GTCrew4b on Improving the Quality of the Fanbase (Volume 1)

GTCrew4b

GTCrew4b

NIL Supporter Strictly On Capitalist Grounds
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In previous threads I have stated that we are one of the worst fanbases in all of college football. I find this to be a very accurate description, and the recentdays have done little to sway my opinion. I will expand on my theories in a series of volumes, each focusing on its own aspect of our fandom.

These discussions are independent of the coach, past coaches, or whatever, and simply on how I feel we as a fanbase can in a very real way improve the state of the program, by just being better fans.

Volume 1: On UGA Hate and Its Connection to Bad Fandom

UGA fans are for the most part (as in 99.8%) intolerable, ignorant, and annoying. We also have a choice word that we associate with them, and it is "delusional." We call them "delusional" every year because they as a fanbase have the audacity to think they will win the National Championship every year. Well they have come reasonably close a few years under Mark Richt, so it's not entirely delusional in my opinion for a fanbase to expect a National Championship. In fact I think rooting for a National Championship before the season starts is what most fanbases do.

Perhaps our in-state rivals take their optimism too far. This allows us to laugh at them when their dreams come crashing down, dreams that we are too smart to have for ourselves. And therein lies the heart of the topic of volume one.

Do we attempt to dissociate ourselves from UGA fans so much that we would rather be pessimistic and realistic about our own team's chances, than actually be optimistic fans?

Georgia Tech fans and graduates always want to ensure that they are seen as above our inbred neighbors. This is not a bad thing. However it can become a bad thing when they are simply doing a good thing too much or in excess. What I mean is, if UGA fans simply are too optimistic, doing the opposite of what they do (which is usually a good thing) can become problematic, because now we become too pessimistic.

Let's look at the entire season, we had one fan of the football team say we were going to go 13-0. We had the entire board make fun of him for the entire year. What an idiot. How stupid he was. Oh my gosh how could he be so childish? He sounded like a stupid delusional UGA fan. Is it really worth that much to us to be right, that we feel like we can't hope for anything anymore?

Now every fanbase will have sourpusses, but we at GT feel it is our duty as fans to keep the expectation level of every season grounded in reality. We're not going to win here, because of such and such, we're not going to beat the Dawgs because of this and that, we're definitely not competing for a championship because of X, Y, and Z.

So fellow Yellow Jackets, let's take this time to re-evaluate how we support the team in this particular manner. Do we hate UGA so much that we fail to see what they might do well, but simply too much of? Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water so to speak, as being a fanatic or fan does not call for one to be rational, realistic, or right. It just calls for us to be supporters of the team in a fanatical way.
 
Most Tech fans are ready to be overly optimistic. We may not have as many opportunities as some schools to do it, but we are certainly familiar with that state of mind. Someone needs to get us "optimistic" first, however.
 
I have hope for a perfect season every year. I ALWAYS believe we can win on any given Saturday (or Thursday night). I never say "we are going to lose" to anyone outside of our fanbase - I will talk trash to ANY opposing team's fan. BUT, I see no issue with talking about our problems and shortcomings within our own "family." It's healthy. The issue is we have these discussions on a public forum for the whole world to see. Maybe all of ST should go underground ...
 
While I do understand and greatly respect your point, I think all the pessimistic vibes are coming from CPJ and the slump this program has been in since 2010 and frankly as a fan, it seems that nothing is being done to change it. When we year in and year out lose to the same exact teams, which are the teams that you NEED to beat, your optimism fades as a fan base. Take a look back at 08/09 on this board. I know I wasn't a member then, but I have been reading this site for many years. MNC could be seen in every other thread back then, being ABOUT TECH. I think in all honesty that if CPJ leaves and the new coach has a year or two such as CPJ had in the beginning, the fan base will start to rise again and so will be attitude.

Hell, I remember in 09' when TECH won the ACC, I started to see fair weather fans from other teams jump ship and claim TECH fandom. To be summed up easily: you have to have a good team first. Don't get me wrong, we are a good team, but not to a lot of other peoples expectations. 10/11+ wins denotes a good WINNING team. Not 7-6.
 
