What we aren't losing...

Godsgirlerific · Post by **Godsgirlerific** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:10 pm

Here is an excerpt from a Columbus Dispatch article about Brady Quinn that addresses a situation almost identical to what we, the members of the FMB faced regarding our relationship with the football team this season:

He's a leader even in defeat
Quinn nearly rallies Irish after Ohio State amasses two-touchdown lead
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

TEMPE, Ariz. - Brady Quinn led his Notre Dame teammates out of the tunnel yesterday for the start of the Fiesta Bowl. It only seemed as if he did not stop running until the end of the game.

Clearly, he did not stop leading.

As his teammates began walking back toward the tunnel after a 34-20 loss to Ohio State, their heads hanging, Quinn yelled, "Where are you going? Salute the band, just like every game."

With that, the players who tried to slink off the field jogged back toward the Notre Dame band. Quinn had put a final stamp on a game that - for better or worse - will define his and his team's season.

I posted this in the Football forum instead of the Band forum because the point I want to make is that we really aren't losing much with the loss of Omar Jacobs. Yes, it's undeniable that he has amazing talent, and I loved having him as a member of the BGSU football team as much as anyone else; I wouldn't wish otherwise.

One thing that I never really saw from him, however, was leadership. Part of his appeal is that he is so humble and low-key as a person. But the position of quarterback doesn't just require talent, skill, and intelligence; being a great quarterback requires leadership.

I can't think of any great NFL quarterbacks who were/are not leaders among their teammates, and I can't think of any great NFL teams who didn't/don't have a quarterback who exhibits some degree of leadership.

*For those of you who aren't aware, the issue regarding the relationship between the band and the team was this:

The football team traditionally goes over to the marching band at the end of each game to sing the Alma Mater and Ay Zig with us. At each of the home losses, however, the team simply headed straight to the locker room. Many of the band members felt snubbed, and it weakened the relationship that has been built between the team and the band that Urban had set in motion and regarded as a significant factor in the success of a football team.

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:15 pm

I had this same thought after every home loss this past year. I had it after the MACC loss in 2003. I am sick of seeing the team sulk off the field after a loss and not gather for the playing of the Alma Mater. I have never been a member of band, but I hope the bandies know that you aren't the only ones that don't like what our team does after a loss.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:18 pm

to be honest. I don't blame them for not singing after the game. Do you really want to sing after losing at home, games who were predicted to win? How much more crap do you think they would have got for singing AZZ when most people criticized them for going out to dinner after the losses. I'm glad the band has a good relationship with the team. However I didn't see USC singing with their band after the game.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:28 pm

Candidly, I thought the whole idea was to sing after wins.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:17 pm

I don't blame them for not coming over for Ay-Zig after a loss. The Alma Mater is debate could go either way, but still...if the team doesn't want to stay on the field, respect their emotions and let them go. Should they care about your emotions and feelings? Sure, but then again, you are getting school credit to be at that game. They aren't. Some may be getting free education and a chance to play at the next level, but if their choice is to go into the locker room when feeling down, you shouldn't complain.

The original thing was built between Urban and Dr. Toney. Two different people are in charge now. I still think Urban did it just to bring positive attention his way. I mean come on, he said he was making all the players learn the words to both songs. That never happened and most likely never will. Being in band for all the director switches, I realized things change and you need to accept them. Not look back and complain about how things were.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:24 pm

And don't ever imply that Omar Jacobs is not a leader again. That sickens me. Look what happened to the team when he went down. He was a leader on that team and one hell of a guy off the field.

To share a little story...
My barber was at the soccer fields over the summer coaching his little league team through a warm-up before a tourney at Carter Park. Omar and Steve Sanders were there running routes and came over to talk to them to see what was going on. Before they left, Omar said he'd see them at the game and my barber kinda laughed like yeah right. 10 minutes later both of them kept their word and were at the tourney. Omar is a tremendous guy...to imply he is anything less than that is sad.

Godsgirlerific · Post by **Godsgirlerific** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:12 pm

Metz wrote:Omar is a tremendous guy...to imply he is anything less than that is sad.

I never said that he was or is anything less. He's an amazing, amazing player and a wonderful person, as I said in my original post, and BG was incredibly fortunate to have him on the team. I would have loved to see him return for another year (though I wish him the very best in the NFL, of course).

And I didn't say that he exhibited absolutely zero leadership. Players don't get to be the starting quarterback without the ability to be a leader.

