I usually don't post in threads like this because its too much like arguing politics. But this one and that web site are perfect examples of something I have asked many friends about when discussing Gopher football. I moved to Minnesota and became a Gopher fan when I was 21 and I'm now 44. So according to many life long Minnesotans, I am still not "one of them". I often find myself surrounded by born and bred Minnesota "fans" that really seem to enjoy ripping on the Gophers. With a big smile on their face, they will tell me how much the Gophers suck or knowing that I'm a fan, they will post on my Facebook page the same thing immediately after a bad loss. One friend that considers himself a Gopher fan told me a couple of weeks ago that he was going to Iowa to watch the Hawkeyes play Northwestern so he could see a "real college football game". What is it about the culture here that it is deemed "cool" to make fun of the team you are supposedly a fan of?
I'm not blind. I can see that the team is not good right now. Hell, it's pretty obvious that they are really, really bad. But I would like to believe that they are trying to get better and I will support them regardless. I can't stand Iowa or Wisconsin but I am honestly envious of the "unconditional love" and the passion so many of their fans have for their teams. I see some of that here, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
It's always easier to cheer for a winner, but I like to believe that I am a fan of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and not just a fan of their win/loss record.
i know exactly the type of person you are talking about, however,
none of them would ever take the time and effort that kaliq/gendo is taking to rip the gophers. they are apathetic and
pathetic.
i also moved to minnesota when i was in my twenties to go to school here, but no one (at least i'm not) saying that its cool to rip on the gophers.
the larger point is the fan base, which consists largely of two types of people. 1) the 'fan' you describe, and 2) the slightly to overly optimistic fan who wonders why we can't snag the four star recruits and challenge for the legends division in year one.
of course there are gray areas, but
this is what kaliq/gendo is ripping on (i believe). we have a terrible fan base, and that is an opinionated fact. like i said, i don't agree with everything he says. his irrational support for gray is hypocritical and his obsession with shortell's skin tone would be offensive to him if shortell wasn't white (and also hypocritical). but it is clear that he is usually trying to be tongue in cheek, so i'm not going to get offended, just move on.
however, for the last fifty years the gophers haven't been known for much more than sucking. sure there were the years when the gophers were producing good offensive teams and sending running backs to the nfl, but even during that time the gophers were known more for blowing big leads than for their offense (my opinion).
to have fans emerge that don't conform to the gopher hole approved notion of what makes a fan is a good thing.
there is nothing wrong with being disappointed with kill. i have been disappointed with kill and i like him. there is nothing wrong with a website called 'firejerrykill' (except that it is slightly unoriginal). there is nothing wrong with having fun at the expense of the coaches and coordinators.
let's not assume that anyone who isn't offended to the bone with this site is advocating for it to be the mouthpiece for the gopher football fan base. i would hope that it would inspire more loyal fans who would spend as much time as he obviously does creating their own gopher memes to perpetuate.
the interwebs is a big place.