Nice topic Nancy boy. I predict us to win the first playoff National Championship next year.
 
Another thing: There's nothing wrong with hoping for a MNC like UGAg fans do, but when a single game is lost, they have a panic attack, claim the season is over, and flop to FSU.

And that's a good thing about our pessimistic attitude. We lose 3 games and it's a hell of a season. So there are positives for each side.
 
bmeGT said:
While I do understand and greatly respect your point, I think all the pessimistic vibes are coming from CPJ and the slump this program has been in since 2010...
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I am guessing you are young.
 
Techbert said:
I am guessing you are young.
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Well yes, I am young but you're missing my point. Maybe it would be better worded to say "...the slump this program is usually in, most recently since 2010."

Does this tickle your fancy?
 
Again, the pessimism goes back to people we graduate. We're an engineering school, we pump out engineers, and engineers are pessimistic people. (I think most of us tend to con ourselves into calling this "being realistic")

We value being right and, for some reason, equally value pointing out when people are wrong. Just watch this thread.
 
Allen Koholic said:
Again, the pessimism goes back to people we graduate. We're an engineering school, we pump out engineers, and engineers are pessimistic people. (I think most of us tend to con ourselves into calling this "being realistic")

We value being right and, for some reason, equally value pointing out when people are wrong. Just watch this thread.
Click to expand...

I agree, and that's why I think the fanbase needs to try an attitude adjustment.

I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning coaching staffs, and thinking some games may be more difficult than others. I do strongly believe that when you don't believe something will happen, it makes it much more difficult to happen, and much easier to accept defeat.

I'm not blaming fans for on-field results, but I think fans do have an effect on the overall sense or attitude of a program. If the fanbase is negative it will be hard for the players to be positive. If the players aren't expecting positive results from their efforts it can be harder to achieve positive results.

I don't think we do a particularly good job of getting behind the team in the moment year in and year out.
 
I am always optimistic before the season starts. I watch us squash the first cupcake team and make it look like the team is firing on a cylinders, it always gets my hopes too high. Then we slip up and look terrible against UNC or Duke for the first half, and my optimism slowly starts to deflate. Then we lay an egg against VT (who we should beat) and then Miami, then my optimism is in the gutter. Week after week I just pray we can win... sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. This has been my life a GT fan, each and every year I feel we are going to be a sleeper team and surprise people, but in the end we are always just mediocre and it makes me feel stupid for being so optimistic.

After fall practice I will regain my optimism, but for now its the lowest its been in years.
 
To bring the first theory into the conversation, do you think there's any truth to the "Don't be like UGA" aspect of this particular trait of pessimism or avoidance of "delusion?"
 
GTCrew4b said:
To bring the first theory into the conversation, do you think there's any truth to the "Don't be like UGA" aspect of this particular trait of pessimism or avoidance of "delusion?"
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no, not in my opinion
 
We are who we are. Most of us, especially the alumni, are glass half empty types. That is NOT going to change, as the previous poster pointed out that engineers, in general, have this personality. Most of us are VERY critical in nature, and we always have an opinion on what will fix the problem(s).

Anyone who coaches at the Institute will find this out, if they don't already know this stuff.

I don't see us ever being able to grow our fanbase greatly, especially in the current world/society we live in. Most people do not understand or enjoy being around engineers. They are TOO analytical for most average people to deal with. We are different, and I cannot see that changing anytime soon. Should we continue to market the team for more fans? Yes, of course.

With all of that said, I do wish we would think twice about trashing any of the SA's on our teams, or even insinuating negativity about SA's. This can and probably does hurt recruiting. And Lord knows, we don't need anything to add to the current recruiting handicaps we enjoy!!!!
 
Allen Koholic said:
Again, the pessimism goes back to people we graduate. We're an engineering school, we pump out engineers, and engineers are pessimistic people. (I think most of us tend to con ourselves into calling this "being realistic")

We value being right and, for some reason, equally value pointing out when people are wrong. Just watch this thread.
Click to expand...

