Grown-Up Sports Fan

I love sports. I really always have. There's always been some magnetism about the competition.  Having grown up mostly in a small Nebraska town, population 220, you could say I didn't have many kids to play games with.  But I loved the games I played by myself just the same. And being a Nebraskan, most often those one-man games were football games.

I was a quarterback, running back, wide receiver. I threw passes to myself. I scored all the touchdowns. And I never, ever lost. Just like my beloved Cornhuskers.

Until those Cornhuskers did lose.

I was devastated by the beatings at the hands of Miami and Florida State. That '94 Orange Bowl still counts as a win in my fragile, childish memories.  I loved everything about the Big Red. They could do no wrong. They were the best. Memorial Stadium was my Mecca, Tom Osborne my prophet, Kent Pavelka my pastor. And a loss could ruin a weekend, if not a week.

And then, sometime in my 20's, I grew up. Not just physically, nor mentally, but as a sports fan I gained a level of maturity. Nebraska football was no longer my perfect ideal.

You might point at the fact that they began losing more often and I perhaps got used to the idea. You might point at the fact that I left the state and removed myself from the immersion and inundation that Nebraska offers. You might find a number of reasons why I no longer worshipped at the altar of the Big Red N. But those would really only be mitigating factors.

I just grew up.  My perspective changed. Not every Husker was the best to ever play the game. The coaches were not infallible figures of complete purity. I had lived a little bit of life and grown to understand the nature of humanity a little better. And the nature of sports.

I grew to understand that my deep, emotional investment in a sporting contest that I could not control would eventually lead to frustration, anger, or depression.  And so, I stopped investing that emotion.

But so many have not. So many are stuck in the adolescent stages of their fan hood. And it's far from being just a Nebraska thing. This is everywhere. So many still live and die by the outcome of something that, ultimately, doesn't matter all that much. They take offense to criticism of their team to such a degree that they're willing to fight -- actually throw punches -- anyone who does.  They spew hate and vitriol toward opponents. They verbally assault officials who, in a bizarre twist of irony, make genuine mistakes, as any human might. They will defend the most ridiculous of actions through muddled logic.  They seek to blame failures on anyone or anything, as long as it isn't their team.

So, now I've called out the fans.  Do I just hate sports fans now? Definitely not. Without fans, the games don't exist as they currently do. And I still love the games. But I don't love everything about fans, just the same as I don't love everything about Nebraska football.

I still want to see my team win. I still identify with that Big Red N. It still sucks when they lose. All that is the same. But, removed is the extremism of my fan hood. And I enjoy the games even more than I used to, because the fear of a bad result is also gone.

Be a fan. But be a grown-up at the same time. It is possible.

Blind Loyalty Is Still Blind

I'm sick of this now.  Really.

We need to dispel some myths about being a "real fan."

First, there's no such thing as a "real fan."  Everyone who is a fan is a fan on his or her own terms.  To say that a person's terms of fanhood are invalid is absurd.  There are no rules for being a fan. Nobody is owed anything.

If you think that being a "real fan" means never questioning anything that happens with your team, you probably think that being a "real American" means never criticizing policy.  This is backward logic.

If your team goes out and gets beaten 45-0 and you're still rah-rah and ranting about how big a fan you are, you're just blind. You've buried your head in the sand. And if that's the way you want it, fine. But know this:  fans allowed to be displeased. It doesn't make one less of a fan if one isn't happy with the way things go.

If you unquestioningly support your team, regardless of what happens, of what, exactly, are you a fan? The uniform? The logo? I'd say you'd be completely justified in complaining about poor performance.

This is your chosen team. For many of you there's an emotional investment. When your expectations or hopes are dashed, you should probably be a little upset.

The term "fair-weather fan" gets tossed around a lot. It's used on those who boo. It's used on those who leave games early.  It's used on those who criticize performance. But again, nobody is owed anything. The team is not owed unfailing loyalty. The team is not owed the attendance of the crowd. The team is not owed the continued support of anyone in the face of poor performance.

And it goes both ways.

Fans are owed only what they pay for: a seat. They are not owed a certain number of wins. They are not owed championships. They are not owed the adoration of a frustrated coach.

But to say that they shouldn't be unhappy or critical is silly.

Yes, most of this is in reference to the recent events surrounding the comments from one Bo Pelini. He said some off-color things about the fans of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. But, you know, he's allowed that. He's allowed to have the opinion that fans shouldn't boo or leave at halftime. But those same fans are allowed to do exactly those things.

