Couple thoughts

[Finwad32]

The next month is a long time, so I thought I'd give some observations from the game that touch on some conversations that have taken place here.

First things first, IMO, there is nothing in the world that can create the complete and utter jubilation that occurs when something like our last offensive play happens. Other moments in life have their own type of happiness and/or fulfillment, but, that moment when it happens is something I've never been able to find anywhere else. The high fives, the screaming, all of it, what a great moment in the dome. A moment that over the past two decades I've only seen happen a handful of times.

For those that left: for the most part, the people who sit around me are season ticket holders, some longer than others, but typically they're all stay til the end type people. Well six of the fans in our immediate vicinity got up after the pick and all said something along the lines of see you next season, in some way shape or form. My wife asked, "do you want to go?" Now she's seasoned, I'm a coach and an avid fan so she knew the answer. Heidi, 3 time outs, 3 min on the clock, down 1. Even if the score a TD they need a 2 to make it a 2-score game. We're staying. Then, it happens!

For those of us that were left it was such an awesome moment, screaming, hugging, high fiving, complete strangers experiencing something so awesome that it brings them that close to somebody they've never even really had a conversation with. Those are the type of moments that are most gratifying to a fan, IMO. what else in life does that, brings strangers like that together that quickly? That's why I love it. Coaching, playing and being a fan, that's the payoff.

This next part, I never would've even given a second thought to unless for this board. A guy behind us, who leaves after the pick by the way, is sitting there in the third whining about concession options. We've got nachos, pizza, etc. at the stand directly beneath our section. And he's going off about nothing to eat. We let him know that if he goes down to the first level there's a couple more options. "First level, first level!? I ain't walkin that go* *amn far for snacks, that's crazy. This dome sucks, you wonder why it's half empty." Then, after pick, "same story as last week, last year, last decade, we suck, can't close the deal, I'm done!" We'll, good riddance. Something tells me that guy is not somebody that is pleased often. And it just made me think, for the run of the mill fans, this is the crap they worry about. It is what it is, your options are your options. You know the situation, make the best choice available and shut your mouth. I can't stand whiners.

If your going to spend 4 hours at the Dome on a Saturday, why in the world would you leave 10 minutes early with the outcome still in question? You're already invested. What sense does that make?

*As far as the game. Love our traditional uni's, blue face masks and I'm ecstatic. Could look at that all day everyday.

* the amount of youth that has stepped up and contributed is more than encouraging. More underclass men got serious run on Saturday than upper-class men. And our young skill players seem very capable of playing at this level.

*estime on KR, thank you. Especially considering RB depth.

* Ryan Norton, good for you. I'm still not anxious for the FG unit to hit the field though.

* GMC - congrats, I've been critical, I hope this season has helped you develop as a coach. I'm cautiously optimistic moving forward.

*HCSS - I saw these types of characteristics in him this summer and last Winter when we talked. He may not be the choice everybody wants or wanted but if you wouldn't want to play for a guy like that I wouldn't want to play with you.

I have every ticket to every game I've ever attended. I frame the special one together, this ticket will be in a frame.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Awesome post. Thanks for sharing that perspective.

 

[Chip]

I keep a lot of ticket stubs. But for the games that I leave early and we come back and win, I definitely throw those out.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

I left at halftime of the SU-Oklahoma game and have caught heck for it ever since. It pains me to remind people we lost that game.

Great post. I have been telling folks that this game was our reward, as fans, for watching every game of a very very frustrating year. Cheers to the players and HCSS for making something special in a year when we had so many negatives from injuries and butt whoopings. It takes good leadership on the field and with our coaches to make that happen. What a relief to see that leadership on display in the last game of the season, I'll look for it earlier in 2014!

 

[Halfmooncuse]

Last year went to the SFU game and sat in the middle of SFU fans. Many of whom briought their kids to the game instead of Chucky Cheese. It was more of a social gathering for them. Any way when SFU went ahead by 5 points I think with less than 1:30 left and SU with no time outs I asked them where they were going. They laughed and said they listen to it on thne radio.

Well as a SU fan, I stayed and had the last laugh. SU won on the last play. It was one of those finishes like Saturday I won't forget. And a great deal of the fans that stayed were SU fans. And it was high fiving all o ver the place with people I didn't know and probably will never see again. It was like Pearls half court shot all over again.

