Not fair to the players

[MeanGreen]

What I think has been the most disappointing part of this season has been the fans reaction to the players. I am sure they are just as upset as we are if not more. I find it just terrible that posters on just about every message board call out players by name. I think people forget that these players are not professionals, they attended a school that hold them accountable academically and have personal lives like everyone else. It seems to have reached a high this week with many players getting called out. I hate to mention their names here, but Sullivan, Harris, and Thomas have been the victims of these attacks many times this year. We have no idea what these players are going through, maybe they have an issue at home, or with a class, or possibly playing hurt. I find it ridiculous when people questions Charlie ability and play calling this year, as opposed to the previous years when they were applauding him, but these attacks on the players is just uncalled for. I wonder how many of these people attack the players actually played a sport past pee wee football or little league baseball. I especially love the sentiment that the players have quit on CW or given up based on their actions on the field. How do these people know that? I look at the same guys and just don't get that impression from them. I must have the wrong HDTV, it does not show that. I am going to call and ask for a refund from my manufacture and HD provider!!! I think all the board monitors should put a stop to this and delete all post of that nature and ban posters that repeatedly create such posts. I have no idea if the players, their families or recruits read this pages, but I know I would not want to read some backseat drivers assessment of my play or psyche.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Nice post, I completely agree with not bashing the players...as for all the negativity, stop acting spoiled and realize that this football team is our family.... they feel even worse than we do after a loss, these guys want to win so bad. As CW pointed out, 90% of the team showed up on a day off to get some extra tape in so that they could beat Air Force. Let's get the positive train rolling fellas, this is OUR team..... I'm sure if one of the Freshmen players started complaining about what was going on MO CRUM would slap his ass and say, "You're either with us, or against us"...which is it fellas, are you with ND or against ND?

 

[NDOM]

BLAH BLAH BLAH!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I don't see how fans can be expected to invest themselves financially and emotionally in a team, and be expected to cheer loudly, but not question the coaches/players involved when things go horribly wrong (which they have).
I believe that ad hominem attacks have no place, but constructive criticism and analysis are to be expected.
If a player is sensitive to message board material, they should avoid it. One thing is certain, the team and the fans need to keep the faith, regardless of what happens.

 

[MeanGreen]

I don't mind the posts that say we played bad, or the o-line did not do the job or the defense is slow, but to name players, college players by name, just doesn't feel right to me. They are still learning to become better players and people(hopefully). Second guess the coaches play calling, but to start jumping on his character is again is not right to me. Did I want him to try the FG at the end of regulation? Yeah, he didn't, he gave his reasons and I moved on. Have some of our fans become exactly like the talking heads on ESPN that they hate?

 

[ColonialHead]

I don't see how fans can be expected to invest themselves financially and emotionally in a team, and be expected to cheer loudly, but not question the coaches/players involved when things go horribly wrong (which they have).
I believe that ad hominem attacks have no place, but constructive criticism and analysis are to be expected.

I agree 100% stoney.
For me personally, I just follow a simple rule: Be sure to say something positive along with a constructive criticism. As well as offer some form of constructive solution.

One thing that really chaps me is people that just blindly moan and complain without offering any kind of realistic solution or backing up his/her thoughts with solid facts and reason. I think more than anything it's the way people say things, not so much what they are saying.

I also agree that you can't ask fans to not be fans. College football is a multi-billion dollar sport in this country. It may not be a money maker for these kids yet, and the functional word is "yet"... but they have every opportunity in the universe to turn their God given talent into a cash cow. Also, if any of these kids have plans for playing on Sunday, they had better get used to being objectified in this manner.

Like I said, it's all in the way you say it. - "John Sullivan is a solid team leader and I admire the way he takes an emotional leadership role on this team. But I wish he could get those shotgun snaps down a little better. He has cost us some pretty hefty chunks of yardage this year by snapping the ball high. Still, I appreciate his intensity and desire to succeed. The freshman players can learn a lot from Sully."

