Are we the only ones that care

[ManiBenton]

While Walking out of a devastating loss to a quad 4 st joes team, I noticed that nobody showed any signs of sadness or anyone pissed off. Everyone acting as if what they just witnessed was normal. It’s sad, and embarrassing. It’s so sad how a once proud program has fallen to this. Being okay and not caring about losses. Nobody at the games care, I feel like the board (minus spiderwill) actually really give a damn about this program and expect/want it to get better. I’m tired of this BS. Rant over

 

[SpiderWill]

I care. 100%, I care. What do you want, people to riot and smash windshields leaving the Robins Center

 

[SpiderWill]

One thing, I think you know about our in person fan base, especially on weekends, is very few are graduates or donors. For many it's something to do with the kids (akin to laser tag) on the weekend. That's why you see Santa and Star Wars night etc. If the Spiders win it's all peaches and ice cream, if they don't, oh well.

 

[ManiBenton]

I care. 100%, I care. What do you want, people to riot and smash windshields leaving the Robins Center

One of your other post stated something along the lines of “and if they arent good, keep the ball rolling.” To me that’s more of type of fan that you talked about in your second post (which you aren’t wrong about) why not expect a man who’s making over $1m to not lose to inferior teams? I would hope if someone who makes their own account on this forum would have more expectations than the “traditional fan”

 

[MrTbone]

One thing, I think you know about our in person fan base, especially on weekends, is very few are graduates or donors. For many it's something to do with the kids (akin to laser tag) on the weekend. That's why you see Santa and Star Wars night etc. If the Spiders win it's all peaches and ice cream, if they don't, oh well.

While I think there’s modest validity to this, the problem is really more basic. We are accustomed to losing. This is emblematic of athletic and non-athletic endeavors alike, where the bar for success has been lowered to such a point that your goals are so modest that there’s no disappointment when you fail to achieve even those.

The vast majority of season ticket holders around me are alumni, and the vast majority of them react like this. Can anyone say when the last time was when they felt like we should definitely win a game against VCU? I have to go back to college and that was uncomfortably long ago.

 

[Spideralways]

Our administration doesn’t seem to care. Why should I! I gave up on Richmond athletics when they didn’t fire him in 2019. Could give a flying F… the results after that. It told me they didn’t care

 

[spider_hoss]

I made an account on this board because I follow other sports at the school. Men's Basketball, while it was my favorite, has been pushed aside thanks to the program keeping Mooney for way too long. I guarantee if Mooney leaves there will be a party at my house. My wife doesn't like him (as a coach), either. We had season tickets for 10 years but it just wasn't fun going anymore expecting different results doing the same thing over and over.

 

[Spiderp31]

Mostly everyone is aware that Mooney has been here for 20 plus years. The issue is extending his contract every few years. We aren’t given much reason to the extension. The players and community think he is a great ambassador and does well with the resources offered. A new practice facility was built to provide a winning program. However, this program hasn’t produced enough winning.

 

[Long Time UR Fan]

While I think there’s modest validity to this, the problem is really more basic. We are accustomed to losing. This is emblematic of athletic and non-athletic endeavors alike, where the bar for success has been lowered to such a point that your goals are so modest that there’s no disappointment when you fail to achieve even those.

The vast majority of season ticket holders around me are alumni, and the vast majority of them react like this. Can anyone say when the last time was when they felt like we should definitely win a game against VCU? I have to go back to college and that was uncomfortably long ago.

I agree with you, Tbone. UR mens basketball fans have been acclimated to losing. When you lose 45 percent of your games, and lose approximately 75 percent (or whatever the exact percentage is) to your main rival, VCU, losing is not surprising or unexpected. I still yell and am into games at the RC and yell at the TV on away televised games, but losing does not affect me like it used to once the game is over. A loss, especially during the Tarrant/Beilein years, used to ruin my day and night. Now a Mooney loss does not affect me as badly, I have convinced myself that the upset and frustration is not worth it, and its healthier for an old dude like me to tone down my anger and frustration over the result of a basketball game that I have no control over.

