TechGator1066
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http://www.southernpigskin.com/index.php/site/bjs_blog48/
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett talks about the rise of reactionary media members and fans in college football.
"Over-rated" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap), "Over-rated" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap). A simple phrase, but a fixture in home stadiums all across college football when a favored visiting team comes in and falls flat. It's a tradition of sorts, to jeer the losing team with the belittling chant. You know, kick them while they're down.
You heard the chant last Thursday in Columbia, South Carolina as the Gamecock faithful taunted Ole Miss, who was previously ranked 4th in the nation and lost at Williams-Brice Stadium 16-10. It was a similar scene in Blacksburg, Virginia as the rabid Hokie fans harassed 9th ranked Miami after their 31-7 win over the Hurricanes.
The phrase is used by fans in stadiums, television personalities breaking down weekly results, radio hosts and columnists sharing their opinions and even players and coaches at times.
College football is big business and fan and media involvement is at an all-time high, but things are honestly getting out of control. The media switches teams like a teenage girl does celebrity crushes. Directed about like cattle in the field, hordes of football fans follow their lead. So far this season, the hurried, back-and-forth pace has left many like David Wooderson on the last day of school in May of 1976, dazed and confused.
We have seen multiple examples of the media's lack of centrality this season. It's been like a car ride with your five-year old. From where do puppies come from to random singing to "Daddy...why are there so many cows?". Then you look back and Junior's face is covered with Honey Nut Cheerios and a goofy glare. Soon enough, you become the one asking if you're there yet. That's how I feel about this season at times, almost wanting for the national title game to be here so just the speculation as to who will play in it will stop.
This past week, I sat in amazement as a handful of ESPN analysts sat and discussed on Sportscenter what would happen if Florida, Texas and Miami all finished the season undefeated. Seriously? The Hurricanes, who were playing tremendous football, had won two football games. Two. One of them they won by one play. And the media was hyping championship controversy.
After beating Georgia Tech for their second win, the 'Canes jumped from number 22 to number nine in the national polls. Perhaps that was warranted, with two wins over ranked teams, but being hyped as a national championship contender two games into the year? That isn't a criti**** of Miami, the Hurricanes are a very good football team and, despite their recent loss, will still contend in the ACC. But wow. After their road loss to the 'Canes (who the media deemed a top ten team, remember), Georgia Tech dropped from 13th to out of the rankings. The Yellow Jackets, of course, turned around and beat 18th ranked North Carolina 24-7 on Saturday.
The list could go on for days. Ole Miss, previously ranked 4th nationally based off of two wins last season (Florida, Texas Tech), recently lost to South Carolina 16-10. Many were stunned, but they shouldn't have been. The Rebels struggled with Memphis in their opener and lost to both the Gamecocks and Vanderbilt a year ago. The media acted like Oregon had never played a down of football before after the Ducks lost to now fifth ranked Boise State on the Blue Turf. Now 16th in the AP poll, Oregon just crushed Cal 42-3. After beating Southern Cal and their backup quarterback (by one play), Washington became the new trendy pick. The Huskies, who went 0-and-freaking-12 last season, jumped from nowhere on the national radar to 24th. Right on queue, Washington promptly went out and lost to Stanford by 20 points over the weekend.
"Over-reaction" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap).
Maybe it's all cyclical. One could make the argument that college football, even just a decade or so ago, was a broken record of the same teams getting the benefit of the doubt in the pre-season and maintaining their national rankings year-in, year-out. A couple of years ago, with the rise of mid-major programs serving as the catalyst, the media went from being oblivious to the non-elite to the most overbearing front-runners the game had ever seen.
Whether it's been the push for Notre Dame to be a top ten team, some calling for Florida State being back after their win over BYU or any of the aforementioned follies, some college football fans and media members have become a rabid bunch of groupies. See the headline, love the headline. Repeat.
