I posted this article in the comments section earlier today and after reading it again and talking with JWilson we thought it might deserve a full post.
Terry Bowden wrote about how the Backyard Brawl was his dad’s worst defeat ever. To my generation of fan, last Saturday’s loss to PITT might be the worst defeat we’ve witnessed, but there are generations before us who have felt this before and have been able to move on. We must do the same. Terry says this:
Well, the current Mountaineer coach is carrying an even bigger burden today. He probably feels like he let down his players, friends, family and fellow West “by God” Virginians. Rich Rodriguez is a great coach. He loves the Mountaineers. As a WVU and football letterman, I think he will one day end up as the greatest coach ever in the history of West Virginia University. The memory of this game will fade over time and will be overshadowed by championships instead.
Mountaineer fans need to rally behind our coach right now – we need to hug his neck and tell him how much we appreciate what he has done and is still doing for our football program. This one game will not define Coach Rod’s career. But the way we West Virginia fans respond to this gut-wrenching loss will define our true spirit.
JeremyC pointed out earlier, in a comment, that WVU will now have been to 5 New Year bowls (or better) in a row. I remember when we were happy to go to the flippin’ Tire Bowl. Let’s all take a deep breath and think about how great it is to be a Mountaineer these days. All of a sudden, we get disappointed when we don’t go to the National Championship Game. It’s quite amazing actually. I never thought I would be in the position I’m in now as a fan of WVU football.
Coach Rod has set the bar very high for us. So when something like this happens, it’s always going to be hard to take and it’s a big punch in the stomach.
Here is a comparison chart showing how what we expect as a fan now compared to just 7 years ago.
| Evolution of a Mountaineer Fans Expectations | |
|
NOW |
THEN |
| BCS Bowl | Any Bowl.. please!!! |
| Win the Bowl Game | Just happy to be there |
| Heisman contenders year after year | How do you spell Hiesman? |
| Can’t buy season tickets | Can’t sell season tickets (like PITT) |
| National TV Coverage almost every week | Had to go to Morgantown to see the game |
| Heartbreak with every loss | We drink if we win, We drink if we lose |
| 8 wins = terrible season | 8 wins = best season in years |
| Coaching Carousel stay away from our boy Rod! | RETIRE NEHLEN!!!! |
| Spread ‘em and run up the middle!!! | Just run up the middle |
| Mountaineer Pride | Mountaineer Pride (that never changed) |
I’m sure you guys can come with more of these. Coach Rod has changed the way we all think of WVU Football. For all he’s given us over the past 7 years, we owe him a big THANK YOU! Like Terry said, we need to rally behind our coach. He’ll get us there! Now if you get a chance, click on the button on the sidebar and vote for Coach Rod for Coach of the Year. Vote Now, Vote Often.
It’s been a few days, and I think I’ve finally gone through all the stages of grief and made my way to acceptance now. We may not be going to the national championships, but it sure has been a great year. I’ll be ordering my new shirt from the WV Mountaineer Sports shop now to get hyped up for the bowl game! Go ‘Eers!
Thanks Lesly!!!
I’ll be making some Fiesta Bowl Shirts here in the next few days, make sure to check back for that.
anyone have ideas they would like to see on a shirt, let me know I’ll make it up and put it in the shop.
well said. these are beautiful times. bcs championship is not too far off. thanks for usually saying what we all feel.
I was there in the “THEN” times and I can tell you this is a hell of alot better. I just received my Big East Championship shirt today, put it on and went out to do some shopping. As I was leaving a store I was stopped by a couple that’s a grad of WV in 1967 (I thought I was old). They, like me, were sick over the loss however, all they wanted to know was “how the hell I got my shirt so fast!” They aren’t going to the bowl game but my husband is giving it to me as a b’day gift. I’m going to have National Travel book the land package, but I will fly out of Houston. I remember the “THEN” days–Coach Rod and the team has earned our SUPPORT! I’ll be there to give it to them with all my heart and LUNGS.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA