Detoxifying the rivalry

[91catAlum]

Indulge me in a thought experiment....suppose the cats won 16 brawls in a row. (Never mind that this is very unlikely....it's a thought experiment!) Would that make the rivalry more toxic, less toxic, or make no change whatsoever? I've heard that the streak made the rivalry more toxic, so I wonder what would happen if the tables turned? Same question about what would happen if we caught up on the overall record

Toxic Fans make the rivalry toxic. Too many middle aged juveniles whose identity is wrapped up in college athletics. And it comes from both sides.

True, but coaches can help or hinder the toxicity. Not a lot, but it can impact the behavior\attitude of the fans. For example, there is no universe where after a win, Brent Vigen would say something like, "I wish there were five quarters so we could kick their asses some more."

Well I didn’t think there was a world where my wife, a native Montanan, would say she’s never going back to bobcat stadium because of the way we were treated. And that had nothing to do with Bobby Hauck or any other coach…as a matter of fact Hauck wasn’t the coach when it happened.

No, grown men should be able to handle themselves like men, regardless of what any coach says

Sorry you guys had a bad experience. I hate to hear that. I wish all fans acted like adults.

[Cataholic]

Indulge me in a thought experiment....suppose the cats won 16 brawls in a row. (Never mind that this is very unlikely....it's a thought experiment!) Would that make the rivalry more toxic, less toxic, or make no change whatsoever? I've heard that the streak made the rivalry more toxic, so I wonder what would happen if the tables turned? Same question about what would happen if we caught up on the overall record

Toxic Fans make the rivalry toxic. Too many middle aged juveniles whose identity is wrapped up in college athletics. And it comes from both sides.

True, but coaches can help or hinder the toxicity. Not a lot, but it can impact the behavior\attitude of the fans. For example, there is no universe where after a win, Brent Vigen would say something like, "I wish there were five quarters so we could kick their asses some more."

Well I didn’t think there was a world where my wife, a native Montanan, would say she’s never going back to bobcat stadium because of the way we were treated. And that had nothing to do with Bobby Hauck or any other coach…as a matter of fact Hauck wasn’t the coach when it happened.

No, grown men should be able to handle themselves like men, regardless of what any coach says

Yes. You are correct. And the behavior at Wash Gris is just as bad, if not worse. Do you intervene at Wash Gris when knucklehead Gris fans are harassing Cat fans?

[MSU Toddler]

Just a recent reminder:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRyMq5Ng ... FlZA%3D%3D

I've seen ugly on both sides...

[robgriz]

Indulge me in a thought experiment....suppose the cats won 16 brawls in a row. (Never mind that this is very unlikely....it's a thought experiment!) Would that make the rivalry more toxic, less toxic, or make no change whatsoever? I've heard that the streak made the rivalry more toxic, so I wonder what would happen if the tables turned? Same question about what would happen if we caught up on the overall record

Toxic Fans make the rivalry toxic. Too many middle aged juveniles whose identity is wrapped up in college athletics. And it comes from both sides.

True, but coaches can help or hinder the toxicity. Not a lot, but it can impact the behavior\attitude of the fans. For example, there is no universe where after a win, Brent Vigen would say something like, "I wish there were five quarters so we could kick their asses some more."

Well I didn’t think there was a world where my wife, a native Montanan, would say she’s never going back to bobcat stadium because of the way we were treated. And that had nothing to do with Bobby Hauck or any other coach…as a matter of fact Hauck wasn’t the coach when it happened.

No, grown men should be able to handle themselves like men, regardless of what any coach says

Yes. You are correct. And the behavior at Wash Gris is just as bad, if not worse. Do you intervene at Wash Gris when knucklehead Gris fans are harassing Cat fans?

Yes. But I notice that regardless of where the game is the knuckleheaded behavior isn’t limited to just the home team.

[Cataholic]

Indulge me in a thought experiment....suppose the cats won 16 brawls in a row. (Never mind that this is very unlikely....it's a thought experiment!) Would that make the rivalry more toxic, less toxic, or make no change whatsoever? I've heard that the streak made the rivalry more toxic, so I wonder what would happen if the tables turned? Same question about what would happen if we caught up on the overall record

Toxic Fans make the rivalry toxic. Too many middle aged juveniles whose identity is wrapped up in college athletics. And it comes from both sides.

True, but coaches can help or hinder the toxicity. Not a lot, but it can impact the behavior\attitude of the fans. For example, there is no universe where after a win, Brent Vigen would say something like, "I wish there were five quarters so we could kick their asses some more."