But I don't think he was enough of a leader, at least not when it mattered most. Too often the team lost focus so easily if they weren't making constant killer plays, and they lost all momentum when the other team started to really gain ground (no pun intended). Yes, these things will happen in football, but I never really saw Omar step up and get the players re-focused or get them pumped up when they really needed it.

No, the only source of leadership among the players doesn't have to be- and shouldn't be- the quarterback, but because of the sheer nature of the game, the role of the quarterback is the most influential position on the team. And the player in that position needs to be more than just an "average" leader or even a "pretty decent" leader. He needs to be an "amazing" leader.

Simply put, I just wouldn't call Omar an "amazing" leader.

Godsgirlerific · Post by **Godsgirlerific** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:22 pm

PGY Tiercel wrote:to be honest. I don't blame them for not singing after the game. Do you really want to sing after losing at home, games who were predicted to win? How much more crap do you think they would have got for singing AZZ when most people criticized them for going out to dinner after the losses.

I completely understand why the team didn't want to jump around and sing Ay Zig after a loss; as a band member, I didn't really feel like playing it either.

But singing the Alma Mater after every game is a way to show that pride in and loyalty to one's school stays constant and is not contingent on victory, nor will it be weakened by defeat.

Nobody will criticize the team for singing the Alma Mater.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:27 pm

Godsgirlerific wrote: I never said that he was or is anything less.

I never said you said that. I said you implied it...which you did. The title of your post states what we aren't losing. Then you went on to state, "one thing I never saw from him was leadership."

Godsgirlerific wrote: But I don't think he was enough of a leader, at least not when it mattered most. Too often the team lost focus so easily if they weren't making constant killer plays, and they lost all momentum when the other team started to really gain ground (no pun intended). Yes, these things will happen in football, but I never really saw Omar step up and get the players re-focused or get them pumped up when they really needed it.

Was your seating at the game adequate for you to state you never saw him showing leadership on the sidelines? When he came off the field, the coaches were on him right away. He didn't have the ability to walk around, hit guys in the head and tell them to get jacked up. Other seniors on the team did that just fine (Teddy, etc.). Would he have done that? Maybe, maybe not. I did see him consistently talking to his receivers...maybe about dinner after the game but chances are about the game. On the field, he did what he could. All leaders lead in different ways. Omar happens to be a calm and collected leader that doesn't make a scene but still leads to the best of his ability.

Lets be honest, you are just upset that he didn't pull a Brady Quinn and lead the team over to the band after all the losses. But think about this, if you stay on that field, you get bombarded by fans/media/parents asking questions about the game. As a player, I'm sure you don't want that after a loss. Sorry if you still disagree or if you feel like Omar didn't lead good enough for your standards. I'm sure if you asked any player on the team, they'd state otherwise.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:29 pm

Godsgirlerific wrote: Nobody will criticize the team for singing the Alma Mater.

And nobody should criticize the team for leaving the field after a loss

Godsgirlerific · Post by **Godsgirlerific** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:20 pm

Metz wrote:Lets be honest, you are just upset that he didn't pull a Brady Quinn and lead the team over to the band after all the losses.

Actually, no. This is something that nagged at me for most of the season.

The article about Quinn and the band caught my eye, primarily for personal reasons,

and I wanted to share it with the AZZ crowd. I was originally going to post it in the band forum for fellow bandies as an "ooh, yay!! another article that mentions marching band!!" post, not really related to Omar at all.

I decided to alter the main focus of my post after reading the rest of the article (which went on to describe many more aspects of Quinn's leadership besides the band anecdote), and with the announcement of Omar's decision to leave so fresh on my mind and discussion about him abounding, my observation from the season resurfaced, and yadda yadda yadda, I decided to write what I did.

The article is simply what led me to comment on the issue, and the marching band situation is simply the example I used because that part of the article was what I originally wanted to share.

Ah, I do love a good debate.

BGSUfalcons · Post by **BGSUfalcons** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:23 pm

...And another thing, it's Omar's fault that the defense wasn't better..and...he shouldn't have let himself get injured because real leaders don't get injured...and...

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:33 pm

I love a good debate too....you guys planning on starting one sometime?

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:36 pm

Flipper wrote:I love a good debate too....you guys planning on starting one sometime?

Yes.

And I think it now revolves around "Lisa Loeb: Keep the glasses on? Or take them off?"

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:47 pm

Glasses on...trust me, I was an English major (atrocious spelling and poor sentence structure aside). I've seen my share of cute girls with glasses who are decidely NOT cute once the glasses are off....