- Holiday weekend
- Lousy weather
- Lightly regarded Division I-AA opponent with a tiny fan base
WSU football hasn't had a winning season since 2003. What do people expect from the fan base at this point?
WSU fans did their part vs. Portland State
- Thread starter PeteTheChop
- Start date
WSU football hasn't had a winning season since 2003. What do people expect from the fan base at this point?
No we didn't.
That screenshot is in the 2nd half. Look at it. You think players are inspired to play in front of that? Honestly they should have just not come out at half time. The fans didn't want to. Why should they? Seriously answer me. WHY should players come out and play in the cold wet weather for students/fans that won't support them through it. Nobody should expect them to care until we show that we care.
Here's a screenshot of a few home openers.
This is Oregon State only up 6-0 against Weber State in the 3rd. This was on labor day. Weber State doesn't travel.
Oh is the weather an excuse for the fan base? That's funny because the fan base doesn't want the weather to be an excuse for the players.
Here's Cincinnati vs Alabama A&M
It poured rain so much that they had to stop the game.
In the 2nd half despite the rain... despite winning 35-7
And that's the difference between WSU fans/students and everybody else.
We will never get better no matter who the coach is...no matter who the players are...until we fix our crappy football culture.
And don't tell me they have to win first. F YOU if you think that.
There is nothing on a ticket or seat that says can only be used if we are a winning program.
There is nothing on the seat or ticket that says. Well you can leave at half time and half @ss your support.
Those are things we decided to do and we should be embarrassed for doing it. People are lucky they don't show the stands on TV to show people how sad of a fan base we are. If people outside knew how our fans are leaving at halftime, making excuses for weather but not letting the players make that excuse, they would laugh at us for being so mad that we aren't a good program.
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Fans in the seats aren't what wins football games. They can sometimes sway the difference in a close game but football teams (and coaches) win games. South Carolina lost in overtime last year to a bad Tennessee team in front of 81,900 fans. They've gradually slid into mediocrity despite averaging over 75,000 fans per game and having a probable hall of fame coach leading their program. Don't blame the fans for the loss.
It would be better to see stronger fan support, but I was talking to a friend of mine who went to the game and he said that in 15 years as a season ticket holder, he could only remember a handful of games in worse conditions. He didn't blame Spokane fans for staying away from a game that probably would have been a 31-7 blowout at halftime in normal conditions. It's a bad attitude, but why fight traffic and weather to park in bad spots for $20 to be bored and feel like leaving at the half? He was angry that they converted parking by the Alumni Center to donation parking in the offseason given the 3-9 record. He said that it feels like Moos doesn't want fans to come to games at times.
It would be better to see stronger fan support, but I was talking to a friend of mine who went to the game and he said that in 15 years as a season ticket holder, he could only remember a handful of games in worse conditions. He didn't blame Spokane fans for staying away from a game that probably would have been a 31-7 blowout at halftime in normal conditions. It's a bad attitude, but why fight traffic and weather to park in bad spots for $20 to be bored and feel like leaving at the half? He was angry that they converted parking by the Alumni Center to donation parking in the offseason given the 3-9 record. He said that it feels like Moos doesn't want fans to come to games at times.
No I'm going to blame our fans. F them. F the students. When WSU calls me up for a donation I give it. I can't go to the game because I live across the country in a different state, but I donate my tickets. I also try to make it out 1 game every year if I can.
There are 25k lazy worthless shitty students at WSU who don't go to the games and bail at half time and think it's okay. That's their school. That's their fellow students competing, and it doesn't matter who they are playing. They are worthless. What are they going to do when they get a job after school? Leave at lunch time?
How can anyone come out and be excited to play when they look at the stands and see it empty after half time. It's like we are trying to psychologically damage our own players.
Don't MAKE THE F-ING WEATHER AN EXCUSE FOR FANS IF YOU AREN'T PREPARED TO MAKE IT FOR THE PLAYERS. No hypocrisy.
That screenshot is in the 2nd half. Look at it. You think players are inspired to play in front of that? Honestly they should have just not come out at half time. The fans didn't want to. Why should they? Seriously answer me. WHY should players come out and play in the cold wet weather for students/fans that won't support them through it.
Maybe a few of the season-ticket holders and students weren't prepared for the unseasonable weather and didn't want to come down with pneumonia? I don't know. I did hear there were some "opening-game" issues with concessions. Maybe people got hungry and just wanted a cup of hot chocolate or coffee but didn't want to wait?
But 24,000-plus tickets sold — and that's what WSU announced for this uninspiring matchup — is a pretty good indicator of WSU's fan support. Like Flatland's friend said, there have been just a handful of home games with worse weather in the past 15 years. For the Palouse during football season, that's saying something.
