andyokstate
11-29-2007, 09:20 AM
ESPN - Maisel article (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/notebook?page=iform0713&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1)
Reality Check
The drama that unfolded at Arkansas and Southern Mississippi over the last few days revealed that college football fans are all about perception.
After 10 seasons at Arkansas, a substantial portion of Razorback fans believe Houston Nutt is an underachiever with questionable ethics. At Ole Miss, which snapped up Nutt only hours after he resigned, Nutt is the coach who can teach the Rebels how to win.
Arkansas fans wanted more from Houston Nutt.
In this age of egalitarian football, fans have contracted gold fever. Boise State wins the Fiesta Bowl. Kansas gets to 11-0 and No. 2 in the nation. Everyone believes his team should win the national championship. More than once.
It's gotten so bad that we applaud Mississippi State for letting Sly Croom coach a fourth season. The Bulldogs go 7-5, and athletic director Larry Templeton becomes a steady hand who doesn't bend. When did four years become an eternity?
It's all perception. Fans around the country see Southern Mississippi as a consistently successful program at the mid-major level. Golden Eagles fans grew impatient with 7-5.
There's something about being a fan that makes you lose touch with reality.
If it's your team, you should be proud that they went 8-4.
If it's my team, I can't stomach the mediocrity another day. We should have been at least 10-2.
If it's your team, there's something to be said for winning three division titles in 10 seasons.
If it's my team, the coach has got to go because he never won the conference.
If it's your team, 10 bowls in 11 seasons is a badge of honor.
If it's my team, and we play one more PapaJohns.com Bowl, I'm going to boycott takeout pizza.
If it's your team, you win despite a small recruiting base.
If it's my team, we've been ranked in the top 25 in recruiting five years running and our coaches can't develop talent.
If it's your team, you'll never overcome the rivals with deeper pockets and more tradition.
If it's my team, we had those guys beat with 10 minutes to play and that idiot of a coach blew the game.
If it's your team, I love your coach's one-liner about how they couldn't play dead in a cowboy movie.
If it's my team, and I hear that tired line about playing dead in a cowboy movie one more time, I'm going to stop donating to the athletic department.
If it's your team, your coach's 10 years are a sign of stability.
If it's my team, get that guy out of there -- now.
Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Ivan at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.
Reality Check
The drama that unfolded at Arkansas and Southern Mississippi over the last few days revealed that college football fans are all about perception.
After 10 seasons at Arkansas, a substantial portion of Razorback fans believe Houston Nutt is an underachiever with questionable ethics. At Ole Miss, which snapped up Nutt only hours after he resigned, Nutt is the coach who can teach the Rebels how to win.
Arkansas fans wanted more from Houston Nutt.
In this age of egalitarian football, fans have contracted gold fever. Boise State wins the Fiesta Bowl. Kansas gets to 11-0 and No. 2 in the nation. Everyone believes his team should win the national championship. More than once.
It's gotten so bad that we applaud Mississippi State for letting Sly Croom coach a fourth season. The Bulldogs go 7-5, and athletic director Larry Templeton becomes a steady hand who doesn't bend. When did four years become an eternity?
It's all perception. Fans around the country see Southern Mississippi as a consistently successful program at the mid-major level. Golden Eagles fans grew impatient with 7-5.
There's something about being a fan that makes you lose touch with reality.
If it's your team, you should be proud that they went 8-4.
If it's my team, I can't stomach the mediocrity another day. We should have been at least 10-2.
If it's your team, there's something to be said for winning three division titles in 10 seasons.
If it's my team, the coach has got to go because he never won the conference.
If it's your team, 10 bowls in 11 seasons is a badge of honor.
If it's my team, and we play one more PapaJohns.com Bowl, I'm going to boycott takeout pizza.
If it's your team, you win despite a small recruiting base.
If it's my team, we've been ranked in the top 25 in recruiting five years running and our coaches can't develop talent.
If it's your team, you'll never overcome the rivals with deeper pockets and more tradition.
If it's my team, we had those guys beat with 10 minutes to play and that idiot of a coach blew the game.
If it's your team, I love your coach's one-liner about how they couldn't play dead in a cowboy movie.
If it's my team, and I hear that tired line about playing dead in a cowboy movie one more time, I'm going to stop donating to the athletic department.
If it's your team, your coach's 10 years are a sign of stability.
If it's my team, get that guy out of there -- now.
Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Ivan at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.