An apology

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:57 pm

I want to appologize for my conduct on this board over the past couple of days since the disappointment that we all witnessed on Saturday. I have been very angry and very embarassed over the past couple of days, and like some others have said, I should have simply kept my mouth shut. I regret now beginning a thread about replacing Gregg Brandon. I am extremely pissed off at what I saw on Saturday, and quite frankly, a lot of that falls on him as the head coach. But, I have started to think, just as I am not willing to credit a president with a good or bad economy, I should not be coming down on Gregg so hard for a bad game. I am embarassed by the way I have allowed my emotions to get the better of me.

I have found myself strangely optomistic about our chances against Ohio on Saturday. After what I saw against Kent I really have no reason to be optomistic, but I have not been able to quell this innate positive feeling about Saturday. I don't know if it is some sort of divine intuition, or if it is just my natural proclivity to be positive in most situations. Either way, all I can hop is that I am right, and honestly, even if I'm not, I will still be there next weekend supporting my alma mater. I love it, unconditionally.

And that is the other thing that I think needs to be made clear by not just myself, but everyone around here. No matter what happens, I will be there to support my alma mater. It is a big part of who I am, and it always will be. If life has taught me anything it is that there are always going to be great joys and great disappointments, and there is no indication that college football should be any different.

Gregg, I support you. I am sorry for calling you a lame-duck. I was pure emotion, and there really is nothing that I can truly say to take that back. Just please know that as long as you are the coach of our Falcons, you will have my support.

I'm sorry to ramble, but I really needed to say that.

windycityfalcon · Post by **windycityfalcon** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:59 pm

Nice post Bleeding - I hope a lot of the others on here who were so down after one loss see the light as well. I have had the same feeling about the OU game since yesterday - like you said, no reason to have it, but it's there.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:06 pm

Damn BO...are you sure we're not related? I've been feeling the same way. Still ticked off about the game but ya know? It's over and done with and no amount of bitching will change the outcome. I guess hearing all these Kent State jackasses come out of the woodwork today at my job only fueled that fire. Enjoy it now, boys, cause we don't lose to Kent very often (52-16-4).

Now I am jazzed to get down to Athens. We can erase this bad memory with a BiG win over Ohio. Akron beats KSU and guess who has a share of the East lead?

Get 'er done, Coach.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:16 pm

I've been quiet for the most part. I have my opinions but have largely kept them to myself. Why? Saturday's game is not that important to me. Call it "perspective."

I made an apple pie with my daughter yesterday. Saturday evening, went to a wine tasting at which I enjoyed great conversation, a decent buzz and some pretty sh!tty wine. Also studied for Business Law and did some finance homework over the course of Sunday and today.

MajorFalcon92 joined us in the chat room. He was having some connectivity issues, but he wanted to know the final score. We all talked a bit about the game and then he gave is sign off: Iraq out. Two words put everything in perspective for me and that is why I spent my weekend as I did.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:24 pm

I apologize for nothing

I will also always be there to support my University and it's student-athletes. However, I do not support Gregg Brandon. It is my sincere belief that he is (unintentionally, of course) running the program that I love directly into the ground. The Kent loss is nowhere near the sole reason for my feelings. If you want more of an explanation, look around here for it.

I have never just come out with comments like "Der Brandon's an idjet Derrrr". I've backed up every comment I've made with evidence and logical conclusions and I will continue to do so. If anybody wants to counter my assertions in kind, have at it. I love a good, friendly argument between fellow Falcons. I've also given him credit when it's been due him. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened much lately.

Once again, I will never apologize for wanting what I feel is best for my University's flagship athletic program, and doing whatever is in my power to achieve that end. I know I'll be fighting a near impossible battle, but I'll fight it anyway, because I am not willing to accept mediocrity from the team I hold dearest. If that makes me less of a fan in some Falcons' eyes, so be it.

Peregrinner · Post by **Peregrinner** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:28 pm

I, too, will continue to support my university and its teams. Despite my apprehensions about our coaching staff (which may or may not be unfounded, I am, after all, a 20 year old kid), I support the players, most especially the ones who continue to show a solid effort and desire to win. I will be at the rest of the home games and will more than likely make the UT game as well. It may be painful (let's hope not!) but I will be there, orange wig and all, supporting my team, probably until I'm physically unable to do so anymore.
GO FALCONS!
CRUSH THE BOBKITTIES!

windycityfalcon · Post by **windycityfalcon** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:29 pm

what's brandon's record as a head coach?
28-13 overall
19-7 MAC
back-to-back bowl wins

Sounds like he's got a ways to go before we can call of his head and be legit? The man is 15 games over .500
That said - he's not Eliot Ness, but until his record - IF it ever is - even close to .500 or below, we should all relax

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:50 pm

Freak - Yeah, we may somehow be related. I think part of the exacerbation of my emotion lately has been the senseless ridicule from KSU alums, including some in my own family. 99% of these damn people never gave a crap about KSU football until Kent beat my alma mater and they were able to hold it over my head. I even had one..."friend"...call me yesterday and, literally, say (verbatim): "So, seriously, how did Kent look? I'm actually thinking about going to the game this Saturday.

