I can see your line of thought. "Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve!" I grew up 3 blocks from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, and have been going to games since the late 70's, and remember both the highs & lows vividly! From the independent years, through the entrance to CUSA, surviving the John Thompson error, to the back-to-back CUSA Championships, right on up to today! If it wasn't for looking @ things from a "glass half full" perspective, it would be easy to waver from time to time.
As a fan base, we've tasted defeat and success, even when folks thought we wouldn't, and we've grown to EXPECT winning seasons, championships, and bowl games. I know we haven't always done these things, but the highs outweigh the lows, IMO.
I do see that, Smaug, and it's a fine line to walk between those two perceptions. My intent was never to rub anyone the wrong way. I'll be watching CUSA Football as long as I live! Our first conference home! Never meant any disrespect!
(05-23-2014 09:10 AM)Fitbud Wrote:
As I was taking a shower this morning I suddenly started thinking about the ECU fans and how they always believed that they deserved better than CUSA.
It kind of bothered me at first but then I came to realize that they were using the "fake it until you make it" philosophy.
Maybe they were right all along. If you believe you deserve greatness then perhaps greatness is achievable.
If you believe that you aren't ready yet, then maybe you aren't ready yet.
Well, when one lives in NC, the non ACC fans have to stick together just to counter the ACC bandwagoners. Sure, some ECU fans get a little high on their proverbial horse and a little too big for their britches, but they are nothing compared to ACC "fans". Most ECU fans actually attended ECU which is refreshing. Also, nothing wrong for a fanbase wanting more in terms of conference etc. ECU fans just need to remember where they came from and not belittle some left behind. Remember, some of those left behind may one day rise up and kick that a$$. Best of luck to ECU.
No worries! I have noticed that vibe here, and it's also why I don't chime in on a lot of things. I didn't take it as you calling me out...I was wanting to make sure I didn't come across as exuding that "vibe". LOL! I am a passionate Pirate, and an even more passionate Greenville Native. Sometimes I do get a tad over-exuberant, but still try to keep it to a dull roar, my friend!
(05-23-2014 09:24 AM)ENCPir87769 Wrote: I can see your line of thought. "Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve!" I grew up 3 blocks from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, and have been going to games since the late 70's, and remember both the highs & lows vividly! From the independent years, through the entrance to CUSA, surviving the John Thompson error, to the back-to-back CUSA Championships, right on up to today! If it wasn't for looking @ things from a "glass half full" perspective, it would be easy to waver from time to time.
As a fan base, we've tasted defeat and success, even when folks thought we wouldn't, and we've grown to EXPECT winning seasons, championships, and bowl games. I know we haven't always done these things, but the highs outweigh the lows, IMO.
That is the kind of mind set every fan base should have. I regret that I never got a chance to see ECU play UTEP in El Paso but I made it a point to watch their home games whenever they were on TV.
I always thought they had the best helmets and best football fans in the conference.
(05-23-2014 09:10 AM)Fitbud Wrote: As I was taking a shower this morning I suddenly started thinking about the ECU fans and how they always believed that they deserved better than CUSA.
It kind of bothered me at first but then I came to realize that they were using the "fake it until you make it" philosophy.
Maybe they were right all along. If you believe you deserve greatness then perhaps greatness is achievable.
If you believe that you aren't ready yet, then maybe you aren't ready yet.
Thank you for not thinking about us Houston fans while touching your junk with soapy hands. Ew.
(05-23-2014 09:10 AM)Fitbud Wrote:
As I was taking a shower this morning I suddenly started thinking about the ECU fans and how they always believed that they deserved better than CUSA.
It kind of bothered me at first but then I came to realize that they were using the "fake it until you make it" philosophy.
Maybe they were right all along. If you believe you deserve greatness then perhaps greatness is achievable.
If you believe that you aren't ready yet, then maybe you aren't ready yet.
(05-23-2014 09:10 AM)Fitbud Wrote:
As I was taking a shower this morning I suddenly started thinking about the ECU fans and how they always believed that they deserved better than CUSA.
It kind of bothered me at first but then I came to realize that they were using the "fake it until you make it" philosophy.
Maybe they were right all along. If you believe you deserve greatness then perhaps greatness is achievable.
If you believe that you aren't ready yet, then maybe you aren't ready yet.
(05-23-2014 09:10 AM)Fitbud Wrote: As I was taking a shower this morning I suddenly started thinking about the ECU fans and how they always believed that they deserved better than CUSA.
It kind of bothered me at first but then I came to realize that they were using the "fake it until you make it" philosophy.
Maybe they were right all along. If you believe you deserve greatness then perhaps greatness is achievable.
If you believe that you aren't ready yet, then maybe you aren't ready yet.
Of course they were right. And it's not about "faking it". Any university of reasonable size can build itself into a football power, if it has the will. Coaches, stadiums, practice facilities, etc. are relatively cheap within the context of a university budget. There was never anything stopping ECU... yeah, for a while, there was the "Easy C" reputation, as personified in John Marinatto (who hated ECU). But if you keep spending money (and, again, it doesn't take all that much), eventually the desired result will be obtained, and the hick reputation will even go away, too. (That's the whole idea.)
So yeah... ECU fans were 100% right. And the fan bases that whine about not having money, a market, etc. instead of doing the things ECU did will indeed never have money or a market. But it's a self-inflicted fate.
(05-23-2014 09:10 AM)Fitbud Wrote: As I was taking a shower this morning I suddenly started thinking about the ECU fans and how they always believed that they deserved better than CUSA.
It kind of bothered me at first but then I came to realize that they were using the "fake it until you make it" philosophy.
Maybe they were right all along. If you believe you deserve greatness then perhaps greatness is achievable.
If you believe that you aren't ready yet, then maybe you aren't ready yet.
Of course they were right. And it's not about "faking it". Any university of reasonable size can build itself into a football power, if it has the will. Coaches, stadiums, practice facilities, etc. are relatively cheap within the context of a university budget. There was never anything stopping ECU... yeah, for a while, there was the "Easy C" reputation, as personified in John Marinatto (who hated ECU). But if you keep spending money (and, again, it doesn't take all that much), eventually the desired result will be obtained, and the hick reputation will even go away, too. (That's the whole idea.)
So yeah... ECU fans were 100% right. And the fan bases that whine about not having money, a market, etc. instead of doing the things ECU did will indeed never have money or a market. But it's a self-inflicted fate.
It's not about the money. It's about the attitude. Too many schools make the excuse that they can't be an elite school because they don't have the money.
ECU always played like a big time school and their fans showed up like a big time school. Now they are in the big time.
/
The thing about ECU fans.....
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![[Image: shitter-full.jpg]](http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/christmas-vacation/shitter-full.jpg)
