A Disconnect

[DoubleDee]

I think that's the best way to describe it.

As a Syracuse STH for Football, Lacrosse, and formerly long-term Basketball, I would always at least try to support the other sports I didn't necessarily care about. I would root for and watch women's basketball and lacrosse. And ultimately, I would walk away from those games not caring who won, because first and foremost they are hard to watch, and women's lacrosse isn't even the same sport the men play.

I had basketball season tickets from 1983 through 2014. Every bit as important to me as football. I'd never miss a game on TV. A pacer in the house, screaming at the TV, and in the stands at home games. Losses would make my entire mood crash.

Now, watching these games are like I just watched women's basketball or lacrosse. I'm not making a comparison to those sports, just my reaction to watching them. It's upsetting me that we as a program are slumping, but I walk away from them. win or lose, with an "I don't even really care" mentality. It's not my age as my passion at football and lacrosse has not wavered.

I know we are in an era of college sports that is affected by the portal, NIL, etc. And for me, none of its good. But I really feel like basketball is affected at a different level. Maybe it's because of the roster size, so it hits harder in basketball? Gone are the days of old. But gone too are the days of recent past. When you grew to love (or hate) someone for four years. Back then, a junior entering the draft was the rarity. And even more rare, the one and done. No more Gerrys, no more Scoops. No more opportunities to watch a 3 or 4 year player grow and become a part of the community. That includes all the other teams. I feel like I don't know any of them either. No 4-year white point guards to hate at Duke, and no giant foreign long last-namer playing center at Georgetown. Now it's just a plethora of one or two-and-dones with a lack of "special" you would get from a Carmelo Anthony.

It's not a Red vs JB thing. This started a few years ago. I watch and support, and I want to be die-hard, but I have just lost interest. I'm disconnected. And that's a problem, because I cannot be the only one.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

College basketball is a terrible product. Play isn’t very good. Portal and players jumping to the pros makes it hard to develop any familiarity with players. NIL wouldn’t bother me if it wasn’t so prominent in every article or conversation about college basketball. I don’t want to hear who makes what just talk about the game. I watched fewer tournament games than ever before. Use to be a group would take half days and watch at Tully’s. Now no one goes or cares really. It’s sad. I have to believe if Cuse were good things would be different.

 

[Doc5120]

I think that's the best way to describe it.

As a Syracuse STH for Football, Lacrosse, and formerly long-term Basketball, I would always at least try to support the other sports I didn't necessarily care about. I would root for and watch women's basketball and lacrosse. And ultimately, I would walk away from those games not caring who won, because first and foremost they are hard to watch, and women's lacrosse isn't even the same sport the men play.

I had basketball season tickets from 1983 through 2014. Every bit as important to me as football. I'd never miss a game on TV. A pacer in the house, screaming at the TV, and in the stands at home games. Losses would make my entire mood crash.

Now, watching these games are like I just watched women's basketball or lacrosse. I'm not making a comparison to those sports, just my reaction to watching them. It's upsetting me that we as a program are slumping, but I walk away from them. win or lose, with an "I don't even really care" mentality. It's not my age as my passion at football and lacrosse has not wavered.

I know we are in an era of college sports that is affected by the portal, NIL, etc. And for me, none of its good. But I really feel like basketball is affected at a different level. Maybe it's because of the roster size, so it hits harder in basketball? Gone are the days of old. But gone too are the days of recent past. When you grew to love (or hate) someone for four years. Back then, a junior entering the draft was the rarity. And even more rare, the one and done. No more Gerrys, no more Scoops. No more opportunities to watch a 3 or 4 year player grow and become a part of the community. That includes all the other teams. I feel like I don't know any of them either. No 4-year white point guards to hate at Duke, and no giant foreign long last-namer playing center at Georgetown. Now it's just a plethora of one or two-and-dones with a lack of "special" you would get from a Carmelo Anthony.

It's not a Red vs JB thing. This started a few years ago. I watch and support, and I want to be die-hard, but I have just lost interest. I'm disconnected. And that's a problem, because I cannot be the only one.

I used to have season tickets for hoops for ~15 straight years. Covid hit and at that point we had 3 (of our now 4) boys. With the product's steady decline and at the time, my 2 oldest starting to get into sports, I had less time so I didn't renew. Now with 3 of the 4 playing basketball in the winter and 2 doing baseball, there isn't time.

I can honestly say, even if I were single and/or did not have kids activities taking up many of my nights/weekends, I would not have purchased season tickets the last couple of years. It is extremely hard to get motivated to even watch on TV. I'd always DVR games and not check my phone etc. to make sure I had no knowledge of how the game turned out. I don't bother with that anymore. I've been a fan since I was probably 7 or 8 years old and a die-hard for nearly as long. It's almost inconceivable I feel this way about SU hoops.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I think that's the best way to describe it.

As a Syracuse STH for Football, Lacrosse, and formerly long-term Basketball, I would always at least try to support the other sports I didn't necessarily care about. I would root for and watch women's basketball and lacrosse. And ultimately, I would walk away from those games not caring who won, because first and foremost they are hard to watch, and women's lacrosse isn't even the same sport the men play.