And, if you don't mind, I might be giving you a call this week about tailgaiting on Saturday. It would be great to be able to get together with my "brother" before the game! Plus, damn do I need a "Falcon Screech" from Jake right now!

RUIT - I admire the heck out of your restraint. I wish I had been in the chat room and heard MajorFalcon92's comment, because I am sure I would have reacted the same way. There is no one on this board that I respect more than him, and I really hope that we can get to a bowl game again this year, simply so I can share a beer with him as I did in Mobile. That was awesome. Also, I don't know anyone who loves wine as much as I do. I suggest that we get together sometime and share some. We don't live that far apart (I think), and damn I love wine!

J4H - Believe me, I have meant half of what I have said over the past couple of days. I think what I am running into emotionally right now is reconciling my anger with my love for Bowling Green State University. I am not ashamed to admit that I really don't know how to act or feel right now. I have never been confronted with this kind of adversity related to an institution that I love so very, very much. All of you from the "Fat Punter" days need to realize that I am still a youngin.

WCF - J4H is still right, as far as I'm concerned. We should not be sitting back and accepting failure simply because the current coaching staff has an overall winning record. In the long-run, it is this kind of thinking that promulgates and needlessly perpetuates failure and frustration. What is happening right now is unacceptable, and it makes me so angry that I can't find a way to constructively put that anger into words. All I am saying is that I don't know how to express that anger right now. None of what I have said should be interpreted as an idiomatic white flag.

No matter what, I will be in Athens on Saturday dressed head-to-toe in my Burnt Orange and Seal Brown. If you are going to be there, let me know. There will be beer there for you for supporting your Falcons.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:53 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:I apologize for nothing

I will also always be there to support my University and it's student-athletes. However, I do not support Gregg Brandon. It is my sincere belief that he is (unintentionally, of course) running the program that I love directly into the ground. The Kent loss is nowhere near the sole reason for my feelings. If you want more of an explanation, look around here for it.

I have never just come out with comments like "Der Brandon's an idjet Derrrr". I've backed up every comment I've made with evidence and logical conclusions and I will continue to do so. If anybody wants to counter my assertions in kind, have at it. I love a good, friendly argument between fellow Falcons. I've also given him credit when it's been due him. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened much lately.

Once again, I will never apologize for wanting what I feel is best for my University's flagship athletic program, and doing whatever is in my power to achieve that end. I know I'll be fighting a near impossible battle, but I'll fight it anyway, because I am not willing to accept mediocrity from the team I hold dearest. If that makes me less of a fan in some Falcons' eyes, so be it.

J4H,

You are a true Falcon fan. I can appreciate other points of view and you and hammb make very valid points about certain issues. I would never question your loyalty to BGSU or the football program. NOBODY here should be willing to accept anything but the finest for our program. Thanks to you and hammb and a few others for keeping an honest balance here.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:54 pm

Good post Bleeding. You are entitled to your opinions.

I am more of the J4H school of thought. I'd have to go back and look at my posts from Saturday/Sunday, but I don't think I did too much posting in pure anger. It was certainly not meant to be my tone at the time. What's sad is that this season has really not changed my opinion of Gregg Brandon one iota. It's been more of the same to me, just less talent to cover up for the shortcomings. Poor at adjustments, no fire/intensity, crappy playcalling, lousy fundamentals, a lack of leadership, and a team that is getting softer and softer each year.

This will be the 3rd year in a row that the team has gotten worse than the previous year under him. I don't care what his overall record is, that is a pattern of decline, and it's been evident for 3 years to those that were willing to look beyond blowing out the dregs of D1A.

I wasn't calling for Brandon to be fired before this year, because I don't like to pull the trigger on a coach too soon. However, it is clear to me that he has NOT learned how to successfully lead a D1A program.

What's most important however, is I will never stop supporting my team, and I think everyone here that has met me knows that to be the truth. I think it speaks to my loyalty that my feelings about the coaching staff were the same last year and the year before as well. Through it all I still went out & supported the team every chance I got, and I'll continue to do so. In fact, I really thought we were going to lose Saturday, I told my friends that I expected us to lose by 2 TDs (I was WRONG

). Still, I left work in Toledo to speed down the highway, pay for parking, pay for admission, and watch us get drilled, only to drive back to work and then explain the results of the game.

What's more telling, is that despite the results, I don't regret my decision to go out of my way to watch the game. I love the Falcons and that is why I have been so vocal in my displeasure at the way the program has been run the past few years. I went to school for the last 3 years of the Blackney era. I saw this team as the laughing stock when they lost to Buffalo & I knew players on that team. I remember watching this program turn around under quality leadership & I saw how proud those players were that stuck it out through the tough camps to see the fruits of their labor. I want the current players to be able to see that as well, and I just don't think the current coaching staff can lead them to that level.

