Topic: Lesson to be learned for fans?

[thunderingon]

I?m not saying it would have definitely made a difference in this case but fan negativity has definitely played a role in this football coaching change. The internet (message boards and social media) has made people feel important and the need to make their opinions known regardless of who it hurts (players, coaches, AD, etc). Our fan base is miserable. Many will not support, give a chance or give grace to incoming coaches. It?s already started with Corny and I?m afraid Gibson will never have a chance to gain some of your support. Why so negative? Take a realistic approach. Support the Herd. Maybe keep the negativity to a minimum so that we are a place where coaches want to stay.

[Johns1124]

AD is a Maroon?

[s1uggo]

AD is a Maroon?

That?s being kind

[MUther]

I?m not saying it would have definitely made a difference in this case but fan negativity has definitely played a role in this football coaching change. The internet (message boards and social media) has made people feel important and the need to make their opinions known regardless of who it hurts (players, coaches, AD, etc). Our fan base is miserable. Many will not support, give a chance or give grace to incoming coaches. It?s already started with Corny and I?m afraid Gibson will never have a chance to gain some of your support. Why so negative? Take a realistic approach. Support the Herd. Maybe keep the negativity to a minimum so that we are a place where coaches want to stay.

Since you've said your piece, again, I'll say mine.  You don't want a coach that cares what fans are saying.  All fans are critical, win or lose, everywhere.  They all feel the price of a ticket or sitting through an hour of commercials during a game entitles them to say whatever they want about a team, a coach, a player, an administration, whatever.  If a coach is fixated on that, he isn't doing his job.  He's soft.  And he'll have the same problem everywhere he goes.  You can't make people like you.  You can only give them reasons to.  The rest is up to them.

[THECHAMPISHERE]

I?m not saying it would have definitely made a difference in this case but fan negativity has definitely played a role in this football coaching change. The internet (message boards and social media) has made people feel important and the need to make their opinions known regardless of who it hurts (players, coaches, AD, etc). Our fan base is miserable. Many will not support, give a chance or give grace to incoming coaches. It?s already started with Corny and I?m afraid Gibson will never have a chance to gain some of your support. Why so negative? Take a realistic approach. Support the Herd. Maybe keep the negativity to a minimum so that we are a place where coaches want to stay.

Completely false. If we bowed down and worshipped Charles Huff...he and his agent are still trying to leave after beating Notre Dame...and every single other chance he gets. Most fans knew Huff was gone the day after our last game before this season started. Huff and his wife didn't like HUNTINGTON. The fans had nothing to do with it.

Huntington likely played some small role (state of the city)...but in Huff's case he would be trying to leave regardless. If you can't take the heat here...you can't take it anywhere. We have the softest media...and actually have a pretty mild fanbase compared to just about any P4 school. If you can't handle our fanbase (and media)...you might as well give up coaching because it doesn't get any easier "moving on up".

[parshall2marshall]

We've been burned as a fanbase. Poutie stink has held the football program back. Now we bring in YET ANOTHER ONE with no college HC experience and sign him him to a 6-year deal ? Marshall brass keeps banging their respective heads against the wall. Big donors are all that matter to them and the little guys count for nothing. Doc was hired and continually retained  to be a picture postcard of mediocrity. Why would we trust the big money backers of TG ? I would opine our skepticism is warranted.

[puma]

I'm all for supporting Gibson. I think he has a very good resume and it's completely unfair to blame him for anything that went down between Huff and the administration.

As a fanbase, I really hope fans won't resort to insulting or spreading rumors about his wife or family. We got to be better than that.

It's the six year contract and WV ties that really makes me nervous.

[richmondherdfan]

Coaches and players should not be listening to the 5% of fans that are on message boards, twitter, FB, etc that give their opinion sometimes in a rash manner the minute a game is over. Huff and some of his coaches were all over social media and listened intently on everything that came out and took that as the entire fan base thinks this. Hell, Huff blocked me on twitter when all i said was it was coaching malpractice to not play Braxton at least one series in the VT game. Earle was 13/36 in that game with a QBR of 22! Now imagine if Braxton started the entire season???

