Is Fan Engagement a Problem?

I wasn't at the game last night so maybe the in person atmosphere was fine and I'm just complaining for no reason. But I can't help but notice when the camera pans and the entire lower bowl is sitting there dead silent during a 2 point lead with under 4 minutes to play in a redemption game. This feels like the time in the game to me where a loud rowdy crowd could really help to sway the game, but instead it seems like everyone in the camera shot just apathetically watched the team coast to another loss.

I get not standing and cheering the entire game, especially when games are lasting over 2.5 hours, but those last crucial minutes with a close lead don't make sense to me. We pride ourselves on the great gameday atmospheres we create but it seems that atmosphere only comes in spurts, and dies the second something goes wrong. I don't quite get why it is. Maybe it just takes so long to get the priority points to get those lower bowl seats that by the time you get there you're too old to want to stand and cheer, maybe the flow of events in the stadium (timeouts, fouls, timing/song selection of the band and speakers) brings down the energy, or maybe everyone's is just tired at the end of a long season. Whatever the reason is, it's disappointing to see on TV when other fanbases would be seen going rabid in that same scenario.

Let's talk burgers - time to nominate your favorite for 2023 contest

Deadline for nominating your favorite burger/eatery is March 13, so don't dawdle if you want your fav to be in the running. Just a reminder that places can't be considered if they aren't nominated, so don't plan to complain later when your choice wasn't even mentioned.

INFO you need:
To qualify for the title, burgers must be a 100% real beef patty, served on a bun or bread product and cooked to 160° F doneness.

The 10 restaurants with the most votes will be named on March 20 on WHO Radio’s “The Big Show”. Finalists will receive a certificate and qualify for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The 2023 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 1, 2023, with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa.

Details about the contest, rules, and the voting form are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council website, www.iabeef.org.

Two Things Can Be True...Yet Seem Contradictory

Like, I'm reading on here most every day but post once or twice a year. Or this forum has what some would call "Sunshine Pumpers" who are just happy we are out of the Prohm days and winning more than 2 games and trust TJ implicitly. And there are those who are "cliff jumpers" after every loss, and never see the positives. Here are my two things can be true:
  • There are very few coaches in the country who could've had the success TJ has had these past two years with the talent he has had. TJ may also be the worst "In-game" coach in the Big 12.
  • TJ's philosophy of playing to your daily habits is inherently true. You play like you practice. Yet if you play 100% as hard in practice, every day, as you do in games, then inevitably in the dog days of February the team will hit a wall with dead legs.
  • TJ knows his personnel, attitudes, etc... better than anyone and should sub accordingly. Yet subbing by time (at the 17 minute mark of every game for example) is not a coach who has a feel for the game. Coaches sub, because of mistakes, or as an adjustment, or injuries, or a player is exhausted after 3 minutes. Not time.
  • Coaches may have the team practicing free-throws every day, yet still be bad in the games.
  • Teams can struggle down the stretch of a season and still make a run in the tournament.
Oddly, last night gave me hope. We played hard, seemed to be getting our legs back, and played a very good and desperate WVU team toe to toe. I don't expect much the next 2 games (Baylor & Big 12 Tourney), but I think we are gonna be a hard out in the NCAA Tourney. Two things can be true.

In case.......

In case TJ, players, players' families read all these posts. THANK YOU!!! I thought we were looking at an uphill miserable 5 year rebuild. You have given us hours of fun entertainment, you have inspired us, you have played your asses off, you have raised fine upstanding young men who carry themselves in a way we are proud of. I believe you will rally post season!

Caleb Grill has been dismissed from team

This is the second game I remember where Grill's temper caused a 5 point swing. He is a senior and needs to be more disciplined than that. He needs to stop fighting. It cost us the game tonight. We had momentum at that time, about to take 2 free throws, and get the ball back. Instead Bone Head Grill gets his own technical which ends up giving WV the ball. Momentum completely switched at that point and we couldn't buy a bucket. Bench Grill until he ages out of college. He is just a liability at this point. He doesn't score, misses free throws, gets technicals at key moments, and can't keep his temper in check.

Once Again Same ol Same ol

I've watched WBB for at least 57 years. I have observed that 98% of the time the team that comes out on top in conference as well as NCAA championships always has at least one dominating post or several very good ones. Take the Big 12 for instance. Who won the last 12 championships in a row? The team that had posts sitting on the bench that were as good as most of the other teams starters. The team that won last year lost a general that was responsible for all that. She left behind two posts that were drafted in the first round of the WNBA draft and the other post is now starting and playing quite decent I must say, (may even wind up on the all big 12 honor team). She is about 2 inches short for her position but plays like a junk yard dog and thus has been rather effective all year. The new sheriff came into town and inherited 3 WNBA players and at least 2 more very solid 1st or 2nd team all conference players. In spite of the coaching style she still managed by the hair of her chin to eek out a conference championship,but bowed out in the Big 12 tourney and 2nd round of the NCAA. Now the team is stocked with guards and forwards running a pro style modern offense. Results? Well currently 5th place with only 2 games to go and guess who they face tonight in Austin? It will take some "Jesus" help to win that one.

Texas on paper was the best team from the very outset in spite of predictions to the contrary. They had 5 posts!!!! IMO the best one (Moore) is out for the year. But the remaining 4 continue to clog the lanes and pound the paint. Iowa St on the other hand started with 1 post and two 1/2 posts. Currently pretty much down to the half post. Results are inevitable. If Baylor somehow pulls a rabbit out of the hat tonight it will be the upset of the year. I expect TX to all but lock it up tonight. Back to the premise, it's all about posts. Can you win with 5 guards? Not unless they're all cut out of Diana Taurasi cloth. They must hit the three's at a super high percentage to even compete with a team that dominates the paint. So it's the same ol same ol. I realize that there are not 100 superstar posts to pick from every year. But I see too many coaches just willing to settle for 5' 6" guards year after year and using the three bomb strategy. It can be fun to watch at times. But the final results usually leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Ok guys if you've read this far congratulations. I realize I'm still sort of an outsider on this board but I feel like ya'll need a little Southern Influence from time to time. And surely by now ya'll know I root for you constantly. So thanks for not banning me. I sure hated the way the game in Waco turned out this year because it was basically the poorest display of good basketball by both teams I've ever seen. Neither team really deserved to win but somebody had to. I'll probably see some of ya'll in KC.

Where to get automotive news?

Does anyone here who is into cars have any good sites they get regular news from? My interests are primarily 60s/70s and new sports cars. I enjoy exotics but they're not at the top of my list. I also read a lot about new car tech including EVs.

Any recommendations for some good websites? I used to be a regular Jalopnik reader but all they seem to do anymore is fear monger and complain. Interested in YouTube channels as well but I'm pretty satisfied with my list there - looking for something I can read instead of video.

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