Brooks, Stout, Coaches, Coleman, Benny...

[Middy33]

For all those wanting to go back to the "glory days" why don't we just fire Mac and hire Sam Weaver back..

NO THANKS!!!!!!

[panther2317]

I agree with Winder...I've read that it's a fan's "right" to complain. When did fans start to have this sense of entitlement towards their teams? I think you can complain with things that are louder than words if you want to...stop donating money, stop buying tickets, but don't rip on people for the work they do. Constructive...sure...demonstrative...please stop.

[unigriff]

I'll put my 2 cents in.

It may seem I am a bandwagoner, troller, what have you to all of you faithful long timer PNers. I am not though. Just sometimes, you wonder about certain things in the program and why something doesn't go the right way. Like I am right now. Even though, UNI is really doing well.

I am from this "newer" generation of college kids, who, ya, you could probably say, we expect everything to go our way and when it doesn't we let you know about it. I can agree to that. I am a humble person. I also like cake and will eat it too. I've been bashed all my life for being the fan that always is supportive, but yet, knows when a team is down to not run away. (yea Cubs fan too) Yea, you can state the obvious problems, and whine about them, but me personally? I can't do anything about them. Can you?

There was 2 reasons I came to UNI instead of taking up 3 full rides at other schools for running.

1. I'm an education major...UNI was a no-brainer in that category.
2. Besides loving ISU (cuz my sister went there, even though i was brought up a hawkeye (dad)) UNI was up and coming in all kinds of things. The Football program was dynamite even when I was a wee little one, the wrestling program was top tier as well. Then when I got into HS, I would quite frequently see UNI basketball in the Des Moines Register every-to every other day. It sparked my interest and then when I started going on campus tours...the DOME, (the word a new arena was to be built), the knowledge UNI had made it to the NCAAs, and hearing about how great Benny J was stole my Cardinal and Gold heart and changed it into a bleeding Purple and Old Gold.

Newsy and I have had many debates on certain UNI, Iowa, and ISU things on IOWAPREPS.com, but that doesn't make me unloyal or what not. I just care that much for this team and university.

I started talking up UNI football and basketball last March when we lost to Wisconsin, and you know what happened. All the Iowa and ISU fans scolded me and bashed me for being a Panther. I proved them wrong in the end with being a faithful fan throuh and through, with class to go along with it. Oh yea, and A National Title Runner-Up trophy and a school tying 23 wins in bball later. Now all they can talk about is how many teams from the Valley are getting in, and UNIs chances.

We, as fans, can't do anything about our sports programs except cheer on our teams, and talk about them non-stop. Its just what we do. Being FANS. Yea, some of us work for the Ath. Department, or are closely in relations with all the sports and what not. BUt really....when it comes down to it, WE ARE FANS. We cheer, we cry, we bicker, we curse, we congratulate, and we have class doing it all. Lets just continue being what we really are. FANS.

Okay I am done.

[Newsbreaker]

I agree with Winder...I've read that it's a fan's "right" to complain. When did fans start to have this sense of entitlement towards their teams? I think you can complain with things that are louder than words if you want to...stop donating money, stop buying tickets, but don't rip on people for the work they do. Constructive...sure...demonstrative...please stop.

Probably about the same time our coaches started making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and taking a family to a game became cost prohibitive. Also about the same time out sports teams became a vital part of a 24-hour news cycle, pumped into every living room in America.

Hell, fans have always lobbed criticism at players and coaches. Now they're just able to do so in a much more visible and public forum...like this one. It's almost certainly nothing new.

[Ozzie Guillen]

Would some of the people who hate hearing criticism prefer we all hold hands and sing Koumbaya or however the hell you spell it. this team is just like any other team in the history of the world, they are not perfect. Sometimes players make bonehead plays and sometimes coaches make bonehead decisions. as fans its important for us to notice these, but more importantly to praise the team for the good things they do as well.

[Marc Wigim]

And as a White Sox fan, I'm sure The Oz is well aware of that fact.

But who am I to complain... I'm a Cubs fan.

[Ozzie Guillen]

sorry about you being a cubs fan and all but i hear in a few weeks Kerry Wood should be able to pitch from a sitting position. go cubs.

[panther2317]

Thanks Winder, but it appears that we're in the minority on this issue. I still think this is a societal issue. People have become instant and constant gratification hounds. If we don't get that...we're mad and we're going to let everyone know about it and we don't care who gets hurt in the meantime. That's not the direction I want to be heading. This isn't about sports as much as it is about an attitude of a culture. What happened to turning the other cheek? Thinking before you speak? If you couldn't say anything nice...you didn't say anything at all? Those are the things I remember from adults growing up. People would be well served to live by those sayings again.

[NJ Panther]

sorry about you being a cubs fan and all but i hear in a few weeks Kerry Wood should be able to pitch from a sitting position. go cubs.