 

[All4SU]

1987. All season long I sat near a guy who was perpetually dissatisfied with SU, the players and the coaches. This was an undefeated season...the defining season for modern SU football. A great team. A great coaching staff. And he found nothing but frustration with their play on the field. When Donnie Mac made a bad pass, he would scream and yell, infuriated with their perceived incompetence. This continued all season long. Final game of the season, he was again in top form as SU played WVU. When WVU took the lead late in the fourth quarter, he had seen all he could stand. He stood up and walked out of the dome. He didn't see Donnie M. Take the team down the field in the closing minute. He didn't see the touchdown. And he didn't see the two point conversion by Michael Owens -- which happened literally right in front of our seats, just six rows from the field. And he certainly didn't see the celebration of team, coaches and fans, ecstatic over a come from behind victory over a major rival to cap an undefeated season.

The net season, he didn't return. I always think of him when I see people leaving early.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I was in Atlanta for the UGA-Tech game this past Saturday. My bro in law is an alum so I've adopted the dawgs as my Southern team and was decked out in red.

A few notes:

When Tech jumped out and dominated early there was silent disappointment but noone even taked about leaving to beat the traffic which was obviously going to be a pain. No one b*tched about any player or coach in particular. Even in a down year for them there was none of the self loathing or vitriol I see from our fans.

The flip side though. Neither the Tech fans when they jumped out early or UGA fans during the come back got nearly as loud as Cuse fans when we get going. I was maybe 30% as rowdy as I get for Cuse games but all the UGA fans around presumed I was a die hard because I was one of the most vocal on third downs and other plays. I left with my voice well in tact and had I been at the dome 0% chance that happens. Cuse won right as OT was starting so I could finally relax and really get into the game. OT was amazing and for all those that think some of our players antics are over the top, that's what big time programs look like.

In summary, our best fans (like those on this board) are as good as or better than fans most anywhere. However the bad fans are some of the worst. Its an interesting combo but it's easy to misshow great some of our fans are if we only focus on those who aren't.

 

[GoSU96]

1987. All season long I sat near a guy who was perpetually dissatisfied with SU, the players and the coaches. This was an undefeated season...the defining season for modern SU football. A great team. A great coaching staff. And he found nothing but frustration with their play on the field. When Donnie Mac made a bad pass, he would scream and yell, infuriated with their perceived incompetence. This continued all season long. Final game of the season, he was again in top form as SU played WVU. When WVU took the lead late in the fourth quarter, he had seen all he could stand. He stood up and walked out of the dome. He didn't see Donnie M. Take the team down the field in the closing minute. He didn't see the touchdown. And he didn't see the two point conversion by Michael Owens -- which happened literally right in front of our seats, just six rows from the field. And he certainly didn't see the celebration of team, coaches and fans, ecstatic over a come from behind victory over a major rival to cap an undefeated season.

The net season, he didn't return. I always think of him when I see people leaving early.

Somebody should have told him, 60 minute game.

 

[Finwad32]

1987. All season long I sat near a guy who was perpetually dissatisfied with SU, the players and the coaches. This was an undefeated season...the defining season for modern SU football. A great team. A great coaching staff. And he found nothing but frustration with their play on the field. When Donnie Mac made a bad pass, he would scream and yell, infuriated with their perceived incompetence. This continued all season long. Final game of the season, he was again in top form as SU played WVU. When WVU took the lead late in the fourth quarter, he had seen all he could stand. He stood up and walked out of the dome. He didn't see Donnie M. Take the team down the field in the closing minute. He didn't see the touchdown. And he didn't see the two point conversion by Michael Owens -- which happened literally right in front of our seats, just six rows from the field. And he certainly didn't see the celebration of team, coaches and fans, ecstatic over a come from behind victory over a major rival to cap an undefeated season.

The net season, he didn't return. I always think of him when I see people leaving early.

This is a great story. It's funny how these things can leave lasting impressions. Enjoyed reading it.

 

[Finwad32]

I was in Atlanta for the UGA-Tech game this past Saturday. My bro in law is an alum so I've adopted the dawgs as my Southern team and was decked out in red.

A few notes:

When Tech jumped out and dominated early there was silent disappointment but noone even taked about leaving to beat the traffic which was obviously going to be a pain. No one b*tched about any player or coach in particular. Even in a down year for them there was none of the self loathing or vitriol I see from our fans.

