It's not just a game!

nebraskaman said:
It used to be that Husker fans were highly regarded for their love of the game and respect and hospitality for opposing teams. HMMM welcome to the age of the small minded fanatics
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I really don't have this attitude, but I found it hard watching the game when the guys on the field showed no pride out there. I see just about everything except want-to. And that is the most important part of the game.

 
When I was younger, I threw chairs at the wall when we lost. It was that world-shattering.

Now that I'm old and wise and in my early 20s... :P I don't know, I've just mellowed out a lot with regards to football in general. Losses are disappointing, but you know who it's really disappointing for? Those athletes out there who've worked hard all their lives for that moment and competed 60 grueling minutes for it. Know what I did in that time? Nothing.

It doesn't make an impact on me anymore when my team loses. It can be crushing at the time, but it's all the same in the end. Life goes on the same in the end and it's silly, I think, to tie yourself so closely to the fortunes of something you, personally, have 0 control over.

 
At first i was just going to be funny but then i got angry and now i just feel sorry for you. No one is questioning your passion for your team but you have zero physically invested in them. So your feelings get hirt and you throw a tantrum when you dont get your way. You half to hear the bad men call you names because something you had nothing to do with let you down. Its not just a phrase or a saying. It is just a game, it really is. Most of these guys are only playing because there passionate about the game. They will never get to the next level but they play hard anyways. Do you really think these guys are just brushing off there shoulders meh f#*k em. Honestly man, when they lose grab your kids, grab a loved one, go for a walk, watch some porn but dont break your sh#t, dont slap people around its just juvenile and wrong. Sooooo many more important things in life then a football game. Yes be passionate, cheer when they win, be pissed when they lose. But just know that it is truly and honestly just a game.

 
HuskerMoon said:
Every time Nebraska loses I get to hear this lie. "Oh well... It's just a game." If you say this following a Nebraska loss then there are only a handful of reasons you are saying it. Denial, Mental Illness, Lack of true Husker born and bred passion, or finally your priorities are out of whack.

You are so upset over losing the game that you pass it off as just college kids living it up and playing a little backyard game of piggly skin. Instead of a 122 year tradition and source of pride for this entire state. A storied tradition of fandom passed down from father to son.... and daughter over the ages. A source that unites family and friends in fellowship 12 to 14 Saturdays in the fall. Something that in Nebraska is a synonomous with fall as Halloween and Thanksgiving. That true Nebraska fans exhault with heartfelt joy in meaningful victory and feel physical and emotional pain and also humiliation in loss. It is a sport that brings in millions of dollars in revenue to the University, the city of Lincoln, and the state of Nebraska. Something that has a DIRECT impact on the education of our young people and the local ECONOMY. There is far more emotion wrapped up in 60 minutes of watching football on a Husker Saturday than many would care to admit but it doesn't mean it isn't there. I am only slightly embarrassed to admit I have done damage to property and person following the absolute RED blinding rage I go into following a loss, especially if followed by sh*t talk from people who hate Nebraska just to hate it, because they are too simple to wrap their minds around what football means to this state and it's people. That or they support some other hack of a team in which their support could never hold a candle to the passion Nebraska fans have.. So don't tell me it's just a game. (I'm sure some coy jacka$$ will say it. Be first in line to show your true colors.) It's far from just a game to me.
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You get out there and play division I football!

 
" Not the victory but action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory." Another words, don't take it so seriously.

 
HuskerMoon said:
Enhance.

Thank you for your well thought out articulated response. Unfortunately my "attitude" is not up for debate. My attitude is neither right or wrong. It is what it is. A perspective from life experience that is different and judging by your post, considerably longer than your own. In my life experience I have found that rational and irrational responses are both completely subjective and a matter of individual perspective. There are some situations that merit what some might consider an "irrational" response. It helps make life interesting, helps relieve stress, helps knock people with their face in the cotton candy back into reality. While it may be distasteful, frightening, or even physically painful depending on the circumstance you can rest assured that a lasting and valuable life lesson has been learned, either by myself or those directly impacted.
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Then consider my post friendly advice. I know many if not most of the posters here are older than me, and I have no problem discussing my age. Take my opinion with a grain of salt, if you'd like. You love the Huskers, as I do, as many do. But, I think there's far more to be gained from reasoned debate than irrational anger and physical violence.

