Fan health and coping skills during SU games

[FrancoPizza]

Meant to be more of a light discussion of how each of us fans cope (or fail to cope) during tense SU football games. For me, if the game has significance, the stress response is very perceptible. My heart rate increases to where I can sometimes feel the palpitations. I often need to drink a ton of water constantly because I dehydrate very quickly. Frequent bathroom trips. I'll be locked into the game but generally abstain from yelling unless:

• there's a BS penalty
• if something good is about to happen and we it up (like missing a tackle in the backfield)

I tell my wife I do not understand why I put myself through this torment because of the stress it places on my body. If we win, I think the dopamine helps to offset and my mental health has an enormous boost for a few days (cue UNLV) so maybe it's all about chasing the next high. If we lose it's the opposite effect and I'm either miserable or depressed for at least a day or longer (cue Stanford).

The only time watching is enjoyable and "fun" for me is when we're comfortably in control of the game. I started to feel that way after 14-0 last week but then two3zone had to go jinx it with his boatrace comment in the game thread and it all went to hell.

 

[AAM62]

I think managing expectations is key. Too many people think we’re an ACC competitor and I get why with having McCord for only one year. There’s just not enough on Defense and ST to compliment the offense. Gotta just enjoy the ride and hope for an 8-9 win season, as I've said in another thread.

As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s a new era at cuse and it will take time for Fran to build his roster.

 

[mark79]

Meant to be more of a light discussion of how each of us fans cope (or fail to cope) during tense SU football games. For me, if the game has significance, the stress response is very perceptible. My heart rate increases to where I can sometimes feel the palpitations. I often need to drink a ton of water constantly because I dehydrate very quickly. Frequent bathroom trips. I'll be locked into the game but generally abstain from yelling unless:

• there's a BS penalty
• if something good is about to happen and we it up (like missing a tackle in the backfield)

I tell my wife I do not understand why I put myself through this torment because of the stress it places on my body. If we win, I think the dopamine helps to offset and my mental health has an enormous boost for a few days (cue UNLV) so maybe it's all about chasing the next high. If we lose it's the opposite effect and I'm either miserable or depressed for at least a day or longer (cue Stanford).

The only time watching is enjoyable and "fun" for me is when we're comfortably in control of the game. I started to feel that way after 14-0 last week but then two3zone had to go jinx it with his boatrace comment in the game thread and it all went to hell.

I’m right there with ya. I do not cope very well when we fall behind or make dumb plays. I’ve been known to turn the tv off if we’re not doing well and follow the game on ESPN for awhile until we do better. My wife refuses to watch the game live with me because of my aggravation.

This all said, I’m better than I used to be. Age has a way of putting this more into perspective. It’s just a game. But I have to keep telling myself that each week.

 

[Crusty]

I don't cope at all. Mrs Crusty has to threaten changing the channel to something I hate. Of course, this can happen more than once during a game (GT and UNLV).

I am much better at the game than watching on TV.

But, what the h*ll, better than not caring.

 

[SUDadx2]

Meant to be more of a light discussion of how each of us fans cope (or fail to cope) during tense SU football games. For me, if the game has significance, the stress response is very perceptible. My heart rate increases to where I can sometimes feel the palpitations. I often need to drink a ton of water constantly because I dehydrate very quickly. Frequent bathroom trips. I'll be locked into the game but generally abstain from yelling unless:

• there's a BS penalty
• if something good is about to happen and we it up (like missing a tackle in the backfield)

I tell my wife I do not understand why I put myself through this torment because of the stress it places on my body. If we win, I think the dopamine helps to offset and my mental health has an enormous boost for a few days (cue UNLV) so maybe it's all about chasing the next high. If we lose it's the opposite effect and I'm either miserable or depressed for at least a day or longer (cue Stanford).

The only time watching is enjoyable and "fun" for me is when we're comfortably in control of the game. I started to feel that way after 14-0 last week but then two3zone had to go jinx it with his boatrace comment in the game thread and it all went to hell.

I suggest you stop reading the in game threads, just watch the game. Those threads tend to reinforce the negativity.

