Williams Blog: Apathy…I think not, Gilstrap/Brackins notes - Page 7

jdoggivjc · 02-09-2010, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

The second someone has to post the Webster definition of apathy so we can determine whether the fanbase is apathetic or not - should be an eyeopener to all that there is a serious problem within this program.

Hey, it wasn't Webster.

It was dictionary.com...

CycloneErik · 02-09-2010, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

The second someone has to post the Webster definition of apathy so we can determine whether the fanbase is apathetic or not - should be an eyeopener to all that there is a serious problem within this program.

Or a seriously overdramatic bunch of people on the Internet. I'm going for this option.

ISUFan22 · 02-09-2010, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

Or a seriously overdramatic bunch of people on the Internet. I'm going for this option.

19 straight losses to ranked teams. More conference losses by 15+ points than conference wins. Only 3 wins this season over teams with winning records (by the end of the season good chance it will be just one).

Fans are overdramatic to react overly negative to that? I think not.

CycloneErik · 02-09-2010, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

19 straight losses to ranked teams. More conference losses by 15+ points than conference wins. Only 3 wins this season over teams with winning records (by the end of the season good chance it will be just one).

Fans are overdramatic to react overly negative to that? I think not.

The team is more competitive more often against those teams than we've been in five years. The areas we've been complaining about, like rebounding, effort, and free throws, keep improving, yet that just brings more complaining.

At some point, people have to decide if they want to admit any positive developments at all or just be bitter and blind. I think plenty choose bitterness and blindness.

Cydkar · 02-09-2010, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Uh- no. The definition of fair-weather would be for me to stop being a Cyclone fan and become a D-bag K-State fan because they're now a winning team. Basically fast-forwarding thru the rest of the basketball season and looking forward to pitchers and catchers reporting to camp next week isn't being fair-weather - it's called putting up the white flag.

I think we need a new thread to discuss the definition of fair-weather fan. I'm too apathetic to start the new thread so somebody else will have to pull their weight.

P.S. - Why sdoes anybody give a damn about pitchers and catchers reporting to camp? Don't they just play catch? Zzzzzzzz.

CYdTracked · 02-09-2010, 07:59 AM

Great write up. I hate how anyone can even remotely say apathy has set in when you see what is going on in Iowa City. BIG difference!

Carver Hawkeye: could hear a pin drop, have to get people there by offering free tickets and promotions
Hilton: Still steady attendance, crowd is into the game (that is until the score gets lopsided) but still the crowd cares

Hawk Fans: when does FB start again? I haven't even watched a BB game this year, I just don't care anymore
Cyclone Fans: constant complaining that a change needs to happen, can tell you exactly what they think is wrong with the team, players, coaches, etc.

Apathy I think not! When this place no longer is dominated by talk about BB during BB season then I think you can make a case that it has set in but fans still care about BB even if they don't like what they see on the court. I don't know of a single Hawk fan that I know that could tell you anything about their BB team other than they don't care, they suck, and "at least we will always have FB."

ISUFan22 · 02-09-2010, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

The team is more competitive more often against those teams than we've been in five years. The areas we've been complaining about, like rebounding, effort, and free throws, keep improving, yet that just brings more complaining.

At some point, people have to decide if they want to admit any positive developments at all or just be bitter and blind. I think plenty choose bitterness and blindness.

Improvements? We got whacked again to start the 2nd half and it took us out of a game we were competitive in (leading, no less). This has been happening for 3+ years now.

There are small pockets of improvement, individual improvements - but generally - that's it. If this team really wanted to improve, they'd start by playing a full 40 minute game together, at 100%. Didn't say mistake free, but a game when they were clearly focused and giving their best for the entire duration.

When was the last time this group has done that? Hasn't been in 2010.

cycloneworld · 02-09-2010, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

Or a seriously overdramatic bunch of people on the Internet. I'm going for this option.

