Positive vs Negative

[bgsufalcon24]

Alright, I'm going to get straight to the point. The last few weeks have been the stuff of magic for Bowling Green football. We were flat out trucking teams from the East and putting up point totals and yards that I can't even replicate in Madden, and now just last night we took out a very solid opponent in Western Michigan. That game was extremely significant for me personally because the first time I ever saw us play WMU was on family weekend in 2005. My whole family was there and I remember telling them about how great BG was and how it was going to be a fun game. Well an Omar Jacobs shoulder injury and subsequent beatdown later and both my and my university were the butt of jokes. This game was so bad it gave life to terms such as "bed shitting" and "family weekend jinx", which were common terms in BG fandom from 2006-2011. I never forgot that day, which was part of why last night was so satisfying. But I digress.

In short, here's what we've done this season:

1.Tallied an 8-2 record overall
2.Tallied a 6-0 record in the MAC
3.Played an out of conference schedule that included Tennessee, an 8-1 Memphis team, and 2 teams from the B1G in Purdue and Maryland
4.Beat Purdue and Maryland for two wins against Power 5 opponents
5.Won 2 huge conference games on the road in less than ideal weather conditions vs Buffalo and Western Michigan
6.Made everybody else on the conference slate (Umass, Akron, Kent, Ohio) look like they didn't belong on the same field
7.Clinched the East Division title for the 3rd straight year and will play for the MAC Championship again

There are other goals still to come, like beating Toledo, finishing the regular season with 10 wins, and winning the MAC (plus possibly taking out whoever our bowl opponent is which is a big goal to some, not quite so much for me). But what you can't deny is that BG has amassed quite an impressive resume this season, a resume with lots of check marks on it. This is arguably one of the best seasons this program has ever had...2003 being the only year in recent memory that beats it and this year could still surpass it with wins vs Toledo and in the MACC.

Not only that, but when you look back at the direction of the program over the past 4 seasons, BG has won at least 8 games in each season, won the MAC championship in 2013, and had a successful 2014 despite losing the starting QB in game 1 and suffering tens of other injuries to key guys. Now when largely healthy again, this team has been lights out in 2015. There's no doubt that this program is as stable and as consistently good as it's been in a long time. The only stretch recently that rivals this is 2001-2004, where BG achieved about the same amount of success minus winning the MAC.

So here's my question:

Was anybody in 2004 this negative about the present and future of Bowling Green football?

Oh, and another question:

What in the bloody tarnation is wrong with our fans?

By this point, as consistently good as we are, you would expect the Doyt to be filled most games. Maybe not for those Tuesday nighters against Ohio or Buffalo or whomever because Maction causes difficulties for people and I get that...but on beautiful sunny, warm fall Saturdays we should be selling out or damn close to it, not barely drawing 15k. That's ridiculous. For so long people complained that we didn't have winning football. Now we do, yet I haven't seen an appreciable increase in attendance as compared to my time as an undergraduate during the Brandon era.

I would like to blame this on poor community outreach, poor marketing, poor in-stadium experience, etc, but the general attitude of fans on this message board and beyond suggests that there is a problem with our fanbase that runs far deeper than that. Somehow, some way, it seems as though a great proportion of our fanbase is treating the Bowling Green Falcons in a similar fashion as say, the Cleveland Browns. We give up a few early touchdowns against Ohio, and some people are already thinking its 2007 or 2009 again and the Kitties are about to drop 40+ on us. We have a few early missteps against WMU and some begin to talk about MAC West superiority and how we don't belong and how the best player on the field has boat oars on his shoulder pads. It's like we think our team will somehow always find a way to screw up and lose, when the evidence, and frankly, the truth, speaks loudly to the contrary.

It's flat out ridiculous, and I've had enough.

For too long I told myself I wouldn't get dragged into this, that I would sit back and enjoy this season and be proud of our guys and simply delight in their triumph while all the other bottom feeding elements of our fanbase wallowed in their manufactured misery. But now I'm bent. I'm ready to smack some people upside the head while telling them to open their damn eyes. This is the best team that this program has had in recent history, and not only does it seem that folks aren't enjoying what they are watching, but its almost like they have it in their mind that their team will fail and they aren't happy to be wrong about it.

I can't help but think that part of the reason for this is the general stodginess and old guard nature of Bowling Green in general. BG is a city of old school types outside of the university proper, and is very set in its ways. Change is bad in BG. Change is scary. This might be a bit of stretch, but I remember back to the beginning of the 2014 season. Dino Babers set about remaking the team in his image, doing away with the ball control, solid defense of the Clawson era (the old school way of playing, if you will) and looked to modernize the program with the FalconFast offensive attack. BG then got trucked on opening night by Western Kentucky, and it just seemed like a lot of people in BG flipped out completely, predicting that doomsday had come. Fast forward ahead 2 weeks and BG plays maybe the most thrilling game I've ever seen live at Doyt Perry Stadium, scoring a TD with 9 seconds left to beat Indiana. In the postgame press conference, Dino Babers called out the fans who jumped off the bandwagon after week 1, thanking those that had stayed faithful but telling those that ransacked him and his coaching staff after the loss to WKU that "the train had left the station and it's not coming back".

Is it possible that a great number of our fans were so jilted by this that they've had it in for Babers ever since? Is it possible that ever since the beginning of his tenure because of his competitive nature and his noticing our fans' decidedly fair weather nature and calling them out, that a great number of people in BG want him out and are thus boycotting the program? I know this is a big leap but honestly, I'm grasping at straws to explain the level of negativity on our message boards and our lack of fans at home games over the past few seasons.

I'll just finish this by saying the following. You never know what you have until it's gone. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all. What we are witnessing ladies and gentlemen, is greatness in its purest form, made solely of blood, sweat, and tears and not of money and egos of the pros or even the status of a supposedly prestigious P5 school. This coming Tuesday, and then again 2 more times this regular season, we have the chance to witness greatness reach an even greater height and check even more boxes off that long resume of ours. I implore all of you, over the next 4 days...talk to your friends. Talk to your neighbors, your co-workers. Let them know of the greatness that is Bowling Green football. This program has done everything right and deserves our full, unadulterated, unfiltered support over the next 3 weeks and beyond.

Ay-Zig, bitches.

[BGSU1]

Wow..great post. As an undergrad here at BG I'd pay you to write some of my essays lol. But I do agree with almost all of it, this season has been incredible, yet some people act like anything less than undefeated is a failure this year. However, I don't think people are against Babers at all. I have no idea what the reasoning is, but the whole BG community should have signs everywhere around town for this game. I know it is a Tuesday night, but when is the last time BG had a home game with this much anticipation? I can't think of one. The Doyt should have 23,000+ for this game, but I would be surprised to see it above 20,000. I believe the students are more involved this year, and the student section will be packed full. I am excited as ever, and hopefully the rest of the community will be too!

BEAT TSUN

[Tech2000]

Let me give this a try. I have been coming for almost 2 decades. I missed a few years as my daughter played club soccer and the fall and spring found us traveling the state of Ohio. However, some things I've pondered reading similar posts. And these are my opinion s.
1. Other than Greg Brandon who IMO over stayed his welcome but did have solid years but killed the program. Although mid level and known for training grounds, it would be nice like Toledo with Tommy what's his name or niu a few years back, these coaches were there close to 10 years. We get ones who turn the program around and are gone in 3 yrs or less. Here we are with a lot of scuttle about dino, will he be here for the MACC, or any coach? What happens to our incoming recruits? What system? Bowl game? I say this for one reason, and yes I'm enjoying this season, consistency.
2. I live in Lima just 1 hr south of BG on I75. Tod walker who does the radio game calling is from here and yet the local d2/3 schools get more press coverage than we do. If I want to read up on any of our programs I go to Bgsu site, toledo, and our opponents. So we get no coverage, buzz or accolades for what our programs are producing.
3. I know that in the past companies use to have days out, or company outings, here. They would have a tent and tickets at a discount price but would turn out many to join us. I have not seen that for a couple years.
Dino once said in an article that he was blessed and did not need much and if they gave him a10 year extension he would sign it....he got 5....guess we will see.

