Question: How should we feel about the LSU game and beyond?

NYBamaFan · November 4th, 2009, 11:04 PM

I was listening to an analysis on the World Series the other day. They had sports reporters from both Philly and NYC together, and they were discussing the mental approaches of the fans in the two cities and how they differed. The breakdown was interesting.

It seems that Philly fans are still just happy to be a part of the big show, even with a WS victory last year. They love the fact that their team is in the WS again and they hope to end the season with a victory. But if they lose the WS, they will still be a pretty happy group. Disappointed, but happy.

The Yankee fans are very uptight. They will be relieved when the WS is over if they win. It is almost as though they are waiting for their team to collapse. They will not be happy at all with their team if they lose the WS. Anything short of a WS championship is a failure.

Have we reached that point as Bama fans? Do we still enjoy the ride, like the Philly fans, or are we so worried about being disappointed because anything short of a MNC is unacceptable that we really can't enjoy the ride anymore?

Should we relax a bit more and just enjoy this for what it is, or demand nothing short of a championship? Are the two mutually exclusive?

I am interested to hear the thought of other Bama fans about this...

mlh · November 4th, 2009, 11:08 PM

I'm more like the Philly fans than the Yankee fans. Enjoy the wins and don't get too bent out of shape over the losses...as long as there aren't too many of them.

bayoutider · November 4th, 2009, 11:13 PM

I'm old school Bama I expect to win but think I have enough class not to go off on some stupid rant if we get upset. After any loss I focus on starting a new winning streak and at 8-0 I'm going to ride this streak till it ends.

OreBama · November 4th, 2009, 11:17 PM

This is Alabama Football. We play for National Championships. I'm proud of our boys, but I will be disappointed if we don't win it all. This team has too much talent on the field and the sidelines to expect anything less.

Last year's team overachieved in almost every way, but I'm still disappointed that we lost to Utah. I could live with the Gator loss though as they had more talent overall and perhaps the college football equivalent of Christian Laettner (IMO the best college basketball player).

To sum it up: last year I was more like a Phillies fan and this year and onward I am more like a Yankees fan (actually, I am a Yankees fan).

Henryrolltide · November 4th, 2009, 11:19 PM

	Quote:	bayoutider
	I'm old school Bama I expect to win but think I have enough class not to go off on some stupid rant if we get upset.

I believe you have hit the nail on the head bayou, we expect to win, but we have to have class no matter what the outcome is, because there are going to be losses. Its just the nature of the game.

BamainBoston · November 4th, 2009, 11:27 PM

I think you want to be in a position to win championships every year. It takes some luck, it takes some breaks, and it takes winning some close games, but if year in and year out you are in the chase, you are bound to win some eventually. Just look at LSU. For the past decade they have been in it every year. In that time they have won two national championships and 3 sec championships. That's the model. I think we are there now. In fact, I think Alabama will only get better. Do I want to win it this year? Yeah. But I am happy where we are no matter what happens.

NYBamaFan · November 4th, 2009, 11:48 PM

	Quote:	BamainBoston
	I think you want to be in a position to win championships every year. It takes some luck, it takes some breaks, and it takes winning some close games, but if year in and year out you are in the chase, you are bound to win some eventually. Just look at LSU. For the past decade they have been in it every year. In that time they have won two national championships and 3 sec championships. That's the model. I think we are there now. In fact, I think Alabama will only get better. Do I want to win it this year? Yeah. But I am happy where we are no matter what happens.

This is where I sit, too.

I loved the Vols game. I couldn't watch live on TV (business trip), but I kept up with the game on my blackberry. Just like most Bama fans, I ran around like a kid when we blocked the kick. But, unlike a few friends, I was still happy with the win a day or two later. My buddies had moved into "nervous" mode because of the near miss.

My stance has always been to enjoys life's successes while you can, and don't worry about life's failures any longer than you have to. I am excited about the LSU game. We have a great team this year. Our program is back on top.

It is a great time to be a Bama fan!

