I know I'm late with this,

#1
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fostermom

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#1
but I just read Clay Travis' interview. This part really stuck with me:

"I think the closer to the program you get the more absurd your own fandom seems. I think that would be true for anyone. I remember a moment, as the team bus rolled down to Georgia for a must-win game, when I looked around the bus and thought, “Man, these are just kids on their way to play a game.”
It was really jarring for me. I think it would be for anyone who ever played sports. At some point we’ve all been on a team and been riding to a game on a bus. Now scores more people care about the result of their game, but at its essence, they’re just kids riding to the game on a bus.
So that image sticks with me.
I think I definitely sympathized more. I mean, if you’re sitting at home or in the stands and your team is playing like crap, you really let them have it. At least I do. I curse them, throw things, I’m really not a quiet fan. But standing on the sideline, you realize how ineffective that ultimately is. How much more complicated the offenses and defenses that they’re running actually are. Basically how valueless your fandom actually is.
Clapping your hands really hard and saying, “Score some points, damn you!” isn’t really going to make the difference between success and failure. Fans like to think they hold the key to their team, that if they just sprinkle the right magic dust, or use the right inflection in their voice they can turn defeat into failure.
Wrong."

I've always thought that everyone would think and feel differently about being a fan if you could see the team up close and personal. Good interview.

I haven't read his book yet, but he does have a way with words. Lookin' forward to it.
 
#2
#2
fostermom said:
Clapping your hands really hard and saying, “Score some points, damn you!” isn’t really going to make the difference between success and failure. Fans like to think they hold the key to their team, that if they just sprinkle the right magic dust, or use the right inflection in their voice they can turn defeat into failure.
Wrong."
Click to expand...

I know there are people that act that way, but I doubt a whole lot of them believe they are influencing the game.
 
#3
#3
Being a Raider fan has been an excruciating experience! I've yelled and screamed and sworn them off millions of times. It didn't help and I knew it wouldn't. But I've felt bad afterwards for things I've said about players, coaches and OWNERS!

The experience of watching Arian has changed me though. I still LOVE the game of football. I just look at it much differently now. Much less judgemental and with more empathy for those who play, coach and manage.

I'll never stop being a fan though. It's great to be a fan.
 
#4
#4
fostermom said:
Being a Raider fan has been an excruciating experience! I've yelled and screamed and sworn them off millions of times. It didn't help and I knew it wouldn't. But I've felt bad afterwards for things I've said about players, coaches and OWNERS!

The experience of watching Arian has changed me though. I still LOVE the game of football. I just look at it much differently now. Much less judgemental and with more empathy for those who play, coach and manage.

I'll never stop being a fan though. It's great to be a fan.
Click to expand...
How ironic is it that an ex Raider coach came to Tennessee after Arian graduated?
 
#5
#5
It's a passion.

This kind of passion doesn't blend very well with reality or maturity.

Fans live vicariously through their teams. Some more absurdly than others but when you put your belief into the team, you follow their up's and downs, you rock the insanely loud colors, you talk smack to rival fans. When you invest that much emotion you feel like you're connected with them. Your team becomes part of your defining characteristics. Of course nothing we do makes a real difference outside of that much more noise about whatever is happening at the time. For better or worse, what people do during games is an emotional release.

As mere fans...that release whether it be good or bad, is really all we have.
 
#6
#6
And by the way, fostermom.

It's never too late to talk football.
 
#7
#7
fostermom said:
but I just read Clay Travis' interview. This part really stuck with me:

"I think the closer to the program you get the more absurd your own fandom seems. I think that would be true for anyone. I remember a moment, as the team bus rolled down to Georgia for a must-win game, when I looked around the bus and thought, “Man, these are just kids on their way to play a game.”
It was really jarring for me. I think it would be for anyone who ever played sports. At some point we’ve all been on a team and been riding to a game on a bus. Now scores more people care about the result of their game, but at its essence, they’re just kids riding to the game on a bus.
So that image sticks with me.
I think I definitely sympathized more. I mean, if you’re sitting at home or in the stands and your team is playing like crap, you really let them have it. At least I do. I curse them, throw things, I’m really not a quiet fan. But standing on the sideline, you realize how ineffective that ultimately is. How much more complicated the offenses and defenses that they’re running actually are. Basically how valueless your fandom actually is.
Clapping your hands really hard and saying, “Score some points, damn you!” isn’t really going to make the difference between success and failure. Fans like to think they hold the key to their team, that if they just sprinkle the right magic dust, or use the right inflection in their voice they can turn defeat into failure.
Wrong."

I've always thought that everyone would think and feel differently about being a fan if you could see the team up close and personal. Good interview.

I haven't read his book yet, but he does have a way with words. Lookin' forward to it.
Click to expand...
I don't think that anyone really believes that cursing and throwing things around their living room helps their team in any way, but you better believe that 100,000 strong yelling and screaming when Florida or Georgia is trying to convert on third and long is helpful. I promise you that Bryce Brown would not have come to UT if only 50,000 people came to every home game. Don't underestimate the importance of a very passionate fan base.
 
#8
#8
if it didnt bring out emotions,,,well would it be fun to watch,,or talk about?
 
#9
#9
Of course nothing we do makes a real difference outside of that much more noise about whatever is happening at the time.

This is something I was mocked about noting from the Clay Travis interview. If any fans are clapping or making loud noise while your team is trying to call its offensive plays, you are an idiot.

If the other team is on offense and trying to call their plays and you are not trying to make as much noise as possible, you are also not realizing that you do have a real opportunity to make a difference by making it impossible for the QB to be heard.
 