Everybody just needs to grow up and accept that the actions of others are their own. And fans will choose to support or criticize those actions. That's the nature of the fan.

My Take On Pelini

Stop.

Stop saying the Bo audio is some Omaha World Herald conspiracy/agenda. The OWH did not release this. Deadspin broke the story.  But, even if they had. Stop.  The job of the media is to report and investigate. The job of media is NOT to help win football games, recruit, protect Bo Pelini, or anything else.

So, stop being offended for the wrong reason. If you're a fan, remember that the only person who said "Fuck You" was the man you so staunchly defend.  Saying things like, "Stick by the team through thick and thin," and "Real fans support the team/coach, no matter what." means fans shouldn't have the right to dislike anything that happens with the team. It means don't question the regime. Ever. No matter what.  It means Bo's right and you're wrong. And when Bo's wrong, you're wrong for realizing it. If you don't love it, leave it.

 How ridiculous did all those Penn St. fans rioting in the streets seem? Weren't they just "being real fans?"  No. They were being stupid and ignorant. They weren't acting as rational-thinking human beings. As my father says, "Use your head for something other than a hat rack."  In this case, slip your gelatinous head out of that obviously constricting Husker cap and allow some blood flow to your brain.

This is what happens when you don' t know who to blame.  You suck down the Kool-Aid and bash anyone who doesn't. And you look ridiculous to the outside world.

However,

After some thinking about it, I don't think he should be fired.  Those were words. Not racist, not sexist, not directly abusive, and not bigoted words. They were petulant and childish words, but ultimately just words.  But I'm glad it came out.  He needed a little humility. We all do from time to time.  I think he'll be a better coach for it. At least, I hope so.

Husker Time Machine

Time travel is possible.

How do I know? Why am I so sure? Because I, Jon Schriner, on September 9th, 2012, traveled back to the year 2007. It was not a pleasant trip.

Yes, I did.

Yes, I did.

Yes, I did. How, you ask?  Well, perception is reality.  And I perceived a Nebraska defense that was slow, unmotivated, and undisciplined. Thus, through my perception, I was transported back to an undisclosed time in the fall of 2007.

 I watched as time and space slowly morphed Will Compton into Corey McKeon.  And then, in less time than it takes Cam Meredith to give up on a play, Andrew Green was Tierre Green, Ciante Evans was Armando Murillo, and PJ Smith was Rickey Thenarse.

The Blackshirts had gone back to the Hackshirts.

But, HOW?

I think I know the answer to that one, too. I saw something else happen. I didn't want to see it, but some things you just can't un-see.  It was just a fleeting glance from the corner of my eye, but I saw it.

Bo Pelini changed into Bill Callahan.

Ok, I'll drop the sci-fi tone, but I won't drop my point.

Bo Pelini is becoming Bill Callahan.

They aren't nearly the same coach. They aren't nearly the same person, nor do they have nearly the same attitude.  The thing they share is much more troubling:

the inability to admit when one is wrong.

Neither can accept that a mistake has been made.  Callahan couldn't admit when he had failed.  "We've been excellent in all areas," he said at a press conference.  Clearly, the 2007 Cornhuskers (staff included) had been far less than excellent in ANY area.

And Bo is sliding towards exactly that.

Look at his track record.  Sure, he came in and turned a defense around.  His scheme worked, and worked well with the players he had.  Ndomukong Suh became an overnight sensation.  Phillip Dillard went from "Who is THAT guy?" to "Who is that MAN?"

But today, it isn't the same.  You can say that the players don't fit the scheme.  But, in reality, it's the scheme that doesn't fit the players. There's a big difference.

Bo either doesn't see it or won't admit it.  Both are bad for Corn Nation.

That example may be a bit nebulous.  Here's a better one.

Taylor Martinez has not been the right man for the job since mid-season 2010.  Yet, Bo has stuck with him through some of the worst performances in Husker history.  He has, outright, refused to accept any criticism on the matter.  He's called out at least one reporter for doubting the decision to stick with Martinez.

It's a refusal to admit that his plan hasn't worked.  It's a refusal to make adjustments on the fly.

It's Billy C, all over again.

New Beginnings

So, I've decided to change up the format of The Failed Athlete.  I've been away from the blog for a while, and I think a change will be good. So, now coming to you (hopefully) five days a week-- The Failed Athlete podcast.  Here's episode 1: Why do you hate soccer?

