I feel sorry for you...

patmyne

patmyne

Well-Known Member
This will be my last post. As many of the ppl posting on here tonight, I rarely do. Couldn't handle the negative bs a few years ago when we struggled, so I quit. I have to chime in. In a year that's quite arguably the best sports year Iowa fans have ever had, there is yet so much negativity.

Let me make a point to say I'm just as frustrated about losing as all of you. It sucks. I hate it. I hate the fact my 10 month daughter was staring at me yelling, not paying attention at all times, but then would smile at me when I did which kept me somewhat level headed. I could go on with the hates, but then that last sentence stops me. My 7 year son who is finally getting sports has seen something we haven't in most our lives. #3 in the nation folks. Think about it.

I'm not gonna train them to quit on a team, coach when the going gets tough.

Who's the next coach? For ****s sakes ppl. It's a game. The ball go's in. Teams lose. Shame on you for always needing more. We were a graveyard.

Yup, I settle for mediocrity and you know what, I'm proud. I'll wake up tomorrow to a smiling baby and be ready to dress my kids in Iowa gear on Saturday.

Carry on with your cliff jumping. Jon, I'll always follow.....
 
For the coach it is definitely not a game, it is a business and he is sucking at business. But kudos to you for putting your kids above sports, good work.
 
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Nobody expected Iowa basketball and football to have the success they did this year. That's a given. However, its a very reasonable argument to say that both teams laid down and played dead when it mattered the most. The football team couldnt get a stop on a 22 play 9 minute drive against michigan state and then got absolutely pummeled by Stanford, and the basketball team has lost 5 of their last 6 when they had a big ten title right in their grasp.

I could've easily been happy with Iowa football losing to michigan state like they did and then losing to stanford by 10. I could've easily been happy with Iowa bball, after starting 10-1, finish out the big ten in second place with a 14-4 or even 13-5 record. But not this.

If Iowa loses in the first round of the NCAA tournament this might be both the greatest season of Iowa sports and also the biggest letdown of "what could have been" in Iowa sports. Thats pretty tough to swallow
 
Look, I understand the whole "it's only a game" position. But it's really about more than that. When you put on a jersey with I-O-W-A on the front, you represent the University of Iowa not only across the United States but across the entire world. Like it or not, whether you think it's "right" or "wrong," so many schools' identities are wrapped up in the success and failures of their sports programs. It's something that brings people together like other aspects of a University can't. No one in the real world cares about how good Kansas or Kentucky are academically. They're known as basketball schools. That's why schools spend millions and millions of dollars to put the best product on the floor as possible. It's okay to lose, hell, it's even okay to lose a lot, but if you don't play with pride and heart every time on the floor, it's tough for people who have supported the program for decades through thick and thin to accept that. Literally almost no one I know had anything negative to say about Iowa when we lost to Michigan State in football this year. That's because the players were wearing their hearts on their sleeves and leaving everything on the field, and Iowa fans could at least be proud of that. The most disappointing part about this team is that it seemingly lacks not only heart and pride, but simple care for winning. The players we thought would be leading this team are complacent and disconnected during the time when they should rise up and seize the moment the most. That's why it's so gut-wrenching to watch this team's epic collapse, because something great was so close.
 
I agree with you about your point that there is way too much negativity on here. It does get tiresome. I make it a point to never be negative about Iowa players or coaches on here. Even when I get frustrated I direct it elsewhere away from the teams.

I hope my positively can help to encourage people, rather than the negativity that discourages people.
 
9k=
 
Well, I agree on keeping perspective.. It's just a game.. That's why I can get up this morning and life goes on.

But as far as this season goes, for the football team, I'm willing to chalk it up as one of those years where maybe Iowa benefited from an easier schedule and maybe were not as good as we all hoped, and got exposed some when the schedule got more difficult. Close loss in the B10 title game, and then Stanford.. Well maybe they were just that much better than us, maybe it was just "one of those games", I don't know.

