Question for the board

[BuckyIsAB****]

In this day and age, why should an alumnus, fan, janitor, professor or bus driver be loyal to any school? Where you went? Doesn?t matter anymore. Where your grandpappy went? Doesn?t matter anymore. It is beginning to feel like pro sports where there really is no reason to be really emotionally connected to the program. I realize nothing can take your memories away in the Junction, District, Pony Club with the boys and all. But what is stopping Joe Fan that has been Maroon since he was born from donating 10 bucks to LSUs NIL collective and saying he has skin in the game? Why put yourself through the torture?

[parabrave]

I was talking to a member and lifelong friend of a player from the 80 team and told him last year that I couldn't name one starter on the team. Hell in 1974 in the 7th grade I knew who Rocky was James Touchet and Walter Packer were and throughout the 70's and up until 2024 I could always know who the next years starter would be. Not anymore. Even he had no idea of who was one the team this year.

[sandjunky]

In this day and age, why should an alumnus, fan, janitor, professor or bus driver be loyal to any school? Where you went? Doesn?t matter anymore. Where your grandpappy went? Doesn?t matter anymore. It is beginning to feel like pro sports where there really is no reason to be really emotionally connected to the program. I realize nothing can take your memories away in the Junction, District, Pony Club with the boys and all. But what is stopping Joe Fan that has been Maroon since he was born from donating 10 bucks to LSUs NIL collective and saying he has skin in the game? Why put yourself through the torture?

I have that internal dialogue frequently when it comes to football

I?ve just come to accept this is my purgatory

[Maroon Glasses]

I was talking to a member and lifelong friend of a player from the 80 team and told him last year that I couldn't name one starter on the team. Hell in 1974 in the 7th grade I knew who Rocky was James Touchet and Walter Packer were and throughout the 70's and up until 2024 I could always know who the next years starter would be. Not anymore. Even he had no idea of who was one the team this year.

One of my favorite things to do during the offseason was keep up with high school recruits and once they committed to State, just watch them for 3-4 years grow and develop. Sounds weird but I really enjoyed it. Knew what high school they went to. Knew what to look forward to the following year and I would know if we would be hurting or excelling at that position.

Now I can't keep up with players because they leave so often and I have no idea what to expect next year at any position except QB and RB. Still love the university and the game of football. NIL and xfer portal has its perks, but to me the negatives greatly outweigh the positive. 95% probably has to do with us sucking. If we can turn it around then I can probably enjoy it alot more. Winning cures all!

[basedog]

I was talking to a member and lifelong friend of a player from the 80 team and told him last year that I couldn't name one starter on the team. Hell in 1974 in the 7th grade I knew who Rocky was James Touchet and Walter Packer were and throughout the 70's and up until 2024 I could always know who the next years starter would be. Not anymore. Even he had no idea of who was one the team this year.

Damn para, what year did you graduate. I thought you graduated around 77-78.

[R2Dawg]

As an alumni, I can't change my colors and I think hard for most. That is baked into my DNA; that is why it is so hard being a Bulldog fan.

For fair weather fans or non-alumni, I can't see big reasons now to be loyal at all. I've know a few people in my lifetime that changed teams every year or even each week depends on who wins. He wore different hats all the time. He was always a winner and never mad. I kinda was kinda jealous and thought I wish I could do that. Just not how I'm wired - maroon blood and Bulldog bark.

[parabrave]

Damn para, what year did you graduate. I thought you graduated around 77-78.

I used to go through my cousins yearbooks and my older brother yearbooks and I Memorized them. My FB idol growing up was a guy named James Touchet who graduated from Notre Dame High School in 71 and played at State and at state from 72 - 75. He was later killed while at Navy Flight Training. We used to listen to Jack on the radio in the 70s. My Sister was a cheerleader and HC Maid in 80. Now for the older years you can go to MSU Archives and research the Reveille all you want

[confucius say]

Geez yall sound old.