The flip side though. Neither the Tech fans when they jumped out early or UGA fans during the come back got nearly as loud as Cuse fans when we get going. I was maybe 30% as rowdy as I get for Cuse games but all the UGA fans around presumed I was a die hard because I was one of the most vocal on third downs and other plays. I left with my voice well in tact and had I been at the dome 0% chance that happens. Cuse won right as OT was starting so I could finally relax and really get into the game. OT was amazing and for all those that think some of our players antics are over the top, that's what big time programs look like.

In summary, our best fans (like those on this board) are as good as or better than fans most anywhere. However the bad fans are some of the worst. Its an interesting combo but it's easy to misshow great some of our fans are if we only focus on those who aren't.

Always like comparisons to different schools or teams. It's funny how histories, traditions and game day atmospheres vary so greatly. Good stuff.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

I haven't traveled that much in my life but I have never encountered a more widespread negative attitude than in central NY. None of these stories surprises me. Still, most folks will support a winner (see, for reference, the bball team.)

 

[MarcusPitt]

Great post! Well said! All the people around me were hugging (a group of 4 of us hugged!) high fives,screaming like children! You won't get to experience that feeling many times in life as a sports fan. Some people ever! After the alma mater was played,everyone was still soaking it in. Looking around,at each other,etc. we all "got it" then. It was sinking in what had just happened,and it was amazing! A game never to be forgotten by anyone around me...

 

[Chip]

1987. All season long I sat near a guy who was perpetually dissatisfied with SU, the players and the coaches. This was an undefeated season...the defining season for modern SU football. A great team. A great coaching staff. And he found nothing but frustration with their play on the field. When Donnie Mac made a bad pass, he would scream and yell, infuriated with their perceived incompetence. This continued all season long. Final game of the season, he was again in top form as SU played WVU. When WVU took the lead late in the fourth quarter, he had seen all he could stand. He stood up and walked out of the dome. He didn't see Donnie M. Take the team down the field in the closing minute. He didn't see the touchdown. And he didn't see the two point conversion by Michael Owens -- which happened literally right in front of our seats, just six rows from the field. And he certainly didn't see the celebration of team, coaches and fans, ecstatic over a come from behind victory over a major rival to cap an undefeated season.

The net season, he didn't return. I always think of him when I see people leaving early.

Was 1988 the year you changed your name?

Great story.

 

[SUfaninAZ]

1987. All season long I sat near a guy who was perpetually dissatisfied with SU, the players and the coaches. This was an undefeated season...the defining season for modern SU football. A great team. A great coaching staff. And he found nothing but frustration with their play on the field. When Donnie Mac made a bad pass, he would scream and yell, infuriated with their perceived incompetence. This continued all season long. Final game of the season, he was again in top form as SU played WVU. When WVU took the lead late in the fourth quarter, he had seen all he could stand. He stood up and walked out of the dome. He didn't see Donnie M. Take the team down the field in the closing minute. He didn't see the touchdown. And he didn't see the two point conversion by Michael Owens -- which happened literally right in front of our seats, just six rows from the field. And he certainly didn't see the celebration of team, coaches and fans, ecstatic over a come from behind victory over a major rival to cap an undefeated season.

The net season, he didn't return. I always think of him when I see people leaving early.

That was Chipper44.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Always like comparisons to different schools or teams. It's funny how histories, traditions and game day atmospheres vary so greatly. Good stuff.

It felt a bit alien to be at a game where cuse wasnt playing but as a result I was paying more attention to my surroundings vs being tunnel vision on the game as I am in the dome.

Sidenote, stadiums with no beer are bad news. Because they cqnt get it inside, a lot more seemed to overindulge before and show up sloppy drunk.

 

[CuseTroop]

After the pick, I told my wife over and over that we had enough time, we can still win this... She said I was just trying to convince myself. When we scored, it was insane.. I thought tomcat was going to jump all the way to the field. It was great. My wife, little brother, dad, had never seen anything like it. It was perfect.

 

[Finwad32]

After the pick, I told my wife over and over that we had enough time, we can still win this... She said I was just trying to convince myself. When we scored, it was insane.. I thought tomcat was going to jump all the way to the field. It was great. My wife, little brother, dad, had never seen anything like it. It was perfect.