Tricky_Falcon · Post by **Tricky_Falcon** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:55 pm

windycityfalcon wrote: That said - he's not Eliot Ness

Funny you should mention that. That's the beer I am drinking as I read this forum.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:56 pm

Falconfreak90 wrote:
Jacobs4Heisman wrote:I apologize for nothing

I will also always be there to support my University and it's student-athletes. However, I do not support Gregg Brandon. It is my sincere belief that he is (unintentionally, of course) running the program that I love directly into the ground. The Kent loss is nowhere near the sole reason for my feelings. If you want more of an explanation, look around here for it.

I have never just come out with comments like "Der Brandon's an idjet Derrrr". I've backed up every comment I've made with evidence and logical conclusions and I will continue to do so. If anybody wants to counter my assertions in kind, have at it. I love a good, friendly argument between fellow Falcons. I've also given him credit when it's been due him. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened much lately.

Once again, I will never apologize for wanting what I feel is best for my University's flagship athletic program, and doing whatever is in my power to achieve that end. I know I'll be fighting a near impossible battle, but I'll fight it anyway, because I am not willing to accept mediocrity from the team I hold dearest. If that makes me less of a fan in some Falcons' eyes, so be it.
J4H,

You are a true Falcon fan. I can appreciate other points of view and you and hammb make very valid points about certain issues. I would never question your loyalty to BGSU or the football program. NOBODY here should be willing to accept anything but the finest for our program. Thanks to you and hammb and a few others for keeping an honest balance here.

Thanks Freak -- there have to be a few of us to keep the orange-goggle folks like yourself in line eh?

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:59 pm

Tricky_Falcon wrote:
windycityfalcon wrote: That said - he's not Eliot Ness
Funny you should mention that. That's the beer I am drinking as I read this forum.

Good stuff man.

I tell ya what, get yer hands on some of that Nosferatu if you can still find it. It's $10 for a 4 pack, but awesome stuff, truly wonderful.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:07 pm

hammb wrote:Good post Bleeding. You are entitled to your opinions.

I am more of the J4H school of thought. I'd have to go back and look at my posts from Saturday/Sunday, but I don't think I did too much posting in pure anger. It was certainly not meant to be my tone at the time. What's sad is that this season has really not changed my opinion of Gregg Brandon one iota. It's been more of the same to me, just less talent to cover up for the shortcomings. Poor at adjustments, no fire/intensity, crappy playcalling, lousy fundamentals, a lack of leadership, and a team that is getting softer and softer each year.

This will be the 3rd year in a row that the team has gotten worse than the previous year under him. I don't care what his overall record is, that is a pattern of decline, and it's been evident for 3 years to those that were willing to look beyond blowing out the dregs of D1A.

I wasn't calling for Brandon to be fired before this year, because I don't like to pull the trigger on a coach too soon. However, it is clear to me that he has NOT learned how to successfully lead a D1A program.

What's most important however, is I will never stop supporting my team, and I think everyone here that has met me knows that to be the truth. I think it speaks to my loyalty that my feelings about the coaching staff were the same last year and the year before as well. Through it all I still went out & supported the team every chance I got, and I'll continue to do so. In fact, I really thought we were going to lose Saturday, I told my friends that I expected us to lose by 2 TDs (I was WRONG ). Still, I left work in Toledo to speed down the highway, pay for parking, pay for admission, and watch us get drilled, only to drive back to work and then explain the results of the game.

What's more telling, is that despite the results, I don't regret my decision to go out of my way to watch the game. I love the Falcons and that is why I have been so vocal in my displeasure at the way the program has been run the past few years. I went to school for the last 3 years of the Blackney era. I saw this team as the laughing stock when they lost to Buffalo & I knew players on that team. I remember watching this program turn around under quality leadership & I saw how proud those players were that stuck it out through the tough camps to see the fruits of their labor. I want the current players to be able to see that as well, and I just don't think the current coaching staff can lead them to that level.

Don't worry hammb, I consider you to be one of the greates Falcon Fans that I know (behind Freak, of course - no one trumps him

). I really hope that this appology has not been taken as some sort of implication of the current coaching staff's ardent detractors. To the contrary, I have moved much closer to your position than I have ever been before. Still, I have had the occasion to meet Gregg Brandon on several occasions, and I know how much he cares. As I said before, I have simply been having a very, very hard time reconciling all of my opinions over the past few days.

No matter what, GO FALCONS!!!

Tricky_Falcon · Post by **Tricky_Falcon** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:23 pm

Did that just come out? I guess I haven't looked too hard but I haven't seen too many places serve or sell Great Lakes here in Columbus. The place I buy it at is actually at a bar/restaurant in Granville, OH called Brews. It has a nice list of almost any kind of beer you can think of. It's about a half hour away from Columbus.The nice thing is, you can buy beer there by the case. It's worth a trip down there every so often. Sure beats the "beer" they serve at bars in Columbus.