Where Did the Posters Go

[hot nuts]

As a Redbird fan I might believe if the Redbirds win at SIU and home against Evansville they can contend for the conference title. I have to at believe this is a possibility or else why would I even care as a fan and post on a message board? The problem is that if these sorts of admittedly optimistic thoughts based on what-if scenarios are expressed I'm certainly going to be lambasted by some as being a complete fool for having such thoughts. It's fine to to contend that I have an irrational expectation but too often such expressions open posters up to personal badgering and result in being hounded in game threads if the scenarios doesn't play out. It doesn't come across as good natured or even civil banter among rivals.

[Championz]

As a Redbird fan I might believe if the Redbirds win at SIU and home against Evansville they can contend for the conference title. I have to at believe this is a possibility or else why would I even care as a fan and post on a message board? The problem is that if these sorts of admittedly optimistic thoughts based on what-if scenarios are expressed I'm certainly going to be lambasted by some as being a complete fool for having such thoughts. It's fine to to contend that I have an irrational expectation but too often such expressions open posters up to personal badgering and result in being hounded in game threads if the scenarios doesn't play out. It doesn't come across as good natured or even civil banter among rivals.

It's not what you say but how you say it.

The hit-and-run nature of a lot of posters is the main reason why a fan would get ridiculed. I'm not gonna rip on glm if the Bears lose on Wednesday night because he is a respectable poster and is here through thick and thin. Posters like matthewson, RedbirdFan, etc. who were here a couple months ago before Illinois State tanked and WSU was racking up L's are the ones that ask for it and set the entire Redbird faithful up. Don't take it personally if you see Redbird trash thrown around. It's mainly flung because of posters like them who come here on a hit-and-run basis and magically disappear when things head south. The Redbirds may take a lot of heat, but it's not because of you or other decent Redbird fans. It's because of them. So again, those are the peeps you can thank.

But anyways, it happens with a lot of fanbases. BEARZ33 is another example. Mouthy and chippy in November. Unheard of in December and January. Same thing happened last year.

[mvcfan31]

When your team isn't very good or goes out and plays poorly, there is enough frustration built up that coming online to have other fanbases kick you while your down isn't a whole lot of fun. It's not worth it. With that said, when they do have a special season, it makes the struggles worthwhile.

Look at attendance numbers, SIU this past weekend and here in Evansville the first two conference games. It's a different era than the one I grew up with where Roberts Stadium had 8,000-11,000 seemingly every night in the early 90s. Fans like winners and support winners. I was spoiled being born in 1983, seeing Evansville go to the NCAA Tournament in 1989 (one of my first memories), 1992, and 1993 and the NIT in 1994. There has been a drought since 1999 and maybe it was because I was in high school but I certainly didn't believe that they wouldn't get back again.

It can be fun and informative and honestly do some good to hear from the other perspective because even when we try to be objective, our guys get the benefit of the doubt. I'm guilty, when Evansville struggles I don't post much.....what is there to add at that point, especially when you have a little optimism and others are just waiting to throw them back in your face.

I'm proud to be an Evansville fan, trust me there are a ton of "Power 5" programs that get supported around here. Yes we've struggled since joining the MVC and by all accounts with DJ and Egidijus leading the way, this is the year if it's going to happen. It's been fun watching this group of Aces come together, to see the emergence of Jaylon Brown, not just vs Wichita the other night but all season long as one example.

At the end of the day, I'd glad I'm an Evansville fan, waiting for that one magical season, one magical run in STL in March that punches a ticket. Go ahead and take shots about the CIT, but man that ride, that title game in front of a crowd that was into the game was a lot of fun and it's a memory that I won't soon forget. It reminded me of an era when Evansville was competing for the old MCC titles, winning 20+ games, and going to the tournament 3 times in 5 seasons. It wasn't the NCAAs or the NIT, and there will be disappointment if the Aces can't make it there this year, but watching this team grow and compete at a much higher level, especially in the face of adversity makes it fun.