[kdog27]

I gave up caring about attendance long ago. The 2002-04 teams had some very poorly attended games too. Most people are brainwashed into thinking that there is no good football outside of UM, OSU and ND. The average Bowling Green student thinks BG football is slightly better than their high school team. f**k em. Go watch your Buckeyes.

Seeing people complain after a 62-24 win tells you all you need to know. Complete idiots is who you're dealing with.

[MarkL]

First off, great post. I have some jumbled thoughts here and am far too lazy to write them into a coherent essay so I will do a standard MarkL-style list.

- AZZ has some trolls and we've always had trolls. Sometimes I'll call them out and they end up looking like morons in the end of the day, and sometimes else I'll ignore them.
- The Internet is a giant realm of negativity behind the shield of anonymity. You see it on Twitter. So many Twitter posts cause my head to spin, seeing the human stupidity over real-world situations, the utter negativity towards other human beings, and it is all hidden by an anonymous Twitter handle. AZZ is no exception.
- My freshman year was 2004. We hosted Marshall and the Doyt was rocking. (HINT TO THE MAC ... NEXT TO LAST GAME OF THE SEASON, IN NOVEMBER, AND WE PACK A STADIUM FOR A HUGELY CONSEQUENTIAL TEAM. TAKE A HINT.) Of course that was one hell of a fun season. But that same season, we had a decent family day showing in a 52-0 win over WMU, a pedestrian homecoming crowd in typical Bowling Green weather (snow on a morning in October), and a downright pathetic crowd vs EMU. The attendnace trend is not new.
- I was at one game (Kent State) in 2003. I believe BG was nationally ranked and if they weren't they were just behind. And there were maybe 16,000 people.
- The attendnace problem is not new. It has always been there. And it has always pissed me off. I blame a few factors for lack of attendance ...
... - We are not the only show in town. In Montana, what else is there to do on a Saturday except go see the Grizzlies or go for a hike in the mountains? If you are a football fan, the Griz is the only show in town. Here, we have to deal with five other MAC schools, an AAC school, and a cult of scarlet and grey worshipping lemmings.
... - The town of Bowling Green has some folks who truly support the team but largely people are happy to watch the game from the comfort of home. When November weather hits, I cannot blame them. However if I still lived in or near Ohio, you can guarantee where I would be this Tuesday.
... - Northwest Ohio has one major newspaper which does a pretty good job covering the team and not much local radio. There are few ways to advertise the team to the general public who do not have AZZ or bgsufalcons.com bookmarked or who do not follow MAC football they way we do. I do believe our athletics could be marketed better - such as highway signs. Imagine a sign on I-75 showing some recent scores and the remaining schedule. Might be enough to get some drivers to hop online when they get home and see about these Falcons.
... - Weather hits the area badly. Especially come November when all we play is midweek games, it means every game will be a night game so a cold day gets colder and a cold, wet, windy game becomes miserable. Remember that 2012 Kent State game? It was indeed on a Saturday early afternoon in late November, the crowd was big, the weather was beatiful, and even though we lost it was one of the best home games in recent years. TAKE A F**KING HINT MAC!!
- I was pissed off after the WKU game. Not at the offense - that excited me - but at the defense. I openly called for firing McCloud, yes after one game. I still stand by that statement that the 2014 team, injuries and all, would have been more successful with our current defensive schemes ... or any competent defensive schemes. That game was such a disappointment and was easily the worst showing by the team since 2010 and it turned people off. Sometimes first impressions last. It was the worst possible way to open the Babers era. I of course stuck around and I do believe most people have hopped back on the bandwagon.
... - Those around the board who aren't are worthless attention-seeking trolls. I know who they are, you know who they are. They try to cause trouble because they have nothing else to do. Do yourself a favor and ignore them. Or use the ignore button

- The best way to reverse the trend is to support the team and to get your friends and family to the games. You said this exactly. I wish I could be there but I am an airplane away and these damn weeknight games make getting to games nearly impossible. I will probably craft a letter to the MAC commissioner and maybe cc Chris Kingston after the game about my utter disappointment of not being able to make it to this one thanks to bending over backwards for TV coverage.

