Rooting for Rutgers to lose

[apgoosebumps]

Based on results, it looks like we would have made a bowl of we had beaten Maryland.

I'm not saying Flood would have definitely been back if we made a bowl, but for all those who said youre not a Rutgers fan if you root for us to lose... would you rather be 5-7 in a bowl with flood or 4-8 with ash?

 

[Jim_from_RU]

Based on results, it looks like we would have made a bowl of we had beaten Maryland.

I'm not saying Flood would have definitely been back if we made a bowl, but for all those who said youre not a Rutgers fan if you root for us to lose... would you rather be 5-7 in a bowl with flood or 4-8 with ash?

The latter.

 

[ouchmyknee]

Praise the lord. While some would disagree, I think true fans are the ones who want best for the program. So, sometimes you have to look past the short term into the bigger picture. What was best for the program was new leadership and if losing was going to get that done, then I was all for it. It didn't mean I wasn't a true fan. It just meant that I'd sacrifice losing to cheer on a winner consistently.

 

[BrunswickBob]

Very interesting way to crystallize the whole "hoping your team loses" debate.

 

[Rutgers Man 22]

I root for the kids. Any kid who doesn't want to win doesn't belong on any sports team at any level. And I'm certain that those kids, the seniors especially, much rather have gone out with a win.

So yes, I am as true a fan as any, rooting for us to win every game we play in.

 

[KingHigh]

I would rather be 5-7, in a bowl and Ash coaching it. I root for Rutgers to win.

 

[CornerTavern]

It's a false premise, your question presupposes that Flood's firing was not a sure thing and that the game outcome was relevant … Based on the fact that Hobbs was already hired, I think the chances of that are very small.

 

[CornerTavern]

And again, would you say it to players face? "I'm rooting for you to lose, so we can get a new coach".
Are you going to root for us to lose every game for the rest of the season and basketball, because you want to new coach there too? Do you think that's "being good fan, for the greater good"?

 

[J.L. Gotrocks]

The following excerpt from Barchi's statement makes it clear the UMd game result was irrelevant:

I believe, however, at this point, when major changes are being made in our football program, we need a fresh start. Having reached that conclusion this past week, it would not have been fair to Julie, to Rutgers and our student athletes, or to potential football coaching candidates, for her to continue in her role.

 

[BrunswickBob]

It's a false premise, your question presupposes that Flood's firing was not a sure thing and that the game outcome was relevant … Based on the fact that Hobbs was already hired, I think the chances of that are very small.

Whether it's a false premise in this instance or not, it's not hard to conceive of a scenario in which a coaches fate would ride on the outcome of a single game. As imprudent as that notion sounds.

 

[BrunswickBob]

And again, would you say it to players face? "I'm rooting for you to lose, so we can get a new coach".
Are you going to root for us to lose every game for the rest of the season and basketball, because you want to new coach there too? Do you think that's "being good fan, for the greater good"?

To answer your question, there is a scenario in which I would hope (not go to a game and actively root) for my team to lose. And no, I wouldn't say it to a players face. Seems like an easy situation to avoid, as players rarely ask what my rooting intentions are.

 

[Scarlet4ever]

It's another culture thing that the BoG, AD, and Ash have to hopefully change around here. I don't think any RU fan would be rooting for a loss if they had faith at the end of the year in the administration to make the right decision without trying to save money at the expense of the program. Maybe the moves still would have happened. The RU administration needs to continue to gain the fans trust, as they have over the last 7 days.

 

[seels2662]

The following excerpt from Barchi's statement makes it clear the UMd game result was irrelevant:

I believe, however, at this point, when major changes are being made in our football program, we need a fresh start. Having reached that conclusion this past week, it would not have been fair to Julie, to Rutgers and our student athletes, or to potential football coaching candidates, for her to continue in her role.

This is the most important post in this thread. He was going to be fired no matter what. So people that rooted for them to lose betrayed their team for no reason.

 

[Upstream]

The following excerpt from Barchi's statement makes it clear the UMd game result was irrelevant:

Barchi had already made the decision to fire Flood and Hermann before the Army game. Rutgers contacted Hobbs about the AD job the day before the Army game.

Not only was the Maryland game irrelevant, so was the Army game.