As a young aces fan (24 years old) I can barely remember the good years. It's been pretty rough. The end of last year was great, don't get me wrong, but I want to be playing on Sunday at March Madness SO BAD! I'm making the trip this year and I'll be damned if we lose on Friday again.

[Snaggletooth]

Sure, the shockers lost some games when Fred was hurt, but I'm not sure we can automatically assume they would have won with him.

It is not a stretch to say that if a healthy Fred is playing they win the USC and Alabama games....games where they lost by 3 and 4 pts. As far as Seton Hall - It was on the road, they got called for 31 fouls and Seton hall shot 35 FT, and it went to OT - hardly a embarrassing effort. The reality is when you play quality competition on the road those games are hard - UNI demonstrated that with obviously supperior UNC.

But in the end that adversity brought about Shaq Morris being forced to step up, and Markus McDuffie getting an opportunity to start showing he going to be the future Player of the Year for the MVC and has pro-potential. All very important for their present and future run and has made this team stronger.

[Aargh]

As a Redbird fan I might believe if the Redbirds win at SIU and home against Evansville they can contend for the conference title. I have to at believe this is a possibility or else why would I even care as a fan and post on a message board? The problem is that if these sorts of admittedly optimistic thoughts based on what-if scenarios are expressed I'm certainly going to be lambasted by some as being a complete fool for having such thoughts. It's fine to to contend that I have an irrational expectation but too often such expressions open posters up to personal badgering and result in being hounded in game threads if the scenarios doesn't play out. It doesn't come across as good natured or even civil banter among rivals.

By definition, fans will always have unrealistic expectations. Win a national title and there will be fans claiming that national title beats all other national titles and their national title team is better than most every other national title team.

[LanceShock]

Sure, the shockers lost some games when Fred was hurt, but I'm not sure we can automatically assume they would have won with him.

It is not a stretch to say that if a healthy Fred is playing they win the USC and Alabama games....games where they lost by 3 and 4 pts. As far as Seton Hall - It was on the road, they got called for 31 fouls and Seton hall shot 35 FT, and it went to OT - hardly a embarrassing effort. The reality is when you play quality competition on the road those games are hard - UNI demonstrated that with obviously supperior UNC.

But in the end that adversity brought about Shaq Morris being forced to step up, and Markus McDuffie getting an opportunity to start showing he going to be the future Player of the Year for the MVC and has pro-potential. All very important for their present and future run and has made this team stronger.

Who knows how the Iowa game would have gone if Iowa had been forced to focus on more than stopping Ron Baker? Do the Shockers automatically win the games they lost, no. But it is reasonable to figure that they probably win at least a one if not a couple of them.

[Tom Servo]

When your team isn't very good or goes out and plays poorly, there is enough frustration built up that coming online to have other fanbases kick you while your down isn't a whole lot of fun. It's not worth it. With that said, when they do have a special season, it makes the struggles worthwhile.

Look at attendance numbers, SIU this past weekend and here in Evansville the first two conference games. It's a different era than the one I grew up with where Roberts Stadium had 8,000-11,000 seemingly every night in the early 90s. Fans like winners and support winners. I was spoiled being born in 1983, seeing Evansville go to the NCAA Tournament in 1989 (one of my first memories), 1992, and 1993 and the NIT in 1994. There has been a drought since 1999 and maybe it was because I was in high school but I certainly didn't believe that they wouldn't get back again.

It can be fun and informative and honestly do some good to hear from the other perspective because even when we try to be objective, our guys get the benefit of the doubt. I'm guilty, when Evansville struggles I don't post much.....what is there to add at that point, especially when you have a little optimism and others are just waiting to throw them back in your face.

I'm proud to be an Evansville fan, trust me there are a ton of "Power 5" programs that get supported around here. Yes we've struggled since joining the MVC and by all accounts with DJ and Egidijus leading the way, this is the year if it's going to happen. It's been fun watching this group of Aces come together, to see the emergence of Jaylon Brown, not just vs Wichita the other night but all season long as one example.

