There is a right way and a wrong way to be upset about LSU’s SECCG performance Saturday night. That’s correct – right and wrong. There is a misguided notion that anything that can plausibly be classified as “opinion” cannot be right or wrong, merely opinion. Okay, here goes: “It is my opinion that 20 years from now, the U.S. government will be controlled by Martian overlords.” That’s clearly my opinion, and it is obviously wrong on so many levels that it is unworthy of discussion. So let’s disabuse ourselves of the notion that merely by expressing an opinion, you are no longer obligated to have any facts to support yourself, or in fact to think about LSU critically at all. If you’re rightly dissatisfied with Saturday night, you can be one of two things right now: NEGATIVE, or CRITICAL. Being Negative is a serious detriment to LSU football, and could in fact be harmful to such things as recruiting if the Jai Eugenes of the world are reading it. Conversely, it is my sincere belief that being Critical is not only preferred, it’s essential. If you’re being rational in your criticism of LSU football, you’re doing your part to ensure that the Joe Deans of the world don’t get away with hiring an unshaven Hillbilly like Curley Hallman to be the CEO of the multi-million dollar corporation that is LSU football. For example, if you’re simply being Negative, you spout off things like “Miles will never win here!!!! He’s the next Mike Archer!!! Just look at him – won 10 games with someone else’s talent just like Archer. We’re DOOOMED!!!!” There’s no basis in fact there at all. If anything, you’re making the Archer connection because both men won 10 games in their respective debuts, as though it would somehow be better if Miles had gone 8-3 this year. It’s obviously not nearly as poorly thought out as Martians in the White House, but it’s similarly devoid of any factual basis whatsoever. And it’s the kind of thing that water-cooler fans, who aren’t nearly as rabid as those here, start to accept as gospel when it’s anything but. Perception becomes reality, and all of a sudden there’s 92,000 people who roll their eyes and tell themselves “Here we go again” every time a Miles-coached team has an offside penalty. It’s irresponsible, and potentially very damaging to a program you profess to love. LSU fans, I challenge you to be Critical instead. Instead of griping that Jimbo is “conservative,” gripe about hanging Flynn out to dry by, on the first pass play you call for him, asking him to make the one throw he’s physically incapable of making (the 15-yd out from the far hash). If you don’t’ think Miles is a good coach for LSU, don’t make unfounded lamentations about Miles not instilling “discipline,” question why he allows his teams to hit each other at full speed in practice, which has lead to non-game season-ending injuries to Alley Broussard, Kirston Pittman, Charles Alexander, Ryan Miller, Steven Korte, and possibly Will Arnold and Brett Helms. Saban NEVER allowed this, his teams stayed remarkably healthy, and Miles’ teams don’t necessarily tackle any better because they’re killing each other in practice than Saban’s defenses. This way you open up intelligent debate. This way lazy reporters read your thread, and maybe ask Miles about this at a Monday presser. This way if Miles has a fire to put out, it’s a legitimate one, and not one about the style of his headset. I’m simply asking for passion for LSU football that makes a difference, not rage that begins to tear it down.
Great post and a distinction between the 2 was definately needed on this board, but I doubt it will do any good. We shall see.
many times (maybe most times) it is the reader that determines if the post is "critical" or "negative", not the poster.
many times no determination is necessary. It can be down right pathetic how negative some posters can be towards this coaching staff. Great post Martin!
Kudos to Martin. Your posts are really a joy to read as your points are well thought out, logical and convincing. . No wonder you got so many rep points (= approval) with only relatively few posts! Keep up with your good work. It is certainly refreshing, quite a contrast to the ranting and negativity that had been so prevalent this unusual season. I also noticed that the nay sayers were not responding much to your posts; you might have shut them up! Keep up with your good posts.:thumb: ________ Motorcycle tires
