Notre Dame...Tennessee...Georgia....Michigan...A&M....Texas....(and then Auburn and LSU because they have to be compared to Bama).. Both A&M's and Texas's agony is eased some because the other isn't doing so well.
Notre Dame...Tennessee...Georgia....Michigan...A&M....Texas....(and then Auburn and LSU because they have to be compared to Bama).. Both A&M's and Texas's agony is eased some because the other isn't doing so well.
I think you hit the nail on the proverbial head. Cable TV and the Georgia/Oklahoma lawsuit unlimiting TV appearances changed everything. The older crowd who remembers those days can never feel good about their team again. Nebraska would have to land a Saban or a Meyer to get back to their glory days and even then it would be an uphill struggle.I think what your post exemplifies is that context determines what makes a tortured fan base.
In other words, Auburn and LSU's "torture" is solely and completely related to their relationship/proximity to Alabama. Without Alabama, their torture doesn't exist - unlike, say, Nebraska.
Nebraska - in my view - has to be the worst because the realistic fans know that they will never again be what they once were. Yes...they MIGHT put a contender on the field and make the playoffs. But those years of perpetual 10-1 regular seasons and mention in the championship hunt are gone forever and they're never coming back. Guys like Tommie Frazier have no need to go spend four years in a cornfield just because that team plays more games on TV than anyone else - now that even the most mediocre teams are on TV every week.
I couldn't fathom being a Cornhusker Fan & the fall from grace that never ends for Nebraska Football..It's gotta to a bitter pill to swallow for a one time college football giant..I think the top 2 are actually Penn State and Nebraska.
How would you like to be Nebraska and realize that you will never again be a big deal?
And what about Notre Dame?
This list is made by an idiot. I have a buddy who lives in Eugene. They don't really care. ATM? The Auburn of Texas?
Your top three are Penn State, Nebraska, and Notre Dame. I'll agree UGA is probably one of them. Miami doesn't HAVE a fan base.
I agree, but in my mind they have become "long suffering" fans, not tortured fans. I mean, when was the last time that they were really close to winning anything of substance?I couldn't fathom being a Cornhusker Fan & the fall from grace that never ends for Nebraska Football..It's gotta to a bitter pill to swallow for a one time college football giant..
I can agree with that BIGTide..I imagine it tortures the 'Husker Fans that lived through their run in the 70's, 80's 90's & not so much for the younger fans that didn't..I agree, but in my mind they have become "long suffering" fans, not tortured fans. I mean, when was the last time that they were really close to winning anything of substance?
As a Braves fan I can tell you that I am no longer tortured by their losses. A few decades of mediocre play has reset my expectations.I can agree with that BIGTide..I imagine it tortures the 'Husker Fans that lived through their run in the 70's, 80's 90's & not so much for the younger fans that didn't..
Well Norman compared to Lincoln isn't exactly a destination spot either. Oklahoma (most of their players being from Texas) and Nebraska have to recruit nationally due to lack of in state HS FB talent. So how has OU been able to thrive while Nebraska has largely been in the wilderness in the 21st century??? To be honest they just need the right coach. IMO.I think what your post exemplifies is that context determines what makes a tortured fan base.
In other words, Auburn and LSU's "torture" is solely and completely related to their relationship/proximity to Alabama. Without Alabama, their torture doesn't exist - unlike, say, Nebraska.
Nebraska - in my view - has to be the worst because the realistic fans know that they will never again be what they once were. Yes...they MIGHT put a contender on the field and make the playoffs. But those years of perpetual 10-1 regular seasons and mention in the championship hunt are gone forever and they're never coming back. Guys like Tommie Frazier have no need to go spend four years in a cornfield just because that team plays more games on TV than anyone else - now that even the most mediocre teams are on TV every week.
Probably the fact the state of Oklahoma borders Texas while a player has to go through Oklahoma and Kansas to get to Nebraska.Well Norman compared to Lincoln isn't exactly a destination spot either. Oklahoma (most of their players being from Texas) and Nebraska have to recruit nationally due to lack of in state HS FB talent. So how has OU been able to thrive while Nebraska has largely been in the wilderness in the 21st century??? To be honest they just need the right coach. IMO.
Amen brother.As a Braves fan I can tell you that I am no longer tortured by their losses. A few decades of mediocre play has reset my expectations.
1) Oklahoma has been at it MUCH longer; Nebraska only got put on the map when Bob Devaney arrived.Oklahoma (most of their players being from Texas) and Nebraska have to recruit nationally due to lack of in state HS FB talent. So how has OU been able to thrive while Nebraska has largely been in the wilderness in the 21st century??? To be honest they just need the right coach. IMO.
As long a Tennessee continues to finish seventh in recruiting the SEC ..... they can help Nebraska bail water.So how long before we add Tennessee?? They haven't won anything (besides 3 division titles) in the 21st-century yet. Could you say they are dangerous close to being in the same boat as Nebraska???
Good coaching has eluded the Huskers for many years. Nebraska has the fourth ranked recruiting class in the B1G year after year. In West Division look at these recruiting averages: Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 36, Northwestern 51, Iowa 53, Illinois 57, Minnesota 58 and Purdue 69. Yes, that is correct. Nebraska should win the west every year but instead they let Wisconsin and Iowa keep whipping them. That was why I was shocked at the Mike Riley hire. Nebraska has settled into mediocrity and seems to like it there.Well Norman compared to Lincoln isn't exactly a destination spot either. Oklahoma (most of their players being from Texas) and Nebraska have to recruit nationally due to lack of in state HS FB talent. So how has OU been able to thrive while Nebraska has largely been in the wilderness in the 21st century??? To be honest they just need the right coach. IMO.
Back in the day say 20-30 years ago, Nebraska probably would have gotten (at least one of them) Marcus Mariota, RG3, and Johnny Manziel.Good coaching has eluded the Huskers for many years. Nebraska has the fourth ranked recruiting class in the B1G year after year. In West Division look at these recruiting averages: Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 36, Northwestern 51, Iowa 53, Illinois 57, Minnesota 58 and Purdue 69. Yes, that is correct. Nebraska should win the west every year but instead they let Wisconsin and Iowa keep whipping them. That was why I was shocked at the Mike Riley hire. Nebraska has settled into mediocrity and seems to like it there.
I sometimes think that for Michigan beating Ohio State is more important that them beating Sparty...IMO, it is simple to define a tortured fan base at the highest level - they are tortured because they come very close to achieving their goals consistently (whatever they may be), but fall just short, and often at the last minute. They are often "this close", but almost never get there.
The goals may vary by team. For Auburn, the goal may be beating Alabama. For Alabama, the goal would be winning a national championship. For Ohio State, the goal used to be beating Michigan and winning the Rose Bowl - it is now winning the national championship. We feel about Michigan the way that you feel about Auburn - we want to beat them, but mostly because we have to beat them to have a shot at our real goal. We are disappointed when we lose to Michigan, but the tortured losses are the ones that cost us championships.
They were never in the same program status as the Big Red, but I do think they have a similar problem. A Tide lawyer grad I spoke with four years ago (I was hunting tickets for the Michigan game here in DFW) said the same thing. Basically, Tennessee has a very similar problem to Nebraska - they are bordered by more states than anyone else. Their state is a little less than 7 million people and about 1.3 million of those are in the Memphis area.So how long before we add Tennessee?? They haven't won anything (besides 3 division titles) in the 21st-century yet. Could you say they are dangerous close to being in the same boat as Nebraska???