You're wrong
 
I think the notion that we crap all over our program to differentiate ourselves from UGA fans is probably a little simplified. My opinion: if you went to Tech I'm sure you know the feeling you get from time to time that the whole world has gone to hell and you are going to have to drop out of school and live in a sewer for the rest of your life because you have little willpower as a young adult and you think you can't handle all of the demands that are being placed on you. A lot of our fans hang on to that feeling and re-live it whenever they see Tech football struggling and it makes them type silly words on the internet. Some of our fans are also trolls, have aspergers, have macho inferiority complexes, or drink too much too frequently, all of which are contributors to asshole posting. Finally, few if any of us know our ass from a hole in the ground with regards to football but for some reason all of us seem convicted religiously of our opinions on the program.

I do not think you can fix this, Crew. You would need to be like Dr Phil times Godzilla.
 
The pessimist says the glass is half empty. The optimist says the glass is half full. The engineer says the glass is twice as large as it needs to be.
 
AlabamaBuzz said:
We are who we are. Most of us, especially the alumni, are glass half empty types.
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I often wonder if GT creates this culture that the OP refers to. Most of us hated the place when we were there and couldn't wait to "get out". (How many other schools use this phrase in lieu of "graduate"?)It was harsh, stark, and brutal at times. The school was poorly run and had inefficient systems and processes (any of you OF's go through manual registration). Oftentimes, you wondered how a place that was allegedly full of intelligent people could be run so poorly. The effectiveness of some (most?) of the teachers was atrocious. in fact, teaching seemed to be an afterthought.
Contrast that to the feelings that other alums have towards "dear old alma mater". I doubt many alums of other schools had the same experience. in fact, based on many conversations, many had the exact opposite.

however, the attitude of the fan base "is what it is". what can change it? I saw it happen in '89 when the team that had done poorly for 2 two years and started 0-3 won 7 out of the last 8 games.It happened again when GOL, Ralph and Joe Hamilton resurrected the program in the late 90's. build it and they will come.
 
B said:
I often wonder if GT creates this culture that the OP refers to. Most of us hated the place when we were there and couldn't wait to "get out". (How many other schools use this phrase in lieu of "graduate"?)It was harsh, stark, and brutal at times. The school was poorly run and had inefficient systems and processes (any of you OF's go through manual registration). Oftentimes, you wondered how a place that was allegedly full of intelligent people could be run so poorly. The effectiveness of some (most?) of the teachers was atrocious. in fact, teaching seemed to be an afterthought.
Contrast that to the feelings that other alums have towards "dear old alma mater". I doubt many alums of other schools had the same experience. in fact, based on many conversations, many had the exact opposite.

however, the attitude of the fan base "is what it is". what can change it? I saw it happen in '89 when the team that had done poorly for 2 two years and started 0-3 won 7 out of the last 8 games.It happened again when GOL, Ralph and Joe Hamilton resurrected the program in the late 90's. build it and they will come.
Click to expand...

I was there then to see the turnaround. The incompetent administrators at Tech were good training for dealing with HR people later.
 
B said:
I often wonder if GT creates this culture that the OP refers to. Most of us hated the place when we were there and couldn't wait to "get out". (How many other schools use this phrase in lieu of "graduate"?)It was harsh, stark, and brutal at times. The school was poorly run and had inefficient systems and processes (any of you OF's go through manual registration). Oftentimes, you wondered how a place that was allegedly full of intelligent people could be run so poorly. The effectiveness of some (most?) of the teachers was atrocious. in fact, teaching seemed to be an afterthought.
Contrast that to the feelings that other alums have towards "dear old alma mater". I doubt many alums of other schools had the same experience. in fact, based on many conversations, many had the exact opposite.

however, the attitude of the fan base "is what it is". what can change it? I saw it happen in '89 when the team that had done poorly for 2 two years and started 0-3 won 7 out of the last 8 games.It happened again when GOL, Ralph and Joe Hamilton resurrected the program in the late 90's. build it and they will come.
Click to expand...

Ah B you bring back memories, nightmares actually. Too many profs that truly enjoyed making students miserable under the guise of academic excellence. Still hate the place. Eight of us from my HS started only three of us made it thru. I take a lot of satisfaction in finishing but no love for the place.:furious::furious::furious:
 
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