Season Over
by omsooner on Mar 11, 2010 12:22 PM CST
23 comments
Bumped. And Bravo.
Call me old fashioned, but it is as important to me in how you play the game, regardless of whether you win or lose.
Being new to this forum, and considerably than those among you who post of this site, I expect to offend some, and be criticized by many. Having been a "fan" of OU athletics since the 1950's, I certainly have opinions. I recently retired and moved to Norman in order to "enjoy" sporting events that I previously did not have access to, except for those broadcast by television. For the record, this just completed basketball season was far LESS successful than I had hoped for.
ALL of us have opinions, and are entitled to such, but rest assured that when there is disagreement with me, you will not become "idiots" as I am often accused of being by the local talking heads that have the luxury of their bully pulpit by way of the local radio networks. I will not quote "sources" and then refuse to identify that source. My eyes are my source.
Like the start of any new season, fans have high hopes, high expectations, and finally despair sets in as the season plays out and your team becomes a disaster. Like a lot of you, I drank the kool-aid and believed the hype provided by the media and also coach-speak provided prior to the season. For the record, I'm not just talking about wins and losses.
I had the privilege to attend every home basketball game this season, and essentially watch every road game on television. Fans are a fickle lot, and with the record that played out over the season, I was not surprised (just disappointed) to watch the attendance at home games fall off dramatically. IMO, the loyalty that exists for OU football is non-existent when it comes to basketball. And don't bother to point out that OU is a "football school." What exactly is that? Please don't insult me by calling yourself a "fan: when you only show up if the team is winning. All programs (look at UNC this year) go through ups and downs, but loyal fans show up regardless, even when it is hard to watch.
In hindsight, it should be easy to grasp the tremendous loss of Blake and Taylor Griffin, as well as Austin Johnson. this comment is not based on the loss of their talent. It is based on their LEADERSHIP. This year's team had a total lack of leadership. The leadership I am talking about comes from the players, NOT the coach and his staff.
Early in this season, it seemed obvious to me that there was a lack of "chemistry" with this team. This team was made up of individuals, some with talent, some without, who were solely concerned with individual statistics, and could care less about the team, and the University of Oklahoma.
Willie Warren has talent. When he wants to play, he can be very good. When he's not interested, or things aren't going well for him, he becomes pouty, selfish, his body language reeks, and he should be sitting on the bench next to coach Capel.
Keith Gallon is an enigma. Like Warren, when he is interested, he teases the fan with skills that indicate what he might be capable of if he just cared. I watched him "care" in about four games the entire season. If it frustrates you and me, imagine how much it frustrates coach Capel.
TMG has obvious offensive skills, but is totally lacking defensively.
As all three grew up, it is obvious that they were never expected to play defense. It was all about the offense. That's what shows up on tv highlights. I doubt that coach Capel is the ONLY coach in the country who thinks defense leads to victories. Generally speaking, the best teams in the country play solid defense, and offense essentially takes care of itself. How many great defensive plays lead to fast-break points. Can't prove it, but doubt OU had more than a half dozen fast-break lay ups this season. Defense is basically EFFORT. Schemes are required, but effort rules. This basketball team has lacked defensive effort the entire year with the exception of Cade Davis and Tony Crocker.
If I have a problem with coach Capel this year, it lies in the fact that he recruited these MAA's in the first place. I would hope that he did more than watch tape of their offensive skills. I would hope that he had verbal interviews with these recruits. I would hope that he spoke to the people who "coached" them prior to offering a scholarship to OU. If not, then shame on him. I suppose it's natural for him to think that he could "change" them and teach them how to play defense and how to understand a "team" concept, but apparently he was wrong. I know that getting an MAA to commit to your school is ego boosting and gives fans some bragging rights. Well, how has that worked out this year?
Coach Capel has basically played 7 to 8 players this season. What is the purpose of the other scholarship players sitting on the bench? Are they just practice fodder? With the lack of effort from some of his starters, why not let others play? My only requirement is effort. Let the MAA's watch from the bench. The only real control coach Capel has is playing time. If you try, you play. If you don't, you sit. I would rather lose a game while watching players (with less talent) try, than lose a game and watch players (with more talent) NOT try.
Finally. If all these "talented" players come back next year, how is it going to be any different? With their current attitudes, it seems to me like it will just be the like deja vu. I would be willing to start over and suffer the consequences, than witness a repeat of what I sat through this year.
Insanity is often defined by repeating the same thing and expecting a different. result. I don't think coach Capel is insane. At least I hope not.
Let's put this one behind us. Let's call it a learning experience. Let's look forward to next year. But please, learn from the experience.
FanPost are for the voice of the fan and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Crimson and Cream Machine administrators.
0 recs |
23 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Well said
I wanted to draft my own rant of how awful and frustrating this past season was, but after reading your take I think you summed it up pretty well. If this post was any indication, you are more than welcome to post here anytime you like. Welcome to CC Machine!
"We call him The Hammer." - Bob Stoops
Shoot - try us!
Once #1 in the land and then dropped like a rock.
"Stats are for losers - I like winning games!!" Will Muschamp
by littlelonghorngirl on Mar 17, 2010 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I kept waiting for the part
where I was going to disagree. I might be a bit harsher, but I agree.
"You have been banned from the Purple Row, for Inappropriate conduct, profanity, (&) telling site authors their articles are crap."
Season Over
Afraid original post was too long, I left off another issue I will address now. IMO a major problem with this year’s team (not just limited to OU by any means) is the sense of entitlement exhibited by players today. Back in the day, if I exhibited any of the actions and/or attitudes of players today, I would never have been allowed to participate again. Or until I changed. Athletes today have no idea how lucky they are to have been blessed with talent that most of us would kill for. The money to be made in professional sports is outrageous. All you have to do is go along to get along. You can be a jerk when your playing days are over. I believe that entitled attitude makes players delusional when it comes to thinking they are ready for the next level after one year of college. Yes there are exceptions, but nobody on OU’s team this year is ready for the NBA, and they may never be unless major changes are made.
Team FIRST, Effort SECOND, Talent THIRD, Selfish NEVER
Stop attacking fans for not showing up.
And please stop with this notion of real fandom. Maybe people have better things to do with their time.
by SoonerDutch on Mar 12, 2010 12:03 AM CST via mobile reply actions
In fairness
I don’t think anyone is attacking the fans for not showing up towards the end of this year, god knows the team’s performance didn’t warrant more than a couple thousand fans if that. However, this has long been a problem for all OU non-football sports and I think that is more what this post was intended to address. Not to put words in omsooner’s mouth, but I think that was the original intention.
"We call him The Hammer." - Bob Stoops
I agree
but I’ve always wondered about sports attendance. With 80,000 and a waiting list for football, you would think…just as a percentage basis, that there would be 12,000 to fill Lloyd Noble. Or 5,000 to fill baseball, or other sports. I mean, there is no way, I’d sit through a woman’s soccer game. But I’m going to guess out of that 80k for football, many have girls (or even boys) playing youth soccer. Enough to bring a few thousand out to watch em play…but of the photo’s I’ve seen, there aren’t many bodies there.
Are people “OU Football Fans”, rather than “University of Oklahoma” fans?
"You have been banned from the Purple Row, for Inappropriate conduct, profanity, (&) telling site authors their articles are crap."
Probably a little bit of both
I wouldn’t necessarily call someone less of an OU fan if they only followed football, because as you said Hawk there should still be plenty left over to fill up LNC on a regular basis.
"We call him The Hammer." - Bob Stoops
"Please don't insult me by calling yourself a "fan: when you only show up if the team is winning."
It’s great that some people will pay and spend their precious time to watch bad teams lose in uninspiring ways. I think most people have better things to do with their money.
I understand there is this question about basketball games, I myself have wondered why more people don’t go. It’s a top twenty program, usually ranked, and usually in the hunt for a NCAA tournament birth. I don’t have the stats but I’ve heard OU basketball sells out relatively frequently, with tickets purchased, people just don’t go to the games.
But back to the question at hand, the attendance at non revenue sports. Isn’t that the case everywhere? If you can name me one school that averages a sell out in every non revenue sport I’d be willing to admit this is a problem.
by SoonerDutch on Mar 12, 2010 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
SoonerDutch
As I stated in my original post, I am new to the blogosphere and don’t know all the correct protocols, so I apologize if I stepped on your delicate fandom. I would have responded more quickly but have been swamped by better things to do. I’ll try to learn from my mistake.
Team FIRST, Effort SECOND, Talent THIRD, Selfish NEVER
Look
I agree with most of what you’re saying. But you and lots of other people think that there is some pure type of “fandom.” Like I say earlier it’s great that there are people like you who spend time and money watching bad teams lose. I actually went to every home basketball game this season and every football game except for the Miami loss, not to mention the dozens of other sporting events I’ve attended this year on campus.
Regardless most people have better things to do with their time and money. I don’t think it’s fair to criticize these people. It’s the team’s responsibility to want to make people attend these games.
by SoonerDutch on Mar 13, 2010 10:09 PM CST up reply actions
No it's not!
It’s not the responsibility of post high school young boys to bring fans to a game. Fans come because they love the game, their school and their team. College is NOT the NFL or the NBA – it is an institution of learning.
When I see my bf spit on and cursed because he didn’t complete a pass or fumbled the ball, it sickens me.
These blog posts can be fun and interesting but NOT when the fans take themselves and the game too serious!
And, yes, I I DO visit opposing teams blogs – even the land thieves – and I promise you I can take the heat – can you?
"Stats are for losers - I like winning games!!" Will Muschamp
by littlelonghorngirl on Mar 17, 2010 6:03 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah college is an institution of learning but what does that have to do with anything?
College athletics are entertainment. People love the game, people love their schools, but if they’re not being entertained they won’t buy tickets or they won’t show up. It’s not fans responsibility to waste their money and time.
Furthermore it is a privilege to play at the division one level. It’s one thing to expect perfection, but it’s another thing to expect something as simple as effort.
Interesting perspective
I can only suggest, as a 20 year old, that I am not too symphathetic to fans of college football that believes 18, 19 and 20 year old boys only have responsibilities of entertainment.to them.
It’s true that athletic scholerships from a college are a privilege awarded to atheltic ability and hard work in high school. However, colleges give scholerships out for many different reasons and athletic ability being only one of them. I submit that you probably could care less about the academia part of college becasue you aren’t entertained by it. But a scholership is a scholership and there is no difference between one for scientific achievement or athletic ability.
Furthermore, when is the last time you attending a track meet, a Lacrosse game or a swimming meet? Are these just a waste of time and money for you as well?
You are probably a very nice person and I don’t want to sound disrespectful to you – but we are in disagreement about this. Because, at the risk of repeating myself, I think we tend to lose sight of the fact that this is NOT the NFL nor the NBA.
I’m just saying.
The point I am trying to make is, and I repeat, this is NOT the NFL or the NBA
"Stats are for losers - I like winning games!!" Will Muschamp
by littlelonghorngirl on Mar 20, 2010 6:38 PM CDT reply actions
Well
as a 19 year old I’m not too sympathetic to fans of college football that believe that graduates of a university have some duty to alma mater to support their athletic programs. If teams want fan support than entertain them. The last time I checked a team is more than just the players. It’s just as much (if not more so) the coaches and administrations’ responsibility to generate fan support.
I actually care a great deal about the academic part of college. It impacts me directly and it impacts more people than a national championship OU baseball team. I like OU athletics as much as the next guy but the reason this university exists is to educate people.
I have to say I haven’t attended those events. Partly because OU doesn’t have a varsity lacrosse or swimming program and partly because most of the OU track and field events aren’t on campus. However I have been to dozens of non-revenue sporting events while on campus. I don’t recall saying that non-revenue sports are a waste of money and time. However I don’t think people should be expected to waste their own time and money to support them through purchasing tickets if they are not entertained by the action.
What are you saying by “this is NOT the NFL or the NBA?” If you are saying that athletics programs’ primary mission shouldn’t be making a profit (although self-sufficiency would be a significant secondary concern) than I agree with you wholeheartedly. However if you are saying that unlike fans of a NFL or NBA team, fans of a university’s athletic program are expected to willingly accept bad results (to some extent) than I completely disagree with you.
Oh and may I suggest using spellcheck.
Oh please
I was getting very impressed and you were doing so good in your argument until you made a condescending remark about spell check.
Were my mis-spelled words offensive to you or were you just trying to point out that I was careless and/or ignorant? I mean, compared to you?
Finally, I surmise that you believe that the only sport worth watrching then is football and a lousy season like the one that ou just had is simply not worth your money or time for a ticket? Is this not a classic definition of a “closet” fan?
And, ultimately, doesn’t the performance of the players on the field actually rest upon the shoulders of the coaches – not only in their recruiting selections but their ability to organize and motivate the “professionals” on the field. And, if they don’t perform, shouldn’t the “professionals” be fired and/or traded to another team?
"Stats are for losers - I like winning games!!" Will Muschamp
by littlelonghorngirl on Mar 20, 2010 10:49 PM CDT reply actions
Well
I don’t want to brag but let’s just say I’ve been to a few OU sporting events in the past year, and more than the twelve football games I made it to.
All I’m saying is that it is not fans’ responsibility to blindly support OU athletics. They should not be expected by players, coaches, administrators and fans to support their on-field product, in terms of purchasing tickets and attendance at games, if they are not entertained.
And yes a great deal of the performance of players rests upon the shoulders of coaches. That’s why most criticism is directed toward coaches. But it can only go so far. There should be some expectation of the players to perform to the best of their ability.
by SoonerDutch on Mar 20, 2010 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Why not?
Through thick or thin – for better or for worse – you are either a fan or you are not! It is not a “blind” support to be a fan of your team.
If, as you say, it is a waste of time and money if you don’t feel the players are putting out then, in fact, I submit that you aren’t really a true fan after all. You are what is called a “fair weather” fan.
I prefer my Longhorns to win – however, if they don’t I don’t abandon them because they haven’t.
As a cheerleader I don’t have to pay to see the Horns, but I would – gladly!
Because I am a fan of the team and the school – not the entertainment!
Hook ’Em!
"Stats are for losers - I like winning games!!" Will Muschamp
by littlelonghorngirl on Mar 21, 2010 10:18 PM CDT reply actions
Congrats
I’d consider myself a “true” fan, I’m sure that most people who know me would consider me a “true” fan, I just get mad when the media and other fans expect fan support just for the sake of alma mater. I understand you disagree and I respect that.
by SoonerDutch on Mar 21, 2010 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Got it
I sorta see what you were trying to say and I can symphasize – kinda.
I assume you live in Norman or maybe Wynnewood – whatever, and you are going to ou out of expediancy and/or necessity. But, if you are going to ou because you love the school then yo should see my side of the argument – comprende?
Finally, I do agree with you for not attending an ou game on another issue – because ou sucks! :-)
"Stats are for losers - I like winning games!!" Will Muschamp
by littlelonghorngirl on Mar 22, 2010 11:39 AM CDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Crimson And Cream Machine
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
