Is it Possible?

bronco · Post by **bronco** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:22 am

Reputation:character as seen or judged by people in general.

Maybe with these smack topics it’s time to bring this up. Once a reputation is perceived it becomes a belief and very hard to change. This post has to do with rude treatment Griz/Cat fans receive at each others stadiums. Like it or not those who received bad treatment at the cat box last fall (myself included) have for the last few months been telling everyone about their experience. If it happens again I’m afraid you’ll be known as the Georgia Southern of the North. They have a reputation for drunken rude fans and lately their attendance is slipping to a point were they are very concerned. The winning program isn’t enough to fill the stands. Is there a correlation between the two (drunken rude fans and dwindling attendance)… I think so.
We (both Montana schools) need to look to MacNeese for the example on how it’s done. Ask the cat players how they liked being picked up at the airport with a police escort and brought into town in style for the playoff game two years ago. I’m sure they were impressed. Ask any cat fan who walked through the tail gate area before the game and they will tell you they were invited over to parties and offered food and drink. While enjoying a bowl of gumbo they were told “thanks for coming but our team will kick your team’s ass tonight but tell me about Montana or how are you enjoying your stay in our city?” Once in the stadium they holler as loud as anyone and are fanatical supporters of their team…they just kill you with kindness and then try to do it on the field. Visiting fans look forward to attending a playoff game at MacNeese. Good for the program and the city. Ask the fans who went…they will tell you. My question is…Is it too late?…is there too much bad blood to turn it around and have this kind of experience in Missoula and Bozeman?

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:27 am

Do you think McNeese fans treat their rivals similarly? It's a lot easier for the fans to be friendly to distant teams.

In response to your overriding question, though, I actually like where you are going with this (although you don't exactly live by your words). It would be great if all Cat and Griz fans treated each other with the utmost respect while still enjoying the games and the rivalry.

hokeyfine · Post by **hokeyfine** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:36 am

maybe people need to reprioritize their lives and not be taking the cat/griz games so seriously. i read both boards and get a big chuckle when someone is pissing and moaning about something to do with the a cat/griz game. if you get so worked up that you become angry if the griz or cats loose then you need to not watch football. i enjoy watching college football, and am enjoying watching the cats and the griz because i remeber the lean years of both programs.

bronco · Post by **bronco** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:48 am

Yes MacNeese treats the rival fans well.
I like the smack talk but I would never treat a cat fan at Wash Griz the way I was treated. Smack talk is just in fun.. what I witnessed wasn't fun.
I've had many cat fans sit by me over the years and and they support their team and that's great. It's the hooligans that I can't stand on both sides.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:01 pm

This is almost groundbreaking but... I think this thread is almost worthy of being on the grown-ups board. And to think that bronco thought we had deleted it. I would have to say, in terms of bronco... best... post... ever.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:09 pm

If we are talking about "respect" for each others team I think it is fair to mention the following. I have been to a handful of of very closed "bobcat only" functions in which coach Kramer has spoken freely in a conversational manner and I have never heard him talk in a deragatory manner towards the griz or their program. Yes he may have said ...we will beat them, ..we owe it to you to beat the Griz or something like that, but never talked down the griz program. As a matter of fact he has spoken quite elliquently about how montana can support two high quality teams, and for MSU to succeed we do not have to hope Montana fails (except for the Cat/griz game) I have always been impressed by that. The one possible exception to this rule has been the mention of the comment Hauck made about MSU being called only "State", that did not go over well with Kramer and he let it be known.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:12 pm

And before we hear the usual "What's the big deal about being called state, Michigan State... yada, yada, yada," the big deal was that Hauck said that MSU didn't deserve the "Montana" part, and therefore he was calling them "State" only. For you griz fans who didn't previously understand the slight taken (it had nothing to do with being referred to as "State" in a general context), now you do.

Hopefully, Hauck has learned a bit of diplomacy over the last year (which I am sure he has), which will serve him well if he is to have a long and successful coaching career.

Post by **kmax** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:35 pm

I wholeheartedly agree and as much as it seems cheesy to be saying "Can't we all just get along?" that is exactly the way I feel about it.

