a game.

 

['65 Cobra]

Two things, for me. First, I am incredibly grateful for this winning run. I am in no way bored and I relish each and every moment of it. Second, I do think a loss now is a bigger deal than a few years ago. I really hope the obnoxious comments of two ignorant @$$ fans doesn't give anyone in the athletic department the idea that they represent the rest of us.

 

[planomateo]

Sidetrack, again. Clowney couldn't hold his jock strap when it came to changing a game.

I'm really good a changing subjects

 

[silvermetalflake]

As a fan from a different country, the greatest thing for me about visiting Tuscaloosa on game weekend is the people. The people/fans I meet in diners, in Bama shops, at Starbucks, and of course on campus on game day, during the game, and after the game, partying in the pubs. That's the juice for me and the game, no matter who is playing, is of course fun, but more a conduit to the people that love it. I see all the incredible tailgating tents in the Quad, and it's gotten to the point now where I wished I knew some one who tailgates cuz I'd love watch the game in the Quad surrounded by the fans. We have NOTHING like that in Canada for any sport. So it's magical to me, and like the winning itself, never gets boring.

 

[UAgrad93]

I realize now saying seven/eight years ago is still within the Saban tenure. (twasn't counting)

Let me put it this way. A loss now is more disappointing to me than it was back in Shula's era. Back then, it was a situation where I found myself thinking "we can win IF..."

Now, going into any game it's "we should win..."

Terry, our thoughts are so much alike it is scary! With Shula it was always, IF we do this and don't do this, we COULD win. With CNS it is we WILL win, the only question is BY HOW MUCH!!

 

[JoshB]

I realize now saying seven/eight years ago is still within the Saban tenure. (twasn't counting)

Let me put it this way. A loss now is more disappointing to me than it was back in Shula's era. Back then, it was a situation where I found myself thinking "we can win IF..."

Now, going into any game it's "we should win..."

Completely agreed, I had a similar conversation with a friend last weekend when talking about the VT game. He said he hoped it was a close game and I said I want a blowout. His actually comment was "I'm tired of blowouts." Had to remind him how it was when were playing the Louisiana Tech's and Southern Miss's of the world down to the wire (and losing in some instances) so to be careful what he wishes for.

 

[MunchyOs]

Bored? No. Making up for lost time? Oh yeah! :icon_cheers: