-------------------- Brice Cherry: Might as well have played it in Lincoln
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Shame on you, Baylor fans.
Oh sure, you could make excuses and claim that the football team hasn’t given you anything to cheer about this season, and for the most part, you’d be right. For two quarters Saturday, certainly nothing unfolded on the field that would have raised your blood pressure — at least not in a good way.
But in the second half of their 20-10 loss to Nebraska, the Bears turned in an inspired effort, particularly on defense. They made a respectable bid at upsetting a Husker team that many predicted would win the Big 12 North at the start of the season.
But you weren’t there to cheer, Baylor fans. You missed it.
And it’s high time you started taking yourself to task. Look in the mirror and deal with this fact — as a whole, you’re the worst fans in the Big 12.
When the Bears descended the ramp and entered Floyd Casey Stadium at the start of Saturday’s game, it must have been a disheartening sight. It truly felt as if the game was being held in Lincoln South rather than Waco, what with all the red bleeding all over the stands.
A couple of players even suggested it felt like a road game.
“Of course you notice it,” safety Jordan Lake said. “I know Nebraska travels well. They’re well-known for how good their fan base is, so that didn’t surprise me at all the turnout they had. At the same time, it didn’t matter what was going on outside the lines, in the stadium. It mattered what was happening between the lines.”
To a man, the Baylor players took the high road when it came to evaluating the home crowd. They said their job is to play hard no matter who’s in attendance, in spite of the circumstances. And they’re right.
The road not taken
But I’m a columnist. I don’t have to take the high road.
The fact is, the vast majority of Baylor fans don’t deserve the “fan” label. By definition, a fan personifies fanaticism. It’s someone who arrives early, wears the school colors, cheers loudly and proudly for 60 minutes, and stays late.
That’s not you, Baylor backer. Call yourself a follower, a front- runner, a fair-weather supporter. But you’re no kind of fan.
Does that make you mad? Tough. Truth hurts.
How is Baylor ever going to win in the recruiting game if the opposing crowd outnumbers the home folks when a blue-chipper is making his visit? Why would any television network want to broadcast a game at Floyd Casey beyond September? It doesn’t exactly scream “raucous college football atmosphere.” A lone Baylor fan stands amid a congregation of Nebraska rooters at Floyd Casey Stadium, where the visitors seemed to outnumber the home crowd Saturday. (Rod Aydelotte photo)
“For us in that locker room, we’re out there playing for each other,” quarterback Nick Florence said. “Unfortunately the fans don’t show up a whole lot, but we’re playing for each other out there. We’re not playing for the people in the stands.”
The Baylor players say a full house doesn’t matter. But how would they really know? They’ve never actually seen one in their favor.
Look, I know winning cures all ills, including that plague of empty seats at the Case.
But it comes down to this — if you so-called Baylor fans want to start beating Nebraska and Texas and Texas A&M, perhaps you should become Nebraska and Texas and Texas A&M. That is, model yourself after their fans. Do what they do.
ummm....I don't think baylor is particularly concerned. They are clearly not all that interested in building a quality football program, so why do they care if nebraska or OU or texas or whatever fans buy tickets to their games? That's better than nobody doing it.......
On Nov 2, 10:32 pm, Dan Bretta <nuda...@yahoo.com> wrote:
That got quite a bit of play on the local sports radio. There's some truth to what he says, but 15 years of disaster isn't going to create a loyal fan base. And this year added the disappointment factor-- people began to believe that this might be the year Baylor turned the corner, but they aren't the same team without Griffin.
Ultimately, the stands are going to be empty when people don't think you have a chance to win. I suspect that would eventually even be true anywhere.
On Nov 3, 9:35 am, McMahone <mmcmah...@umhb.edu> wrote:
> 15 years of disaster isn't going to create a loyal fan base.
Not that we compare to Baylor, but a fellow Oklahoma State fan a few years ago bought a couple of Charlie Brown shirts and dyed them orange to wear to the games. I don't think anyone ever got it.
On Nov 3, 9:35 am, McMahone <mmcmah...@umhb.edu> wrote:
> On Nov 2, 10:32 pm, Dan Bretta <nuda...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> That got quite a bit of play on the local sports radio. There's some > truth to what he says, but 15 years of disaster isn't going to create > a loyal fan base. And this year added the disappointment factor-- > people began to believe that this might be the year Baylor turned the > corner, but they aren't the same team without Griffin.
> Ultimately, the stands are going to be empty when people don't think > you have a chance to win. I suspect that would eventually even be > true anywhere.
This is correct...even though most Husker fans are holier than thou types about fan attendance ask them how often the Devaney Center fills up for basketball games. It wasn't that long ago that Creighton and KU fans were almost outnumbering Husker fans in Lincoln during the Barry Collier era. Doc seems to have the Huskers back on track, but they'll never consistently fill up the BOB until they start making NCAA tournaments.
> ummm....I don't think baylor is particularly concerned. They are > clearly not all that interested in building a quality football > program, so why do they care if nebraska or OU or texas or whatever > fans buy tickets to their games? That's better than nobody doing > it.......
You used to post thoughtful college football analysis...it's unfortunate that you can't step out of character long enough to do that anymore. Baylor cares about football...don't be stupid. I know this was probably before you were born, but Baylor used to field a decent football team year in and year out and they'd like to get that back. Easier said than done though when you're a private school in a league of public giants.
> On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote: >> J.C. Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
>>> Baylor is just in the wrong conference. >>> They should either be in the MWC or CUSA. >> That would be true if football were the only sport, but >> Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
> True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor > prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
It wasn't Ann. It was Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.
Besides, the number always had to be four. What kind of idiot would set up an 11-team conference?
On Nov 3, 1:14 pm, Dan Bretta <nuda...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote:> J.C. Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
> > > Baylor is just in the wrong conference.
> > > They should either be in the MWC or CUSA.
> > That would be true if football were the only sport, but > > Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
> True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor > prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
This is the accepted version, and there is some evidence to back it. However, I think it is no coincidence that the four orphaned SWC chillens' that the B8 took in all are the main event in their local markets. Sasnakra had already bolted and the remaining four are in DFW and Houston.
> > On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote: > >> J.C. Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
> >>> Baylor is just in the wrong conference. > >>> They should either be in the MWC or CUSA. > >> That would be true if football were the only sport, but > >> Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
> > True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor > > prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
> It wasn't Ann. It was Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.
> Besides, the number always had to be four. What kind of idiot > would set up an 11-team conference?
They shoulda swapped Baylor for Colorado State or Wyoming to keep the Big XII all public schools.
> On Nov 3, 1:14 pm, Dan Bretta <nuda...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote:> J.C. >> Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
>>>> Baylor is just in the wrong conference.
>>>> They should either be in the MWC or CUSA.
>>> That would be true if football were the only sport, but >>> Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
>> True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor >> prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
> This is the accepted version, and there is some evidence to back it. > However, I think it is no coincidence that the four orphaned SWC > chillens' that the B8 took in all are the main event in their local > markets. Sasnakra had already bolted and the remaining four are in > DFW and Houston.
> Doug
Baylor never was that good, only a few occasions. Nothing like SMU was. They belong right where their at.. Last Place.
> On Nov 3, 1:14 pm, Dan Bretta <nuda...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote:> J.C. Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
> > > > Baylor is just in the wrong conference.
> > > > They should either be in the MWC or CUSA.
> > > That would be true if football were the only sport, but > > > Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
> > True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor > > prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
> This is the accepted version, and there is some evidence to back it. > However, I think it is no coincidence that the four orphaned SWC > chillens' that the B8 took in all are the main event in their local > markets. Sasnakra had already bolted and the remaining four are in > DFW and Houston.
I think you're right on that. Weren't Rice and Houston getting about Zero attendance to football games back then? And no way was the Big XII going to mess around with the Southern Methodist cheaters.
Dan Bretta wrote: > On Nov 3, 2:46 pm, Emperor Wonko the Sane <d...@sorensensdomain.net> > wrote: >> On Nov 3, 1:14 pm, Dan Bretta <nuda...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote:> J.C. >>> Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
>>>>> Baylor is just in the wrong conference.
>>>>> They should either be in the MWC or CUSA.
>>>> That would be true if football were the only sport, but >>>> Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
>>> True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor >>> prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
>> This is the accepted version, and there is some evidence to back it. >> However, I think it is no coincidence that the four orphaned SWC >> chillens' that the B8 took in all are the main event in their local >> markets. Sasnakra had already bolted and the remaining four are in >> DFW and Houston.
> I think you're right on that. Weren't Rice and Houston getting about > Zero attendance to football games back then? And no way was the Big > XII going to mess around with the Southern Methodist cheaters.
> Dan
I better get more ammo, it's gonna be that kinda day.
> > On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote: > >> J.C. Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
> >>> Baylor is just in the wrong conference. > >>> They should either be in the MWC or CUSA. > >> That would be true if football were the only sport, but > >> Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
> > True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor > > prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
> It wasn't Ann. It was Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.
> Besides, the number always had to be four. What kind of idiot > would set up an 11-team conference?
> On Nov 3, 3:29 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote:
> > Dan Bretta wrote, On 11/3/09 1:14 PM:
> > > On Nov 3, 1:12 pm, Chris Bellomy <ten.wohsdoog@sirhc> wrote: > > >> J.C. Watts Enslin wrote, On 11/3/09 1:05 PM:
> > >>> Baylor is just in the wrong conference. > > >>> They should either be in the MWC or CUSA. > > >> That would be true if football were the only sport, but > > >> Baylor is pretty competitive at just about everything else.
> > > True enough, but without intervention from your then governor Baylor > > > prolly doesn't get a sniff from the Big XII.
> > It wasn't Ann. It was Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.
> > Besides, the number always had to be four. What kind of idiot > > would set up an 11-team conference?
> One holding out for a powerful independent.
Or one too bound by the tradition and the niceties of the past and not looking forward enough to realize that playing night games, games after Thanksgiving, and a conference championship game would help everyone in the long run.
> > ummm....I don't think baylor is particularly concerned. They are > > clearly not all that interested in building a quality football > > program, so why do they care if nebraska or OU or texas or whatever > > fans buy tickets to their games? That's better than nobody doing > > it.......
> You used to post thoughtful college football analysis...it's > unfortunate that you can't step out of character long enough to do > that anymore. Baylor cares about football...don't be stupid.
but where is the evidence? I obviously dont know the details of their ad, but it doesn't look like(just from parts of the game I saw a few weeks ago on fsn) that they poured a lot of money into their stadium.......dont know about the facilities. If there were any baylor fans in existence Im sure they could contribute.
To me I think baylor and and just associate them with vanderbilt and duke....ie programs who claim they are "trying" but are really not......
I mean yeah they have a jitterbug qb(hurt this year) who could develop into a randle el type, but in the wrong system what does that ever become? I mean didn't randle el(because of the system and the surrounding talent) take IU to a 5-6 win season in his "best" season......
> > > ummm....I don't think baylor is particularly concerned. They are > > > clearly not all that interested in building a quality football > > > program, so why do they care if nebraska or OU or texas or whatever > > > fans buy tickets to their games? That's better than nobody doing > > > it.......
> > You used to post thoughtful college football analysis...it's > > unfortunate that you can't step out of character long enough to do > > that anymore. Baylor cares about football...don't be stupid.
> but where is the evidence? I obviously dont know the details of their > ad, but it doesn't look like(just from parts of the game I saw a few > weeks ago on fsn) that they poured a lot of money into their > stadium.......dont know about the facilities. If there were any > baylor fans in existence Im sure they could contribute.
> To me I think baylor and and just associate them with vanderbilt and > duke....ie programs who claim they are "trying" but are really > not......
Oh those schools, like Northwestern, care about football. It's just that those schools don't have the fanbase to support their programs like the big, public schools do. My guess is that the average Texan who didn't go to college is probably a fan of Texas..maybe A&M or Tech...but very likely not Baylor. Furthermore, since schools like Duke and Vanderbilt draw kids from all over the country, and go elsewhere upon graduation, it's not as those they have a local alumni base to attend a lot of the games.
> > > > ummm....I don't think baylor is particularly concerned. They are > > > > clearly not all that interested in building a quality football > > > > program, so why do they care if nebraska or OU or texas or whatever > > > > fans buy tickets to their games? That's better than nobody doing > > > > it.......
> > > You used to post thoughtful college football analysis...it's > > > unfortunate that you can't step out of character long enough to do > > > that anymore. Baylor cares about football...don't be stupid.
> > but where is the evidence? I obviously dont know the details of their > > ad, but it doesn't look like(just from parts of the game I saw a few > > weeks ago on fsn) that they poured a lot of money into their > > stadium.......dont know about the facilities. If there were any > > baylor fans in existence Im sure they could contribute.
> > To me I think baylor and and just associate them with vanderbilt and > > duke....ie programs who claim they are "trying" but are really > > not......
> Oh those schools, like Northwestern, care about football. It's just > that those schools don't have the fanbase to support their programs > like the big, public schools do. My guess is that the average Texan > who didn't go to college is probably a fan of Texas..maybe A&M or > Tech...but very likely not Baylor. Furthermore, since schools like > Duke and Vanderbilt draw kids from all over the country, and go > elsewhere upon graduation, it's not as those they have a local alumni > base to attend a lot of the games.
Yes...and Baylor is not just a private school, but also a religious school where out of staters send their kids so they don't drink and kill cats (oops) while they're away at college....and those kids are most likely to not stay in or near Waco upon graduation.
> > > > ummm....I don't think baylor is particularly concerned. They are > > > > clearly not all that interested in building a quality football > > > > program, so why do they care if nebraska or OU or texas or whatever > > > > fans buy tickets to their games? That's better than nobody doing > > > > it.......
> > > You used to post thoughtful college football analysis...it's > > > unfortunate that you can't step out of character long enough to do > > > that anymore. Baylor cares about football...don't be stupid.
> > but where is the evidence? I obviously dont know the details of their > > ad, but it doesn't look like(just from parts of the game I saw a few > > weeks ago on fsn) that they poured a lot of money into their > > stadium.......dont know about the facilities. If there were any > > baylor fans in existence Im sure they could contribute.
> > To me I think baylor and and just associate them with vanderbilt and > > duke....ie programs who claim they are "trying" but are really > > not......
> Oh those schools, like Northwestern, care about football. It's just > that those schools don't have the fanbase to support their programs > like the big, public schools do. My guess is that the average Texan > who didn't go to college is probably a fan of Texas..maybe A&M or > Tech...but very likely not Baylor. Furthermore, since schools like > Duke and Vanderbilt draw kids from all over the country, and go > elsewhere upon graduation, it's not as those they have a local alumni > base to attend a lot of the games.
I guess I'm getting older(hell I cant even remeber what it was like to be an undergrad) but I am now at one of the six programs you mentioned as a resident(I dont feel comfortable to mention which one...it's an off cycle thing), and I just dont get a college football vibe at all.....
when I flew into atlanta(free ffm) for the lsu game and took a shuttle to athens, it was like a whole different world....I was like "ok, I've been divorced from college football for a few months, and Im back"......
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