If Huff thinks Marshall fans are too critical, just wait if he ever gets to a bigger program in the ACC/SEC/Big12. He better grow up (guys on his staff too like Sherrod Everett) and use social media for recruiting, not taking what 5% of the fans think about every call in every game as what an entire fan base believes.

I for one and happy he's gone. Too much drama.

[MUther]

Completely false. If we bowed down and worshipped Charles Huff...he and his agent are still trying to leave after beating Notre Dame...and every single other chance he gets. Most fans knew Huff was gone the day after our last game before this season started. Huff and his wife didn't like HUNTINGTON. The fans had nothing to do with it.

Huntington likely played some small role (state of the city)...but in Huff's case he would be trying to leave regardless. If you can't take the heat here...you can't take it anywhere. We have the softest media...and actually have a pretty mild fanbase compared to just about any P4 school. If you can't handle our fanbase (and media)...you might as well give up coaching because it doesn't get any easier "moving on up".

Maybe the Jeffersons reference was a bit over the top?  Otherwise, spot on.

[herdman22]

Huff, and all coaches, would do best to stay off the message boards.


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[MicDrass1]

I?m just going to enjoy the ride up to the next level we are about to see from our new HC like the President said would occur.  College playoffs or bust.  Just win baby!

[thunderingon]

Or not?whatever. These people are human and have families. I want Corny and Gibson to succeed because the Herd succeeds. Some of you actively root against our teams?because of hurt feelings , I don?t like the hire, I don?t like the AD, or fill in reason here. You can say you don?t, but your reactions and responses say otherwise.  And we have an another coach on the brink of a 2nd national championship and he?s completely taken for granted.

[thunderingon]

One last thing. Your fandom is much more enjoyable when you aren?t angry all of the time. Sports are fun. This is not life and death.

[svherd]

Completely false. If we bowed down and worshipped Charles Huff...he and his agent are still trying to leave after beating Notre Dame...and every single other chance he gets. Most fans knew Huff was gone the day after our last game before this season started. Huff and his wife didn't like HUNTINGTON. The fans had nothing to do with it.

Huntington likely played some small role (state of the city)...but in Huff's case he would be trying to leave regardless. If you can't take the heat here...you can't take it anywhere. We have the softest media...and actually have a pretty mild fanbase compared to just about any P4 school. If you can't handle our fanbase (and media)...you might as well give up coaching because it doesn't get any easier "moving on up".

Another thin that I find hilarious is some claim it was a race issue that drove them out of town. The same town/school that has statues of Carter Woodson and Hal Greer. The same school that has a black man as it's basketball coach. The same school that has many black men as it's most talented athletes ever and honors them every day, or chance we get. Just sick of it.

[Herdiowa]

It had nothing to do with it.  It had everything to do with Huff wanting us to take it in the keester and give him a contract without a buyout.  Then he snuck around to get other offers for negotiations.  Marshall did not know he was doing this and said enough.  But some of you want to blame the fans, whatever.  Go read E-Mans post, very good read.

[MUther]

One last thing. Your fandom is much more enjoyable when you aren?t angry all of the time. Sports are fun. This is not life and death.

Why do people assume that people are angry when they flip out over bad playcalls or an interception or something a coach said?  Don't know about anyone else, but that's when I'm having the most fun.  Only way to be part of the process.  Screaming at the invisible coach in my living room is just part of the game.  Sports are fun, message boards are therapeutic and for venting.  Seems like the only one not handling it is the guy telling people to stop reacting with their feels.  Your fandom may be more fun sitting there drinking your tea with your pinky out.  My fanaticism is more fun going nuts.

And Corny gets a pass.  I said he could have the year.  I've commented on a few players but I've left him alone to be given a chance as I said I would and have also said about Gibson.  If Corny is still coach next year, he is open game, and you can put scarf to forehead and faint if you need to. 

