Good on Lamont!

[18IsTheMan]

Happy to see he declined the NIT. It would have spoken volumes for us to accept such a bid after the dismal season we had. In short, it would say we do not think very much ourselves. I know he had to blame it on injuries or something else, but the bottom line is, we simply didn’t earn it And there is great respect to be had for someone when they acknowledge they simply didn’t earn something. Cut the cord on this year, reboot for next year and just try to get better.

Thank you, Coach Paris.

 

[1vagamecock]

Happy to see he declined the NIT. It would have spoken volumes for us to accept such a bid after the dismal season we had. In short, it would say we do not think very much ourselves. I know he had to blame it on injuries or something else, but the bottom line is, we simply didn’t earn it And there is great respect to be had for someone when they acknowledge they simply didn’t earn something. Cut the cord on this year, reboot for next year and just try to get better.

Thank you, Coach Paris.

When he says "injuries " might you be giving him to much credit?

 

[KingWard]

The right call, whatever pretext was invoked.

 

[Uscg1984]

Doesn't the transfer portal open a week from tomorrow? I assume our coaching staff plans to be way too busy over the next couple of weeks to game-plan and practice for NIT opponents.

 

[18IsTheMan]

A surprising number of fans on X are upset. I can't imagine who would want to see this team play anymore games.

 

[kidrobinski]

A surprising number of fans on X are upset. I can't imagine who would want to see this team play anymore games.

Well I reckon that ‘speaks volumes’ amiright.

 

[muscleknight]

We could have hung another banner LOL

 

[18IsTheMan]

We could have hung another banner LOL

Can you even imagine the sheer humiliation?

 

[HuntinAces]

I was more concerned with the conference having automatic bids and basically being forced to accept. Don’t know much about but yea glad we aren’t going. Time to get better

 

[18IsTheMan]

It's nice to see the NIT dying. They at least used to be able to give big team who had an off year a chance to lick their wounds and play in a faux tournament. Now hardly any want it. Field is almost entirely mid-majors.

 

[Sparklecity]

I think he just wanted to stop the bleeding

 

[Psycock]

Why would any USC fan not want the season to be over? Apparently the NIT means very little anymore - it`s pretty pathetic that we would even be invited. Having said that, I support Coach Paris and hope he can right the ship!

 

[Anon1662980443]

The NIT is turning into a participation trophy for mid-majors that had good seasons

 

[Beanerball]

Totally agree, it is a weak field and the time is better spent looking to recruit portal players. I hope Coach Paris can fill our gaps and make us more competitive.

 

[SigEp411]

Happy to see he declined the NIT. It would have spoken volumes for us to accept such a bid after the dismal season we had. In short, it would say we do not think very much ourselves. I know he had to blame it on injuries or something else, but the bottom line is, we simply didn’t earn it And there is great respect to be had for someone when they acknowledge they simply didn’t earn something. Cut the cord on this year, reboot for next year and just try to get better.

Thank you, Coach Paris.

I just read part of a story by a guy named Ravi Sankar (he was a musician 50 years ago) who questioned the reasoning behind why we turned down the NIT. This idiot said we had barely missed out on a chance at the NCAA tournament and had a respectful run through the SEC this year. WTF!!

 

[SigEp411]

Well I reckon that ‘speaks volumes’ amiright.

I had season tickets and made it to most games and I watched the rest on TV. I saw enough.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Totally agree, it is a weak field and the time is better spent looking to recruit portal players. I hope Coach Paris can fill our gaps and make us more competitive.

I think the weak field is a factor as well. NIT used to have a good number of major programs who just missed out on the NCAAT, so you might still play some interesting teams. This year there are only 3 teams from major conferences: Oklahoma St, GaTech and Stanford. The rest are Utah Valley, Jacksonville St, Northern Colorado, etc. What's it gonna benefit you to play Yukon Valley State?

The old standby excuse of extra practice time also has greatly diminished significance due to the portal and so much player movement.

 

[kidrobinski]

I had season tickets and made it to most games and I watched the rest on TV. I saw enough.

Congratulations.

