Hey, look. We're all Bobcats. We all love OU or we wouldn't be here.

And we have different views on the teams -- as well as other issues. That's OK.

I think under cover of anonymity for some, it can be easy to type things that may cross the line. Sometimes you may not intend for them to cross the line, but someone may interpret it a different way.

Even though I'm anonymous, I still participate under the premise of "if my name was actually revealed, would I be embarrassed?" or "if I was sitting at the Pub next to this person, would I say the same thing to them directly?"

I think most people here approach BobcatAttack this way. And I think the mods do a great job of nipping those that don't in the bud.

Also, let's not confuse differing opinions on things as such a negative.

This board is unique because there are some very smart people here with different experiences. I enjoy the discussions. I enjoy thinking about things differently. And I enjoy being around other Bobcats that have some same shared interests in sports.

All three bobcat fans are serving self imposed bans, both are noble and nice gentlemen. I just reached out to OCF and apologized for thinking that he was racist because of some of his conservative views. After interacting with him personally, I can say he is not a racist, we just disagree on certain issues. Some of us disagree about certain things and because we don’t personally know one another, we craft a picture of someone in our minds that imay not be inaccurate. This was related to TJ Carrie kneeling, we all agree that TJ is a nice guy and he had a right to do what he felt, as a former bobcat, it was football related, we had dialogue about his decision and the discussion got out of hand. I would just like to vouch for both of these men, they love Ohio University and Ohio football. I hope that they will continue to add their valuable insight. Doc Bobcat has always blessed us with recruiting and team info and never been involved in controversy. God bless you all.

My guess is there are a lot people on this board that are more sensitive to the program than others ... yet they don't divulge why. (Which is fine. I respect anonymity)

I'm guessing they're either coaches family or parents of players.

Therefore when people are critical, they take it personally. They feel like their loved ones are being attacked and their claws come out.

Understandable. But you have to know when you enter into a message board, it's not always roses and rainbows. And to expect otherwise is silly.

Most of the vitriol comes from people attacking those that are critical. Calling them whiners or crybabies. They just can't accept any critique of those they're close too.

I know if I were a parent or wife and people were critical of my kid/husband, it would be tough to read.

But I'd also totally understand that that is the norm on a message board. Caution when entering.

Trying to turn this message board into a full blown pep rally where it's nothing but praise and adulation is a pipe dream.

If the critique were coming from the mainstream media, I could see a reason for for the anger.

But this is a message board ... and this one is tame compared to most big time programs.

You have to have a thick skin if you're entering here as a proud papa. Can't take everything personal ... and starting arguments because someone is critical of your kid is wasted energy.

Your honor, I'd like to enter into evidence exhibit A.

Dude, you get bent out of shape more than anyone on this message board.

I don't mind the comments ... because you are laughable how touchy you are about this program. It's obvious you have some connection. Want to share?

If not ... then you are just delusional to take offense to criticizing the struggles of OUr defense.

No fan or alum can objectively look at this defense and not see the problems.

Multiple people comment on it.

Yet, you do nothing but defend it. So are you an alum? Just a fan? I'm guessing parent. No other explanation for the reactions you continually exhibit.

Once again, I apologize for attacking you bshot44. I didn’t realize how traumatic it has been for you lol. And I do have a son who plays. And I simply disagree with your type and quantity of criticism. You seem to have no problem criticizing the coaches, administrators, and players. But can’t take being called a whiner. If you don’t like it, stop whining so much. And stop whining about being called a whiner. And I have been critical of the defense myself. Just not at your level. If you don’t mind the comments, why are you whining about it? [/QUOTE]Allow me to keep whining.

I give you credit for admitting your connection to the program. Most on here wouldn't.

With that being said, it answers a lot about your sensitive nature towards the criticizing.

But again ... why do you allow it to get under your skin? Is it not easier to just ignore, scroll past and go about your day? You obviously allow it to bother you.

So you don't agree with my type of criticism? You don't like criticism based in fact? Am I just making up these numbers? And if you think it's the same thing week after week .... well, that's because I see the same thing week after week (season after season). This program ... these coaches ... repeat offenders of a lot of these things. A lot of things that plague this program are not one-off, isolated incidents.

[QUOTE=Sam bobcat]You seem to have no problem criticizing the coaches, administrators, and players. But can’t take being called a whiner.

Allow me to keep whining.

I give you credit for admitting your connection to the program. Most on here wouldn't.

With that being said, it answers a lot about your sensitive nature towards the criticizing.

But again ... why do you allow it to get under your skin? Is it not easier to just ignore, scroll past and go about your day? You obviously allow it to bother you.

So you don't agree with my type of criticism? You don't like criticism based in fact? Am I just making up these numbers? And if you think it's the same thing week after week .... well, that's because I see the same thing week after week (season after season). This program ... these coaches ... repeat offenders of a lot of these things. A lot of things that plague this program are not one-off, isolated incidents.

This is laughable. Do coaches, administrators and players not get criticized everyday by fans or alum? Does that not come with the territory of division one athletics or running a university and it's athletics program? Do you think they care for one millisecond about it? I think anytime you "perform" in front of 25000+ fans every week, you have to understand you are opening yourself up for critique? How is that hard to understand for you?