New Football Year's Resolutions

So...football season is nearly over, huh? My, my...where has the time gone? Seems like only 6 months or so ago that his whole thing started. I guess it's time to start preparing my list of things to do now that football is going away.

1. Get un-fat.

I'm already working on it, but seriously. When did I get so tubby? It sort of looks like I swallowed an inner tube filled with gravy. Ugh.

2. Become a sudoku master.

I don't really have anything else to do. Putting those little numbers in their rightful homes gives a man the feeling of achievement. Like building a gazebo.

3. Build a gazebo.

It's dude stuff. Hammer, nails, shingles...that sort of thing. Might score some points with the ladyfriend while I'm at it.

4. Start watching college basketball.

Look, football...it ain't. However, if I want to make a good showing in the NCAA Tournament pools, I need to have a solid knowledge base. I can't consume CBB with the same veracity that I do CFB, but one game a week shouldn't be too much to ask. 

5. Aimlessly flip channels when college basketball gets boring.

Because, come on. Regular season college basketball? 

6. Finish a book

Admittedly, it's been a while since I finished one. With football gone, I think I can achieve that.

7. Star Wars Marathon (no Jar-Jar).

I haven't seen the original 3 in about a decade now. It's time.

8. Pick up that guitar

I've had the damned thing for something like, 12 years, and I still cant play it. I guess now is as good a time as any. You're never too old to learn something new, right?

9. Repair rage-broken guitar.

I will, inevitably, remember why I haven't learned to play it. Musical talent somewhere around a 2/10, fingers incredibly short, hands hobbit-small.

10. Give in and watch old football games

Yes, I know how it ends. No, that doesn't bother me. Not when it's June and I haven't had a hit since February.

11. Probably get fat again.
Let's face it. I get lazy and then football season starts and there's no TIME for working out then.

12. Weep openly.
This will probably happen sooner than later. I just miss football so damn much....*sniffle*

13. Get a real job.
This whole  full-time student thing has been great, but the government will be ceasing my GI Bill real soon. Really, I just need to make enough money to afford cable so that I don't miss any football games.

14. Visit a foreign country.
This one is a cop-out. The trip is already planned. I just needed something to cross off.

15. Go fishing.
I didn't go even once last off-season. This year will be different.

Four Words On Nebraska's 2011 Season

It's taken some time to work up the interest to write this. I could really just stop there. It wasn't only the bowl game that did it. My interest in this season waned as it wore on. I think that says a lot.

The losses were heart breaking. But each for a different reason.

Anyway, it's all over now. Let the reflection period begin. Nebraska won't play another meaningful football game for about 8 months.

Was that the Capital One Bowl or the entire season? In a way, it was both. It was a stripped-down version of what we saw from the Huskers in 2011. A microcosm, if you will.

In a nutshell, it was flashes of brilliance marred by moments of complete ineptitude. It was frustrating, inexplicable, infuriating, and ultimately troubling.

Frustration
Nebraska began the Big 10 season in Madison, WI. A huge atmosphere and an equally huge task. The highly-touted Badgers were unveiling quarterback transfer Russell Wilson, an intriguing addition to a team which played in the Rose Bowl in January.
The task, and the atmosphere, proved too big for the young Huskers. A loss was expected by most, but not in the way that it happened.

It wasn't Taylor Martinez's night. Plain and simple. He didn't have it. Yet, the coaching staff kept trying to force him into making plays.  If you know don't know anything about Martinez, know this: he isn't that guy. Some quarterback can, almost magically, be the square peg in a round hole. Martinez can't pull that off. He certainly didn't that night in Wisconsin, and probably won't ever be able.

But, for some unknown reason, the offensive staff, led by Tim Beck, thought he could. Even a casual fan could see that it wasn't the night. The wall was too thick and beating the collective Husker head against it wouldn't knock it down.

That sort of pig-headed attitude led Nebraska to multiple turnovers and a miserable showing.  Frustration was the word of the night.

Wisconsin 48, Nebraska 17

Inexplicable
Following three solid performances, including a huge comeback against Ohio State and a nice win over a good Michigan State team, the Cornhuskers welcomed Northwestern to Memorial Stadium.

It wasn't even supposed to be a contest. Northwestern entered at 3-5, having even dropped a game to lowly Army. But, on this day, Nebraska would have no answer for Kain Colter.