At the end of the day, I'd glad I'm an Evansville fan, waiting for that one magical season, one magical run in STL in March that punches a ticket. Go ahead and take shots about the CIT, but man that ride, that title game in front of a crowd that was into the game was a lot of fun and it's a memory that I won't soon forget. It reminded me of an era when Evansville was competing for the old MCC titles, winning 20+ games, and going to the tournament 3 times in 5 seasons. It wasn't the NCAAs or the NIT, and there will be disappointment if the Aces can't make it there this year, but watching this team grow and compete at a much higher level, especially in the face of adversity makes it fun.

As a young aces fan (24 years old) I can barely remember the good years. It's been pretty rough. The end of last year was great, don't get me wrong, but I want to be playing on Sunday at March Madness SO BAD! I'm making the trip this year and I'll be damned if we lose on Friday again.

These two posts hit the nail on the head for the Aces. I'm 25, and I'm in the same boat. I remember 99 but that's really one of the last few good Aces memories. Last year was certainly the best season since 99, without a doubt. The CIT run was fun, and it was good to see the support come back. This year attendance has been much better so far in the conference season. It will probably not be good tonight due to the weather (which is stupid...) but it's been a lot better so far this year.

I'm going to STL this year as well, hoping for 3 games this time...Go Aces!

[Valley_Fan]

There are a number of Creighton fans that still lurk here and follow the valley, but every time we post we are reminded how lowly the Big East is, how bad a basketball team we are, and how pathetic it is that we still follow the valley. Perhaps if fans were not being run off the board, more would still be here.

Since I broke the ice though, great to see SIU moving in the right direction.

Also, if I was commissioner, it would be a good time to expand. getting some other teams in here allows for the top teams to get some more wins and raises the footprint of the conference, but that is just a Creighton fan talking.

[Ricardo del Rio]

There are a number of Creighton fans that still lurk here and follow the valley, but every time we post we are reminded how lowly the Big East is, how bad a basketball team we are, and how pathetic it is that we still follow the valley. Perhaps if fans were not being run off the board, more would still be here.

Since I broke the ice though, great to see SIU moving in the right direction.

Also, if I was commissioner, it would be a good time to expand. getting some other teams in here allows for the top teams to get some more wins and raises the footprint of the conference, but that is just a Creighton fan talking.

Just so you know, I remember well the years that the Jay posters slammed the Shockers with criticism and jeered their every achievement. The messages were delivered with the haughtiest of arrogance.

In 2005, the Shockers were invited to the NIT. Jays unleashed an avalanche of disdain and called the NIT by the name of Nobody's Interested Tournament.

What goes around comes around. A few years later, the Jays were in decline and playing in the NIT.

Now the Jays are playing a bunch of 200+ RPI teams to build a record so they can assert some measure of relevance and standing.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

[Valley_Fan]

There are a number of Creighton fans that still lurk here and follow the valley, but every time we post we are reminded how lowly the Big East is, how bad a basketball team we are, and how pathetic it is that we still follow the valley. Perhaps if fans were not being run off the board, more would still be here.

Since I broke the ice though, great to see SIU moving in the right direction.

Also, if I was commissioner, it would be a good time to expand. getting some other teams in here allows for the top teams to get some more wins and raises the footprint of the conference, but that is just a Creighton fan talking.

Just so you know, I remember well the years that the Jay posters slammed the Shockers with criticism and jeered their every achievement. The messages were delivered with the haughtiest of arrogance.

In 2005, the Shockers were invited to the NIT. Jays unleashed an avalanche of disdain and called the NIT by the name of Nobody's Interested Tournament.

What goes around comes around. A few years latter, the Jays were in decline and playing in the NIT.

Now the Jays are playing a bunch of 200+ RPI teams to build a record so they can assert some measure of relevance and standing.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Every fan base has theirs. I also remember Jays fans admonishing their own for their behavior, but that is not here nor there. You wanted to know where the posters went, well some were run off, so there you go.

This post is not about Creighton so I won't address your other comments, other than to say we like our team, a lot.