 

[whampas]

I agree with you, Tbone. UR mens basketball fans have been acclimated to losing. When you lose 45 percent of your games, and lose approximately 75 percent (or whatever the exact percentage is) to your main rival, VCU, losing is not surprising or unexpected. I still yell and am into games at the RC and yell at the TV on away televised games, but losing does not affect me like it used to once the game is over. A loss, especially during the Tarrant/Beilein years, used to ruin my day and night. Now a Mooney loss does not affect me as badly, I have convinced myself that the upset and frustration is not worth it, and its healthier for an old dude like me to tone down my anger and frustration over the result of a basketball game that I have no control over.

Totally agree with this post except I don't think you convinced yourself to care less. Mooney has beat the fire out of you and conditioned you to accept where we are as a program. Just way too many wait till next years that turn out like so many years before that hope becomes lost. I feel your pain and at my age I'm concerned that I'll not see another Tarrant or Beilein like run.

 

[SpiderPrime]

I care. 100%, I care. What do you want, people to riot and smash windshields leaving the Robins Center

Actually yes. We need fans to uprise just like they’re doing in Iran

 

[RichmondNative]

The program has taken on the identity of its coach. The giant killers have become the good enoughs, generally lacking intensity and a drive for excellence.

The only time there has been any spark was after the #Fire Mooney billboard happened.

The Mooney tenure has had some highlights, but what it has consistently lacked is the ability to maintain momentum. It is always achieve and relax.

Over the 14 years I have followed the team, the average A10 finish is 7th. It is solidly the middle of the pack even though it invests in the top 4 of the league. Under achievement by that measure, but apparently acceptable to the leadership.

So yes, the only people that apparently care are the folks on this Forum that are calling for change.

 

[Eight Legger]

This is the first year in my 30-plus years of caring about Spider basketball that I don't really care. The schedule sucked. Most of the players are new and I don't know much about them. The hired pep band still plays the same five songs it has played for at least 20 years. The coach has been here longer than most of his players have been alive. The whole thing is just as stale as it can be.

 

[fan2011]

My hope for this year is a 1st round bye in the a10 tournament. Ideally 6th seed to delay playing 1st and 2nd seed longest. We are still on track. Maybe my expectations are too low?

Long term, I hope the program is more successful. I can say with certainty, after observing for 15+ years, that posting dissatisfaction and the need for change on this board does probably less than nothing towards effectuating those changes.

 

[PalmTreeSpidUR]

I care, but the bandwidth I have available to care decreased a few years ago so I just don't have the time to care as much. Part of the reason is I am finally paying more attention to the women's team, so that consumes some of my time and rooting interest (we all know they are better, more fun to watch, and have a more engaging coach). But even if I had the same amount of bandwidth as I did a few years ago, there are some additional reasons why I just can't find myself caring as much:

--The on-the-floor product and the amount of Ws and Ls.
--The increasingly poor schedule which seems to get worse every year.
--The increased ticket prices (not all of us have affiliations that allow us to get in cheap or free) compared with the complete lack of advertised promotions which I mentioned on another thread.
--The complete lack of UR's efforts as an athletics department. We have the money, hire some proofreaders, have the business school run the promotions, generate excitement for student fans, etc. Bring back the tshirt cannon, the ball blaster, the ceiling drops, and decent halftime entertainment. What about the t-shirt giveaways they used to have? Or a featured special at the concession stands?
--What Eight Legger said about new players who I don't know, can't remember who is which number, have to look at the program to see how many years we could have a particular player unless he transfers, etc. This part is not on UR but is part of the new landscape. I hate it.
--The fact that these players (also not just a UR thing) are likely earning more as students than I do, and in the case of some of them, more than I will earn in a lifetime. I would not have liked this during our best years (under Tarrant, Beilein, or the NCAA years under Mooney). But at least I felt like players such as Gilyard, Golden, Cline, Anderson, Blair, Atkinson, Skrocki, etc, would have deserved it.

This is painful, and when I have more time, I will be sad, annoyed, and frustrated that it has all come to this and robbed me of the great joy of being a fan of a mid-major team.