Good stuff here. I'm hoping we have a great crowd on hand Tuesday where we deliver a finishing hit to UT and end their hopes of a conference title while building our own winning streak in the series. This is the most fun season in recent history and has the chance to be the best team since at least 2003. It is unfortunate that we need to worry about the issues you laid out but maybe some more seasons like this one will bring out the best of the fanbase.

[Flipper]

The world is full of nonsupporters and backbiters – people who chew on wet rags....Bob Dylan (circa 1978)

That's my fancy way of saying "people like to bitch".

[jpfalcon09]

It's easier to say "I told you so!" when sh*t hits the fan and feel self-righteous about yourself than it is to actually throw your support behind a team or cause and keep your hopes up. It's the world we live in today, which is why the internet has become a wasteland for stupid hot takes and opinions.

[hammb]

Good post, 24, very good post. It's been wearing on me as well. And I'm somebody who doesn't have any trouble expressing my negativity when I feel it is warranted.

The attendance stuff is what it is. Attendance is an issue across college football, so it would only stand to reason it would hit hardest to those that have the least margin for error...that's us. We were blessed with some pretty good weather for 2 of our Saturday games, and our first weeknight game was the best weather you could have ever imagined for a weeknight November game. It doesn't really matter...this team struggles to get people to come out and watch them. I'd have to look back, but I really think our attendance is effected by the quality of OSU's team more than anything. We seemed to draw much better in the 90s when OSU was led by Cooper who nobody seemed to resonate with. During the Tressel and Urban years they're thinking NC every year and I think people focus on OSU and forget about us (even when our games are not at the same time). Of course during this time the BCS (and now the tournament thingy) have done everything in their power to marginalize the non power teams. It is what it is, and just not worth thinking about any longer.

But the bigger issue, to me, is the odd negativity about this team from those that DO follow it. I'm not just talking about the board either. At the games the past 2 years it's been non-stop as well. At the OU game we had a DL lined up offsides and the guy behind me was yelling: "C'mon Babers!" I just said, "Do you really think he asked him to line up offsides!?"

I really think you hit on it, 24. We have a lot of old school close minded fans that thing pounding the ball up the middle and playing defense is the only way to play football. I think those same people don't take too kindly to Babers's attitude/personality. We have a premier coach and he's playing cutting edge 2015 football. We are so freaking lucky that we have one of a handful of coaches that understand this style of football and has the ability to teach it and get his team to execute. It's a complete 180 from the old school mindset, but it is, IMO, a VASTLY superior way to play the game. Not just that, but it's light years more entertaining to watch as well.

Dino will probably not be here for much longer. I hope we can hold onto him for another season or two, but it's unlikely. I don't know why our fanbase doesn't see what we have, but this isn't a guy that's just gonna take off because he can...this is a guy that could be destined for big things. He's the best coach we've had here since Urban and he may never have the career success Urban has had (he is older by quite a bit), but he has a chance to accomplish far more at OUR program than Urban did. If the NFL wakes the eff up to the way football can be played I wouldn't be shocked to see him as an OC/HC in that league some day.

Dino Babers is special. This team is special. I've enjoyed this season more than any since '03, and it's not even close. If we win out, take the MACC, and win our bowl game, this could go down as the greatest season in BG history. And all the while we'll have people bitching because our defense gives up 24 points, or our players get a celebration penalty for having too much fun....SMH...

[thewebboy]

Great topic. Here are my thoughts -

BABERS - I am on board... now. I didn't like the system change the year after we won the MAC. "If it ain't broke" I thought. The WKU game did not help either. I thought he was crazy saying the offense doesn't click until year 2 game 4-5. It seemed so random (and an excuse for not winning now). Here it is towards the end of year 2.... I am a believer now.