That's awesome, that's what makes those situations great IMO. You can't recreate or duplicate that time.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

We were driving through Virginia, my wife spent 3 hours trying to find the game on the radio (it happened once, several years ago, that we caught a football game on a station on I-81 ... very grainy but we heard it!) Got to the hotel with the game in the 4th quarter. The TV goes out (really?!??!) so I can't even check for TV coverage. Checked ESPN3 and the game was blacked out in our area (double really?!?!?) so I had to follow over ESPN Gamecast. Not the best way to follow a game but it was the best we had. It took SOOOOO LOOONG for the TD update. When it came through I dropped my ipad and my phone started ringing.

Made my evening, made my week. Still is making my week.

Now I am spending the rest of my week watching the replay on ESPN3. I am up to 5 minutes left in the 4th. So glad I know the ending b/c I would be really cheesed off seeing us do so well on offense and being behind on the scoreboard at that point. I want to see this Hunt next year, absolutely unbeatable.

 

[ForeverOrange]

After the pick, I told my wife over and over that we had enough time, we can still win this... She said I was just trying to convince myself. When we scored, it was insane.. I thought tomcat was going to jump all the way to the field. It was great. My wife, little brother, dad, had never seen anything like it. It was perfect.

I got a little too excited. After that last pick, I said out loud "game", my daughter asked me why I wasn't changing the channel, and I simply said "because I am a fan, through the good, the bad, the painful, I am a fan, and even though I believe this game to be over, I still have to see it to completion." Needless to say, when we scored that TD, I high jumped my couch, forgetting that I put on a few pounds since the last time I did something like that, and all I heard was crack.

 

[OttoMets]

Great post! Well said! All the people around me were hugging (a group of 4 of us hugged!) high fives,screaming like children! You won't get to experience that feeling many times in life as a sports fan. Some people ever! After the alma mater was played,everyone was still soaking it in. Looking around,at each other,etc. we all "got it" then. It was sinking in what had just happened,and it was amazing! A game never to be forgotten by anyone around me...

That was really fun - I don't know if I've ever seen so many non-students stick around for the alma mater. Everyone was so happy.

Would be nice to see that become a tradition more widely embraced.

 

[Chip]

That was Chipper44.

Did you really think I was going to go back and watch Todd Philcox QB this team?

 

[Marsh01]

I thought for sure BC would run the clock out so I was less hopeful when Hunt threw the INT and thought the game was over. Noone should have left the dome however as it wasnt over.

As far as leaving early, I will usually bolt out with under a minute left for a hoops blowout or under 2 minutes left in football if the game is 100% over. The only game I have ever left at halftime was SU/Pitt back in the Grob days when the game WAS over at halftime. So frustrated I bolted.

Anyone who left the dome for the WVU game in 1987 should never be allowed back in the dome again.

 

[bnoro]

We were driving through Virginia, my wife spent 3 hours trying to find the game on the radio (it happened once, several years ago, that we caught a football game on a station on I-81 ... very grainy but we heard it!) Got to the hotel with the game in the 4th quarter. The TV goes out (really?!??!) so I can't even check for TV coverage. Checked ESPN3 and the game was blacked out in our area (double really?!?!?) so I had to follow over ESPN Gamecast. Not the best way to follow a game but it was the best we had. It took SOOOOO LOOONG for the TD update. When it came through I dropped my ipad and my phone started ringing.

Made my evening, made my week. Still is making my week.

Now I am spending the rest of my week watching the replay on ESPN3. I am up to 5 minutes left in the 4th. So glad I know the ending b/c I would be really cheesed off seeing us do so well on offense and being behind on the scoreboard at that point. I want to see this Hunt next year, absolutely unbeatable.

Very easy way to avoid ESPN3 blackouts, all you need to do is download an IP scrambler.

I use this one - http://www.hotspotshield.com/

Once you download and reset your browser, just search for where your IP address is coming from, you can reset it if it's still blacked out but i've been doing this all season.

 

[All4SU]

Was 1988 the year you changed your name?

Great story.

Yes, it used to be Inigo Montoya.

 

[All4SU]

After the pick, I told my wife over and over that we had enough time, we can still win this... She said I was just trying to convince myself. When we scored, it was insane.. I thought tomcat was going to jump all the way to the field. It was great. My wife, little brother, dad, had never seen anything like it. It was perfect.

Good for you. I have to admit. When he threw the pic, I was pretty down. I was not confident in our ability to take the ball down the field in that situation. Not at all. Each play in that drive was a shock, with hope building to the crescendo of hitting Parris on the throwback. When I saw the ball in the air, it looked like Parris might not be able to square himself in time to get under the pass...which seemed to take forever in the air. What a moment! What a finish!