For the last couple of Cat-Griz games I have been around Griz fans while watching the game and both sides have enjoyed friendly back and forth jabs before, during and after the game, win or lose. The problem comes in, as hokeyfine said, when people take it so seriously that they base reactions to other fans on how the team did and become abusive. It is one thing to be a bit down because your team lost, but quite another start taking it out on fans of the other team. This not only needs to change for fans of the losing team, but in some cases fans of the winning team as well. If you team won, yeah you have bragging rights and you can give fans of the loser some grief, but know the line and don't push until someone else has no choice but to get defensive.

Basically, it boils down to fans needing to show the same level of sportsmanship that we expect out of the players and coaches. Unfortunately, for some that is a hard thing to grasp.

ZifCat52 · Post by **ZifCat52** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:42 pm

I am a die hard Bobcat fan and root loudly for the Cats at every game until the end. I think that encouraging your team is the best way for people to support them. I have a deep respect for the truly faithful fans for MSU and other schools, UM included. This support is what makes college athletics so good, the passion and energy, when directed positively, is what makes going to sporting events so enjoyable and allows us who aren't able to contribute on the field be part of the whole environment.

I also agree that both MSU and UM have some fans who routinely go over the line or support to one of trying to build their program up by tearing the other one down and I would support efforts to build more positive, repsectful relationships. As we watch the recruiting wars, we should recognize that there are many instances that a person wearing Blue and Gold could just have easily donned the Maroon and Silver, then they'd be the enemy, not a friend.

I hope both schools will do whatever they can to build a positive fan base, becoming fans who are knowledgeable enough to know that not all the refs calls are bad, that the other team has decent people, that the other fans have a right and an obligation to root for their team, and that we support our players and coaches until the end (remeber NAU). In this model, there is plenty of room to get on the refs if they blow one, to heckle the opposing players and coaches, and to pick at fans from the other school, let's just find the line of appropriateness (is that a word?) and try to build both programs in a positive effort, its good for both schools. I saw many Cats and Griz tailgating together before and after last year's game, I hope we can keep building a friendly rivalry instead of destructive behaviors that cause all fans concern.

Post by **kmax** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:47 pm

ZifCat52 wrote:I am a die hard Bobcat fan and root loudly for the Cats at every game until the end. I think that encouraging your team is the best way for people to support them. I have a deep respect for the truly faithful fans for MSU and other schools, UM included. This support is what makes college athletics so good, the passion and energy, when directed positively, is what makes going to sporting events so enjoyable and allows us who aren't able to contribute on the field be part of the whole environment.

I also agree that both MSU and UM have some fans who routinely go over the line or support to one of trying to build their program up by tearing the other one down and I would support efforts to build more positive, repsectful relationships. As we watch the recruiting wars, we should recognize that there are many instances that a person wearing Blue and Gold could just have easily donned the Maroon and Silver, then they'd be the enemy, not a friend.

I hope both schools will do whatever they can to build a positive fan base, becoming fans who are knowledgeable enough to know that not all the refs calls are bad, that the other team has decent people, that the other fans have a right and an obligation to root for their team, and that we support our players and coaches until the end (remeber NAU). In this model, there is plenty of room to get on the refs if they blow one, to heckle the opposing players and coaches, and to pick at fans from the other school, let's just find the line of appropriateness (is that a word?) and try to build both programs in a positive effort, its good for both schools. I saw many Cats and Griz tailgating together before and after last year's game, I hope we can keep building a friendly rivalry instead of destructive behaviors that cause all fans concern.

Well said Zif.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:03 pm

bronco wrote:Reputation:character as seen or judged by people in general.

Maybe with these smack topics it’s time to bring this up. Once a reputation is perceived it becomes a belief and very hard to change. This post has to do with rude treatment Griz/Cat fans receive at each others stadiums. Like it or not those who received bad treatment at the cat box last fall (myself included) have for the last few months been telling everyone about their experience. If it happens again I’m afraid you’ll be known as the Georgia Southern of the North. They have a reputation for drunken rude fans and lately their attendance is slipping to a point were they are very concerned. The winning program isn’t enough to fill the stands. Is there a correlation between the two (drunken rude fans and dwindling attendance)… I think so.
We (both Montana schools) need to look to MacNeese for the example on how it’s done. Ask the cat players how they liked being picked up at the airport with a police escort and brought into town in style for the playoff game two years ago. I’m sure they were impressed. Ask any cat fan who walked through the tail gate area before the game and they will tell you they were invited over to parties and offered food and drink. While enjoying a bowl of gumbo they were told “thanks for coming but our team will kick your team’s ass tonight but tell me about Montana or how are you enjoying your stay in our city?” Once in the stadium they holler as loud as anyone and are fanatical supporters of their team…they just kill you with kindness and then try to do it on the field. Visiting fans look forward to attending a playoff game at MacNeese. Good for the program and the city. Ask the fans who went…they will tell you. My question is…Is it too late?…is there too much bad blood to turn it around and have this kind of experience in Missoula and Bozeman?