ATTENDANCE - Always an issue, why waste time complaining. I am convinced winning/marketing/renovations will not help all that much. The world is different than the days when we could draw 20k consistently. It will always be an issue, and we are not alone. Most P5 schools struggle with it too.

ONLINE HATERS - We have great, dedicated fans. I wouldn't assume the entire fanbase feels the same as a few trolls on a message board. I have plenty of friends that follow BG football closely and rarely post on AZZ.com

FAN NEGATIVITY - I think this just comes from remembering all the bad seasons/games and the way we lost certain games (for me it's Buffalo in 08, I was there). Winning can make you forget. I'm still riding the high from winning in 2013. Beating Toledo also helps

[kdog27]

It's easier to say "I told you so!" when sh*t hits the fan and feel self-righteous about yourself than it is to actually throw your support behind a team or cause and keep your hopes up. It's the world we live in today, which is why the internet has become a wasteland for stupid hot takes and opinions.

That's my thought too. They never own up to all the crap they're wrong about but they will be back the moment they are right.

I do agree about the W KY game. I was at that game and have never felt more embarrassed by a BG team than on that day. I didn't even go the concession stand at halftime because we had just made the hilltoppers look like Oregon. I thought BG was a poorly coached team last year and I still don't think I was wrong in thinking so. But I was smart enough to know that we did a 180 in coaching philosophy and there were going to be growing pains. Especially with a backup QB.

Hammb mentioning the penalties is perfect example of all the pessimists and trolls around here. They are quick to point out BG had 125 yards of penalties in a game but they don't say squat when there is game like Wednesday when there is only 6 for 38 yards.

[bg1984]

Early in the season Chris Hawthorne met with me and asked me to write a testimonial about my experiences as a Falcon supporter and Falcon Club member that would be printed in the Memphis game program. I pasted it at the end of this post. If individuals who have affiliation with this university or who are college football fans living in the area can't see the entertainment value of attending a Falcon football game I don't know what the answer is. The "bang for your buck" with this product is one of the best in sports IMO. That said, attendance/interest is down across the country. Part of the problem I see is that for 20 year old college students there are just more options now then there were in 1983. As a Junior, I attended the infamous UT/BG game in October of 1983 with over 32,000 fans in attendance.(MAC single game attendance record) Then we had NO cell phones, electronic games or social media to entertain us. We didn't even spring for cable in our Troup Street house, so 4 channels it was. We made an entire day out of every home game complete with a couple of kegs. For college students today there are far more options albeit not ones that provide the great memories I have with my college friends. Here are some articles about declining attendance:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... n-14-years" target="_blank

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /29132141/" target="_blank

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ball-games" target="_blank

Here is my Program Testimonial:

"When I first arrived on the Bowling Green State University campus in the fall of 1980, I never could have imagined how choosing to be a Falcon would impact the rest of my life. The degree that I earned led me to a successful 30-year career in education, the relationships that I formed in those four years have culminated in friendships that last to this day, and my wife and I began our relationship at BG and we are now very proud Falcon Flames. The student organizations that I joined, such as Orientation Board and the Tour Guides, provided me the opportunity to introduce the University I love to others. I found early on that by immersing myself in the college experience I would grow as an individual. A significant part of that experience for me was supporting our athletic teams. Each home football game meant a gathering of my friends for a trek to the Doyt, and when winter came it was off to Anderson Arena and the Ice Arena. Attending these sporting events gave me an opportunity to leave my classwork behind for a couple of hours, experience the thrills and unpredictability of Division 1 athletics, and to be a part of the action as a cheering member of the student section.
After I graduated, I was fortunate enough to live within 15 miles of the University so I continued to attend athletic events, now as a proud alumnus. Each Homecoming weekend, my wife and I invited those friends we made in college back to reconnect, tailgate and enjoy the football game. This is a tradition now in its 32nd year! Eventually I was able to give back in other ways, joining the Falcon Club and becoming a season ticket holder in both football and men’s basketball. The enjoyment my family and I have received through this support is simply outstanding. Falcon Athletics are a tremendous value and over the years it has been my privilege to be a small part of the great team and individual successes BG student-athletes have had both on the field and in the classroom. Our teams compete at the highest level of college athletics and serve as a front porch to the University through their national exposure on television. The investment that I have made in Falcon Athletics over the years has paid dividends in the experiences that I have enjoyed, and I learned long ago that by attending a Falcon game I have a direct impact on the environment of that event. Our student-athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and deserve our support through full stadiums and arenas.
BGSU was my University when I was a student and continues to be my University long after I graduated. The passion I have for Falcon Athletics is a direct result of the outstanding experience I had as an undergraduate. Bowling Green State University is a special place that continues to attract high caliber athletes and students. As we enter the football season I wonder who wouldn’t want to be a part of program that has enjoyed so much recent success. The Falcons have been invited to three straight bowl games, winning their last one, have been in the MAC Championship game for the last two years, winning one of those, and have beaten a Big Ten Conference team at home. It is my hope that others will join me in recognizing the value of supporting Falcon Athletics and the tremendous return one receives on that investment. Talons Up!"

