State Employee Sounds Off On Our Fans

09-10 Basketball AD & Department Fans31

Sure, it seems like a rather trivial detail to get flustered over (basketball jerseys). But as one State employee joked earlier this week, “Our fans always need something to gripe about and this is just the protest of the week. The psyche of our fans is unbelievable. I’ve long been of the belief that State fans are the only fans in the world who have figured out how to e-mail in crayon.”

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09-10 Basketball AD & Department Fans

31 Responses to State Employee Sounds Off On Our Fans

  1. Alpha Wolf 09/03/2009 at 11:15 AM #

    I truly wonder if that comment was made by Lee Fowler.

    Seriously, it underlines the derision that some folks at NC State have for their supporters. “Just send in your money and shut the $%^$ up” seems to be the prevailing opinion. They seem to believe that we have no right to question their job performance despite the fact they have managed to “lead” the largest university in the ninth most populous state in the nation to utter irrelevancy in not only one sport but most of the sports it “competes” in. If you guys can’t even get volleyball or soccer right, how in the heck do you expect us to have faith in your judgment in matters concerning basketball?

    I will answer that for you, to spare you the drool: you can’t and we don’t. That is the simple truth, and you can deny it all you like, but there it is.

    Moreover, that “Just send in your money and shut the $%^$ up” attitude translates not only from sports but also into the undergraduate experience and the student life experience. I truly feel for the current students, because they have to fight their way through difficult and challenging curricula but also “leaders” like that.

    So anonymous NC State employee, let me tell you this: you are naked, Emperor. And we see it, whether or not YOU like it.

    Finally, jackass, nice dig about using crayons. I would insult your intelligence, but you already did such a nice job on your own that it would be redundant for me to do so.

  2. old13 09/03/2009 at 11:24 AM #

    Well, I’ve quit sending $$$; but I have not shut up!

  3. Thinkpack17 09/03/2009 at 12:01 PM #

    This is what divides our fanbase, some want to rip this “State” employee a new one. I want to rip the guy that said “So that’s what they will be wearing when I’m not watching this year.” Who is right here? You complain, and I complain about you complaining.

    I’m more than happy to be the bad guy here, I understand if you have given up on Wolfpack basketball. I understand if you just don’t have it in you to make it through another season, but if you feel that way…just leave already. I have been to that cliff and I decided not to jump. Either do it or don’t.

    It’s like a girl telling you she is leaving, she’s packing her bags, she’s tired of your crap…”Yes honey, I know I suck…I know I haven’t satisfied you for a long time. I know my older brother is better looking and my younger brother makes more money.” JUST LEAVE ALREADY!! Stop telling me you have left me and actually do it! Don’t call me to remind me you have left me. Don’t text me to insult me. Don’t drop by my facebook page to call me names. Because it’s true…I’m not doing well, Hell right now I’m plain old pathetic. But if there is one thing that is more pathetic than the man that is at the end of his rope, it’s the woman who can’t shut up about him. There I said it. Rip me a new one.

  4. thekind 09/03/2009 at 12:08 PM #

    TP17-
    Great post.

  5. BJD95 09/03/2009 at 12:09 PM #

    Giving up on the Fowler/Lowe regime does not equal giving up on NC State basketball. We just want it to be competently managed again.

    NC State was bigger than Mike O’Cain.

    NC State was bigger than Herb Sendek.

    NC State was bigger than Chuck Amato (and his ego).

    NC State is bigger than Lee Fowler and Sidney Lowe.

  6. CaptainCraptacular 09/03/2009 at 12:35 PM #

    A few years ago after a particularly heartbreaking loss to Vandy in Orlando – not just any ol game as all pack fans will attest, I was walking out of the O-rena vacillating between pure anger, sadness, and resignation. I passed by a little ol pack Granny heading the other way with the same look in her eye. We made eye contact and shared 15+ years of frustration with our team in one moments time.

    Pack fans don’t need something to complain about, we need a winner. A team and school we can be proud of. It’s been far too long and the problem is that no-one in the administration gives a crap like we do.

  7. Thinkpack17 09/03/2009 at 12:42 PM #

    NC State is also bigger than people’s frustrations. What good does that comment bring to our Fanbase? Our Program? Our University? This website? We pride ourselves on not being part of that idiot board title wave that’s out there. The only thing that comment is worth is a few “lol”s, 2 pwneds, and a youtube thumbs up. Worthless.

  8. NCStatefan172 09/03/2009 at 12:47 PM #

    The thing that really piss me off about this comment is that we the fans are the reason they all have there jobs even thought they don’t still deserve to, most any other fan base would not put up with our Athletic Department for this long.