I speak mostly in regard to the players. Unless you played at a level of sport high enough to appreciate and understand what these guys go through to wear the uniform, you can’t see it from their perspective. If they wanted the chance to play they should be allowed to without fans claiming embarrassment. Given the reasons stated by Paris I support that call, but had they accepted I would have supported that also. You can call that garnet colored glasses, that’s fine, don’t care. To me the other side is just Paulie Pennino beer bottle glasses.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Congratulations.

I speak mostly in regard to the players. Unless you played at a level of sport high enough to appreciate and understand what these guys go through to wear the uniform, you can’t see it from their perspective. If they wanted the chance to play they should be allowed to without fans claiming embarrassment. Given the reasons stated by Paris I support that call, but had they accepted I would have supported that also. You can call that garnet colored glasses, that’s fine, don’t care. To me the other side is just Paulie Pennino beer bottle glasses.

Blind support is not support.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

I just read part of a story by a guy named Ravi Sankar

Isn't he the one who popularized the Sitar during the 60s? Does he have a connection to Carolina?

 

[kidrobinski]

Isn't he the one who popularized the Sitar during the 60s? Does he have a connection to Carolina?

Shankar. And yes he is, no he doesn’t..

 

[kidrobinski]

Blind support is not support.

Nor is jilted girlfriend syndrome.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Nor is jilted girlfriend syndrome.

I have not attempted to support the status quo.

 

[Ansonicus]

I think the weak field is a factor as well. NIT used to have a good number of major programs who just missed out on the NCAAT, so you might still play some interesting teams. This year there are only 3 teams from major conferences: Oklahoma St, GaTech and Stanford. The rest are Utah Valley, Jacksonville St, Northern Colorado, etc. What's it gonna benefit you to play Yukon Valley State?

The old standby excuse of extra practice time also has greatly diminished significance due to the portal and so much player movement.

Suppose we got to the NIT tournament and got beat by some really unheard of school? We would have wasted a lot of time, for what?

 

[18IsTheMan]

Suppose we got to the NIT tournament and got beat by some really unheard of school? We would have wasted a lot of time, for what?

Yeah, the risk greatly outweighs the reward. I would say there is no reward for playing in the NIT, only risk. The absolute best you can do is win a trophy for a make-believe postseason tournament. That comes at the risk of possibly getting bounced by some team nobody's every heard of putting the exclamation point on a greatly disappointing season. It's highly unlikely we'd have played balls out had we accepted the invite, but teams like Yukon Valley State will be playing like it's Game 7 of the NBA finals.

 

[Ansonicus]

Yeah, the risk greatly outweighs the reward. I would say there is no reward for playing in the NIT, only risk. The absolute best you can do is win a trophy for a make-believe postseason tournament. That comes at the risk of possibly getting bounced by some team nobody's every heard of putting the exclamation point on a greatly disappointing season. It's highly unlikely we'd have played balls out had we accepted the invite, but teams like Yukon Valley State will be playing like it's Game 7 of the NBA finals.

Little risk, high reward possibly for Yukon Valley State,

 

[Piscis]

I wish more teams would decline low tier bowl invitations in football. The whole "the extra practices are so valuable" thing is no longer a valid reason for accepting an invitation to a crap bowl. Now that coaches and players can work together in the offseason, an extra 20 or so practices is really not worth much of anything.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I wish more teams would decline low tier bowl invitations in football. The whole "the extra practices are so valuable" thing is no longer a valid reason for accepting an invitation to a crap bowl. Now that coaches and players can work together in the offseason, an extra 20 or so practices is really not worth much of anything.

We had fans who were excited about our 2-8 team going to the Gasparilla Bowl in 2020. Never been so happy/relieved to see a bowl canceled.

 

[Piscis]

We had fans who were excited about our 2-8 team going to the Gasparilla Bowl in 2020. Never been so happy/relieved to see a bowl canceled.

I find it sad that gamecock fans are world champions at embracing and getting really excited about mediocrity. It is no wonder that the football program has zero tradition of winning when you consider how excited the fans get over 7 win seasons and horrible bowl games.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I find it sad that gamecock fans are world champions at embracing and getting really excited about mediocrity. It is no wonder that the football program has zero tradition of winning when you consider how excited the fans get over 7 win seasons and horrible bowl games.

