FB: Liberty League

[Frank Rossi]

I think there's a difference between stating your opinion and throwing a tantrum.

Stating your opinion:

"Hobart laid an egg Saturday.  Their kicking game sucks, and now they are in League Championship trouble out of nowhere.  These guys are way too talented to let this happen in the first place, so what the hell is going on there?  They can sack Union's QB 8 times but can barely touch Hermann?  What the heck, defense, c'mon and play to your caliber!"

Tantrum:

"If Hobart loses on Sat, they need to turn over the entire roster and get some people who know how to win, but comparing last year and this year based on "hey Roch won last year and they're playing decent ball of late" doesn't really seem to make sense to someone who follows this team closely."

I won't go grab the worst of the Rev tantrum because he backed off it and is at least in a more jovial mood right now.  It's just a question here of what the tantrum helps.  They have a right to throw tantrums, but they are sitting here saying they are trying to help be supportive of their team.  PA wants to focus a lot on one player and assume that the 21 others didn't help contribute to the 5-4 season last year.  Like I said in a recent email exchange with someone, this is the danger in placing too much stock in one game result (Fisher) since that created these oddly lofty expectations for 8-0 -- and as anyone can tell you, most 10-0 or 9-0 seasons rely on luck as much as talent (we had three extremely close calls at Union in 2005 in the route to 10-0).  I'm suggesting to a fellow hot-head (PA) that it's time to step back and look at the big picture without Hobart-shaded glasses on for a few minutes -- and to consider his audience since the team does read social media (evidenced by the OL shoutout to Baker).

[lewdogg11]

I guess I understand what you're saying, but i too have been in position where you just get so thoroughly frustrated over and over again and you vent.  It happens.  It's not always pretty but it happens.  If it were something that just kept occurring time after time after time, that's a different story, but the Hobart guys are typically pretty level headed in here, so they are obviously experiencing some serious frustration.

As far as hurting people's feelings(or saying people read and pay attention to social media), they will get over it.  If you perform poorly in school, the teacher fails you.  If you perform poorly at your job, you'll be fired or demoted or reprimanded.  No matter where you go in life, if you don't do your job, there are repercussions.  They either own you, or they make you better.  Hopefully the latter happens.  If they can't deal with it, they don't need to pay attention to it.  I didn't deal with Internet posting boards, but we were always told not to read your newspaper clippings.  Same deal.  Different era.

[Frank Rossi]

I guess I understand what you're saying, but i too have been in position where you just get so thoroughly frustrated over and over again and you vent.  It happens.  It's not always pretty but it happens.  If it were something that just kept occurring time after time after time, that's a different story, but the Hobart guys are typically pretty level headed in here, so they are obviously experiencing some serious frustration.

As far as hurting people's feelings(or saying people read and pay attention to social media), they will get over it.  If you perform poorly in school, the teacher fails you.  If you perform poorly at your job, you'll be fired or demoted or reprimanded.  No matter where you go in life, if you don't do your job, there are repercussions.  They either own you, or they make you better.  Hopefully the latter happens.  If they can't deal with it, they don't need to pay attention to it.  I didn't deal with Internet posting boards, but we were always told not to read your newspaper clippings.  Same deal.  Different era.

Understood completely.  Here's the ultimate problem, though.  Too many times, people say things publicly, assuming that their level of support will somehow protect them from scrutiny.  People inside programs, be it the players, the coaches or the fans, are more apt to latch on to the negatives and judge the person on the negativity, whether or not it's justified.  You and I have a common acquaintance who feels that they were ostracized a bit for being publicly overcritical despite the support and contributions to the program -- I completely disagree with that ostracization if it's true, but you have to respect the fact that it unfortunately happens.

The most extreme case of it was someone we know I had numerous run-ins with on here -- U89.  Because I was associated with these message boards, people at Union (young and old) came to me asking me why he felt the need to grind his ax the way he was perpetually doing it.  The saddest part of the whole back and forth is this:  U89 contributed a lot of time, money, energy and effort into seeing the Union Football program grow and maintain strength.  Even I would be the first to admit that, despite my problems with him.  He just never appreciated what I used to try to tell him -- opinions are fine and all, but axes and tantrums just don't help support the team and maintain your own association and respect inside the team.

I'm Italian.  True Italian families will always tell you that you support your family publicly no matter what and kick asses behind closed doors.  When you're close enough to a football program that you support them, are known and feel comfortable coming back at will, that team is like a family.  The most I would publicly say about my parents is that they occasionally can be pains in my ass at 73/74 years old -- but that's it and whose parents aren't?  Complaints and issues with the team/family are better accomplished behind closed doors just to avoid damaging your own rep inside the family, I've found. 

[Jonny Utah]

I think it would be cool if Union won the conference and then played the NJAC or MAC champ in the playoffs.  I can see them pulling an upset if that happens.

dlip does toooooo!!!!

Only because I like the underdog.  Union still sucks.