BAMA1979 · November 5th, 2009, 12:56 AM

	Quote:	BamainBoston
	I think you want to be in a position to win championships every year. It takes some luck, it takes some breaks, and it takes winning some close games, but if year in and year out you are in the chase, you are bound to win some eventually. Just look at LSU. For the past decade they have been in it every year. In that time they have won two national championships and 3 sec championships. That's the model. I think we are there now. In fact, I think Alabama will only get better. Do I want to win it this year? Yeah. But I am happy where we are no matter what happens.

This is the exact model Tiger Woods uses and it works pretty well for him.

Rattlehead82 · November 5th, 2009, 01:41 AM

Because I want us to win a national championship so bad, I'm more like a Yankees fan. If we can win it this year, I'll be more like a Phillies fan from then on. We just need to end our drought. It's been to long for me lol.

time_4_the_TIDE · November 5th, 2009, 02:40 AM

I just feel like the days of back-to-back NC's or 3 peats is long over. For me I am just so glad, I can't even put it into words, that we are not where we have been for the past few yrs. I has been hard to watch at times and disappointing to say the least. I think just being competitive and fielding teams with a shot at it all every yr is about the best any fan or player can hope for at this point in CFB. The quality of HS coaches and programs are not even in the same universe as they were 20 yrs ago and there are just so many talented prospects coming in to the SEC every yr. If we can be a the top of of the west every yr and if means battling LSU for the west, so be it. LSU isn't going anywhere thanks in large part to our coach. And I think BAMA will follow suit with Saban as our leader.

I will take going into games like this Sat over games we are getting dominated and really have a shot in the dark at ALL DAY LONG. Knowing we are not going to be blown out or embarrassed is enough for me. Actually having a team that other teams like LSU know they are in for a fight with......= respect and that is enough for me. Reloading after season's end instead of rebuilding is a whole lot better IMO. Hope for the season...hope with concrete reasons behind it, instead of, hope with desperation behind it is the best I can describe for me.

Redwood Forrest · November 5th, 2009, 05:53 AM

	Quote:	BamainBoston
	I think you want to be in a position to win championships every year. It takes some luck, it takes some breaks, and it takes winning some close games, but if year in and year out you are in the chase, you are bound to win some eventually. Just look at LSU. For the past decade they have been in it every year. In that time they have won two national championships and 3 sec championships. That's the model. I think we are there now. In fact, I think Alabama will only get better. Do I want to win it this year? Yeah. But I am happy where we are no matter what happens.

Well said, and I agree. Coach Saban has made us a "Player" again and I expect to win a MNC every four or five years, at least. I remember when Alabama was one of the teams you had to beat in order to win it all. It is good to be BACK!

twofbyc · November 5th, 2009, 06:18 AM

Through all of the down years, there are many who knew it would be a while before we made it back to the top. Last year was a surprise to just about everyone; this year, the only surprise will be if we fall way short, and we are one game away from passing that abyss. Actually, we are one game away each week until we are not contenders for the West. I am a Yankees fan when it comes to the West; I am a Phillies fan when it comes to the SECCG. When we make it to the NCG (or get to the point where we played one game and won it all, or not), it has been a while, but best I can remember, I become more of a Braves fan, I think (those of us who endured years of not being in the hunt at all); we have been there, we know what it takes to win it all, we don't necessarily expect to win it all, but anything less will be a huge disappointment. But we never forget the size of the accomplishment of just getting there, and make plans to return again the following year. Look back on a great year, and look forward to the next one.

1FitToBeTide · November 5th, 2009, 06:59 AM

I'm currently in the Philies fan mode, but am willing to transition (back) towards the Yankee fan attitude. Those dry years we suffered throught brought some unwanted humility into my Bama old-school mindset. Many of our Bama nation folks on this board were not around or old enough to have experienced the marvelous years with Coach Bryant. What we're beginning to see now in our team was SOP for those years.

I'm getting too old to allow 18-21 year olds to dictate my happiness, however I must say, I can get a Yankee attitude back in a hurry.

Thanks NYBF for the question.
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