I also do not read the “Why the opponent will win” threads. It’s just not for me. I don’t need to aggravation. Nor do I read the “why SU will win”. I don’t see the purpose.

And, I try to wait until I write anything about my observations after a game until I’ve had a chance to level out from the highs or lows following a game. If I find myself extremely annoyed or frustrated I have written posts to clear my thoughts and not posted them. This can be cathartic for me and makes me more human when dealing with my wife or family after a game.

I also don’t bet on SU games. I was in Vegas for four days and didn’t place a single bet. No judgement here. I enjoy all of the games more this way.

Enjoy the ride. I’m looking forward to growth and improvement as the season progresses.


Go Orange!

 

[Chip]

I suggest you stop reading the in game threads, just watch the game. Those threads tend to reinforce the negativity.

I also do not read the “Why the opponent will win” threads. It’s just not for me. I don’t need to aggravation. Nor do I read the “why SU will win”. I don’t see the purpose.

And, I try to wait until I write anything about my observations after a game until I’ve had a chance to level out from the highs or lows following a game. If I find myself extremely annoyed or frustrated I have written posts to clear my thoughts and not posted them. This can be cathartic for me and makes me more human when dealing with my wife or family after a game.

I also don’t bet on SU games. I was in Vegas for four days and didn’t place a single bet. No judgement here. I enjoy all of the games more this way.

Enjoy the ride. I’m looking forward to growth and improvement as the season progresses.


Go Orange!

The game threads are my therapy sessions.

I actually don't get worked up like I used to. Getting older, marriage/kids, and the Greg Robinson era really put things in perspective for me.

But I view the game threads as a good spot to both do a bit of my own b_itching, but also mock everyone else for theirs. It's the wild west.

 

[All4SU]

I have been hearing from folks in the last few years who are even coming to doubt the effectiveness of their lucky sweatshirt or hat.

 

[David321]

I get very emotional during games and I'll just leave it at that.

 

[DPCuse]

I'm physically exhausted after a game. I was actually in a sweat after Friday night. No advice on what to do about it. But I get that way watching any of my sports teams play but especially Cuse.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I get very, very quiet. Pretty much laser focused as well.

 

[two3zone]

Meant to be more of a light discussion of how each of us fans cope (or fail to cope) during tense SU football games. For me, if the game has significance, the stress response is very perceptible. My heart rate increases to where I can sometimes feel the palpitations. I often need to drink a ton of water constantly because I dehydrate very quickly. Frequent bathroom trips. I'll be locked into the game but generally abstain from yelling unless:

• there's a BS penalty
• if something good is about to happen and we it up (like missing a tackle in the backfield)

I tell my wife I do not understand why I put myself through this torment because of the stress it places on my body. If we win, I think the dopamine helps to offset and my mental health has an enormous boost for a few days (cue UNLV) so maybe it's all about chasing the next high. If we lose it's the opposite effect and I'm either miserable or depressed for at least a day or longer (cue Stanford).

The only time watching is enjoyable and "fun" for me is when we're comfortably in control of the game. I started to feel that way after 14-0 last week but then two3zone had to go jinx it with his boatrace comment in the game thread and it all went to hell.

I take a Valium and smoke a ton of weed.

To be fair, I should've eased your mind when I'd say we beat those guys even if they scored 40 shortly after they scored the first time.

 

[djcon57]

The game threads are my therapy sessions.

I actually don't get worked up like I used to. Getting older, marriage/kids, and the Greg Robinson era really put things in perspective for me.

But I view the game threads as a good spot to both do a bit of my own b_itching, but also mock everyone else for theirs. It's the wild west.

Similar.

As far as the getting older thing, I agree in that like an hour after the game, I'm over it, I used to let it affect me into the next day. Good or bad, sadly.

2003, I think I was smiling for like 2 weeks after.

Note sure if I would be today. everything moves so fast.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The game threads are my therapy sessions.

Same here. I get the negativity can be excessive, but when you're upset and nobody else in the household relates you need to reach out into the void and be reminded that others are suffering with you.