[Brobi-wan]

Suddenly 27 doesn’t feel as old as it did this morning ��

[CaptainObvious]

I used to go through my cousins yearbooks and my older brother yearbooks and I Memorized them. My FB idol growing up was a guy named James Touchet who graduated from Notre Dame High School in 71 and played at State and at state from 72 - 75. He was later killed while at Navy Flight Training. We used to listen to Jack on the radio in the 70s. My Sister was a cheerleader and HC Maid in 80. Now for the older years you can go to MSU Archives and research the Reveille all you want

Those were the years Rockey was QB. I was there 73-76.

[parabrave]

My older brother was at State from 77-80 and he used to get me the old Wait till next year and Let's Win Something Today T Shirts. Wore those all the time to school.

[Todd4State]

In this day and age, why should an alumnus, fan, janitor, professor or bus driver be loyal to any school? Where you went? Doesn?t matter anymore. Where your grandpappy went? Doesn?t matter anymore. It is beginning to feel like pro sports where there really is no reason to be really emotionally connected to the program. I realize nothing can take your memories away in the Junction, District, Pony Club with the boys and all. But what is stopping Joe Fan that has been Maroon since he was born from donating 10 bucks to LSUs NIL collective and saying he has skin in the game? Why put yourself through the torture?

I think there will always be players like KT though that are local guys that fit the profile of what our fans like in players.

But we've also gotten guys like Brennen Thompson out of the portal that have become fan favorites too.

[TaleofTwoDogs]

I was talking to a member and lifelong friend of a player from the 80 team and told him last year that I couldn't name one starter on the team. Hell in 1974 in the 7th grade I knew who Rocky was James Touchet and Walter Packer were and throughout the 70's and up until 2024 I could always know who the next years starter would be. Not anymore. Even he had no idea of who was one the team this year.

Don't forget about O linemen Sam Nichols and Jim Eidson. Touchet, Nichols & Eidson were State's Band of Brothers.

These guys were All-SEC and I don't think any of them were more than 260 pounds. Times have changed.
Eidson was drafted by the Cowbows in the 2nd round, the first SEC linemen in that year's draft.
Nichols was a 1 star, not the recruiting kind but the Army kind. Served as a MP commander during his career in the army.
And as Parabrave stated, Touchet was a Navy pilot who died in an aviation accident. RIP.

I was writing Reflector sports back in the 70s. Great times.

[parabrave]

Don't forget about O linemen Sam Nichols and Jim Eidson. Touchet, Nichols & Eidson were State's Band of Brothers.

These guys were All-SEC and I don't think any of them were more than 260 pounds. Times have changed.
Eidson was drafted by the Cowbows in the 2nd round, the first SEC linemen in that year's draft.
Nichols was a 1 star, not the recruiting kind but the Army kind. Served as a MP commander during his career in the army.
And as Parabrave stated, Touchet was a Navy pilot who died in an aviation accident. RIP.

I was writing Reflector sports back in the 70s. Great times.

Also Ronnie Cuevas from Gulfport. I remember When our old Coach got the word that he was killed. Man broke down on the practice field. He always had his MSTATe photo on his wall.

[DEDawg]

In this day and age, why should an alumnus, fan, janitor, professor or bus driver be loyal to any school? Where you went? Doesn?t matter anymore. Where your grandpappy went? Doesn?t matter anymore. It is beginning to feel like pro sports where there really is no reason to be really emotionally connected to the program. I realize nothing can take your memories away in the Junction, District, Pony Club with the boys and all. But what is stopping Joe Fan that has been Maroon since he was born from donating 10 bucks to LSUs NIL collective and saying he has skin in the game? Why put yourself through the torture?

I don't understand this post. What has changed? We've always been a bottom tier program in football, why would my fandom change now? Regarding pro teams I'm just as committed and loyal to my pro team as MSU. Band wagon fans have always existed in all sports forever so that is nothing new.

[Coach34]

I don't understand this post. What has changed? We've always been a bottom tier program in football, why would my fandom change now? Regarding pro teams I'm just as committed and loyal to my pro team as MSU. Band wagon fans have always existed in all sports forever so that is nothing new.

What has changed is that players move freely from program to program and there is no more fandom attachment. Shit, even the Cowboys keep the same QB. NFL will have guys that identify with teams. College is losing that quickly. 2 years with 1 school has become a big deal- much less 4 or 5.