 

[apgoosebumps]

I dont think well ever know how much tbe maryland game meant for floods fate (it's obvious JH was gone regardless). BUT if I were asked this before the Maryland game, I would take the latter

5-7, in a bowl, 1% chance flood is back
4-8, no bowl, no chance flood is back

 

[wheezer]

Win all the games we can...... I would not have been enthusiastic about a bowl with a 5-7 record, but would support the team and its efforts in a bowl without regard to pending firing and hirings

.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

Don't get all twisted up about this - it is a difficult & emotional conundrum - and lots of programs have struggled with this sort of rooting dilemma -
Ask any Ohio State fan if they recall having conflicted feelings during the tenure of Earle Bruce or John Cooper -
Or same question to Michigan fans - and say Gary Moeller, or Lloyd Carr, Rich Rod or Brady Hoke
The records may have varied - but in all the cases there were times where the fans struggled with hoping for short term misfortune in order to open the door to change and the potential for longer term success

 

[OldManRiver]

Barchi had already made the decision to fire Flood and Hermann before the Army game. Rutgers contacted Hobbs about the AD job the day before the Army game.

Not only was the Maryland game irrelevant, so was the Army game.

This
Would have liked another game..."fans" should NEVER root for loss...period!!!

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

It was decided to dump Flood and Herman a week before it happen, so no it would not had made any difference, all losing did was make fans even more happy for change, also our local "media" couldn't run any hackish "Did Rutgers make the right choice?" blog articles with a slide show.

 

[BrycesUncle]

Based on results, it looks like we would have made a bowl of we had beaten Maryland.

I'm not saying Flood would have definitely been back if we made a bowl, but for all those who said youre not a Rutgers fan if you root for us to lose... would you rather be 5-7 in a bowl with flood or 4-8 with ash?

Our team is not doing good at this point. I think that regardless of the team winning or losing, going 5-7 and making a Bowl game, you don't fire the AD and keep the coach. Flood was out no matter what happened in the Maryland game. I'm glad he's gone and let's move on to the new HC, the kids need a new start.......

 

[RUBlueLot]

Based on results, it looks like we would have made a bowl of we had beaten Maryland.

I'm not saying Flood would have definitely been back if we made a bowl, but for all those who said youre not a Rutgers fan if you root for us to lose... would you rather be 5-7 in a bowl with flood or 4-8 with ash?

Is that you Alfred?

 

[lighty]

Well it saved a few hit pieces In the local media. Think of the potential storylines:

1 - did a 5-7 Rutgers team deserve a bowl game?
2 - how much will this bowl cost Rutgers?
3 - do fans even care about seeing RU in a bowl this year?
4 - if Flood stayed, should the bowl have saved his job?
5 - if Flood was fired, should RU really have fired a coach that has gone bowling 3 of 4 years?

IMO, Rutgers is better off without this bowl. You can say the kids would have wanted to go, I'll counter with most athletes HATE participation trophies and that's what this would have been.

 

[BoroKnight]

NEVER root for Rutgers to lose. Weak and pathetic.

Besides, we now know the decision was made to clean house BEFORE the Maryland game. You think 5-7 fools anyone? Even Barchi?

Missouri declined to go to a bowl at 5-7. There would have been a lot of support for Rutgers doing the same thing.

Hey, we're one season removed from the best bowl win we've ever had. Didn't give Flood much cushion this year, did it?

 

[knightfan7]

Screw next year. Screw what is "Best" for RU's future. Screw everything other than the kids who put on that jersey and represent your university on any given Saturday.

No one will ever convince me rooting against them, which is what you're doing, is ever the right thing to do.

 

[RU Cheese]

The root for a loss thing was debated at length before. This thread asks a good question based upon the events that have unfolded because that's where the loss people were coming from. The point isn't to debate the sequence of the events, but answer his simple question to illustrate to motives of those people. Not saying it's right or wrong, but it's just as disingenuous to avoid the question entirely

 

[BrunswickBob]

Screw next year. Screw what is "Best" for RU's future. Screw everything other than the kids who put on that jersey and represent your university on any given Saturday.

No one will ever convince me rooting against them, which is what you're doing, is ever the right thing to do.

I don't think anyone is trying to convince you. Silly exercise to try to convince someone how to root for a sporting event. There is no right or wrong approach.

 

[knightfan7]

I don't think anyone is trying to convince you. Silly exercise to try to convince someone how to root for a sporting event. There is no right or wrong approach.

Sorry Bob but I disagree.

How anyone can put up their RU flag at a tailgate, wear their Rutgers hoodie, go in the stadium, and then root for a loss is beyond reason let alone approach.

I like your posts but we'll just have to agree to disagree here. Looking forward to a much brighter 2016. Go RU.

.

 

[rubaseball78]

There is no way I could root for RU to lose. I was convinced since the suspension change was needed. I also felt last 2 games wouldn't matter. I know as a player I would be very pissed knowing "fans" we're rooting for me to lose.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Based on results, it looks like we would have made a bowl of we had beaten Maryland.

I'm not saying Flood would have definitely been back if we made a bowl, but for all those who said youre not a Rutgers fan if you root for us to lose... would you rather be 5-7 in a bowl with flood or 4-8 with ash?