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

-Isaac Asimov

 
Winning is incredibly boring if you never lose. You shouldn't have to really on the Huskers winning to have that sense of pride within your community and state. It doesn't take winning to pass the Nebraska tradition on to future generations. The true Nebraska tradition is the football team's connection to the community and it's fans. I woke up Sunday disappointed with the loss, but proud that I am part of a fan base that supports their team through both good an bad. Any pride you gain from only winning is really a false pride. True fans are determined when you support your team when it's easy to jump off the bandwagon.

"We all stick together in all kinds of weather"

"In the deed the glory"

 
Original poster, do you have a life outside of Nebraska football?

If not, and I suspect this is the case, you need to get one and fill it with things that will make it fulfilling, rather than count on a bunch of college kids to do it for you. Because if and when they ever win another National Championship or Conference Championship, you won't get to hold that trophy or wear that ring. Best you can do is buy yourself the t-shirt.

I would rather the Nebraska Cornhuskers won than lost, but that is outside my control...

Same as if the ducks fly over the duck blind...

Same as whether it rains on my lawn...

Same as what movie plays at the local theater...

Same as whether Coke or Pepsi is on sale this week...

None of the above should cause you grief outside of two or three seconds.

 
I'm having flashbacks to DMX: "You think it's a game?! You think it's a f**cking game?! Arf! Arf!"

 
HuskerMoon said:
Instead of a 122 year tradition and source of pride for this entire state. A storied tradition of fandom passed down from father to son.... and daughter over the ages. A source that unites family and friends in fellowship 12 to 14 Saturdays in the fall. Something that in Nebraska is a synonomous with fall as Halloween and Thanksgiving. That true Nebraska fans exhault with heartfelt joy in meaningful victory and feel physical and emotional pain and also humiliation in loss. It is a sport that brings in millions of dollars in revenue to the University, the city of Lincoln, and the state of Nebraska. Something that has a DIRECT impact on the education of our young people and the local ECONOMY. There is far more emotion wrapped up in 60 minutes of watching football on a Husker Saturday than many would care to admit but it doesn't mean it isn't there.
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You know what, you're absolutely right. Nebraska football is all of those things.

Still, it's bad form to act like an uncouth jacka$$ if your favorite sports team loses. Part of that tradition we pass down to our children and children's children is being able to take defeat with a bit of dignity. Sportsmanship. That, at its core, is what it means to be a Husker fan.

Cheer as the winners go by.

 
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If it's not just a game.... what is it?

I used to get all worked up when we lost, too. These days, I have more important things going on. Football is entertainment for me, not life-and-death. My self-worth isn't wrapped up in whether we win or lose. We lose, it sucks, and I just move on with my life.

For those of you advocating that we take this more seriously than "it's just a game," how serious should we take Husker football? How zealous should we be? And how does it help doing that?

 
nebraskaman said:
HuskerMoon said:
Enhance.

Thank you for your well thought out articulated response. Unfortunately my "attitude" is not up for debate. My attitude is neither right or wrong. It is what it is. A perspective from life experience that is different and judging by your post, considerably longer than your own. In my life experience I have found that rational and irrational responses are both completely subjective and a matter of individual perspective. There are some situations that merit what some might consider an "irrational" response. It helps make life interesting, helps relieve stress, helps knock people with their face in the cotton candy back into reality. While it may be distasteful, frightening, or even physically painful depending on the circumstance you can rest assured that a lasting and valuable life lesson has been learned, either by myself or those directly impacted.
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Seems to me that your attitude is precisely what is being discussed in this post. You have no right to physically or emotionally abuse folks because some football GAME was lost. It is a football game, and we all want the huskers to do well, but I'm not going to burn down the town if they lose.

You, yourself, state in the above quote that your BEHAVIOR, which is a result of your attitude, is distasteful, frightening and physically painful. All because of a loss by he Huskers?? Yikes, I hope you never have any real crisis in your life. You'll make the headlines for sure.
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You obviously take what you wish from what you've read. I will comment on a few things though. You are right. I have no right to committ battery on a person and I never have. I have been involved in two violent instances, both aggrivated following a Nebraska game.In those cases I could have been prosecuted but lucky for me, no charges were filed.

On the other hand you included the word "Emotional abuse". That struck a cord with me. There is no law that says I can't say pretty much say whatever I want to short of yelling fire in a theater. Therefore thanks to the eternal genuis of the founding fathers THE FIRST AMENDMENT contradicts this completely unless it relates to some kind of violent act. I have EVERY right to say WHATEVER it is I wish. People choose to be offended or not. If thats the emotional abuse you are talking about then it's really too bad.

Still my behavior is not up for debate. It is what it is. People who think they're being righteous can say whatever they want from their pedestal. *shrug*

 
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