Your more than welcome to tailgate in Bozeman with our group any time you want Bronco. The more the merrier. Just let me know so I can plan to have enough Yaegermeister for everyone. I'm sure you met some hostile fans your last trip to Bozeman, but keep an open mind that there are non-hostile type fans as well. The more the merrier I say. I talked to a lot of cool Griz fans after the Cat/Griz game last year at the Grantree. But I have my experiences with 'BAD' Griz fans as well and you just have to take them with a dose of salt I guess. Mcneese trip was very cool/first class from what I have heard. I gained a lot of respect for them when I heard that. VERY CLASSY. However I wouldn't expect the Cats will get that same treatment for our trip to Missoula next year

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:03 pm

This discussion reminds me of one of my favorite all time Simpson quotes.
Homer says, while raising his glass in a toast, "Here's to alcohol....the cause of, and solution to all of our problems."

MSU01 · Post by **MSU01** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:21 pm

Bronco... when you say it like that I agree completely. The rivalry would be much better if people would stick to good-natured stuff and avoid the bottle throwing/profanity/etc. However, when you try to portray all Bobcat fans as people who engage in this behavior (as you have in the past) that's where you're wrong. I and most of the people I know would never even think of doing some of the things that happened to you last year, and to me the times I've been to Missoula for the game. I have had good and bad experiences with G riz fans in Missoula, but I'm not going to try and portray every G riz fan as a beer swilling hooligan. Beer swilling maybe, but not necessarily a hooligan.

Is it too late to fix the problem, at least to some extent? Probably not... you have to understand that the 16 year streak and namely the attitude of many G riz fans toward Bobcat fans during the streak contributed to the build up of a LOT of bitterness from our side towards yours. If the rivalry evens out as seems to be happening, over time the bitterness will begin to subside and the two fan groups should get along better as the product of a competitive rivalry. Of course, this is all IMO. And, there will always be people who will take things too far. We just have to try and minimize the the size of this group.

bronco · Post by **bronco** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:02 pm

][quote Your more than welcome to tailgate in Bozeman with our group any time you want Bronco. The more the merrier. :)[/quote]

cardiac,
Maybe that's the way to do it one tail gate at a time. maybe the two boards can get together egriz and bobcat nation and we can see who is behind the handles and have a beer. Go inside scream our heads off and the losers buy at the end of the game. Lets talk about it again as the fall brawl approaches.

Hope I didn't ruin the smack board.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:13 pm

[Sniff]... I love YOU guys.

(On second thought, I had to edit it... hate to give any hopefuls the wrong idea. I don't want to be a tease.)

Actually, this is pretty cool stuff. It's good to see a board contribute a bit to making friends as opposed to going the opposite direction. That's the way it should be.

Post by **kmax** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:15 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:[Sniff]... I love guys.

I hope that you miss a "you" in there...not that there is anything wrong with it if you didn't.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:24 pm

Oh dude... that was pretty funny, wasn't it? Yeah, I was trying to pull off a Cartman, but instead I pulled off a Tom Cruise. I don't even deserve to edit that one -- I deserve the ridicule.

Bozgriz · Post by **Bozgriz** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:44 pm

To answer Bronco's question: NO!

Bozgriz · Post by **Bozgriz** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:52 pm

Now, before the stuff hits the fan, I'll explain. I agree with most posters that some folks need to clean up their act with regards to crossing the line between rivalry banter and outright anger or hatred. I have to admit, I have taken this thing too seriously at times. However, I enjoy the rivalry as much or more than most. I make no apologies for that and neither should any cat fans. When my friends and I get challenged to a fight or have drinks thrown at us, that crosses the line. Same holds true in Missoula.

Does it matter that "poooooooor bobcats" is my 2nd favorite song?

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