 

[FrancoPizza]

I think managing expectations is key. Too many people think we’re an ACC competitor and I get why with having McCord for only one year. There’s just not enough on Defense and ST to compliment the offense. Gotta just enjoy the ride and hope for an 8-9 win season, as I've said in another thread.

As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s a new era at cuse and it will take time for Fran to build his roster.

I think we're all right there with you... but it's going to take a lot more nail-biting and white-knuckling to get to 8-9 wins. Every game has the potential to be the widow-maker. Thanks Vollono. Thanks ERob. Thanks Zeed.

 

[sutomcat]

Even a game like Holy Cross is pretty stressful to me.

This team tends to run hot, then cold, rinse and repeat until the game clock reads 0:00.

When a game is intense and close, like the one on Friday, it takes me hours for my body to return to a somewhat normal state. I am full of adrenaline, either way too excited or way too upset.

I got back to my hotel room around midnight Friday night and while I was exhausted, I couldn't get to sleep for at least 2 hours because I was too wound up. You can't cheer that hard, that long and not get caught up into it in a big way.

When I finally went to sleep, I woke up about an hour later with some muscles along my rib cage seized up into a major cramp. Those muscles must get used when I shout loudly, and when I do it for 3 or 3.5 hours straight, they sometimes decide to cramp. Sometimes it happens during the game. Sometimes afterwards. You never know. No lasting damage, but pretty painful until they go away. I think the fact that I let myself get really dyhydrated didn't help matters. After drinking a bottle of water, I was good to go the rest of the night.

I keep telling myself at the start of every SU game that I am XX* years old now, and have to start acting like it. No more screaming at the top of my lungs. No more shouting at the fans of the other team. No more insulting the coaches from the other team. No more high fiving everyone within 20 feet of me after every good SU play.

But it never works. Even against Holy Cross, I am a maniac.

I probably need professional help.

On the other hand, after the games, I feel extremely relaxed and unburdened. I am at peace with the world. The only thing I can equate it to is the feeling one gets after going to confession.

If there was no SU sports, I might have become a mass murderer. Or at least a very grouchy old man like Clint Eastwood in El Camino. So thank you SU sports. You probably have kept me out of jail and saved the lives of some innocent folks in CNY.

*=currently 64

 

[All4SU]

The Stanford game wrecked me. I was a useless pile of $4iT by the end. The UNLV game, my wife went to bed at the end of the third quarter, she couldn’t take any more. I spent the 4th quarter texting with my sons, and we were certain the game was over when UNLV scored near the end of regulation. When overtime ended I couldn’t even be excited, I was spent.

It’s hard work being a fan. And I’ve become much more emotionally balanced in my old age too.

 

[FrancoPizza]

All I can say is - if someone wrote up the fan contract and laid out all these pros and cons and asked me to sign on the dotted line - I'm not sure I would. Unfortunately, some of us are groomed or grow up during a highly favorable period of SU sports and get hooked and there's no way to undo it. We're all masochists.

 

[OrgTruckPat]

Im with everyone here who gets turned inside out every sports team I follow. If we play poorly, my sons and I can get a bit vicious. David321 and 690 West can attest. This happens at games in person and watching on tv. A loss wrecks my next day. Im a pretty grounded indiviual, Im a high school teacher and work with emotional and behavioral students, I never get above a dull roar no matter what state of crisis a student is in. But that all goes out the window with sports

 

[dasher]

Meant to be more of a light discussion of how each of us fans cope (or fail to cope) during tense SU football games. For me, if the game has significance, the stress response is very perceptible. My heart rate increases to where I can sometimes feel the palpitations. I often need to drink a ton of water constantly because I dehydrate very quickly. Frequent bathroom trips. I'll be locked into the game but generally abstain from yelling unless:

• there's a BS penalty
• if something good is about to happen and we it up (like missing a tackle in the backfield)

I tell my wife I do not understand why I put myself through this torment because of the stress it places on my body. If we win, I think the dopamine helps to offset and my mental health has an enormous boost for a few days (cue UNLV) so maybe it's all about chasing the next high. If we lose it's the opposite effect and I'm either miserable or depressed for at least a day or longer (cue Stanford).