    Its us the fans, who fill up a 60,000 stadium for 9 years and counting even when we go 3-9 and finish dead last in our division,

    its us the fans that have supported the Basketball program even though athletics program seems to have given up on it,

    it us the fans who make the Wolfpack club make as much money as Ohio State,Florida and all the other big time programs clubs, its money the athletic department does not deserve,

    its us the fans that have stuck with this schools athletic teams even though we have not won a Nation championship in a sport that matters in 30 years nor a ACC championship in 20 even,

    Its us the fans that actually care enough about NC State to actually comment about what there doing wrong and every time we get a chance try to make the school better,

    Its us the fans that put up with being the laughing stock of the ACC in basketball while Lee F**Kup rolls in the cash,

    Its us the fans that have to deal with being behind Carolina and Duke and even Wake Forest most sports,

    And its us the fans who even though we had a losing record last season are going to fill up the Carter and have it rocking for ESPN later tonight, make it as loud as we F**ing can and make Lee F**kup look good.

    And the most we ask for is to win and have a halfway competent Athletic department.

    And yes until you NC State starts winning we have a right to grip,b***h and complain, so STFU and do your goddamn job right.

    /Endrant

  9. BJD95 09/03/2009 at 12:48 PM #

    I don’t think voicing concerns and general angst is valueless. This site is about conversation, whether it be celebrating the rare good times, offering constructive (even if biting) criticism, or just venting some general angst.

  10. WolftownVA81 09/03/2009 at 12:50 PM #

    Not a post a want to read on the day we play our first FB game. Why get depressed over this. It can wait. Football? Did somebody mention football…….intended thread jack.

    Are we missing something? Seems there is an active discussion on football in the article just below this one, not to mention in the forums.

  11. Alpha Wolf 09/03/2009 at 12:53 PM #

    I don’t particularly think that it divides the fanbase (like ANY fanbase ANYWHERE is of one mind) to tell an employee of an organization that we all materially support that s/he’s full of shit when they say that “State fans are the only fans in the world who have figured out how to e-mail in crayon.

    Your mileage may vary.

  12. Thinkpack17 09/03/2009 at 12:59 PM #

    Well BJD we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one. We are lost at sea right now and our rations are dangerously low. I’d love to hear thoughts about how to get us home, I don’t even mind discussing how we got into this mess. But what I can’t freakin stand is the delirous guy in the corner saying that keeps saying, “I’m Hungry, if we don’t eat soon I’m going to die.” Just die already.

  13. packpowerfan 09/03/2009 at 1:09 PM #

    ^
    I don’t know about this employee, but if someone sent me an email in crayon, I would be impressed at this magnificent technical achievement.

    I think most of us would agree that when you look at the scope of the state universities, we have the most vocal and rabid fan base. This is as true during games as it is during our work week. We vent on Fowler, we vent on Lowe, and we vent on the mismanagement of our University. However, when are others going to realize that we are actually a very easy fan base to appease? There are 3 things that you have to do to make me, as a fan, very happy:

    1) Display pride when representing our University

    Since I’ve been a student, there really hasn’t been any movement to create and continue traditions at State. That jackass Stafford has done about everything in his power to totally destroy all of the long time traditions that we’ve had, and has worked just as hard to curtail us now (He tried to cancel campout 2 years in a row, only to be thwarted by SG. Why he tried to cancel it, I don’t know, because we haven’t had ANY disciplinary issues, and the ticketing procedure has gone just fine). We saw this with the jerseys. We know State as STATE. I only say “NC” when I’m talking to someone from out of North Carolina, and then I’ll usually go whole hog and say “North Carolina State University”. We want an administration that is HAPPY to represent NCSU.

    2) Hire an administration that doesn’t look like bumbling idiots

    This has been my biggest gripe as a student. I can almost overlook wins and pride when it comes down to this. Lee Fowler and former Chancellor Oblinger really put a tarnished coat on our institution. I am the kind of student that wholeheartedly believes that we have the BEST University in the State. I would go on a limb and say that 90% of our graduates do something that GREATLY benefits society. I am a poultry science major, and get flak all the time for it, but did you know that the chicken’s genome is built in such a way that it is IDEAL for cancer studies and research? On that note, our highest administrative positions are being exploited, and making us as students and graduates look bad. I know a handful of employees that desperately care about their jobs and how this reflects upon the alumni, but not many. Find us some competent, hard-nosed leadership (Woodward-esque, if I may) and this issue is solved.