It was almost unbelievable. The crowd of more than 85,000 shared the same expression. All knew they had seen exactly what happened, but couldn't quite grasp the reality.

There was no reason to lose, right? Northwestern didn't just win in Lincoln, did they? 

Wrong. Yes, they did.

The offensive ineptitude was astonishing. Northwestern came in allowing an average of 31.5 points per game. Outside of a garbage touchdown with virtually no time remaining, the Huskers managed just 18 points.

Unlike the Wisconsin game, this wasn't Martinez's fault. He played well enough. The rest of the team folded around him.

But why?

Some called it a lack of leadership. Some called it the team's inability to adequately deal with success.  Many reasons were given, but nothing could completely answer the question. It was wholly inexplicable.

Northwestern 28, Nebraska 25.

Infuriating
Nebraska bounced back following the Northwestern loss, beating a Penn State team slogging through what is the worst scandal in college football history.

They were alive. The Legends Division crown could still sit atop Herbie Husker's cowboy hat. Michigan was up next in a must-win game at The Big House.

However, Nebraska never answered the bell in the second half. They trailed just 17-10 to start the 3rd, but wound up on the end of another vicious beatdown.

Apparently, Cornhuskers don't do well against feisty rodents (see: wolverine, badger).

This one was more than frustrating, it was a breeding pool for red-hot, seething anger.  Martinez was terrible, completing just 9 of 23 passes. Rex Burkhead gained 36 yards, his lowest total all season.  All this plus two second half turnovers ultimately buried the Huskers.

They couldn't afford to lose, so instead they got blown out. They couldn't afford to let Michigan get too far ahead, but they turned it over. They needed to be effective in the run game and keep the ball away from Michigan's potent offense, but managed just 138 yards on the ground and allowed the Wolverines more than 41 minutes of possession.

It was a game that might make the Pope drop a few F-bombs.

Michigan 45, Nebraska 17

Troubling
The win over Iowa gave Nebraska a trip to the best bowl it has seen in some years. Perhaps the best in a decade.

South Carolina and the Capital One Bowl presented a great opportunity. It would be a nice cap on the season to beat an SEC team with a solid defense.

But, this game would play like a lowlight reel from the 2011 season.

It had a flash of offensive brilliance, followed by misery-inducing turnovers. It showcased the critical vulnerability of the NU defense: a fleet-footed quarterback. It had untimely breakdowns in secondary play and offensive discipline. When the Huskers desperately needed to score, they fell flat on their faces.

To see all these things in one game was troubling. In 60 minutes, it told just about everything you need to know about Nebraska.

Learning those things has to be unsettling to Husker faithful.

South Carolina 30, Nebraska 17.

Questions
The season has raised some questions that need answers, and soon.

Is Taylor Martinez good enough to lead this team to championship-level play?
I don't think so. I answer this question with another: What is it that he does well? Sure, he's really fast. But, his field vision is almost non-existent. I often say, he's the best runner in the country when nobody is in front of him. He doesn't seem to know what to do when faced with a defender. He becomes hesitant and often takes big shots. He doesn't seem to have the lateral agility to make tacklers miss or the ability to read blocks well enough to find seams.

While he has improved as a passer, less than 50% completions is not good enough. He is, at times, the victim of dropped passes, which leads to the next question.

Can Nebraska get the athletes needed to compete at the highest level?
I think they can. But, it has to be a focused effort, namely at wide receiver. Why does it seem that every other team in the country has at least one guy who makes the key catch every time? Many of those teams don't have near the profile that Nebraska does. There has to be somebody out there with great hands that wants to play for NU. Has to be.

Other than that, I think the staff has done a decent job in recruiting. This isn't ever going to be LSU, Alabama, USC, or Ohio State. It just won't. But, if Stanford, Oregon, and West Virginia can get top-level guys, there's no reason Nebraska can't.

The final question is difficult.

Is Bo Pelini the guy?
This is tough. I don't know that I have an answer. At times, it seems he is just what Dr. Tom ordered. Fiery, intense, and defensive-minded.

Other times, those same qualities seem detrimental. Too fiery. Too intense. Too defensive-minded. Unless he can manage those traits, I can't see a Pelini-led team taking the next step.

He has to learn to be a complete coach. If he can't, I'll be writing this same post for as long as he's at the helm.