Do I think for one second that anything I type on here is going to make one iota of change or sway someone in the OU administration?

This. Is. A. Message. Board. That's all. Nothing more. Why anyone would place any extra value on that is absurd.

I have spoke to OU administrators about the problems I see with the program in terms of scheduling. Obviously, Bobcat Attack is not the forum for that.

I can't take being called a whiner? Really? Are you kidding? Do you think for one second I care about that. Ha! You place WAY to much value in what you believe I think about my perception on here.

If people want to engage with my comments ... great! I'll engage. If they just ignore them and move one ... great! If I post them in a vacuum and no one ever responds ... great! Doesn't matter to me.

Way before your son joined this team, I was posting on this message board. It's my way of actually talking about Ohio athletics because, let's be honest, if it ain't those stinkin' Buckeyes no one in Columbus cares. So this is my outlet to talk Ohio.

No one is making you respond. You obviously are the one who is touchy if you feel the need to fire verbal jabs about being a whiner and a crybaby? Defense mechanism. I get it.

Good luck to your son. I hope he (whoever he is) has a great season and contributes to the success of Ohio football now and in the future. And if he's on the defense ... I hope he can teach his teammates how to tackle better. That was a joke. Settle down. I can see the smoke coming out of your ears. But seriously ... 31 missed tackles vs. Kent? C'mon!

Man I wish I knew how to add clips of your quotes to my posts like that...

A. The fact my son plays doesn’t make me more sensitive. I criticize him and his teammates to him myself whenever warranted. I stated already that it’s the incessantness of your complaining that sometimes coaxes a response from me. I don’t do it every time you complain. I don’t have the energy.
[/QUOTE]I'm not saying go back and do it because it's not worth the time ... but I can almost assure you that 90% of what I post is in response to something I read on this board. So if you view it as incessantness, that's cool. I am just having a conversation with someone or responding to something I've read. I don't think I have a negative view on this program. I just think I'm a realist. I watch A LOT of college football. Probably more than any healthy human should. And I've been around A LOT of different college football programs over the course of my career. While Ohio has made incredibly large strides in making the program relevant, there is still a long way to go to be that dominant program in the MAC.

I ask you this ... if Ohio can go from the absolute basement of the MAC in terms of just about everything, ascend to where they are now ... why is it such an insane leap to think after 14 years, they can't make another leap to being the best team in the league? Is that just pure insanity to believe that can happen? NIU went from garbage to penthouse and have found a way to stay hovering around there for a while now. BG obviously had a flash for a few years ... but the Jinks things appears to be a fail. Toledo has found a way to stay at the top, but they don't have the titles to reflect that because of NIU. Ohio hasn't had an NIU to contend with in the East. Ohio SHOULD be the NIU of the East. I really, really don't think I'm a loon for thinking that. And if you get tired of reading that ... I'm sorry.

I get just as tired reading about how Ohio fans should be totally ecstatic over 7-8 wins a year because this program sucked tailpipe for 30 years.

Again ... difference of opinion. That's part of life.

Debatable.



Sadly, credit is not due there. I've never mentioned the promotions girl. As far as who I'm complaining too ... I refer to the above comment. I'm 90+% of the time responding to something I've read. You may see it as complaining ... but, as I've said, nearly all my posts have facts or statistical data to back up my comments. I can't change facts. Sorry. But the results are the results ... the stats are the stats. They don't always favor Ohio.



Re-read that post about being "attacked". At no point did I say "I was being attacked" ... that post was NOT about me. It was a blanket statement about people attacking people on this board. I said the attackers most likely were the ones with some sort of personal relationship to the program (i.e. parent, husband, wife)



I don't think you need to seek any professional help with that, ha! I think maybe just use that down arrow a few more times when you're scrolling through comments.



Now that's something we can certainly agree on!

[QUOTE=Sam bobcat]I don’t expect you will stop complaining so much, and without medication I don’t expect I can resist the urge to tell you to quit whining once in awhile. But I do respect you and enjoy a lot of your posts. So don’t take it personal. I don’t think there’s any doubt that you are a true fan.

Thank you so much, allen. I really appreciate your posting this. I've just read your followup PM, and have responded to it at some length. I won't repeat that here, but I think it'll give you even a clearer picture of where I'm coming from. It took a good and big man to make this post. I only hope that I can do as well going forward. Our life experiences do help frame how we respond to things we see on TV and read in newspapers and magazines. I now have a much better idea of your life experiences, and I have a better appreciation of the positions you take on certain controversial issues. God bless you, allen!

+1

And, for the record, my son is a Browns fan. I watch the games every Sunday afternoon with him. Being the eternal optimistic, I think things are looking up for the Browns this season!

Thanks allen, I argue with you guys like I do with my brothers. If I caught any RedHawks arguing with you or bshot44 I would jump in with both elbows! I enjoy the banter between us. What can I say? I grew up with 5 Irish brothers lol. I don’t take any of this stuff personal. It’s a welcome distraction from the real stresses of life.