:lame
What, exactly, do these players expect? Do they expect "the greatest fans in America" to eat this poo pie and continue to smile and clap and cheer? How completely unrealistic is that?
Sure, I'm as angered as most by the idiots who tell the players to take the N off their helmets, or who say "you suck" to a guy who's just gotten beat up in a game for 60 minutes. That kind of "fan" needs to go away, no question. But at the same time, there is a legitimate amount of frustration being displayed by fans, and I don't have any qualms about anyone who boos the lack of effort and heart that we see displayed on a weekly basis lately.
We are knowledgeable fans, and we know excellence. We have a reasonable right to expect that any kid who puts that helmet on will play to the fullest extent of their ability. When we see loafing, lolly-gagging, and outright indifference out there, I think it's only natural to react negatively.
I am completely against the notion that being one of the "best fans in college football" means I never, ever get to criticize this team.
So you're defending this fans?
I'm sorry. You can justify that to yourself however you want. But
what do the players expect?! Clearly, you're not in their shoes. What do you think they should say? "Oh well, that's to be expected. It doesn't sting at all that we're getting booed by our own fans because we've been losing"?! You think this SHOULDN'T be hard on the team? <_<
I pretty much answered your question in my original post, but I'll reiterate. Yeah WHAT DO THE PLAYERS EXPECT? Do they expect congratulations and pats on the back for back-to-back blowouts at home to mediocre teams? Do they expect cheers and whoops of joy for lack of effort? Do they expect a flight of balloons every time they stop a team short of a 20-yard gain? What?
NO, it is NOT all right to tell them to take the "N" off their helmet, it is NOT all right to threaten them, it is NOT all right to tell them to quit the team. I never, ever defended that. What I'm defending is the fans' right to be unhappy with this team. These kids and this coaching staff (mostly the coaching staff) are earning that, and to molly-coddle them and say "It's OK" is counterproductive.
Should it be hard on them? ABSOLUTELY!!!! It SHOULD be. They should not be happy, they should not be comfortable, they should not be OK with the effort they're giving out there, and neither should the fans. Do you even watch the games? They're standing around! They're not covering their assignments! They're not running to the ball! They're not gang-tackling! The O-Line isn't opening holes! The I-Backs are rarely breaking tackles! The receivers are dropping passes! This is NOT Nebraska football. No way.
And you're saying it's not OK to boo? Sorry. I don't buy that one bit.
Read the post you quoted again, and really try to understand what I'm saying, not what you want me to be saying so you can post your reply.
Here's why we're still the greatest fans in America, though - after both the OK State and A&M games, after those to mid-level teams stole our lunch money and knocked our books in the mud, our fans stood up and applauded those teams as they left the field. THAT is what makes us great fans. We understand sportsmanship. Are we hard to please? Yes - we expect excellence from a team founded on this principle. So there was a smattering of boos here and there. Big deal. I don't like it, I didn't do it, and I won't do it, but I respect the right of those people who did it to do it, and do it again.
99.99% of Husker fans, the ones who really truly are Huskers at the core of their being, will tell you that every loss we've suffered this season would be OK if, during those games, our players were giving the best effort they possibly could on every play. I'd be OK with a season full of 70-10 defeats if the kids did that every game.
But there isn't a player on that team that could look Husker Fan in the eye and say they’ve given a solid effort on every play, every game. If they did they’d be lying to us.
ower