If you sandwich your criticism with something a little more optimistic, it not only makes you sound more level-headed and more credible, but people tend to be more receptive and open to the point you're making.

I think the problem is when people come off half cocked and make a stupid blanket statement like "so and so sucks..." or "so and so needs to be fired..." that the hardcore optimists start to get annoyed.

 

[Timugen]

I think the players (for the most part,) especially the younger players, have stepped up and played really well.

The coaching, well....

 

[SoCalDomer]

I don't mind the posts that say we played bad, or the o-line did not do the job or the defense is slow, but to name players, college players by name, just doesn't feel right to me.

I agree generally with what you are saying. Comments like "[Player X] sucks and shouldn't be starting," arent' appropriate. Or "[Player X] is nothing more than a back-up."

But, let's say for example that one member of the offensive line commits a bunch of false starts, or misses his blocking assignment a few times in a given game. I don't think it would be inappropriate for a poster to say "[Player X] missed a few blocks or caused so many penalties that it cost the offense a few first downs and possibly points." That's just fact.

It would be silly to have to say "That nameless member of the offensive line sure hurt us with his multiple penalties or missed assignments."

I agree, though, that commenting that a player as worthless, not talented, or not worth a darn, ins't helpful and ins't appropriate for this level, regardless of how true it is.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I think that the primary purpose of message boards is for fans to gather information, share thoughts, and look at 'hot or not' threads. We cannot spend all of our time/energy worrying about what players/recruits might see, or how they feel. This is major college football.

The day we start pulling punches, and stop being intellectually honest, is the day message boards serve no purpose. That said, we should be mindful about what is said about kids who have chosen to attend our favorite school. Let's be careful while we are interphonernetting.

Note: the above doesn't apply to me, this is simply a public service announcement, although you could be banned for violating above statement. Have a nice day.

 

[SoCalDomer]

Ha ha. Very funny stoney... yourmodship, sir. grin:

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm so glad my humor is appreciated in its fullest. Reps!

 

[SouthernIrish]

I'm so glad my humor is appreciated in its fullest. Reps!

your humor is appreciated but your avatar looks like every state trooper that has ever given me a ticket and scares me.

As far as the players being discussed, they are big boys now. They are playing in the big time. As long as the discussions are kept factual, no "idiot" or "loser" type comments are used, then what they do or don't do on the field is fair game for discussion. I think most true fans are always looking for the positive and will post that also.

 

[SoCalDomer]

your humor is appreciated but your avatar looks like every state trooper that has ever given me a ticket and scares me.

When you get pulled over, you should ask the officer why speeding through Georgia is illegal. Afterall, Sherman sped through Georgia and he didn't get a ticket. grin:

I'm sure he'll let you off.

 

[SouthernIrish]

When you get pulled over, you should ask the officer why speeding through Georgia is illegal. Afterall, Sherman sped through Georgia and he didn't get a ticket. grin:

I'm sure he'll let you off.

lol.

the sight of a Georgia State Patrol Officer walking up in your side mirror after pulling you over on I-75 ranks right up there with the sight of Sister Agnes walking down the aisle after you had just passed a note to your friend.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Listen maggot, this here is my road, my township, my county, and my commonwealth. Disrespecting our here laws? You might as well be disrespecting me. Now I don't want that, and I know you don't want that. So git on outta here, and sin no more. I'll be watchin.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

wow... take it easy there MODINATOR

 

[SouthernIrish]

My Cousin Vinney quotes are floating through my head. was that movie on the movie thread?

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I was just bringing you back to your bad memories. LOL

 

[johnnd05]

As far as the players being discussed, they are big boys now. They are playing in the big time. As long as the discussions are kept factual, no "idiot" or "loser" type comments are used, then what they do or don't do on the field is fair game for discussion. I think most true fans are always looking for the positive and will post that also.

Sounds 100% right to me.