[footballguy51]

I did a lot of griping last year when this team was stinking it up on defense. I was a huge Clawson supporter and loved how the team, over the years, took on a professional attitude towards winning. Babers came in and turned it upside down and we looked like garbage for some time. This year, I was looking forward to the season because I knew we would be better than last year.

The only penalties I will attribute to a coach is unsportsmanlike conduct and delay of game. In fact, when we got the delay penalty on Wednesday, I shouted at the TV. "How does a Falcon Fast offense get a delay penalty?" Other penalties may have something to do with coaching (not teaching proper technique or discipline, etc.), but ultimately it is the player that screwed up. Alex Huettel finally had a game without a false start penalty. That's become a running joke in our seating area and among many of the fans I know.

I think some of the negativity is because everybody is waiting for the ship to crash or the coach to leave. They either figure this team will come back down to Earth or the coach will take off for greener pastures. I personally think this team still has room to grow, so crashing to Earth isn't going to happen. We were a little exposed against Western and I hope that makes the team realize they need to step it up.

As for attendance, fans need to be given a reason to attend. Winning helps, and the crowds have been better this year than previous years. But, when you start nickel-and-diming people for things like the Falcon Club (you cannot bring in your family of four when you have four season tickets unless you pay $15 a person), serve somewhat passable food, and provide bathrooms with one cold water faucet per sink, people will stay home and watch the game on TV. Now that every game can be found somewhere, people need a reason to be at the game. I go to all of the home games because the atmosphere is so much better than sitting at home. I love the fresh air, the smells of the concessions, the sounds of the crowd. Going to the games is something I LOVE to do. But, not everybody is like me. Football is in my blood, but others just want to enjoy watching a game.

[San Diego Falcon]

The vast majority of students, alumni and residents of Wood County simply do not care about BG football. They never have and never will. So be it. To each their own. It doesn't impact my enjoyment of following this team.

I wonder if people who enjoy watching other things (e.g., the local symphony, movies, corn grow) get as upset when not enough other people enjoy watching those same things.

[Flipper]

That's a valid point SDF...I try not to get worked up over things like attendance or some random person's decision to wear OSU gear to a BG game. I do like to look at the issue form a marketing perspective. What could the University do that it isn't to build loyalty and interest.

I do think we are never going to see much of an increase in attendance until we reno the Doyt. You have to really like football to put up with the antiquated restrooms, shoddy concessions, horrible sound system and relatively tiny video board.

[gspointer]

The reality of attendance is fans are not what they used to be. Getting kids just to go outside today is a chore in itself. If you throw cold weather on top- forget it. Until we somehow address the changing demographics of fans we are not going to make any headway. It would cost me 90 to take my family of three to the Toledo game (tickets only) plus parking, food etc. I would go to the game but at over 100 forget it and that is with nice weather in the forecast. Sorry but they price people out of a game with this crap.