[BraveSaintStuart]

Why do people assume that people are angry when they flip out over bad playcalls or an interception or something a coach said?  Don't know about anyone else, but that's when I'm having the most fun.  Only way to be part of the process.  Screaming at the invisible coach in my living room is just part of the game.  Sports are fun, message boards are therapeutic and for venting.  Seems like the only one not handling it is the guy telling people to stop reacting with their feels.  Your fandom may be more fun sitting there drinking your tea with your pinky out.  My fanaticism is more fun going nuts.

And Corny gets a pass.  I said he could have the year.  I've commented on a few players but I've left him alone to be given a chance as I said I would and have also said about Gibson.  If Corny is still coach next year, he is open game, and you can put scarf to forehead and faint if you need to.

I guess that really depends on whether or not you're actually enjoying it. I've let games ruin entire weekends for me and life's just too short for that. I've sunk tons of time into following Marshall athletics over the years (no more than most others on this board, granted). I don't think there has to be anything wrong with that. But when I got to the point where I recognized just how much joy it was sucking out of my life, I took a couple steps back, and I've been much happier this year. Have I screamed at the TV during a game? Sure. But then I've largely turned it off at the end and let it go. Some people on this board don't seem to be able to let it go.

And to the point of the OP, I think we get so into being "part of the process" that we become a source for the things we hate. Did Fancher leave because he wasn't good enough? That may have been part of it, but another "part of the process" was that fans were demanding something better. So what's he supposed to do? Not enter the portal? And of course that example worked out in our favor because we wound up with Braxton, but now Braxton's leaving and we don't like that.

Players are always going to look for the best opportunities, so if we want to be "part of the process", we should be a fan base that helps to create the best opportunities for players. I don't think the OP is meant to say that players and coaches are above reproach or should never be questioned. But all of that should bathed in appreciation for the fact that they chose Marshall in the first place. Accentuate the positive. Create a better fan culture, and not one that immediately resorts to name-calling or negativity. (And to be clear, I'm not speaking specifically to you on that, MUther... just an observation about the fan base in general).

[MUonium]

nothing beats playing and winning a championship.  reading media either had no affect on the team or it pushed all the right buttons.  so, credit to them, thanks and good luck (more or less)

Herd fans, keep your criticisms coming, keep your money coming, keep yourself coming.  in the end, the coaches and Marshall will respect you for all three. 

i must agree though that very personal, unsubstantiated BS should be left at the door.  jokes are not the same as pure meanness

[thunderingon]

I guess that really depends on whether or not you're actually enjoying it. I've let games ruin entire weekends for me and life's just too short for that. I've sunk tons of time into following Marshall athletics over the years (no more than most others on this board, granted). I don't think there has to be anything wrong with that. But when I got to the point where I recognized just how much joy it was sucking out of my life, I took a couple steps back, and I've been much happier this year. Have I screamed at the TV during a game? Sure. But then I've largely turned it off at the end and let it go. Some people on this board don't seem to be able to let it go.

And to the point of the OP, I think we get so into being "part of the process" that we become a source for the things we hate. Did Fancher leave because he wasn't good enough? That may have been part of it, but another "part of the process" was that fans were demanding something better. So what's he supposed to do? Not enter the portal? And of course that example worked out in our favor because we wound up with Braxton, but now Braxton's leaving and we don't like that.

Players are always going to look for the best opportunities, so if we want to be "part of the process", we should be a fan base that helps to create the best opportunities for players. I don't think the OP is meant to say that players and coaches are above reproach or should never be questioned. But all of that should bathed in appreciation for the fact that they chose Marshall in the first place. Accentuate the positive. Create a better fan culture, and not one that immediately resorts to name-calling or negativity. (And to be clear, I'm not speaking specifically to you on that, MUther... just an observation about the fan base in general).

Yes. Good post and perspective

[Always THE HERD]

AD is a Maroon?

Curious as to what is a "maroon".

[Green Dog]

Curious as to what is a "maroon".

I think its kinda like Burgundy.

[MUonium]

I think its kinda like Burgundy.

at any rate, far from Kelly!