A divided family - Am I the only one?
by Florida_State on Nov 24, 2009 9:21 AM EST
10 comments
I made the yearly trek back home to Florida to visit with family although this year it was a bit earlier than usual due to work schedules and such. Having not discussed the current state of affairs of FSU football and the BB saga I was very interested to hear what my family had to say about it all. Most of all my entire family (Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) are FSU alumni, season ticket holders for multiple sports and are active boosters. This allegiance was started over 35 years ago. So to say the least, FSU is our blood.
It did not take long to broach the subject over some delicious chicken and dumplings and I was stunned at the differing opinions/sides taken on the subject. I will not get into everything that was said as I am rather embarrassed that some of my own family would even think this way on a couple subjects (yes they were the older group). What we did focus on though was the BB situation. As you can imagine, some wanted BB gone after this year, some neutral and some pro BB (defended him).
In the end- on the pro Bb side it all came down to in their minds the way this saga was all playing out. BB deserves a better farewell since he built the program and he was not being treated like the legend he is was. Not that he deserves to stay, but that he deserves a better farewell/treatment by the fans and FSU. Surely they have heard BB stating himself he did not want a farewell tour? Surely this could not be the main point of their argument. At this point there was no need of running head first into a wall and reiterating the many sides of the BB must go argument and why- as I could tell they really do know this side of the story but something was still holding them back.
The next day we are watching the game highlights and having conversation and it is at this I see the issue. The fear of change, something completely different than what they have been used to, is what is holding some of my family members back, and possibly a good portion of others from moving forward into a new era. Some people just can’t handle it and do not want to deal with it head on as they are completely set in their ways. Many things I witnessed this weekend were “old” - FSU is in desperate need of a refresh in many areas and the campaign for this change management has not been delivered to the groups that need it most. This is why we have distinct division in beliefs of our fan base and in my case, my family. Some people just can’t accept change because the unknown it is terrifying for them, not even with the obvious staring them in face.
I am sure there are many more particulars to each individual persons view on the situation. I wanted to share this as I really thought that my family would be united in our thinking and we were not. I was surprised that the fear of change appears to be the root cause of one family’s division and to be honest- I wish I completely understood all aspects of why this is so.
Unfortunately, there is a chance this could get very ugly if BB does not go quietly. I feel it is up to me to convince the non believers why something new is so desperately needed.
Three factors must be present for meaningful change to take place.
These factors are:
D = Dissatisfaction with how things are now;
V = Vision of what is possible;
F = First, concrete steps that can be taken towards the vision.
If the product of these three factors is greater than
R = Resistance, then change is possible.
In the end the wind of change is blowing although not hard enough for me. The ones that can’t accept it will most likely fall by the wayside but hopefully we can pick them up and bring them along. We need a united fan base when this is all over with. The message I left for my family was one that something new is needed and they need to focus on the vision of the future (something BB obviously is not doing- well for himself he is). I feel that they will think hard about it and realize that this is what is needed to ensure my kids and their grandkids continue the winning tradition and they are no longer blinded by the loyalty and no longer resist some much needed change. I hope that you are not going through the same situation as I am.
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I honestly don't think
it is the fear of change that is the problem with alumni, boosters, etc. Change has to happen in order for progress to occur in all aspects of life. I think it has more to do with the fear of the administration to be the one to do what they believe is the unthinkable…letting go of Bowden before he is ready to go. Some alumni, boosters, etc may be upset at first, but if they are fans of FSU more than they are of Bowden, they will be back!
I think the older crowd DOES fear change, it represents their own limitations and changes which come with age.
But you’re right, that is less and less the case each day.
True disatisfaction with the way things are IS neccessary to force discomfort so that we “leave the proverbial nest” and learn to fly.
Yeah, right!
Once this is over...
The Bobby Bowden tenure, many fans will return. Those who don’t are just followers of the cult of personalty. See how many spurrier supporters there are in Hogtown these days and you will see what a winning program does to forget about the past. They win.
Tell them Bobby IS leaving on "his terms"
After the 1999 MNC, he could have left they way he always said he wanted to— like John Wooden, on top. Instead, he foisted Jeff on the school despite D’Alemberte’s desire to bring in a top notch OC.