The only time watching is enjoyable and "fun" for me is when we're comfortably in control of the game. I started to feel that way after 14-0 last week but then two3zone had to go jinx it with his boatrace comment in the game thread and it all went to hell.

One thing that I have done to reduce the stress is and I have written this here before, I dvr the game and start watching about and hour and a half after it started in football and 45 minutes in hoop. The reason is that I have found that when I can watch straight through without breaks, it actually reduces the stress. It's the time between action that brings the stress to the front. It's not perfect but it does work for me.

 

[LAOrange]

My wife got more stressed than I did. When we got back to the hotel, I had to calm her down... if you know what I mean.
Winning is fun.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Even a game like Holy Cross is pretty stressful to me.

This team tends to run hot, then cold, rinse and repeat until the game clock reads 0:00.

When a game is intense and close, like the one on Friday, it takes me hours for my body to return to a somewhat normal state. I am full of adrenaline, either way too excited or way too upset.

I got back to my hotel room around midnight Friday night and while I was exhausted, I couldn't get to sleep for at least 2 hours because I was too wound up. You can't cheer that hard, that long and not get caught up into it in a big way.

When I finally went to sleep, I woke up about an hour later with some muscles along my rib cage seized up into a major cramp. Those muscles must get used when I shout loudly, and when I do it for 3 or 3.5 hours straight, they sometimes decide to cramp. Sometimes it happens during the game. Sometimes afterwards. You never know. No lasting damage, but pretty painful until they go away. I think the fact that I let myself get really dyhydrated didn't help matters. After drinking a bottle of water, I was good to go the rest of the night.

I keep telling myself at the start of every SU game that I am XX* years old now, and have to start acting like it. No more screaming at the top of my lungs. No more shouting at the fans of the other team. No more insulting the coaches from the other team. No more high fiving everyone within 20 feet of me after every good SU play.

But it never works. Even against Holy Cross, I am a maniac.

I probably need professional help.

On the other hand, after the games, I feel extremely relaxed and unburdened. I am at peace with the world. The only thing I can equate it to is the feeling one gets after going to confession.

If there was no SU sports, I might have become a mass murderer. Or at least a very grouchy old man like Clint Eastwood in El Camino. So thank you SU sports. You probably have kept me out of jail and saved the lives of some innocent folks in CNY.

*=currently 64

I can relate to everything you said. My entire body is physically affected after a game and it takes me awhile to come off the adrenalin rush.

 

[donniesyracuse]

At some point, our culture started glorifying irrational and obsessive “super-fan” behavior. It is not something to celebrate. If you find that your fandom is negatively impacting your physical health, your mental health, your relationships, or your ability to fulfill your responsibilities, you should consider making a change.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I take a Valium and smoke a ton of weed.

To be fair, I should've eased your mind when I'd say we beat those guys even if they scored 40 shortly after they scored the first time.

So, uh, you watching Syracuse football games multiple times a week, or... ?

 

[Dick_in_MI]

The older I get, the less it bothers me. It used to be very stressful but not anymore. I don't know; maybe it is NIL, the portal, or how the sports have changed in general. Maybe it is finally achieving perspective or whatever, but I have changed.

I was in and out of Syracuse today and was in the Melo Center for a bit. The kids look younger than ever which is strange because I have not aged at all as far as I can tell. I think that violates one of the principles of Relativity, but I still think it's true.

Still, seeing these ever-younger kids up close gives validity to not allowing games to drive me crazy. The players aren't going to be perfect. A few of the football assistants' doors were open and at least one was typing on his computer with the earnest look of someone who was trying to figure out which players were X's and which ones were O's on the play diagram. The coaches aren't going to be perfect either.

I never read the game threads.

As for All4SU's comment about the lucky sweatshirt, my lucky sweatshirt is ALWAYS effective. 100% of the time, actually. It's just that sometimes the players and coaches screw up the game for my sweatshirt. The sweatshirt is perfect, but the team is not. It happens.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Depends on the game, and not just the outcome.