After reading Justin Williams recent piece in The Athletic today and then going back and looking at tweets from UC fans during the UC/SMU game, I see a lot of what Williams was referencing regarding fans’ expectations for the Bearcat football program.
As a 40+ year football season ticket holder at UC, I’ve experienced quite a bit. I remember 10 straight losing seasons from 1983- 1992 and a 16 year span (1977-1992) when the program‘s best record was 6-5.
I always wondered what could happen to the program if it could go on a roll of several excellent seasons, and I saw the program grow significantly over the last two decades. Then I wondered what could happen if one of the successful coaches spurned other offers and dug in at UC. Luke Fickell did that and has already achieved what many thought was impossible for the program.
I really appreciate his staying at UC, and because of that, I can’t be overly critical of him. Sure, I get tired of the penalties, I‘m not a big fan of some of his game management decisions, and I’d like to see the offense get Evan Prater on the field. I think they might even be able to get Prater on the field with Ben Bryant if they would tap into some creativity. But in the end, I don’t want to become what I’ve called the “entitled” fans that I’ve come across over the years at places like Ohio State.
I understand frustration in sports. As a Browns’ fan, I seem to live in that real life Groundhog Day on most Sundays, but I’ve also seem up close how much time and effort the players and the coaches put into every game every week. When there is a loss, I usually feel WAY worse for those guys than I do for my bruised ego. And for a head coach and some of his assistant coaches, being “overly“ critical of them seems a bit disloyal to me.
Having written all that, I’m preparing for the worst and hoping for the best this Saturday at UCF. Another road game, a much tougher place to play than road games at Tulsa and SMU, and facing arguably the best QB they’ve faced this season. I’m also waiting to hear how Ryan Coe is. After making that tackle last week after the FG was blocked, he looked hobbled. I hope he’s okay. He seems to be coming into his own, and a team that has struggled to blow opponents out, needs a good PK.
As a 40+ year football season ticket holder at UC, I’ve experienced quite a bit. I remember 10 straight losing seasons from 1983- 1992 and a 16 year span (1977-1992) when the program‘s best record was 6-5.
I always wondered what could happen to the program if it could go on a roll of several excellent seasons, and I saw the program grow significantly over the last two decades. Then I wondered what could happen if one of the successful coaches spurned other offers and dug in at UC. Luke Fickell did that and has already achieved what many thought was impossible for the program.
I really appreciate his staying at UC, and because of that, I can’t be overly critical of him. Sure, I get tired of the penalties, I‘m not a big fan of some of his game management decisions, and I’d like to see the offense get Evan Prater on the field. I think they might even be able to get Prater on the field with Ben Bryant if they would tap into some creativity. But in the end, I don’t want to become what I’ve called the “entitled” fans that I’ve come across over the years at places like Ohio State.
I understand frustration in sports. As a Browns’ fan, I seem to live in that real life Groundhog Day on most Sundays, but I’ve also seem up close how much time and effort the players and the coaches put into every game every week. When there is a loss, I usually feel WAY worse for those guys than I do for my bruised ego. And for a head coach and some of his assistant coaches, being “overly“ critical of them seems a bit disloyal to me.
Having written all that, I’m preparing for the worst and hoping for the best this Saturday at UCF. Another road game, a much tougher place to play than road games at Tulsa and SMU, and facing arguably the best QB they’ve faced this season. I’m also waiting to hear how Ryan Coe is. After making that tackle last week after the FG was blocked, he looked hobbled. I hope he’s okay. He seems to be coming into his own, and a team that has struggled to blow opponents out, needs a good PK.