For the next 6 years, he denied, dissembled, delayed and then denegrated the fans.
His selfishness plummeted the program until the boosters and AD had to step in and buy-off a non-performing assistant, the first time in NCAA history to my knowledge, all out of respect to Bobby for “all he has done”.
In 2007 he was given a new contract when Fisher came in. Fisher was made to wait in the shadows while he did the actual work, on the understanding that Bobby would end this travesty and we could get rid of his non-performing buddies on the staff by 2011— that’s 4 years of still getting paid for doing nothing out of respect “for all he has done”.
At any time during the last decade, and even now, he could have retired with all the fanfare and adoration he wanted, in respect for “what he has done”, as he repeatedly said he would do if we got to this point of decline. How dare anyone take him at his word.
Instead, he’s working to stay on, keep the status quo, and effectively destroy what progress we’ve been able to with Fisher. Ann is threatening, insulting and challenging FSU to do something about it. He has not refuted or explained any of her statements, which indicates they are his feelings too.
For this decade of decline and his inactivity, Bobby has been paid well over $20 million. Let the old folks think about that for a minute.
Instead of abiding by his word, and thanking FSU for all it has done for him, he and his family are fighting his promised retirement like petulent children.
He created this situation, no one else. These are his own terms.
by FiestaNole on Nov 24, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions 6 recs
Wish I could rec more than once.
Amazing that sound, rational arguments like these can’t even penetrate a dent into the skulls of the most casual of FSU football fans / most ardent of Bobby Bowden supporters. And of course I don’t speak of the soulless screennames that pop up here at TN and wander off without a fight – I’m talking about the family members that Florida_State alluded to. I’m pretty sure to a man/woman my closest/dearest friends are all with me by now, but the most stubborn of family members remain stuck to Bowden like a parasite to its host. It truly makes one wonder if they have any privity to Florida State at all or if they’ll just die with Bowden when he’s finished sucking the lifeblood out of the program. I know they’ll come back though after they sulk at Bowden’s grave. Because everything our side has sought to accomplish will revive FSU to a winning football tradition despite their efforts to tear it down for the sake of one man’s selfish legacy. And then they’ll leach off us. A divided fanbase indeed.
That is one thing I did not touch on
One Pro Bowden family member is not renewing season tickets next year. The reason was lame as the excuse given was travel time which a little over an hour. I said BS. As you suggested I feel they are dropping off because Bowden is. Winning cures a lot and I am sure they will be back around eventually. I really hate this scenario though and would prefer for this not to happen to my family.
by Florida_State on Nov 24, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Change is already upon us.
When is the last time your family saw an FSU defense this bad? The answer is never because there never has been one as bad. When is the last time they saw Doak this empty? Never. Change is already upon us.
The thing that stinks is that some want to accuse the fans, BOT, and boosters as some how being fair weather fans. It’s like saying that the Seminole Nation is disloyal and heartless and cares more about winning than people.
But we are not Steinbrenner and we are not Yankee fans. If by some chance we could change 5 plays in 5 games as Mickey put it and we were undefeated at this point, we would still be calling for Bowden to move on. The wins would not have cured the Jeffrey fiasco. The defense would still be this bad. CTC would still be here. Bowden would still have little clue about what is happening on the field. And we would still not want to lose Jimbo for the sake of keeping the old coot. Some of the criticism might not be as vocal. The BOT might not have called for Bowden to go. Doak might have been more full. But most people would still agree that it is time to turn a new chapter in Seminole football.
There is no reason why Bobby can’t go out with a cheer. He would make us all very happy and cause lots of celebration. It would be wonderful if he could just follow in Mickey’s footsteps. I’m not sure Bobby knows how he wants to go out or how he envisions it all ending or even if he can envision it. It would have been great if he would have announced his retirement before he let the program fall this far. I certainly hope he is not waiting for another NC so that he can go out a “winner”. There is something very respectable about having the humility to admit that it is time to sit yourself on the sideline.
He has ruined his chance for a graceful exit.
It’s just time to go now. Best he can do is annouce that it’s his decision, everyone puts on a smile, write a big fat check, and change the locks on the door.
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