GMac: Message boards hurt recruiting . . .

**Cyclonesrule91** · 01-21-2009, 01:29 PM

Whenever a person has an emotional stake in a sports team and he is able to vent his emotions in a forum where there is no risk of others finding out who you are and what you're saying, the what you say is exaggerated to the n'th degree. This happens in good and bad games.

Anyone who thinks potential recruits as well as current players don't read comments and some of the idiotic personal insults thrown around on anonymous internet forums about them are sniffing paint fumes. Then of course we have the people throwing around the insults saying "If they can't handle the negative insults they shouldn't be playing Big 12(or Div 1) whatever the sport is" and take no consideration that the players are 18-21 yr olds. If you can't say something to the face of the person your making negative comments about, then use the same restraint while you're anonymous.

I have been as dissapointed with losses as anybody on this board but the meltdowns and "Insert Player/coach" Sucks threads are flat out emberassing(sp) even being anonymous myself.

I understand exactly what Gmac is saying. He's out there trying to put a product on the court and he is anything but anonymous and the same goes with his players. Then he has to put up with message board posters with keyboard muscles putting unreal expectations on them when they do good (example after NU game) and then rip them to shreds when they don't stand up to previous unattainable standards..........all of which they/we do anonymously.

Rip me to shreds all you want, but I speaketh the truth.......

**brianhos** · 01-21-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by jahfg

Do you even cheer for ISU? Or do you just go around pouting?

Sure I do, I have missed 2 football games in the last 8 years, one due to the birth of my son, and one because we all had the flu, so calling for my fan card is silly. I also have been a long time ISU fan, and I see the same repeating pattern over and over, get a little better, lose a bunch of players, rebuild, repeat. This is not football, it does not take 8 years to build a program. ISU has shown me nothing in bball that gets me excited about the future.

**kingcy** · 01-21-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneryan

What problems are there that you feel a fee would combat? What are your reasons? I'm not trying to sound rude I was just curious.

Charging would slow some of the crazy fan talk, the fans that come here once in a great while and post really negative stuff. Yes being negative is going to happen when your team struggles, but some post are just way crazy.
Charging would also slow the fan from another school that just wants to come and rip on ISU from coming here.
It would also keep some of the players and recurits from seeing the negative side of things.
The FB coach situation brought a lot of new people here, which is great. I doubt the funds Jermery has recieved because of his has risen by the same percentage. The increase in posters has also brought with it a lot more junk topics.

I still enjoy CF and seeing what most people think about different things, even if they are not what I think. Heck it is fun at times to agrue the points and I hope people dont take stuff personal from here. Posts on each side give me things to think about. Its the stuff way outside the lines that gets posted that bugs me. At some point a website can do more harm to the school we love than good.

**mwitt** · 01-21-2009, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonenum1

My point is simple...how can you claim that internet activity "hurts" our program when the fact is that this same type of internet activity (and often worse) is happening with all programs? Are we not all on the same footing in light of all programs having their fair share of this type of activity? If we were the only program that had negative posting, I would probably agree that it was hurting but that is not the case.

I didn't say "hurt" anywhere in the post that you responded to and made a valiant attempt to argue with. I don't even know if McDermott said "hurt" because I didn't listen to the show, and the original post was anything but a quote.

It doesn't help. That is common sense. Quit nitpicking.

**brianhos** · 01-21-2009, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by The_Architect

No kidding, or be forced to post with your full name

I agree, post so people know who you are. I don't hide it.

**CloneIce** · 01-21-2009, 01:35 PM

The problem with his point is that Iowa State fans are much more patient and tamer than most fans out there, including the teams we play and recruit against. Our message board fans are not nearly as crazy as many of the Universities in our conference. These teams have their message boards as well.

You would have to lobotomize the entire fan base not to have negative posts after what we have went through recently.

**The_Architect** · 01-21-2009, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

I agree, post so people know who you are. I don't hide it.

I just think people would hold their tongues a lot more if their full name was displayed. Not saying by anymeans I would like that though - it would probably just cut down on the venom.

**mwitt** · 01-21-2009, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by CloneIce

The problem with his point is that Iowa State fans are much more patient and tamer than most fans out there, including the teams we play and recruit against. Our message board fans are not nearly as crazy as many of the Universities in our conference. These teams have their message boards as well.

