Why I desperately want the Cougs to beat Gonzaga
by Jeff Nusser on Dec 10, 2008 1:00 PM PST
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PrintI totally understand why Grady has a soft spot for Gonzaga. I, however, have no such thing. Not anymore.
The word "hate" was bandied about in the comments of the other post, and that's a pretty strong word. I don't think what I have is hatred, since I generally reserve that kind of language for Washington. But at the very least, what I do have is a strong distaste for Gonzaga -- both the players and the fans. It's unfortunate, because I feel like this could be a nice rivalry, full of respect and with each team's fans rooting for the the other from the second week of December on. But it can't be like that. Because Gonzaga brought all of what I'm about to write on itself.
I realize what I'm about to say includes some blanket generalizations that don't apply to everyone. But I've had enough negative experiences with Gonzaga over the last decade that I just can't view the Bulldogs as America's Team the way a lot of other people do.
I was at KeyArena in 1999 when Gonzaga upset Minnesota, and watched what happened to the Zags' fan base as they got excited about their team. I remember watching North Carolina fans -- who had just seen their team get ousted by Weber State and Harold "The Show" Arceneaux (!) -- sell off their tickets to droves of Bulldogs, who filled the building to the point that it became a de facto home game against Stanford. I cheered for Gonzaga just like everyone else in the building, and took great satisfaction in their win. (This was due in no small part to the fact that they were beating the Cardinal, their snotty little band and that stupid tree.)
It was pretty fun to be a part of, because it reminded me of when the Cougs went to the Rose Bowl in 1997. The pride, excitement and passion was cool to watch, because it was so darn new and fresh. I mean, before that point, I had absolutely no idea there were so many people out there with ties to Gonzaga.
Now? Ten tournament appearances later, it's no longer fresh. Pride has turned from "my school is great!" to "we're sooooooooo much better than you -- try to keep up, ok?" Gonzaga fans and players have morphed from "fun little story you can root for" to "cocky jerks I love to see lose."
I remember working on a story a few years ago and needing and interview with Adam Morrison. I got the run-around from the SID and never got a call from Morrison, who apparently was too busy during a summer in Spokane -- seriously, I was told that he was too busy ... during the summer ... in Spokane -- to make time for a magazine that wasn't big enough.
I got big-timed ... by GONZAGA.
(Let that sink in for a minute, then continue reading. I'll wait.)
Trust me when I tell you that while Mark Few would have preferred Micah Downs not say what he said last year, that's the feeling around the program. They truly do think of themselves up there as the premier basketball school in the state, which I would admire if it weren't so delusional.
Most of the fans aren't much better; they puff out their chest and tell anyone who will listen that they're an elite team. They act like it's their God-given right to be awesome, and anyone who suggests otherwise is the enemy. They're a lot like Ducks fans with their chip on their shoulder and their little-man's syndrome, which drives me absolutely batty. I kind of understand it out of a Pac-10 school, because they might actually get to that elite status someday.
But Gonzaga? I've got news for you: You are not big time.
You are not North Carolina, Kansas or Kentucky. You're a tiny little Jesuit school from Spokane, playing in the more or less inconsequential WCC. Yes, you are consistently ranked in the Top 25 (thanks to beating up on inferior competition) and spend lots of time on TV (not because the rest of the nation respects you, but because they still think you're cute), yet in the past seven NCAA Tournaments, you've advanced past the second round just once, including first-round losses the past two years. You might have a good team this year, but you are not UCLA, Florida or Duke, which actually competes for national championships after being ranked in the top 15. You are not even WSU, which in the past two years has three NCAA Tournament wins to your zero.
So, to all you Gonzaga fans out there, listen closely: You are not the best program in the state, and you never will be, even if you occasionally have a year like this one. You should thank God every day that Mark Few is so comfortable with settling for the hero worship that comes along with being a big fish in an incredibly small pond, because the moment he leaves, you'll be back to what you always were -- unimportant. I'd tell you to get over yourselves, but I know you won't, which is what makes me dislike you so very much. But I feel better saying it, so ...
Get over yourselves.
And Go Cougs. But more importantly ...
BEAT THE ZAGS!
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"I think Gonzaga Basketball fans and Boise State Football fans should go bowling."
Bonus points to anyone who can tell me what movie I just ripped a quote from.
Another reason to Hate/Strongly Distaste Gonzaga ...
The amount of money they’ve cost me over the years in sports betting on the NCAA Tournament. Thanks for underachieving, you freakin’ Zags.
What a bunch of whiney bitches
Basically your post sums up what i hate about Coug fans, two good seasons and you think your shit doesn’t stink.