When the Cougs get back to 10-win seasons and major bowl games, the fans and students will be right there with the team.
Maybe a few of the season-ticket holders and students weren't prepared for the unseasonable weather and didn't want to come down with pneumonia? I don't know. I did hear there were some "opening-game" issues with concessions. Maybe people got hungry and just wanted a cup of hot chocolate or coffee but didn't want to wait?
But 24,000-plus tickets sold — and that's what WSU announced for this uninspiring matchup — is a pretty good indicator of WSU's fan support. Like Flatland's friend said, there have been just a handful of home games with worse weather in the past 15 years. For the Palouse during football season, that's saying something.
When the Cougs get back to 10-win seasons and major bowl games, the fans and students will be right there with the team.
That will never happen again. Never, until the fans/students decide they care and want to play a role in the resurgence.
Worst weather in 15 years but the players played in it. They had to run around, take hits, and be soaked for the people that wanted their hot chocolate more...
And people wonder why we're bad, why players play uninspired, why we're a better road team than a home team...
Outside of the FOB and the staff, I really don't know why any top prospect would want to come to WSU. Our fans don't show but they do blow on IMBs.
As someone who was at the game, I will tell you the weather SUCKED. I was the only one of our 4 seats to come back after half time but our other seats were three girls under the age of 11 and they were wet and freezing. I saw a lot of students wearing t shirts in the first half. I bet a lot of them didn't come back either. To go from 95 degrees a week ago to low 40s, windy and very wet is a big difference. Even coach Joe came out in the 2nd half with a jacket on after wearing a t shirt in the first half which I've seen him wear the entire game during Apple Cup. I;am sure that deflated the players but c'mon man, it was Portland Fn State.
PS - 11 am kickoffs suck!
PS - 11 am kickoffs suck!
Winning came before fans for Mike Price. hth.. and you sure do talk a lot of chit to alumni who buy tickets and attend games, cougatron. Obviously one of those 'do as I say... not as I do', types.
To go from 95 degrees a week ago to low 40s, windy and very wet is a big difference.
Good point.
It was definitely one of those days it where it would have been great for WSU to have a retractable roof over Martin Stadium, although that may be cost prohibitive for at least the near future.
Good point.
It was definitely one of those days it where it would have been great for WSU to have a retractable roof over Martin Stadium, although that may be cost prohibitive for at least the near future.
Horseshit.
Do facts even matter to some of you?
Here are the Hi/low temps for Portland and Pullman Sunday -Thursday, 5 days leading up to the kickoff according to accuweather.
Pullman: 64/51-74/46-76/53-63/50-64/45
Portland: 74/60-74/61-76/58-73/57-67-47
We lost to a first year/first GAME EVER, coach to a bottom feeding program in a division that plays one entire level down, with 22 MORE scholarships... at home. It wasn't the weather. If it was, FIRE LEACH TODAY... AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF... and hire Baldwin.
Do facts even matter to some of you?
Here are the Hi/low temps for Portland and Pullman Sunday -Thursday, 5 days leading up to the kickoff according to accuweather.
Pullman: 64/51-74/46-76/53-63/50-64/45
Portland: 74/60-74/61-76/58-73/57-67-47
We lost to a first year/first GAME EVER, coach to a bottom feeding program in a division that plays one entire level down, with 22 MORE scholarships... at home. It wasn't the weather. If it was, FIRE LEACH TODAY... AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF... and hire Baldwin.
Oh, man. I hope I don't have to do this forever, but guys, it isn't too hard to see what Pete the Chop was after here: getting other people to post pictures of empty seats, saying no recruit would ever want to come to WSU, etc., and saying the culture sucks, all so he didn't have to himself. Given how pissed people are about Saturday, this has to have worked out better than he could have imagined.
If it was, FIRE LEACH TODAY... AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF... and hire Baldwin.
Would a coach from EWU get a shot in Pullman so soon after CPW?
Regardless, CML ought to get enough time to put his mark on the program. His track record at Texas Tech — 10-for-10 with winning seasons and 6-4 record in bowl games — says he deserves it.
Would a coach from EWU get a shot in Pullman so soon after CPW?
Regardless, CML ought to get enough time to put his mark on the program. His track record at Texas Tech — 10-for-10 with winning seasons and 6-4 record in bowl games — says he deserves it.
Oh hell… Lets propagate this again. Chop, just stop. No coach from Eastern WA will EVER… I'll say it again… EVER, EVER, EVER be hired as a HC at WSU again. They'll have to earn their stripes somewhere else bigger to ever remotely approach consideration. At least while a previous regime is fresh in our memories. Now please stop trying to rock the boat. You want to be a part of our community, you're more than welcome here. But lets hear more from you about the game, about Rutgers, about the current recruiting, ANY THING but CPW. Thanks.