This hoops season, good grief. This team was 10-1 and in first place, and several wins over good teams, was Top 5-10 in the country for several weeks, so no fluke IMO - and now this. It's harder to swallow when you totally dribble it down your leg than if you'd never been there at all. The analogy I thought of last night was that this basketball season feels like if you had the winning Powerball ticket, but it spontaneously combusted before you could redeem it.. Just would've been easier to have not been teased with how great it should have been in the first place.

This is two melt downs in the past 3 years. Following Lick, and then Alford, who's teams also frequently melted down in February... And Northwestern State... Yeah, you'll have to forgive me if my patience has worn thin and I've become frustrated with Iowa hoops.
 
some people vent/process by complaining about the coach.

Some by complaining about the players

Some lament about the "rude fans"

But really it's all coming from the same frustration.
 
It is so different being a fan today then back in the 1980's when there was no social media. We seem so much more invested in the program now because we can. There is no way we let losses like this bug us this much back in the day compared to now secondary to the access we have.

Can you imagine the fallout if we had social media after losing a double-digit lead to UNLV in the tournament!!

It was a fun game to watch & I thought they were going to pull it off after Baer's 2nd 3 pointer. But, came up short again, but I liked the effort in those fun couple minutes. It resembled what they looked like during the 1st half of the year, which is good.
 
As a father of three great kids I can appreciate what you are saying. They and my wife are the purpose of my life and nothing comes close.

However it it would be nice for the sun to come up one day like it has for so many other sports fans who can say their team has been in the final four. That their team played for a national championship.

Does it really affect what your identity is? No, that would be silly. It would however be a hell of a lot of fun though. I enjoyed the post and talk that many were enjoying as they speculated on being a first seed in the tournament. The same was true in football as talk of the playoff was the talk of Hawkeye fans. It's fun and enjoyable. Losing is never fun and enjoyable. Having been a Cubs fan for almost fifty years I am an expert on this subject.

Yes, the sun came up today and I gratefull to have another day with my wife and children, but hopefully the day will come when The sun will shine upon Hawkeye Nation and Wrigley field.......... hopefully sooner than later as I ain't no young pup anymore.
 
My problem is keeping Iowa relevant on a national stage. Late season melt downs do not help us on a recruiting level. We keep performing on all these ESPN games, CBS games, etc big time recruits say no thanks. Is it coaching? Is it athletes? I feel it is a combination of both. You take a look last night and Indiana has better athletes, and they are deeper than we are. I will always cheer for the black and gold, but for the money the AD, the Coach, and Assistant's make they should make us a player on the national level, on a consistent basis. I come on here to discuss those shortcomings, to question decisions made by the coach, it is part of the fabric of our nation. Everything is visible and social media allows immediate feedback. I think we took a step forward, a very little one, but at least I felt like we had a pulse.
 
I didn't join in on the game thread last night. Everyone's frustrated right now and it's not up to me to tell anyone how to post. I was reading the game thread and it read just like a cyfan game thread. It just wasn't for me. Everybody has their own voice. I'm sure things will change quickly once we win again. I ask the Hawkeye faithful to have patience. This can still be a special season. GO HAWKS!!!
 
I feel your pain there, Patmyne. I've felt the same way recently.

But ya gotta remember, this is the way of message boards. It's all over-reaction. It's the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Take it with a grain of salt.
 
As many have pointed out the sun did come up today even though our Hawks got beat....They need to rally and take it to Michigan.....these threads are crazy and I'm part of them as well, so bear with the slow, the ignorant, the so-called true fans, the Monday morning coaches......just wait until the Hawks do catch fire, look out then.....;)
 
Wow, I never looked at the situation like that, I'm a bit choked up, kinda teary eyed. I am a bad bad person . I will try to be better. I bet your family is beautiful.
 
Amen to the OP.

Thanks to Iowa basketball for all the memories this year and for going 11-6 this year. I know it's been tough this year but going through this tough time will only develop character if you keep working hard. If you keep working hard, some good things can still happen this year. I know you're not a perfect coach, Fran, but thanks for getting us to the Big Dance three years in a row (I think we'll get there this year anyway).
 
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