The sentiment is echoed in the stands of stadiums throughout the country. Are there times when coaching changes need to be made? Are there instances when a backup needs to start? Without question. But such suggestions have become the cure-all pill. Forget the fact that college football is a game where teenage kids play against teenage kids, meaning anything can happen, and there are variables like injuries, youth, academic and personal distractions and more; if their favorite team losses, fans want an administrative reaction.
It has become trendy to question Pete Carroll of Southern Cal recently. Winning national championships, being ranked in the top ten every single season and winning 85% of his career games isn't enough? The man he replaced, Paul Hackett, won 54%. A loss to Washington and Carroll can't avoid the upset. My at how we have lost our focus. A prime example here in the south is Georgia quarterback Joe Cox. After the Oklahoma State loss, he was less popular than Tim Tebow in Athens. Fans wanted him benched. Mark Richt stayed with the senior and the Bulldogs are 3-0 since and Cox has eight touchdowns in those three victories. He leads the SEC in passing touchdowns.
We can go on forever here, too. Paul Johnson's triple option offense has been figured out, "Beamer Ball" won't work in today's game, the game has passed Steve Spurrier by and the 'Noles and 'Canes are by far the best two teams in the ACC.
In a college football world obsessed with memos, headlines and catch phrases, try this one. Take a Deep Breath, Slow Down. Even added the bold for you!
As we bask in this college football season, let's try to stay grounded. It takes away from the game and from those playing and coaching in it to react with such an exaggerated and polarizing response every single week. We have always had Monday morning quarterbacks, but now we're returning to work with Colt Brennan and Graham Harrell.
What a difference one game, one weekend, one play can make. In many close victories, six inches one way or another and the outcome would be totally different. College football is all about wins and losses, no question, but it's amazing how one moment can completely change the way an entire season is viewed. That is what makes college football so special and tips the scales in our game's favor. But too much of a good thing can become a hindrance, pushing that scale reading back to zero.
What the college football bureaucracy should be chanting, screaming rather, is "over-reaction" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap). The noise following that statement wouldn't be an audible cadence, but rather a cheer at the fact the ridiculous, reactionary nature of some fans and part of the college football media had been brought to the forefront. To that, I'll offer my applause.
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett talks about the rise of reactionary media members and fans in college football.
"Over-rated" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap), "Over-rated" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap). A simple phrase, but a fixture in home stadiums all across college football when a favored visiting team comes in and falls flat. It's a tradition of sorts, to jeer the losing team with the belittling chant. You know, kick them while they're down.
You heard the chant last Thursday in Columbia, South Carolina as the Gamecock faithful taunted Ole Miss, who was previously ranked 4th in the nation and lost at Williams-Brice Stadium 16-10. It was a similar scene in Blacksburg, Virginia as the rabid Hokie fans harassed 9th ranked Miami after their 31-7 win over the Hurricanes.
The phrase is used by fans in stadiums, television personalities breaking down weekly results, radio hosts and columnists sharing their opinions and even players and coaches at times.
College football is big business and fan and media involvement is at an all-time high, but things are honestly getting out of control. The media switches teams like a teenage girl does celebrity crushes. Directed about like cattle in the field, hordes of football fans follow their lead. So far this season, the hurried, back-and-forth pace has left many like David Wooderson on the last day of school in May of 1976, dazed and confused.
We have seen multiple examples of the media's lack of centrality this season. It's been like a car ride with your five-year old. From where do puppies come from to random singing to "Daddy...why are there so many cows?". Then you look back and Junior's face is covered with Honey Nut Cheerios and a goofy glare. Soon enough, you become the one asking if you're there yet. That's how I feel about this season at times, almost wanting for the national title game to be here so just the speculation as to who will play in it will stop.
This past week, I sat in amazement as a handful of ESPN analysts sat and discussed on Sportscenter what would happen if Florida, Texas and Miami all finished the season undefeated. Seriously? The Hurricanes, who were playing tremendous football, had won two football games. Two. One of them they won by one play. And the media was hyping championship controversy.