Well I didn’t think there was a world where my wife, a native Montanan, would say she’s never going back to bobcat stadium because of the way we were treated. And that had nothing to do with Bobby Hauck or any other coach…as a matter of fact Hauck wasn’t the coach when it happened.

No, grown men should be able to handle themselves like men, regardless of what any coach says

Yes. You are correct. And the behavior at Wash Gris is just as bad, if not worse. Do you intervene at Wash Gris when knucklehead Gris fans are harassing Cat fans?

Yes. But I notice that regardless of where the game is the knuckleheaded behavior isn’t limited to just the home team.

Agree

[robgriz]

Indulge me in a thought experiment....suppose the cats won 16 brawls in a row. (Never mind that this is very unlikely....it's a thought experiment!) Would that make the rivalry more toxic, less toxic, or make no change whatsoever? I've heard that the streak made the rivalry more toxic, so I wonder what would happen if the tables turned? Same question about what would happen if we caught up on the overall record

Toxic Fans make the rivalry toxic. Too many middle aged juveniles whose identity is wrapped up in college athletics. And it comes from both sides.

True, but coaches can help or hinder the toxicity. Not a lot, but it can impact the behavior\attitude of the fans. For example, there is no universe where after a win, Brent Vigen would say something like, "I wish there were five quarters so we could kick their asses some more."

Well I didn’t think there was a world where my wife, a native Montanan, would say she’s never going back to bobcat stadium because of the way we were treated. And that had nothing to do with Bobby Hauck or any other coach…as a matter of fact Hauck wasn’t the coach when it happened.

No, grown men should be able to handle themselves like men, regardless of what any coach says

Sorry you guys had a bad experience. I hate to hear that. I wish all fans acted like adults.

I’ve actually seen it both ways. Last time I went with my brother and at halftime we went out looking for a beer and on our way to find a Griz tailgate some bobcat fans took us in and gave us a couple beers and some shots.

[BelligerentBobcat]

I actually feel better about this game than the first, not because I’m overly confident about the result, but because this is just so cool.

Both teams are realistically the two best teams left. We’ve never played in the playoffs before. History is going to be made! While the loser will likely be devasted, and believe me, if MSU loses I will be too, they shouldn’t be. I’m not a big moral victory guy, but this was a rebuilding year for MSU and look where we are. Now we get to play an awesome, awesome, rivalry game to go to the championship in our home stadium? It really doesn’t get better than this.

So, I guess my point is, be kind to your neighboring Griz fans. We should both want to enjoy this as much as possible. It’s a really awesome scenario for both programs. Let’s make it fun!

[PapaG]

I actually feel better about this game than the first, not because I’m overly confident about the result, but because this is just so cool.

Both teams are realistically the two best teams left. We’ve never played in the playoffs before. History is going to be made! While the loser will likely be devasted, and believe me, if MSU loses I will be too, they shouldn’t be. I’m not a big moral victory guy, but this was a rebuilding year for MSU and look where we are. Now we get to play an awesome, awesome, rivalry game to go to the championship in our home stadium? It really doesn’t get better than this.

So, I guess my point is, be kind to your neighboring Griz fans. We should both want to enjoy this as much as possible. It’s a really awesome scenario for both programs. Let’s make it fun!

I’ve had the Tennessee/Tee Martin vibe all season and it’s still strong. Now I’m trying to get into the stadium for under $400 and I usually have an in on these things. What a moment for Montana in general!

[BelligerentBobcat]

I actually feel better about this game than the first, not because I’m overly confident about the result, but because this is just so cool.

Both teams are realistically the two best teams left. We’ve never played in the playoffs before. History is going to be made! While the loser will likely be devasted, and believe me, if MSU loses I will be too, they shouldn’t be. I’m not a big moral victory guy, but this was a rebuilding year for MSU and look where we are. Now we get to play an awesome, awesome, rivalry game to go to the championship in our home stadium? It really doesn’t get better than this.

So, I guess my point is, be kind to your neighboring Griz fans. We should both want to enjoy this as much as possible. It’s a really awesome scenario for both programs. Let’s make it fun!

I’ve had the Tennessee/Tee Martin vibe all season and it’s still strong. Now I’m trying to get into the stadium for under $400 and I usually have an in on these things. What a moment for Montana in general!

I think we were some of the few at the beginning of the season who said this team could make it all the way! Granted I expected to lose to NDSU, but I’m gonna take the victory!