Call me over-dramatic if you want, but I have season tickets (the cheap ones) and I stayed home Saturday because I'm tired of wasting 4+ hours and $X dollars each game. I have rarely done that in my 10 years of having bball tickets...and never against a ranked team like that. But I knew how that game would go...we would either play it somewhat close and lose or we would get blown out. It happens with every decent team we play.

I may not go to another game this year or maybe I'll go to the only remaining weekend game...and there are A LOT of people like me out there. So maybe we are overdramatic, or maybe we are tired of watching the same old losing basketball we've seen for 4 years. And to add to that this year, undisciplined, frustrating basketball.

Cydkar · 02-09-2010, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by CYdTracked

Great write up. I hate how anyone can even remotely say apathy has set in when you see what is going on in Iowa City. BIG difference!

Carver Hawkeye: could hear a pin drop, have to get people there by offering free tickets and promotions
Hilton: Still steady attendance, crowd is into the game (that is until the score gets lopsided) but still the crowd cares

Hawk Fans: when does FB start again? I haven't even watched a BB game this year, I just don't care anymore
Cyclone Fans: constant complaining that a change needs to happen, can tell you exactly what they think is wrong with the team, players, coaches, etc.

Apathy I think not! When this place no longer is dominated by talk about BB during BB season then I think you can make a case that it has set in but fans still care about BB even if they don't like what they see on the court. I don't know of a single Hawk fan that I know that could tell you anything about their BB team other than they don't care, they suck, and "at least we will always have FB."

2 different programs can't have apathy at the same time? Does the level of apathy have to be equal for it to count? Of course it isn't as bad as iowa because that program has been nuclear bombed. It shouldn't be our measuring stick.

You shouldn't just reference message board posters. I know to many real people that are apathetic and it's not debateable.

WalkingCY · 02-09-2010, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by GoCubsGo

I think you can be angry and apethetic at the same time. For instance, I'm mad as hell about the state of the basketball program. This will now be five straight years with no post-season play. I feel sorry for the current college kids that have never gotten to experience a good basketball team.

However, I'm also apethetic in the sense that I no longer go out of my way to watch McDermott's teams play. I used to plan my weekly schedule around these games. Now, I'll watch it if I happen to be home, but I can usually get the gist of the game by reading about the next morning. We'll hang around the first half, McDermott will fail to make adjustments in the second half, the other team will go on a 15-2 scoring run, and we'll be playing from 10 points behind the rest of the game. It's so predictable that it's frightening. Of course I still care in the sense that I'd be thrilled to see us improve, but I'm apethetic in the sense that I don't enjoying watching losing the same way over and over and over.

Now here come the posts saying I'm not a "true fan" in 3, 2, 1....

I agree totally with this post. I'm right with you.

cycloneworld · 02-09-2010, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

The team is more competitive more often against those teams than we've been in five years. The areas we've been complaining about, like rebounding, effort, and free throws, keep improving, yet that just brings more complaining.

At some point, people have to decide if they want to admit any positive developments at all or just be bitter and blind. I think plenty choose bitterness and blindness.

What positive developments? I agree with you on free throws, it has been nice to see the team hit more than 55% of them lately. But what has it got us?

As for rebounding and effort, I disagree. It was very good Saturday but its hit or miss each game. OU, Tech, 2nd half of Baylor...those were terrible "effort games". Don't mistake inconsistency for improvement.

wartknight · 02-09-2010, 08:13 AM

The Iowa State athletic department is in no shape to discriminate between diehards and non diehards. THey need everyone's money.

CYdTracked · 02-09-2010, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Cydkar

2 different programs can't have apathy at the same time? Does the level of apathy have to be equal for it to count? Of course it isn't as bad as iowa because that program has been nuclear bombed. It shouldn't be our measuring stick.

You shouldn't just reference message board posters. I know to many real people that are apathetic and it's not debateable.

Again, when ISU fans stop caring about BB apathy has set in. Right now the fans still care, they care that they aren't getting the results they want which is NOT apathy it's frustration! Maybe a very small minority of fans are apathetic but Cyclone Nation as a whole is not to that point yet. Iowa is a textbook definition of apathy right now.