[DEDawg]

What has changed is that players move freely from program to program and there is no more fandom attachment. Shit, even the Cowboys keep the same QB. NFL will have guys that identify with teams. College is losing that quickly. 2 years with 1 school has become a big deal- much less 4 or 5.

I guess it's never bothered me in the context of being a fan of MSU. It bothers me in the context of how stupid the NIL/Transfer rules are. Even in our "golden days" you kept a good player 3 years max if you're lucky. Sure I love the players who are true maroon but it's never been about them, always been the team. We are grown ass men who spend more time than we'd like to admit on a sports message board, I gotta imagine most here are true fans of the school and would never switch that loyalty.

[HeCannotGo]

In this day and age, why should an alumnus, fan, janitor, professor or bus driver be loyal to any school? Where you went? Doesn?t matter anymore. Where your grandpappy went? Doesn?t matter anymore. It is beginning to feel like pro sports where there really is no reason to be really emotionally connected to the program. I realize nothing can take your memories away in the Junction, District, Pony Club with the boys and all. But what is stopping Joe Fan that has been Maroon since he was born from donating 10 bucks to LSUs NIL collective and saying he has skin in the game? Why put yourself through the torture?

It's never made any sense when viewed objectively. I tell myself every summer that I will not become emotionally invested in State football, that I will not allow what a group of 18-22 year-olds do on a football field determine my mood for the week. That they're just a bunch of mercenaries who happen to wear my school's colors (at least until they transfer out next week). That it's really silly to spend time, money, and energy watching this nonsense, and even sillier to get angry when the ball bounces the wrong way.

But every year I break those promises to myself, and the following line of thinking takes over: If the group of teenagers wearing my school's uniform defeats the group of youngsters wearing your school's uniform, then I am superior to you in every way. You must acknowledge my superiority and congratulate me on my victory, even though I had precious little to do with it. But if my team loses, then I have failed personally. I have been measured and found wanting. Even worse, nameless, faceless "others" have conspired against me, from the NCAA office to SEC headquarters to the referees to the bookies in Vegas. They must be brought to justice. Coaches must be fired. Quarterbacks must be benched. This outrage will not stand.

It has always been thus.

[CaptainObvious]

It's never made any sense when viewed objectively. I tell myself every summer that I will not become emotionally invested in State football, that I will not allow what a group of 18-22 year-olds do on a football field determine my mood for the week. That they're just a bunch of mercenaries who happen to wear my school's colors (at least until they transfer out next week). That it's really silly to spend time, money, and energy watching this nonsense, and even sillier to get angry when the ball bounces the wrong way.

But every year I break those promises to myself, and the following line of thinking takes over: If the group of teenagers wearing my school's uniform defeats the group of youngsters wearing your school's uniform, then I am superior to you in every way. You must acknowledge my superiority and congratulate me on my victory, even though I had precious little to do with it. But if my team loses, then I have failed personally. I have been measured and found wanting. Even worse, nameless, faceless "others" have conspired against me, from the NCAA office to SEC headquarters to the referees to the bookies in Vegas. They must be brought to justice. Coaches must be fired. Quarterbacks must be benched. This outrage will not stand.

It has always been thus.

All-Star post of the Year! ^^^^^

[basedog]

I used to go through my cousins yearbooks and my older brother yearbooks and I Memorized them. My FB idol growing up was a guy named James Touchet who graduated from Notre Dame High School in 71 and played at State and at state from 72 - 75. He was later killed while at Navy Flight Training. We used to listen to Jack on the radio in the 70s. My Sister was a cheerleader and HC Maid in 80. Now for the older years you can go to MSU Archives and research the Reveille all you want

Actually, I signed a FB scholarship with Msu in 1969 (Fred Morris signed me). It's kinda a long story about what happened with me in this situation. Maybe one day we will meet up and talk about it. Lewis Grubbs was a good friend and still is to this day, he and I were supposed to be roommates.
Btw, Charlie Shira was a good man. There are a few on ED know this about me.