It's clear from the speed with which Hobbs was hired that flood was gone irrespective of the results in the Maryland game. So I would have preferred a win against MD, a bowl game AND a new coach.

 

[RUsSKii]

I still don't believe that any 5-7 teams deserve to participate in bowl games, and would not have gone to or watched any such games (even if RU was one of those teams).. But I never root for Rutgers football to lose. Yet I had become so emotionally detached from the teams play that when Maryland came back to win the final game, I didn't get mad or scream; instead, it was just acceptance of yet another brutal loss and Floods likely fate as head coach.

Does that answer your question?

 

[SanFranRutgers]

It's a false premise, your question presupposes that Flood's firing was not a sure thing and that the game outcome was relevant … Based on the fact that Hobbs was already hired, I think the chances of that are very small.

Not "very small;" the odds were non-existent. Barchi and Brown had made the decision prior to the Army game, based on their ability to hire an adequate replacement for Hermann.

I can't -- for the life of me -- understand the emphasis some fans place on playing in a bowl game.

 

[SanFranRutgers]

Well it saved a few hit pieces In the local media. Think of the potential storylines:

1 - did a 5-7 Rutgers team deserve a bowl game?
2 - how much will this bowl cost Rutgers?
3 - do fans even care about seeing RU in a bowl this year?
4 - if Flood stayed, should the bowl have saved his job?
5 - if Flood was fired, should RU really have fired a coach that has gone bowling 3 of 4 years?

IMO, Rutgers is better off without this bowl. You can say the kids would have wanted to go, I'll counter with most athletes HATE participation trophies and that's what this would have been.

... and, yet, there are countless fans on this board who love the fact that there are 40 bowl games on the calendar. Unbelievable.

 

[lighty]

Bowls were important when there were only a handful of bowls and they were important when you had to win enough to even have a chance at a bowl. When teams with losing records start bowling, it's clear they no longer have much meaning.

 

[czxqa]

It's a false premise, your question presupposes that Flood's firing was not a sure thing and that the game outcome was relevant … Based on the fact that Hobbs was already hired, I think the chances of that are very small.

Agreed. Flood's fate was sealed long ago. Greg Brown was asking Barry Alvarez about possible new HC choices at the Wisconsin game.

 

[CranfordKnight]

This should not have ever even been a debate. There is no scenario where beating a terrible 2-9 team at home should be a deciding factor on whether the season was a success or the program was moving in the right direction. That there was a debate is more a reflection of the perceived ineptitude of the RU administration. Glad we were proven wrong.

 

[TheRacRU]

I have no problem rooting for a loss if it means progress in the program elsewhere. I'll never understand the, "I can never root for a loss for our kids" crowd. It's a game. Teams lose. Big deal. If one of those losses, hypothetically, meant that the program will be better served in the long term, then I am all for it.

 

[rubaseball78]

Rac - You obviously have never played. There is no way it would be okay to any player to hear their fans were rooting for them to lose. I propose you search out Darius Hamilton and tell him you rooted for a loss.

 

[jerzey devil]

Well it saved a few hit pieces In the local media. Think of the potential storylines:

1 - did a 5-7 Rutgers team deserve a bowl game?
2 - how much will this bowl cost Rutgers?
3 - do fans even care about seeing RU in a bowl this year?
4 - if Flood stayed, should the bowl have saved his job?
5 - if Flood was fired, should RU really have fired a coach that has gone bowling 3 of 4 years?

IMO, Rutgers is better off without this bowl. You can say the kids would have wanted to go, I'll counter with most athletes HATE participation trophies and that's what this would have been.

Most athletes may care less about trophies...But they all want to participate!!! They don't care who's in front of them!! Just give them a ball, and let them play!! And I will say this again!! ANYONE WHO ROOTS FOR THEIR TEAM TO LOSE! IS NOT A TRUE FAN!!

 

[TheRacRU]

Rac - You obviously have never played. There is no way it would be okay to any player to hear their fans were rooting for them to lose. I propose you search out Darius Hamilton and tell him you rooted for a loss.

It's a game. He has lost close to 20 in his college career. He'll survive.

 

[Source]

They should find the average seasonal amount of FBS teams that are two or more games above .500. You take that number and divide by two. That's the amount of Bowl Games that should be scheduled... at most! You should be dipping into the .500 pool when you get an occasional anomaly and don't have enough above-.500 teams to fill those slots.

The most FBS teams in any one season that finished at or above .500 is 78. So that's 39 Bowl Games for the MOST teams ever. Now there's 40 Bowl games. Of course this sub-.500 stuff is going to continue. How could it not?