I had basketball season tickets from 1983 through 2014. Every bit as important to me as football. I'd never miss a game on TV. A pacer in the house, screaming at the TV, and in the stands at home games. Losses would make my entire mood crash.

Now, watching these games are like I just watched women's basketball or lacrosse. I'm not making a comparison to those sports, just my reaction to watching them. It's upsetting me that we as a program are slumping, but I walk away from them. win or lose, with an "I don't even really care" mentality. It's not my age as my passion at football and lacrosse has not wavered.

I know we are in an era of college sports that is affected by the portal, NIL, etc. And for me, none of its good. But I really feel like basketball is affected at a different level. Maybe it's because of the roster size, so it hits harder in basketball? Gone are the days of old. But gone too are the days of recent past. When you grew to love (or hate) someone for four years. Back then, a junior entering the draft was the rarity. And even more rare, the one and done. No more Gerrys, no more Scoops. No more opportunities to watch a 3 or 4 year player grow and become a part of the community. That includes all the other teams. I feel like I don't know any of them either. No 4-year white point guards to hate at Duke, and no giant foreign long last-namer playing center at Georgetown. Now it's just a plethora of one or two-and-dones with a lack of "special" you would get from a Carmelo Anthony.

It's not a Red vs JB thing. This started a few years ago. I watch and support, and I want to be die-hard, but I have just lost interest. I'm disconnected. And that's a problem, because I cannot be the only one.

Imagine being GMAC at Siena or a similar mid major. You have close to a 0% chance to keep your best player each season. You only hope to grab guys from higher majors and hope they come in with a great attitude and the ability to play and mesh well at your level.

 

[Scooch]

It's wild that pro sports are now remarkably more stable than college sports when it comes to rosters.

I'm a Red Sox fan and come Opening Day it's likely that 8/9ths of our starting lineup will be guys who were on the team last year. And also likely that 5 will be guys who have been with the team for 3+ years.

Meanwhile this year 3 of the 10 players getting regular minutes for SU hoops were here last season.

 

[djcon57]

I’ll agree college basketball is a terrible product.

But these same posts occurred the last 5 years on the football board. With some even saying they would never watch again (they are back watching this year) If we were good, a lot of us wouldn’t care

 

[Marsh01]

had tickets from 1995 to 2018. Dont see me pulling the trigger anytime soon.

If I even watch the game its on and I am barely paying attention these days. Wins or losses feel the same. I dont get excited or mad either way at this point. On Saturday the game had been over for 20 minutes before I realized there was a different game on the tv

 

[DoubleDee]

I’ll agree college basketball is a terrible product.

But these same posts occurred the last 5 years on the football board. With some even saying they would never watch again (they are back watching this year) If we were good, a lot of us wouldn’t care

I know what you mean, but this is different. I didn't give up, or even consider it through Grob, Shafer, Babers, etc. Things ebb and flow. Football is still a lot of fun and engaging.

I think the biggest difference is, if we lose 20 kids from football to the portal or graduation, we still know dozens of the kids that remain. Not the case in basketball. Seems like a new roster every year. I can't relate to them.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's upsetting me that we as a program are slumping, but I walk away from them. win or lose, with an "I don't even really care" mentality. It's not my age as my passion at football and lacrosse has not wavered.

I know we are in an era of college sports that is affected by the portal, NIL, etc. And for me, none of its good. But I really feel like basketball is affected at a different level. Maybe it's because of the roster size, so it hits harder in basketball? Gone are the days of old. But gone too are the days of recent past. When you grew to love (or hate) someone for four years. Back then, a junior entering the draft was the rarity. And even more rare, the one and done. No more Gerrys, no more Scoops. No more opportunities to watch a 3 or 4 year player grow and become a part of the community. That includes all the other teams. I feel like I don't know any of them either. No 4-year white point guards to hate at Duke, and no giant foreign long last-namer playing center at Georgetown. Now it's just a plethora of one or two-and-dones with a lack of "special" you would get from a Carmelo Anthony.

Yeah, this is my problem, too, with today's college hoops. Rosters turn over every year. Maybe you get a couple years out of a player. I remember in the old Big East days, you not only knew everyone on your team, but you knew pretty much the whole rotation of your opponents, too. That made for much better viewing.

Today, I get that from English soccer. Roster continuity, for the most part. Two times during the year when players can be bought, sold or loaned to another team. Teams are not so big (like NFL football), where there are 20+ new faces every year or so. None of the salary cap nonsense that hurts the NBA and MLB, limiting player movement.

It's really hard to watch US sports if you're not a gambler.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Yeah, this is my problem, too, with today's college hoops. Rosters turn over every year. Maybe you get a couple years out of a player. I remember in the old Big East days, you not only knew everyone on your team, but you knew pretty much the whole rotation of your opponents, too. That made for much better viewing.