[dlippiel]

I think it would be cool if Union won the conference and then played the NJAC or MAC champ in the playoffs.  I can see them pulling an upset if that happens.

dlip does toooooo!!!!

Only because I like the underdog.  Union still sucks.

Now that just ruined the entire discussion 

[pg04]

Don't worry Frank, I chased U89 away so no more ax grinding (other than possibly into my back)  .

[PBR...]

I think it would be cool if Union won the conference and then played the NJAC or MAC champ in the playoffs.  I can see them pulling an upset if that happens.

[Bombers798891]

If you don't think I speak with James about 5 times a week and that we don't discuss Hobart, his contributions and everything else, you're off your rocker.  It's why I picked up the phone right after ITH two weeks ago when the OL guys gave him a shout-out for "Comin' Atcha" because public support for his efforts were long overdue. 

That said, your time and commitment to the program doesn't justify public bashing of the guys you claim to support.  If that were the case, I'd be able to go on the air Saturday and dwell on a bad play by Union for 45 minutes on Senior Day since, hey, I'm one of their most ardent supporters and earned that right.  It's backward logic and undermines the supportive efforts of which you speak (and it is those efforts I truly appreciate -- much like Baker's).  You're right -- we all have a right to our opinion.  However, you sometimes need to look at the big picture before you go and spout off about it.

Fans have ALL the rights in the world to express their disappointment, thoughts, feelings, etc.  Media or you in this case also has that right.  Coaches, players, parents, alumni, students, former students, former players, etc etc etc ALL have this right.  Now I don't feel right bashing specific players over and over in this setting, but the teams as a whole, coaches, philosophies, other posters, all are fair game here and everywhere.  I'm sure it is talked about in the parking lot before games, in the stands, in the locker rooms and anywhere else where people who give 2 sh!ts gather.  So why not here?

There is an RPI football facebook page where one of the 'supporters' made some pretty harsh comments on one of RPI's better players, and they weren't even comments about his play, but about him as a person and it made me sick to my stomach.  But if if you have issues about programs, coaches, Administrations, etc, have at it.

IDK, I've always felt we on the board separate the player from the person. For example, it's impossible to separate the Bombers' struggles from poor offensive line play. So technically, that could be me construed as ripping a player, but really, I just view them as "The guys who play on the offensive line." Sure, I know their names, but honestly, they're no different in my world than say, a character on a TV show. That sounds dehumanizing, but what can you do? Sports are a results business, and I think players understand that.

[Jonny Utah]

I think it would be cool if Union won the conference and then played the NJAC or MAC champ in the playoffs.  I can see them pulling an upset if that happens.

Is that a Widner fan laughing at last years Del Val matchup?  Or is that you reacting to someone who thought Widner could have pulled off that game?  Or is that an Albright fan after the 2009 Del Val game?  Or is that you reacting to someone who thought Albright could have beaten Del Val?

Why don't you tell us your predections now PBR so we don't have to wait for you to pull a nutty like you did last year.  It's not like Del Val hasn't choked before.

[PBR...]

I think it would be cool if Union won the conference and then played the NJAC or MAC champ in the playoffs.  I can see them pulling an upset if that happens.

Is that a Widner fan laughing at last years Del Val matchup?  Or is that you reacting to someone who thought Widner could have pulled off that game?  Or is that an Albright fan after the 2009 Del Val game?  Or is that you reacting to someone who thought Albright could have beaten Del Val?

Why don't you tell us your predections now PBR so we don't have to wait for you to pull a nutty like you did last year.  It's not like Del Val hasn't choked before.

[Frank Rossi]

Jonny has obviously read my book, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."  He's doing it better than me this morning.  DAAAAAAAMNNNN!

[Jonny Utah]

Jonny has obviously read my book, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."  He's doing it better than me this morning.  DAAAAAAAMNNNN!

PBR is a good dude and one of the funniest guys on here.  But he has the foggiest green and yellow colored glasses (And aggie horns) when it comes to Del Val.

[PBR...]

Jonny has obviously read my book, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."  He's doing it better than me this morning.  DAAAAAAAMNNNN!

PBR is a good dude and one of the funniest guys on here.  But he has the foggiest green and yellow colored glasses (And aggie horns) when it comes to Del Val.

[Jonny Utah]

Jonny has obviously read my book, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."  He's doing it better than me this morning.  DAAAAAAAMNNNN!

PBR is a good dude and one of the funniest guys on here.  But he has the foggiest green and yellow colored glasses (And aggie horns) when it comes to Del Val.

If you want to keep explaining things that don't make sense in pictures, so be it.  I still think you are one of the biggest homers on this website.

[Frank Rossi]

Jonny has obviously read my book, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."  He's doing it better than me this morning.  DAAAAAAAMNNNN!

PBR is a good dude and one of the funniest guys on here.  But he has the foggiest green and yellow colored glasses (And aggie horns) when it comes to Del Val.

If you want to keep explaining things that don't make sense in pictures, so be it.  I still think you are one of the biggest homers on this website.

Hey, this site was founded on the Book of Homer.