It's a double-edged sword, I guess. For years, our fan base was noted for their rabid support in spite of the program's mediocre status. In fact, that was really our defining feature. And we were proud of that. However, it comes at the cost, perhaps unintentional, of not having a real motivation to improve. If fans are going to show out and sell out games regardless of the quality of the product, why bother?

There's this weird pressure to support the team, even when they're bad. And sometimes more pressure. I guess when I was a kid, I bought into it. As an adult, I don't really get it. It's not like they are giving me anything. I have to pay for tickets to go to games. I have to buy Gamecock gear. I have to pay to see games on TV. It's just a product.

Even more so now when players are professional athletes, with some making 6 and 7 figure salaries. No time for the emotional blackmail hogwash. These are professional athletes getting paid serious coin who I have to pay for the privilege to see play.

 

[Piscis]

It's a double-edged sword, I guess. For years, our fan base was noted for their rabid support in spite of the program's mediocre status. In fact, that was really our defining feature. And we were proud of that. However, it comes at the cost, perhaps unintentional, of not having a real motivation to improve. If fans are going to show out and sell out games regardless of the quality of the product, why bother?

There's this weird pressure to support the team, even when they're bad. And sometimes more pressure. I guess when I was a kid, I bought into it. As an adult, I don't really get it. It's not like they are giving me anything. I have to pay for tickets to go to games. I have to buy Gamecock gear. I have to pay to see games on TV. It's just a product.

Even more so now when players are professional athletes, with some making 6 and 7 figure salaries. No time for the emotional blackmail hogwash. These are professional athletes getting paid serious coin who I have to pay for the privilege to see play.

The pro athlete aspect is what has really changed me. Before NIL and, especially, the portal, I felt some connection to the players as a former student and an alumnus. I (foolishly perhaps) thought they had some love of the school and the sport and were playing and pouring their all into competing for the school and, by extension, all of the alumni and other students. I thought if I met them they would also feel some connection to me as an alumnus. I know my ideas were romantic and probably not true in most cases but I could at least convince myself that is the way things were.

Now, they are paid professionals, athletic whores if you will and I feel practically no connection whatsoever to them. I think they see me as nothing more than a funding source. I have accepted the new relationship but I don't really like it and it has taken most of the joy out of being a fan. Under the new paradigm, I have no problem booing players for poor play and expecting them to be "fired" and lose their NIL money and make room for another player to come in and do a better job if they don't live up to their billing. In the past, I would never boo a player or suggest they be cut from the team for not performing.

 

[18IsTheMan]

The pro athlete aspect is what has really changed me. Before NIL and, especially, the portal, I felt some connection to the players as a former student and an alumnus. I (foolishly perhaps) thought they had some love of the school and the sport and were playing and pouring their all into competing for the school and, by extension, all of the alumni and other students. I thought if I met them they would also feel some connection to me as an alumnus. I know my ideas were romantic and probably not true in most cases but I could at least convince myself that is the way things were.

Now, they are paid professionals, athletic whores if you will and I feel practically no connection whatsoever to them. I think they see me as nothing more than a funding source. I have accepted the new relationship but I don't really like it and it has taken most of the joy out of being a fan. Under the new paradigm, I have no problem booing players for poor play and expecting them to be "fired" and lose their NIL money and make room for another player to come in and do a better job if they don't live up to their billing. In the past, I would never boo a player or suggest they be cut from the team for not performing.

Yes, the new model really has shattered what made college football special. Fans, like you, identified with the players. You saw them come in as freshman, develop and stay here for 4 years in most cases. As much as you loved YOUR players, you learned to hate the players from rival programs. You got, at best 4 tries at beating a particular player, and sometimes only 3. Now there is none of that. Players come and go, and the good ones that do stay only do so if you pay them enough. They just as easily go play for Clemson if they paid them the right number.

That fan/player identification was a bedrock part of college football. Now a player you love may become a hated rival the next season. Or player you hate on an opposing team could suddenly become one of your players you have to root for the next season. It just falls flat.

