I apologize in advance for the long post. I'll start off by saying I'm as pissed and frustrated as everyone else on here and as all other KU fans are after last night's game. I was finally able to take in a full game day - spending time on campus during the day, hitting up The Hill for pregame beers/activities, and actually going into the stadium early and watching the entire game without having to miss any parts of it - for the first time in years. As nice as that was, I have a horrible taste in my mouth after yesterday, like many of you. I'll list a few reasons why and some additional thoughts below. I do realize many of you have already shared or have but just haven't actually shared the same thoughts and feelings.
I, like you all, long for the day when we get back to winning games and being competitive again. It absolutely kills me that the program is in the state it is currently in. However, I am placing my full faith in Girod, Long, and Vollmar to do what they need to do and make the decisions they need to make to get KU Football back on track and help the program achieve sustained success. I look forward to no longer thinking to myself "That's KU Football" when something bad or ridiculous occurs during a game. While this really sucks right now, I'll always cheer for, support, and be loyal to the program.
RCJH
- While driving through most of campus yesterday afternoon, I got more of a summer-day-on-campus-with-not-too-many-people-around vibe than a first-game-day-of-the-season vibe. That was a bummer.
- I really appreciate the athletic department implementing new game day ideas - the Gameday On the Hill improvements and opening up the Field Goal Club to all active WEF members. However, I still got the feeling of a small school/high school atmosphere around The Hill and stadium. Another bummer.
- My buddy and I enjoyed taking in the Field Goal Club for the first time. It was great to be close to the action on the field and have a few beers. I did notice the long lines and can understand the frustration with that and other unfortunate occurrences that popped up in there during the course of the game.
- The in-game MC was horrible. If she wasn't reading directly from her notes, she was going long stretches without saying anything. The health-related trivia game was brutal. In the Field Goal Club, we and everyone around us were openly laughing in embarrassment at what was unfolding. I hope the in-game MC idea is eventually scrapped or significantly changed.
- While the band did sound good last night (the speakers helped), it irked me when band members could be seen cheering and laughing for various (maybe non-game-related) reasons during the truly low points of the game for us. Not a good look. I also wish our band had more of a big-time look and sound to it and didn't play songs while the head ref was speaking after a review. Also, that ref's public speaking skills were a joke and cringeworthy.
- The video board going out/freezing up several times was ridiculous and embarrassing. Couldn't help but laugh when that occurred.
- Some of Mangino's former players were definitely making it known how they felt regarding our performance against a lower-level team we were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to come to Lawrence to play - and ultimately beat - us. Hearing their words and frustrations was another punch to the gut. I'm sure those of you on here who were in the Field Goal Club last night could hear them yelling and venting as well.
I, like you all, long for the day when we get back to winning games and being competitive again. It absolutely kills me that the program is in the state it is currently in. However, I am placing my full faith in Girod, Long, and Vollmar to do what they need to do and make the decisions they need to make to get KU Football back on track and help the program achieve sustained success. I look forward to no longer thinking to myself "That's KU Football" when something bad or ridiculous occurs during a game. While this really sucks right now, I'll always cheer for, support, and be loyal to the program.
RCJH