    3) WIN. Not much to explain here. Winning as a whole University is imperative. Right now our students are doing that part academically, and the alumni body is doing this in the workforce; however, our athletics are obviously behind. No need to harp more on this, because I’m sure everyone here on SFN is following the same page.

  14. packpowerfan 09/03/2009 at 1:09 PM #

    ^ My apologies for the small book

  15. Rick 09/03/2009 at 1:11 PM #

    ” But what I can’t freakin stand is the delirous guy in the corner saying that keeps saying, “I’m Hungry, if we don’t eat soon I’m going to die.” Just die already.”

    Here is what you are not understanding. In Fowler’s (and apparently the big donor’s minds) things are all peachy keen. So to elaborate on your analogy, they are like the mind broken imbecile that has decided to eat everyone’s poo and pretend it is steak. Since they deny there is even a problem (just email little head jed and see) and there is no financial penalty for suckage (see next paragraph) there is no where to vent except anonymous forums.

    Which brings me to my next point, the seat license has turned out to be the death of NCSU athletics. The teams can continue stinking up the joint but the vast majority keep buying tickets because to not do so would be to lose all of the money put into the license. So black ink equals more tenure for little head jed.

    NCSU athletics is run like a monopoly (think power company without the government intervention) rather than a business.

  16. Thinkpack17 09/03/2009 at 1:12 PM #

    Alpha I think you’ll notice I put State in quotes. I don’t count this guy as a State fan, just because you work at the University that doesn’t make you a fan. And anyone who would pigeon hold us like that REALLY doesn’t seem like a fan. Complainers vs. Whiners is the divide I was speaking of. We however are unified in calling this guy a douchebag.

    That’s cool, TP17. I just misunderstood you a bit. — Alpha

  17. Rick 09/03/2009 at 1:13 PM #

    packpowerfan – good post

  18. MP 09/03/2009 at 1:17 PM #

    The linked article provided a very fair assessment of the situation. Our current veterans were part of a team last year that frankly looked like a JV team the first night of the ACC tournament. We have an incoming recruiting class that could be a program builder IF the big guns follow in the next 2 years. Lots of uncertainty, particularly the way recruits have and may waver.

    Regarding the “while I’m not watching” comment: fairly lame comment – HOWEVER – give us one more 10th to 12th place finish and he’ll have plenty of company.

  19. Thinkpack17 09/03/2009 at 1:22 PM #

    “Here is what you are not understanding. In Fowler’s (and apparently the big donor’s minds) things are all peachy keen.”

    I absolutely understand that. I don’t understand why you would think I don’t though.

  20. packpowerfan 09/03/2009 at 1:24 PM #

    TP17, I think it’s just a misunderstanding here. I believe what you’re getting at is our fan base gets divided between fans who complain over things worth griping about, and fans who complain simply for the sake of complaining. Is this close?

  21. BJD95 09/03/2009 at 1:29 PM #

    I actually DID know that about the chicken stuff, as my wife did some cancer research using chicken embryos (she’s working on a swine flu project now).

  22. Rick 09/03/2009 at 1:30 PM #

    “I absolutely understand that. I don’t understand why you would think I don’t though”

    Because you think we should not complain.

  23. packpowerfan 09/03/2009 at 1:43 PM #

    BJD that is awesome! I got invited to a graduate seminar by my academic adviser on embryonic telomere lengths, and how repetition made it easier to test and record the effects of cancer drugs. I was so impressed that I’m hoping I can work that into a future career. Again, that is really awesome about what your wife is doing!

  24. Thinkpack17 09/03/2009 at 1:46 PM #

    PPF, Add in the folks complaining about all the complaining and you got it. I really don’t think our fan base is as divided as people say, but when you are unsuccessful people get frustrated, and people deal with frustration in different ways. That’s what’s dividing us, how we are all dealing with things. I have never said people don’t deserve to complain, I just think it should be contructive:

    So that’s what they will be wearing when I’m not watching this year.

    Not constructive, and to me, just as offensive as what the douchebag said to the Fayetteville observer.

  25. TopTenPack 09/03/2009 at 2:21 PM #

    I am reading a book called “What Would Google Do?” and I think NC State Athletics would benifit if Lee Fowler would read this book. Talk with bloggers and they will make you better. Fight with blogger and they can take you down.

    I think it great they listen to us on this subject, but can we do better?!?!

    Can we make the design for the department? We got everybody’s opinion and that is good. If we all got together, surely we can make a better design.

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