Spider17
All A-10 player
My first impression of the University was watching a team in the NCAA tournament in 2011 make a memorable run to the sweet 16. Little did I know that a few years later I would call Richmond home and the rest was history. I fell in love and became indebted to a University that had given me so much in my life both personally and professionally. As a sports fan all my life, Richmond basketball quickly became the #1 team I supported in all sports: whether it was collegiate or professional, domestic or international. I had been asked by my friends before why do I care so much about Richmond sports. My response was always the same. "I care about the things I love".
Over this time watching my beloved Spiders I have felt joy, sadness, anger, disgust, and every emotion in between. Seeing JOC's tweet last night, I felt something for the first time -- heartbroken. It wasn't because I wasn't expecting Mooney to not come back. I think we all knew this was going to happen. It was the manner it occurred that stuck with me in a way where I felt this response. No press release. No explanation why. No setting the tone for expectations next year. It didn't even come directly from our leadership. Instead, a simple tweet from JOC on a Friday night during the women's basketball game saying he is returning for the 22nd year. Even the picture used by JOC I found fitting. What appears to be a sarcastic smile, almost symbolic that he knows that he has utter immunity here for life. Our administration didn't even wait until the season was officially over to make the announcement. Sending it now just signified what we knew all along. That the results do not matter. The reactions from VCU and non-spider fans was telling and says all you need to know.
I wanted to sleep on it, so I didn't feel I was overreacting, but after some reflection, I just don't know if I can do this anymore and be a fan of the team. I don't know if I can muster up the energy to try and convince myself that recruits we get in the offseason are going to be great. I don't know if I can pretend to be optimistic about how the out of conference schedule will turn out. I don't know if I can watch the games knowing that whether we win or lose, none of it matters. There is no vision, direction, goals, or expectations of this program. We are content with being on a boat floating in the middle of the ocean.
I have been a member of these forums since 2015. I think about all the posters who have come and gone over the years who probably were fed up. As frustrated as I was, I never thought that it would be me. However, after all these years, the university I have given my unconditional love and loyalty to has officially broken my spirit as a fan. Something I never thought I would say. I've come to this realization because it's hard for me to care about something that I know deep down, doesn't care back.
Godspeed to you my friends. I have enjoyed this community we've built here very much that has withstood a lot over the years and even revitalized by a new board. Though we've never met in person, I've enjoyed the camaraderie and discourse with all of you over the years. I took a hiatus a few years ago due to being frustrated with the state of our program and came back with more of a positive outlook. I think I need to do it again. Don't worry though, I'll come back at some point.
Over this time watching my beloved Spiders I have felt joy, sadness, anger, disgust, and every emotion in between. Seeing JOC's tweet last night, I felt something for the first time -- heartbroken. It wasn't because I wasn't expecting Mooney to not come back. I think we all knew this was going to happen. It was the manner it occurred that stuck with me in a way where I felt this response. No press release. No explanation why. No setting the tone for expectations next year. It didn't even come directly from our leadership. Instead, a simple tweet from JOC on a Friday night during the women's basketball game saying he is returning for the 22nd year. Even the picture used by JOC I found fitting. What appears to be a sarcastic smile, almost symbolic that he knows that he has utter immunity here for life. Our administration didn't even wait until the season was officially over to make the announcement. Sending it now just signified what we knew all along. That the results do not matter. The reactions from VCU and non-spider fans was telling and says all you need to know.
I wanted to sleep on it, so I didn't feel I was overreacting, but after some reflection, I just don't know if I can do this anymore and be a fan of the team. I don't know if I can muster up the energy to try and convince myself that recruits we get in the offseason are going to be great. I don't know if I can pretend to be optimistic about how the out of conference schedule will turn out. I don't know if I can watch the games knowing that whether we win or lose, none of it matters. There is no vision, direction, goals, or expectations of this program. We are content with being on a boat floating in the middle of the ocean.
I have been a member of these forums since 2015. I think about all the posters who have come and gone over the years who probably were fed up. As frustrated as I was, I never thought that it would be me. However, after all these years, the university I have given my unconditional love and loyalty to has officially broken my spirit as a fan. Something I never thought I would say. I've come to this realization because it's hard for me to care about something that I know deep down, doesn't care back.
Godspeed to you my friends. I have enjoyed this community we've built here very much that has withstood a lot over the years and even revitalized by a new board. Though we've never met in person, I've enjoyed the camaraderie and discourse with all of you over the years. I took a hiatus a few years ago due to being frustrated with the state of our program and came back with more of a positive outlook. I think I need to do it again. Don't worry though, I'll come back at some point.
. I will say that I was at my lowest point as a Spider fan and yet, whenever we hit rock bottom there all seems to be a lower level we can go. I watched the last 2 minutes of this historic game (for all the wrong reasons) and was venting to my wife and she asked why I don’t post on the forums. I told her I was on a hiatus but then she told me it wasn’t going to last because she knows how much I post on here, and she was right. I realized a few things.