Today, I get that from English soccer. Roster continuity, for the most part. Two times during the year when players can be bought, sold or loaned to another team. Teams are not so big (like NFL football), where there are 20+ new faces every year or so. None of the salary cap nonsense that hurts the NBA and MLB, limiting player movement.

It's really hard to watch US sports if you're not a gambler.

The average fan probably couldn't name 10 head coaches in the ACC, let alone the starters. But, like you said, it's hard to watch if your not a gambler. But, as long as the players are getting paid, the conferences are making money from TV revenue and gamblers are driving those tv ratings, no one cares about us. I know the Super Bowl is the single biggest betting event, but March Madness has to be huge, not only for the casinos but also for tv ratings.

Fannies drive revenue but it's not the big bucks. Otherwise Duke would have moved to a 25,000 seat gym a while ago.

 

[RF2044]

I think that's the best way to describe it.

As a Syracuse STH for Football, Lacrosse, and formerly long-term Basketball, I would always at least try to support the other sports I didn't necessarily care about. I would root for and watch women's basketball and lacrosse. And ultimately, I would walk away from those games not caring who won, because first and foremost they are hard to watch, and women's lacrosse isn't even the same sport the men play.

I had basketball season tickets from 1983 through 2014. Every bit as important to me as football. I'd never miss a game on TV. A pacer in the house, screaming at the TV, and in the stands at home games. Losses would make my entire mood crash.

Now, watching these games are like I just watched women's basketball or lacrosse. I'm not making a comparison to those sports, just my reaction to watching them. It's upsetting me that we as a program are slumping, but I walk away from them. win or lose, with an "I don't even really care" mentality. It's not my age as my passion at football and lacrosse has not wavered.

I know we are in an era of college sports that is affected by the portal, NIL, etc. And for me, none of its good. But I really feel like basketball is affected at a different level. Maybe it's because of the roster size, so it hits harder in basketball? Gone are the days of old. But gone too are the days of recent past. When you grew to love (or hate) someone for four years. Back then, a junior entering the draft was the rarity. And even more rare, the one and done. No more Gerrys, no more Scoops. No more opportunities to watch a 3 or 4 year player grow and become a part of the community. That includes all the other teams. I feel like I don't know any of them either. No 4-year white point guards to hate at Duke, and no giant foreign long last-namer playing center at Georgetown. Now it's just a plethora of one or two-and-dones with a lack of "special" you would get from a Carmelo Anthony.

It's not a Red vs JB thing. This started a few years ago. I watch and support, and I want to be die-hard, but I have just lost interest. I'm disconnected. And that's a problem, because I cannot be the only one.

There was a time, in the late 90s when we were coming off of a magnificent run in football, when an SU loss in hoops, football, or lacrosse would ruin my entire week.

Then, starting in 1999, the wheels began to come off with respect to football -- the 62-0 virginia tech beatdown was the start, and the hits just kept on coming. Being left out of ACC expansion. Missing out on Julius Hodge. Gerg. The F4 streak in lacrosse coming to an unceremonious end. The precipitous decline in Boeheim's performance over his final 8 seasons.

Sure, there have been bright spots. I'll always cherish the 2003 national championship, because now I can die in peace. And 2012, 2018, and 2024 have been amazing fun as a football fan [but must we only be good once every six years -- didn't even see that pattern until I typed it out?].

But over time, I've just gotten desensitized. Make no mistake -- I still care, always will. Syracuse sports will always be my main rooting passion.

But the losses don't bother me as much anymore, because we've been through so much, I just don't have the energy to have my sense of self-worth tied up in the team's performance anymore like it used to be.

 

[CnyTarheel]

My family has had season tickets since game 1 at the dome now all 4 are on me.. my friends all know to get ahold of me if they wanna go, the Youngstown state game was last game I went to .. I'm currently trying to turn over the season tix to either my cousin or my soon to be brother in law

 

[CnyTarheel]

There was a time, in the late 90s when we were coming off of a magnificent run in football, when an SU loss in hoops, football, or lacrosse would ruin my entire week.

Then, starting in 1999, the wheels began to come off with respect to football -- the 62-0 virginia tech beatdown was the start, and the hits just kept on coming. Being left out of ACC expansion. Missing out on Julius Hodge. Gerg. The F4 streak in lacrosse coming to an unceremonious end. The precipitous decline in Boeheim's performance over his final 8 seasons.

Sure, there have been bright spots. I'll always cherish the 2003 national championship, because now I can die in peace. And 2012, 2018, and 2024 have been amazing fun as a football fan [but must we only be good once every six years -- didn't even see that pattern until I typed it out?].

But over time, I've just gotten desensitized. Make no mistake -- I still care, always will. Syracuse sports will always be my main rooting passion.

But the losses don't bother me as much anymore, because we've been through so much, I just don't have the energy to have my sense of self-worth tied up in the team's performance anymore like it. used to be.

The silver lining in the Julius hodge miss was Hakim Warrick.. I'd say cuse won that miss..lol

 

[DoubleDee]

The silver lining in the Julius hodge miss was Hakim Warrick.. I'd say cuse won that miss..lol

Not close.