The Cubbies just need to trade him so he can win multiple Cy Young's and a title or two with another team. I guarantee the second he leaves he'll be healthy the rest of his career, but if he stays on the northside the injuries will just keep comming. Thats just Cubbie luck for ya

[SteinPizza]

The Cubbies just need to trade him so he can win multiple Cy Young's and a title or two with another team. I guarantee the second he leaves he'll be healthy the rest of his career, but if he stays on the northside the injuries will just keep comming. Thats just Cubbie luck for ya

The Cubs references are interesting on this thread, and not as off-topic as you think. The Cubs as an organization HATE critical thought amongst fans and media they can't control. They want Cubs game fans, not fans of the actual team (big difference, think about it). The reason I bring this up is that critical thought about anything is healthy, and in PN's case is good in my opinion as long as it's reasoned and not just slinging mud for the sake of being an idiot. Guys, I've said this before, but NEVER LOSE YOUR OBJECTIVITY. Having an objection to reasoned, critical thought by definition means the above. There's a reason the term "drinking the Kool Aid" has a negative meaning. That having been said, to take shots at Benny or Brooks or Mac just for the sake of trying to stir things up, and without logic to back it up, is stupid and childish. To those doing it, I think Micheal Moore or Al Franken have jobs for you.

[lightnin49]

I've learned a lot this 05-06 school year. The football season taught me to chill out about things. Losses come with sports, and I've learned not to let disappointment run my life. Basketball season has taught me to not spend so much time on this board. I've been much happier with the way the season has gone and the way the team has played by avoiding all the stupid threads on this board. I stop in and read the important stuff like game watches, etc, but avoiding the threads complaining and whining has made me feel much better. Just my 2 cents. Arguing gets you nowhere.

PantherRob, my feelings exactly! I had to stop watching SoundOff on WHO-TV last fall as I grew tired of the constant Panther bashing. I've been a Panther Fan since 1975 (probably longer than most of the recent posters have been alive), and remember when a Panther basketball game was just something to do until football started again. Now, I too just check PN periodically for NCAA bracket discussions and news. Thought I'd check this thread out. My bad.

[SteinPizza]

Thanks Winder, but it appears that we're in the minority on this issue. I still think this is a societal issue. People have become instant and constant gratification hounds. If we don't get that...we're mad and we're going to let everyone know about it and we don't care who gets hurt in the meantime. That's not the direction I want to be heading. This isn't about sports as much as it is about an attitude of a culture. What happened to turning the other cheek? Thinking before you speak? If you couldn't say anything nice...you didn't say anything at all? Those are the things I remember from adults growing up. People would be well served to live by those sayings again.

2317 & Winder, see my post above. While I mostly agree with you, the idea of "if you can't say anything nice..." leads to being a "yes man." Any organization having too many yes men is doomed to mediocrity, if not failure (and deserves to fail in my opinion). That's more of a business ananolgy, but any sports team has to be willing to accept critical thought from their fan base, and long as it's reasoned and not out of bounds. The fans pay the bills, either directly or indirectly. If you look above you'll see I told the mindless bashers on the site to call Micheal Moore and Al Franken, who they have a lot in common with.

[panther2317]

The only thing I disagree with you Stein...is that we're not a decision-making part of the organization. Fans, by definition are 'yes men'. I hope that within the organization that there are people who voice their opinion when things are going well...and when things need to be addressed for potential change...that's a good thing.

But, fans are going to be fans of an organization whether they win or lose (at least I am) and it won't matter a hill of beans to the organization's leaders if the fans disagree. (this is strictly an opinion). Fans are important to a teams success...they are the outward support for a team. But they aren't decision-makers. We're not in the 'circle of trust' if you will. We're on the outside looking in.

I just don't think you're analogy works in this case.

[SteinPizza]

The only thing I disagree with you Stein...is that we're not a decision-making part of the organization. Fans, by definition are 'yes men'. I hope that within the organization that there are people who voice their opinion when things are going well...and when things need to be addressed for potential change...that's a good thing.

But, fans are going to be fans of an organization whether they win or lose (at least I am) and it won't matter a hill of beans to the organization's leaders if the fans disagree. (this is strictly an opinion). Fans are important to a teams success...they are the outward support for a team. But they aren't decision-makers. We're not in the 'circle of trust' if you will. We're on the outside looking in.

I just don't think you're analogy works in this case.

My analogy might be a bit off, but my point is that a thinking fan does think critically (that doesn't mean negatively) when called for. Being a fan does not automatically mean being a yes man, those are two different things. I definitely agree that a true fan sticks with the team through thick and thin, but also isn't blinded by loyalty. Again, never lose your objectivity about anything. While we aren't part of the decision making process (thankfully so, the team would be winless right now), objective fans can influence decisions going forward, like the hiring and/or tenure of a coach. Idiotic, emotional/non-logical fans can effect that to, unfortunately. I just have a problem with the "if you can't say anything nice..." "speak only when spoken to..." mentality. We probably agree far more than we disagree.

[panther2317]

There's a difference between 'never losing your objectivity' and being a negative fan. I'm very objective and loyal to a fault all at the same time. When I see something bad...I point it out, but that doesn't mean I'm negative about the way I do it or say it.

I guess more than anything I don't like the WAY people show their displeasure. Everyone gets upset, but good fans ask questions or find constructive ways to criticize based on their experiences.

Fans should never influence the hiring/firing of a coach. The school hires an AD and support staff to evaluate those type of things. (in my humble opinion). Fans (not all, but some) think they're on the athletic department payroll and know all there is to know about coaching decisions. We all know that's not true. Look, without sounding snotty...I think I know what's going on in the world of basketball...but I can't say anything about what's going on at any school right now...because I'm not there everyday. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes. So, even though I've been around the game all my life...that doesn't give me the right to challenge or question the decisions of a coach or AD...becuase I'm on the outside looking in.