After beating Georgia Tech for their second win, the 'Canes jumped from number 22 to number nine in the national polls. Perhaps that was warranted, with two wins over ranked teams, but being hyped as a national championship contender two games into the year? That isn't a criti**** of Miami, the Hurricanes are a very good football team and, despite their recent loss, will still contend in the ACC. But wow. After their road loss to the 'Canes (who the media deemed a top ten team, remember), Georgia Tech dropped from 13th to out of the rankings. The Yellow Jackets, of course, turned around and beat 18th ranked North Carolina 24-7 on Saturday.
The list could go on for days. Ole Miss, previously ranked 4th nationally based off of two wins last season (Florida, Texas Tech), recently lost to South Carolina 16-10. Many were stunned, but they shouldn't have been. The Rebels struggled with Memphis in their opener and lost to both the Gamecocks and Vanderbilt a year ago. The media acted like Oregon had never played a down of football before after the Ducks lost to now fifth ranked Boise State on the Blue Turf. Now 16th in the AP poll, Oregon just crushed Cal 42-3. After beating Southern Cal and their backup quarterback (by one play), Washington became the new trendy pick. The Huskies, who went 0-and-freaking-12 last season, jumped from nowhere on the national radar to 24th. Right on queue, Washington promptly went out and lost to Stanford by 20 points over the weekend.
"Over-reaction" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap).
Maybe it's all cyclical. One could make the argument that college football, even just a decade or so ago, was a broken record of the same teams getting the benefit of the doubt in the pre-season and maintaining their national rankings year-in, year-out. A couple of years ago, with the rise of mid-major programs serving as the catalyst, the media went from being oblivious to the non-elite to the most overbearing front-runners the game had ever seen.
Whether it's been the push for Notre Dame to be a top ten team, some calling for Florida State being back after their win over BYU or any of the aforementioned follies, some college football fans and media members have become a rabid bunch of groupies. See the headline, love the headline. Repeat.
The sentiment is echoed in the stands of stadiums throughout the country. Are there times when coaching changes need to be made? Are there instances when a backup needs to start? Without question. But such suggestions have become the cure-all pill. Forget the fact that college football is a game where teenage kids play against teenage kids, meaning anything can happen, and there are variables like injuries, youth, academic and personal distractions and more; if their favorite team losses, fans want an administrative reaction.
It has become trendy to question Pete Carroll of Southern Cal recently. Winning national championships, being ranked in the top ten every single season and winning 85% of his career games isn't enough? The man he replaced, Paul Hackett, won 54%. A loss to Washington and Carroll can't avoid the upset. My at how we have lost our focus. A prime example here in the south is Georgia quarterback Joe Cox. After the Oklahoma State loss, he was less popular than Tim Tebow in Athens. Fans wanted him benched. Mark Richt stayed with the senior and the Bulldogs are 3-0 since and Cox has eight touchdowns in those three victories. He leads the SEC in passing touchdowns.
We can go on forever here, too. Paul Johnson's triple option offense has been figured out, "Beamer Ball" won't work in today's game, the game has passed Steve Spurrier by and the 'Noles and 'Canes are by far the best two teams in the ACC.
In a college football world obsessed with memos, headlines and catch phrases, try this one. Take a Deep Breath, Slow Down. Even added the bold for you!
As we bask in this college football season, let's try to stay grounded. It takes away from the game and from those playing and coaching in it to react with such an exaggerated and polarizing response every single week. We have always had Monday morning quarterbacks, but now we're returning to work with Colt Brennan and Graham Harrell.
What a difference one game, one weekend, one play can make. In many close victories, six inches one way or another and the outcome would be totally different. College football is all about wins and losses, no question, but it's amazing how one moment can completely change the way an entire season is viewed. That is what makes college football so special and tips the scales in our game's favor. But too much of a good thing can become a hindrance, pushing that scale reading back to zero.
What the college football bureaucracy should be chanting, screaming rather, is "over-reaction" (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap). The noise following that statement wouldn't be an audible cadence, but rather a cheer at the fact the ridiculous, reactionary nature of some fans and part of the college football media had been brought to the forefront. To that, I'll offer my applause.