Cougman,
I hear ya, thanks ... Someone else mentioned Baldwin -- it just seems hard to imagine after the fallout from Paul Wulff -- even though it's a different coach and a different time.
Count me among those who expect to see WSU bounce back in a big way against Rutgers. CML is too good of a coach for it not to happen. There's a reason the point spread is so small even after Rutgers blew out a I-AA team and WSU was upset by one.
I hear ya, thanks ... Someone else mentioned Baldwin -- it just seems hard to imagine after the fallout from Paul Wulff -- even though it's a different coach and a different time.
Count me among those who expect to see WSU bounce back in a big way against Rutgers. CML is too good of a coach for it not to happen. There's a reason the point spread is so small even after Rutgers blew out a I-AA team and WSU was upset by one.
I'm with you 100%. All I thought when they took the field was....same uniforms, same half full stadium, same loss of energy. Go to games with strong fan support and tell me crowds don't effect their play. Don't tell me that coming out for the second half and see half the people have left doesn't have an impact on a teams psychology. We don't even have booing that worth a crap.
Why can't you stick to the issues without resulting to name calling?
Were the seats empty? Or not? why are you afraid of a picture on a message board? Stop for a minute and consider an entire broadcast, newspapers, and news highlights... along with the 8,000 bodies actually in the stadium know the truth about attendance.
I think the concept of "F the students, f the alumni, f 'em all" is a little knee jerk. For those that scolded Moos for "skin in the game" or however he put it a couple years ago, you two are doing the same thing.
But it is odd. Even though leaving at halftime is pretty normal for most programs, most programs have fans that would come to the game, initially. I mean, when you look at so many other programs, the fans are almost like sharks in a feeding frenzy. "PSU? This game is going to be AWESOME! We'll hang 72 points on 'em!!!!"
For our fans? "We should win, so why go?" I don't know how to change that but this board is a pretty good indicator. So many of the fans/posters on this board didn't go… Why? probably individualized.
-Family time, after all it was Labor Day weekend (even though you could have family time in Pullman)
-Weather was sucky. (even though it's football season. If it isn't smokin' hot, it's frigid cold)
-It was ONLY Portland State.
-Gosh golly, it's just so far away.
I just don't get it. I was there Saturday. Was embarrassed by the turn out an hour prior to the game. Was embarrassed 30 minutes prior to the game. Once the game started, I turned around and felt a bit better. Initial turnout wasn't bad. Wasn't good but wasn't bad. But still…. I don't get why we as WSU fans don't chum the water, sort of speak… Lazy I guess. One of the real challenges of Pullman. It's so far away for some so it's a great excuse. A bad excuse, as when I look at the travel time for Nebraska fans, or Texas Tech. Or even just look at time in a vehicle, not mileage. USC and UCLA are no picnic in the parks to get there and back home… Eugene, from Portland? oh my… I mean this distance thing has a little validity, but it wanes pretty quickly.
Mike Leach's salary is a sunk cost. WSU absolutely CAN afford to fire him at the end of THIS season, (it would be stupid for WSU to do so) pay the next coach 40% of Leach's base salary, and it's a wash. The new coach can simply make his big money with incentives. What coach would take this kind of arrangement? ...don't know. I suspect a young successful one... but, a $1,000,000 base salary, the chance at a Pac-12 team, easy to please fan base and huge incentives on the upside is an attractive offer... and is cost neutral to WSU.
There are 22k Lazy Students who don't have to make the drive. The commuters typically are reliable..obviously sometimes there are issues and I have no problem with that, but these students are horrible supporters.
Mike Price didn't have the lazy attitude the students have in pullman right now. It's bad it's really bad. And this is something they control. Not Leach. Not moos. Not the players. It's the ONLY thing they control and they are failing at it.
BS. Should we look at the capacity of Martin and how many sellouts we had during our epic 3x10 win seasons? Do you realize in an season like we had, there was STILL that damm corner in the NorthWest side of the students (way up, top left when you watch it on TV) that rarely, if ever held students… during a 10 win season? So the CMP analogy is a bad one.
And here's another point. You say the commuters are typically reliable. I'd disagree with that. The same way the players have to look across the field to see empty seats, guess what? So do the students. So when the students yell, "GO!" and what comes back is a vague muted resemblance of "coouuugs", where do you think the students get the idea of not showing from?! They are kids! They are immature (especially in this day and age, just sayin') and they watch the adults not show, they watch the adults that DO show, run off at halftime… So why shouldn't they?! Are you trying to say, the students should be MORE supportive, more mature, than the alumni?! You're crazy...
I was thinking about Leach's contract and whether or not he can get fired if things go south for the rest of the year. His contract is set up where he gets 60% of his $2 million dollar base salary if he is let go. We currently pay him $2.75 million per year counting all the bonuses and benefits. If we can find a new coach at a cost around $2 million total (which is on par with much of our conference), our cost for head coaching salaries in 2016 would be $3.2 million or roughly $500k more than it would be if we retained Leach. If 250 alums were pissed enough to give an extra $2k per year, dumping Leach would be feasible. If things go south, once you factor in lost ticket sales in 2016, it becomes an automatic decision.
I say that but I want to follow up by saying that I hope that Leach gets it turned around. A new coach may be what we need, but it raises the potential for more rebuilding over the next five years.
Even though leaving at halftime is pretty normal for most programs ...
Exactly.
Here's Nick Saban from two years ago chiding Alabama's fans:
"We have lots of recruits there, we like to see an enthusiastic full stadium. We have a beautiful stadium and one of the nicest venues in all of college football and I think we all should show our appreciation for it by staying and supporting our team for the whole game."
WSU fans — and students — are hardly unique here.
Exactly.
Here's Nick Saban from two years ago chiding Alabama's fans:
"We have lots of recruits there, we like to see an enthusiastic full stadium. We have a beautiful stadium and one of the nicest venues in all of college football and I think we all should show our appreciation for it by staying and supporting our team for the whole game."
WSU fans — and students — are hardly unique here.
Sorry, keep thinking of stuff and this post isn't going to go over well, I think.
I'm always going to be critical of our base, meaning alumni, not students. We, as supporters... we sit in front of a computer a good chunk of the day, we check in on the board, we watch our recruiting… we aren't "hard-core" (some certainly are) but most of us know more than the common WSU schmuck out there. We are Cougs, and we are fans. Pretty big fans. And I'll call out as many as feel guilty right now… How many went to the game?! You live in Georgia? I get it. But for those, especially that live in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima and even those that are over in Seattle, complaining… why the hell weren't YOU there?! We don't even do a roll call any more! No room to complain about the state of our program. Exact same thing about complaining about our government but not voting… Shut the hell up if you have no action behind your words. This is exactly what Moos was talking about a couple years ago and people got their feelers hurt. Bitch about it, but don't do anything about it. Get some skin in the game, people! "What I do is just fine". Just another excuse if you aren't going to games or filling your seats. Going to the game? Filling your season seats? Great. But we need butts in seats, people!
You aren't complaining? You are OK with our program? Not talking to you. But I'm a firm believer that a raucous crowd makes all the difference in the world. If we had a full stadium last weekend, we had a W. No question. WE are to blame just as much as any player or coach.
My sister-in-law is a freshman this year. I asked her last week if she was going to the game. Her response was "I guess". I asked her again Monday if she planed on going to the Wyoming game, and she said she doubted it. Most of the other girls on her floor felt the same.
Attending Football games was a must do when I was a student in the late 90's. That is not the culture now, and I think only winning can fix that. Bennett was able to fix basketball attendance by winning. nothing else worked during the paul Graham years.
You're not very good at this "argumentation" thing. Where did I call anyone any names in my post?
In any event, his agenda and yours are obvious from a line of posts going back a long time. It's not like you or he are well-regarded posters who suddenly started posting some things that I disagree with, causing me to improperly question your motives. You guys have been doing the same thing here for a long time (for months in his case and years in yours). It's obvious to anyone who's been around here a while, and I'll point it out for those who haven't.
He was specifically chiding a section that was being held for a greek house, I believe. He even said he'd pull some strings to have that section go to another house, as I recall. And the very next game, they all stuck around, never to be a problem again. Bad example. I get your point but bad example.
Yeah STILL that corner wasn't filled. even when we were winning so winning doesn't fix it. This is a fundamental problem that has gone on long enough.
I was arguing that the analogy is bad. Different time, different coach, different everything. Proof? We've had that corner filled during the CML era several times. Something CMP couldn't even do with 10 win seasons. Just a bad analogy, is all I'm saying.
The only students that should be blamed for the loss to Portland State are the student athletes on the football team.
Everything I said is true. Somebody should take a picture of the students at half time and afterwards and put that on sports center.
"WSU students leave at half time. The laziest fans in all of college football"
So maybe they would wake up to how absolutely terrible they are to their own school and student athletes.
No they need to be called out. They need to be ridiculed. They need to wake up and stop acting like idiots. It's their school. It's their team and they are letting them down.