#10
#10
I never underestimate a passionate fan base. Actually, I never underestimate passion of any kind. Life would be quite dull without passion!
:birgits_giggle:

I've always thought that fans (in person) can help swing momentum. And 100,000 strong? Absolutely? I look at pictures we've taken over the last five years inside Neyland, and man.....I will never forget that atmosphere. It is truly powerful and moving and amazing. I cannot imagine anything more exciting than that. And just looking at those pictures brings back every emotion and sound and smell and feeling that I went through.

Something I will never forget.
 
#12
#12
Welcome back, Fostermom. Um, I guess that explains why Arian is a Raider fan...

At the '07 Fan Day a little kid was asking him where he wanted to go when he went to the NFL and he said "Oakland", the boy said, "You wanna play for the Raiders?" Arian was like "Yea, that's my team..."
The little boy asked him like 30 questions while I was waiting to get my jersey signed...
 
#14
#14
joeydupree said:
Welcome back, Fostermom. Um, I guess that explains why Arian is a Raider fan...

At the '07 Fan Day a little kid was asking him where he wanted to go when he went to the NFL and he said "Oakland", the boy said, "You wanna play for the Raiders?" Arian was like "Yea, that's my team..."
The little boy asked him like 30 questions while I was waiting to get my jersey signed...
Click to expand...

Yes, I admit it. He was brainwashed from a very early age. Everyone in my family is a Raider fan except my oldest son....49ers. Not sure what went on there!
 
#16
#16
I've definitely had a recent experience that has had an affect on my fandom. I can attest to the fact that it's different when you are closer. I'm still a huge fan when it's time to play football, but I've been looking at myself like "Dude, you're a grown man..."

I liked it better when I could just be a fan.
 
#17
#17
I think getting yelled at when you're doing bad goes with the territory of playing professional sports (and college for that matter). If a young man is 18, at that point he is an adult. Getting yelled at for fumbling a football or throwing an interception is hurtful at first, but in the long run (as I'm sure you have seen w/ Arian) it makes them stronger in life.

The boos are just as a part of it as the pats on the back. My dad always used to say "You wouldn't appreciate the sunny days if it didn't rain every now and then."
 
#18
#18
fostermom said:
Yes, I admit it. He was brainwashed from a very early age. Everyone in my family is a Raider fan except my oldest son....49ers. Not sure what went on there!
Click to expand...

Grew up in the Bill Walsh era?

It's hard to not like watching Montana connecting with Rice...
 
#20
#20
crusse10 said:
Grew up in the Bill Walsh era?

It's hard to not like watching Montana connecting with Rice...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess he did.

And Montana and Rice were the standard by which everyone else wanted and needed to live up to. You didn't have to be a 49er fan to appreciate the precision and confidence those two had. Thanks for reminding me of that! Actually, it's moments like the many they provided that solidifies us as fans of the sport. After all these years, thinking of the tremendous play of those two men still brings a smile to my face.
 
#21
#21
joeydupree said:
I've definitely had a recent experience that has had an affect on my fandom. I can attest to the fact that it's different when you are closer. I'm still a huge fan when it's time to play football, but I've been looking at myself like "Dude, you're a grown man..."

I liked it better when I could just be a fan.
Click to expand...


Ain't that the truth. I still love the game, but it will never be what it once was to me before my sons played it.
 
#22
#22
fostermom said:
I never underestimate a passionate fan base. Actually, I never underestimate passion of any kind. Life would be quite dull without passion!
:birgits_giggle:

I've always thought that fans (in person) can help swing momentum. And 100,000 strong? Absolutely? I look at pictures we've taken over the last five years inside Neyland, and man.....I will never forget that atmosphere. It is truly powerful and moving and amazing. I cannot imagine anything more exciting than that. And just looking at those pictures brings back every emotion and sound and smell and feeling that I went through.

Something I will never forget.
Click to expand...

I met your son on a plane earlier this year, he said he was heading to Arizona to do some physical training, getting ready for the NFL combines.......I think it was in March.....I talked to him briefly, he seemed like a really cool guy.......I told him that I loved watchin' him play......very friendly kid
 
#24
#24
fostermom said:
Being a Raider fan has been an excruciating experience! I've yelled and screamed and sworn them off millions of times. It didn't help and I knew it wouldn't. But I've felt bad afterwards for things I've said about players, coaches and OWNERS!

The experience of watching Arian has changed me though. I still LOVE the game of football. I just look at it much differently now. Much less judgemental and with more empathy for those who play, coach and manage.

I'll never stop being a fan though. It's great to be a fan.
Click to expand...
You have our permission to rail on Al Davis until your vocal chords give out....go ahead, let it out. :p

Never has there been a man so deserving, in all of football...and I've never been a Raider fan. :)
 
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#25
#25
I don't think it matters what you say or yell. So long as you yell your face off you do make a difference. I love it when the other team absolutely has to have a first down and they get a false start. i always think i have a part in it. And I do along with 100,000+ other screaming fanatics. When everybody in town can't talk on a monday after a game, you know you had a difference. I this Clay Travis guy has it wrong. When he was up in the stands did he think those guys could tell if he's yelling at them to score points? Like is the OC going to turn around and say "run play or pass??". It is a bunch of kids. That's why i like it. I like the fact that these kids are busting their asses to play for the big orange or whatever team. I like it that they don't get paid. They are doing it on the prospect that they are making a better future for themselves just like their fellow students. I'm not a big NFL fan and that's probably why.
 
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