What kills me about coug fans is how they finally have a good basketball program and act like its been around for years. Two years ago, you weren’t even on Gonzagas radar for a tough matchup. Would you hate Gonzaga if your team still sucked?
Let me let you in on a little secret, Gonzaga is big time… A private school that can do what it’s done is remarkable. There are few schools in the country that can/have done that.
How about you step up and play a non-conference schedule that is actually challenging. Look at last year, you didn’t play a ranked team til January. WOW. And don’t give me that “Pac-10 is more difficult than the WCC” shit.
Until you can put up a consistent winning team, don’t think you own the state, or even judge whos the best.
This all sounds like jealousy to me…
by this_site_sucks on Dec 10, 2008 2:34 PM PST reply actions
Thank you for proving my point so eloquently
Your response could not have been more perfect — especially the four-letter words. I’m pretty sure your Jesuit president would not approve.
While I don’t think your rant deserves a response, I’ll give you one anyway:
— Yes, I disliked Gonzaga before we were better than you.
— I didn’t say what Gonzaga has done wasn’t remarkable. I just said your program is not big time. It’s not. Talk to me when you make a Final Four, which of course will be never.
— Indeed I will bring that "Pac-10 is more difficult than the WCC" stuff in here, because despite our weak nonconference schedule last year, we actually played the 39th most difficult schedule in the country, according to kenpom.com. Gonzaga? Just 115th, even with all those titans you play out of conference. Good for you that you play a tough nonconference schedule, but let’s not pretend you do it because it’s the right thing to do. You do it to play the NCAA’s game just in case you choke in the WCC tournament.
— I didn’t say we own the state. I just said you don’t. And you don’t.
— Remind me again what I’m supposed to be jealous of? The NCAA Tournament flameouts? The fact that you don’t have a Pac-10 football team? Remind me.
And don’t give me that "Pac-10 is more difficult than the WCC" shit.
You lost all credibility within your argument when you stated this. Find me one link or article EVER published that said that the WCC is better then the Pac-10 in ANY sport. Gonzaga is nothing more then a big fish in an incredibly small pond.
by crimson coug on Dec 10, 2008 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
facts
GU: decent teams they played last season Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, UCONN, WSU, Oka, Tennessee, Memphis, St. Marysx2, Davidson…….3 W’s 7 L’s
WSU: Baylor, Zags, USCx2, UCLAx2, Oregonx2, Stanfordx2, Arizonax2, ASUx2, Notre Dame, UNC, 9 W’s 7 L’s
I could have added the rest the pac-10 minus Oregon state since they are about as good as the non tourney teams Gonzaga played in the Tech schools. these are also early season games and are usually at semi neutral sites. i’m not jealous i have to spend 3 months watching my team play to a D2 schools level. if Gonzaga played in the pac-10 they would have missed the tourney at least 3 times in the last 10 years. couple that with the fact it would be much harder to recruit after not winning the tourney we’d be having a different convo. your cute like the post said.
You knocked that outta the park, Nuss!
I used to quietly cheer for the Zags (except when they played the Cougs, of course) when I was in college because I liked that they were the "Little Engine that Could." They shed that perception about 3-4 years ago, during the Morrison years and it has gotten progressively worse and worse. I’d find their fans attitude extremely distasteful if it weren’t so comical.
Yeah, they load up on some pretty tough non-conference opponents, but that’s only because the WCC is an absolute joke. Beyond St. Mary’s (only recently), the level of competition can be likened to a glorified Division II league. Zag fans are also quick to dismiss the notion that they play their toughest competition when they’re the most ripe for the picking, early in the season, which is laughable.
Give them credit for knocking off the Volunteers, but beyond that, who have they really beaten so far this year? An atrocious Indiana club that is reeling from the Sampson years? An Oklahoma State club that also got boat-raced by a very pedestrian UW club? A Maryland club that has been a middle of the pack (at best) ACC team for 5 years running?
I truly think that WSU is going to be the biggest test they’ve faced this year, even more so than Tennessee because the Vols played the tempo that the Zags like to. Plus, it’s at Friel, away from the safety of the puppy pen, or whatever the hell it is they call it. Come on Cougs…prove me right!
sorry i used four letter words *gasp*
LOL i didn’t know that WSU fans were so sensitive.
I can’t reply to the above posts because they don’t know what they’re talking about.
I’ll get the game tonight do the talking, then listen to more bitching about how Gonzaga is not the best program in the state, or ever will be.