 

[Piscis]

Yes, the new model really has shattered what made college football special. Fans, like you, identified with the players. You saw them come in as freshman, develop and stay here for 4 years in most cases. As much as you loved YOUR players, you learned to hate the players from rival programs. You got, at best 4 tries at beating a particular player, and sometimes only 3. Now there is none of that. Players come and go, and the good ones that do stay only do so if you pay them enough. They just as easily go play for Clemson if they paid them the right number.

That fan/player identification was a bedrock part of college football. Now a player you love may become a hated rival the next season. Or player you hate on an opposing team could suddenly become one of your players you have to root for the next season. It just falls flat.

The new landscape of college sports has also really cooled my hatred of "rival" schools. I used to feel a hate tinged tension in my gut when I heard anything about Clemson or Tennessee or Florida. Now, I view them as teams I want to beat but I don't hate them anymore. I view their players as employees of another company and I can't generate much hatred for a bunch of employees doing their job for another company. My feelings now are very much like my feelings at work regarding our company's competitors. I want to win the accounts we compete on but I certainly don't hate the employees of the competing companies.

 

[atl-cock]

It's nice to see the NIT dying. They at least used to be able to give big team who had an off year a chance to lick their wounds and play in a faux tournament. Now hardly any want it. Field is almost entirely mid-majors.

The NIT had prestige when only a couple of dozen teams danced.

 

[atl-cock]

I just read part of a story by a guy named Ravi Sankar (he was a musician 50 years ago) who questioned the reasoning behind why we turned down the NIT. This idiot said we had barely missed out on a chance at the NCAA tournament and had a respectful run through the SEC this year. WTF!!

AI?

 

[kidrobinski]

The pro athlete aspect is what has really changed me. Before NIL and, especially, the portal, I felt some connection to the players as a former student and an alumnus. I (foolishly perhaps) thought they had some love of the school and the sport and were playing and pouring their all into competing for the school and, by extension, all of the alumni and other students. I thought if I met them they would also feel some connection to me as an alumnus. I know my ideas were romantic and probably not true in most cases but I could at least convince myself that is the way things were.

Now, they are paid professionals, athletic whores if you will and I feel practically no connection whatsoever to them. I think they see me as nothing more than a funding source. I have accepted the new relationship but I don't really like it and it has taken most of the joy out of being a fan. Under the new paradigm, I have no problem booing players for poor play and expecting them to be "fired" and lose their NIL money and make room for another player to come in and do a better job if they don't live up to their billing. In the past, I would never boo a player or suggest they be cut from the team for not performing.

Wow.

I see from this post the disconnect between fans like you and fans like myself. One set views the sport from the field of competition; the other views it from their wallet and/or ego. You’re basically saying you’re not happy unless your ‘team’ is a winner, don’t really care about much else, and you no doubt justify that approach with a thought pattern of ‘winning is the only thing’ or some other cliche. You don’t see ebb and flow, games within games, how each season is like a different book with prologues, chapters, and epilogues. You see either winning or failure, and label all else as simply blind devotion.

That’s gotta suck. There’s a lot of ‘I honestly don’t understand (fill in the blank)’ that gets posted on here; I honestly don't understand why your side continues to invest energy and/or thought into our chosen school’s athletic fortunes. You seek that which you will never find.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Wow.

I see from this post the disconnect between fans like you and fans like myself. One set views the sport from the field of competition; the other views it from their wallet and/or ego. You’re basically saying you’re not happy unless your ‘team’ is a winner, don’t really care about much else, and you no doubt justify that approach with a thought pattern of ‘winning is the only thing’ or some other cliche. You don’t see ebb and flow, games within games, how each season is like a different book with prologues, chapters, and epilogues. You see either winning or failure, and label all else as simply blind devotion.

That’s gotta suck. There’s a lot of ‘I honestly don’t understand (fill in the blank)’ that gets posted on here; I honestly don't understand why your side continues to invest energy and/or thought into our chosen school’s athletic fortunes. You seek that which you will never find.

It's possible for a fan to enjoy both aspects you describe. But the frank bottom line is: the game/team is a product and fans are consumers. It does no good to misty-eyed about it.

As to the happiness aspect, sports has a 0.0% impact on my happiness in life in general. But, sure, who isn't happier as a fan when the team is good vs when the team is bad? Are you telling me there was zero difference in your mood as a fan in 1998-1999 vs 2011-2013?