Time for our preseason post on how negative fans affect the Arizona Football team, the other fans, and our staff.
Speaking to specific fans on Facebook over the last week, some are just hell-bent on being sour and negative from the get go.
I cannot see how that helps the team or fans enjoy the sport of football at all, and frankly, maybe they should be bandwagon fans of another school. That is if they want to be happy and are not currently happy. Maybe they will satisfy them, and it could ultimately help our fan base stay positive. The fans matter to the team, that’s why the team works so hard. Also, if Arizona starts winning, maybe they will come back and miraculously be positive?
I can hear it now, “They are big boys, they have to take it, it comes with the territory, it comes with the scholarship.” Yes, bummed out fans comes with the territory, fans who constantly slam their coaches and specific players without regard, that’s something else.
Want to know one reason why maybe top recruits don’t necessarily pick Arizona? The fans. In basketball, almost all the commits I talk too chose Arizona because of the fans and the way they are treated. Not the football players so much, and there are a lot of them. It’s not a selling point, the Wildcats football fans, but it could be and wouldn’t that be great?
Arizona Wildcats Football
I recently spoke to a pretty famous Arizona Football Alumni, and he was so disappointed in the media and the fan base. He preferred a supportive and positive line of questioning, questions the players want to answer, or can answer intelligently. He thanked Zona Zealots for being positive and supportive, called us refreshing. Well, that made our day!
This Wildcat told me of his time in the press box with media, and how they knew he was there, but they were still so down on the team. That was the season the team won the Pac-12 South Championship. It seemed the team found themselves in the second half of games and came back to win games.
The landscape of media has changed a bit this season, and blogs, as well as press, are pretty even. We will see how it goes.
There are people who thrive on negativity. They are never happy no matter what. They sit in their homes and complain on social media, but they don’t go to the games, they don’t say positive things, and they are just miserable in life. And a lot of them never played a down of football, yet they are the experts on which player is “trash”, who should leave, or get fired.
Honestly, how does it help today to be so negative? In the world today, people need to stay positive in all areas of life if humanly possible. Ed Sheeran wrote a song (What do I know?), it’s a song about how positivity can change the world, “It’s love, understanding, and positivity.” Being a mom and woman, I can’t help but be all about that, judge if you want, that’s your prerogative, but I want to drive home my point.
I feel like the political climate, and huge divide is seeping into sports, the anger reminds me of that movie Network circa 1976 (31 years ago). Peter Finch says, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” And continues to implore everyone to go to their windows and yell this to the world.
I say we do that with our fellow fans. You’re not going to take it anymore. Maybe fans can try to support and offer constructive criticism? Hmm? Let’s help our fellow fans understand it’s a game and these are human beings trying their best because who wants to lose.
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Coach Rod has his son by his side and his daughter on the sidelines. He wants his family, the school and fans to be proud of Tucson, the University of Arizona, the team and his staff. Maybe Arizona has another losing season, or maybe not. So how about we give them all a chance and visualize a winning season, be a part of cheering on the team as the Seahawks fans do in Seattle? Whew! Got that off my chest! Let’s get this season started, BEAR DOWN ARIZONA!