Then i’ll wait for WSU to win at football again and hear this same babble like you’ve been setting the standard for winning since the 1900’s.
by this_site_sucks on Dec 10, 2008 3:29 PM PST reply actions
Classy guy
It’s not that we’re sensitive; it just shows a complete lack of creativity, language skills and overall intelligence on your part to use obscene language. It was intended to be an insult, which obviously went directly over your privately-schooled head.
Yes, the game will prove who the better team is right now. But there is no arguing that the Pac-10 will always be a much better league than the WCC. There is no arguing that WSU has won more NCAA Tournament games in the last two years than Gonzaga has in the last 5. Finally, there is no arguing that Zag fans have turned into pompous and arrogant brats. Oh, and classy move bringing up our football team. It’s sure is easy take a shot below the belt when your tiny little institution doesn’t even field one.
You’ve gotten too big for your britches, Bulldog fan.
by '03CouveCoug on Dec 10, 2008 4:21 PM PST up reply actions
Let me tell you a bit about jealousy
The Zags have flopped in the Tourney for half of the glorious decade you brag about. By your own standards, your team has underachieved.
Secondly, your elite program has failed to beat an upstart WSU team with no recent tradition to speak of for the past two seasons. How embarassing for you.
Dude, I’m from the land of what’s up now; you don’t have much talk about recently, so save your smack for after the game. I’ll give you your respect when you win. But first, your team needs to find a way to beat the Cougs because they haven’t done a very good job of that recently.
make it to the tournament...then talk
Wow the cougs are now 2-8 against the Zags in the last 10 years.
But still guys… “You are not the best program in the state, and you never will be, even if you occasionally have a year like this one.”
Last nights game was ’nuff said.
Also, get off this “that’s just the typical attitude of a zag fan, blah blah blah” I don’t care what you think Zag fans are like.
by this_site_sucks on Dec 11, 2008 2:24 PM PST up reply actions
RE:
1) Your story about being big-timed by Adam Morrison..not surprising…nobody liked him except when he was hitting game winning shots. Hardly representative of the basketball program and its fans.
2) You are correct. Gonzaga is not as good of a program as Kansas, UCLA, Duke, North Carolina (and nobody thinks that) but it doesn’t follow that the Zags are not the best program in the state. Who is? UW, WSU? Cmon…I find it laughable that you claim Gonzaga has a big head when after only two good years you think the Cougs have the best program in the state. If the Cougs have another three or four strong years then we can actually have a debate about this…
In the meantime get over yourself and admit that Gonzaga is the best program in the state. I was looking forward to a great game but now I’m really hoping the Zags destroy the Cougs. Not that a Zags win would change your mind anyway since you obviously have no idea what you are talking about…
It wasn't just Morrison
It was just kind of the general attitude towards me.
Gonzaga SID: “What magazine are you with again? Oh, Horizon Air Magazine? What’s that? Oh, OK. Well, Adam is pretty busy.”
Me: “Well, if it doesn’t work out is there another guy that I might be able to interview?”
Gonzaga SID: “I’ll get back to you on that.”
Five phone messages later, he never got back to me. Great media relations there. Didn’t have any trouble with UW, WSU, Oregon and Oregon State.
As for the best program thing, I guess it all depends on how you define “best.” Could Gonzaga have legitimately contended for Pac-10 titles the last two years, the way the Cougs did? No. Has Gonzaga had a No. 1 seed in the tournament? No. Is Gonzaga as attractive to a potential recruit as either UW or WSU? No. Does Gonzaga play in a premier conference? No. I suppose it’s debatable, but it’s certainly not as cut and dried as Gonzaga fans like to believe.
ooooh
All you cougs are funny. Bennett is a great coach. If he stays at WSU for the next 10 years, you guys will probably be a pretty good team for the next 10 years, like GU has been for the last 10 years with Few.
Nuss, your inferiority complex is hilarious. I can’t believe that Morrison didn’t want to talk to some coug that writes for HORIZON air magazine. It is also funny to me that the entire country makes fun of seattle sports. Then seattle makes fun of you guys… which causes you to take it out on GU, Spokane, and the WCC so you can feel like a big boy.
I guess GU should stop acting like they are a good team, since they clearly will never be as good as the WSU cougars. Hilarious.
I think the poll was infiltrated by a fair number of Gonzaga fans
I thought about leaving that last option off, but oh well.
That is sad for them
I want the Cougs to win every game.
P.S. why the hell is TCU vs. Indiana on ESPN2?
by Craig Powers on Dec 10, 2008 6:08 PM PST up reply actions
On par with USC
But that’s only because I’ve met more arrogant UW fans than GU fans in my day, living in Seattle. Don’t worry Bulldog fans, it’s nothing personal, I’m sure you’re probably just as arrogant.
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