You would have to lobotomize the entire fan base not to have negative posts after what we have went through recently.

I don't see how it's a problem with his point. He didn't blame fans or message boards for anything. He just stated the obvious.

**cyclonenum1** · 01-21-2009, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by CRLCy

Maybe a romper room and maybe it happens everywhere...
what's the saying your parents said....
"just because everybody is doing it, it doesn't mean it's right"..

also - we have to have a positive outlook and something that is different about us, our attitude could be one of those things, but we often come off as bitter and unsupportive.. which isn't a good thing if athletes and parents are reading it.

I think we should work on that as a group. IMHO

Dude...you should go check out TigerDroppings.com (LSU site) and look back at some of the "bitter and unsupportive" comments from their fans during what they considered a very disappointing FB season this past fall. These "bitter and unsupportive" comments all coming less than one calendar year from hoisting the big crystal FB as National Champs. Then, think about those "bitter and unsupportive" comments when you hear about LSU signing a top 10 (maybe even #1 if things fall right for them) recruiting class in three weeks.

**kingcy** · 01-21-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

Whenever a person has an emotional stake in a sports team and he is able to vent his emotions in a forum where there is no risk of others finding out who you are and what you're saying, the what you say is exaggerated to the n'th degree. This happens in good and bad games.

I agree but I think at some point some put way too much into a team emotoinally. Sure being bad or rebuilding sucks, but to some they cannot let go of bad things until a good thing comes along. Some dont like something so they make it their point to tear that thing up every chance they get. They go from we are going to win the rest of our games to we will never win another. At times people need to step back and look at the big picture and see things are never as good or as bad as they seem. Sports are suppose to be about fun, even when things are bad you should be able to see the good and fun in things, given a few hours after a bad thing anyway. What fun is it when you are always down on your team. What good does it do to rip on things when something doesnt go your way. Heck I didnt like what I saw out of the FB team last year, but for the most part I was quite, allowed others to enjoy the wins, and tried not to bring the level down too much after losses.

**ISUFan22** · 01-21-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by The_Architect

I just think people would hold their tongues a lot more if their full name was displayed. Not saying by anymeans I would like that though - it would probably just cut down on the venom.

And increase the number of off-site issues. There is at least one known case of stalking that took place - I don't doubt there have been others.

Some people can't handle being disagreed with or knowing there's cute girl posting here that doesn't want to get with them.

Fortunately myself and the 99% of other members have avoided this - but I'm sure going through that would really suck.

**TedKumsher** · 01-21-2009, 01:42 PM

A) I can't believe neg rep hasn't come up yet.

2) I think CF is overall quite positive.

C) I think CF is definitely well above average amongst fan websites (HAH!! -- I've almost never been to any other ones).

4) Especially when compared with similar sites, I think recruits/players are quite able to understand that, just like the real world, there are nice people, there are mean people, there are smart people, and there are dumb people. No one person represents the entire group. TheCity comes to mind.

**Clone_12** · 01-21-2009, 01:43 PM

He didn't say anything worth complaining about...he didn't rip into the fans, he said he wished fans would just blame him instead of the players too, and he said it doesn't help recruiting...clearly internet message boards aren't Coach Mac's number one concern. He was asked a question and answered it...

**bos** · 01-21-2009, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by CyValley

You don't think Greg can handle the heat . . . did I miscommunicate what he said or do you not interpret well what you read?

Greg said he can handle anything thrown at him. He is protective of his players -- as a fan, I would expect nothing less from him.

Walk up to Greg, man-to-man, tell him he can't handle the heat. I'd be curious about what he tells you.

Thats what I got out of it. He isnt whining about the bashing of himself. He just asks to take the heat instead of his players. Im not sure some around here read it like it was said. Plain and simple, have respect of the players. After all, when the final buzzer sounds, they are regular people like you and I.

**Wesley** · 01-21-2009, 01:45 PM

The complaining could be worse. The biggest whiney comments are usually listed on the official thread right after the meltdown like SDSU. Then people reconcile themselves to life.

What is written is what fans feel.....

One similar also ran team is now Witchita State which happens to be 7-11 and had had over 10,000 fans 56 straight games. That is fan dedication.