This is a new feature for our website. Each month, an officer will provide you with his or her thoughts on current school news or events.  Please let us know what you think!

 

Our job as fans...

by Claudia King, Vice President


Just a few hours ago, I was sitting at the Marriott hotel at the FSU Alumni reception.  One of the guests, Ryan Sprague, a member of the 1999 championship team, decided last minute to share some thoughts with us.  For those of you that were unable to attend, I wanted to sum up what Ryan told us.  

Ryan talked about his season and a great play that resulted in a touchdown.  Underneath that great play was a mistake Ryan made that could have resulted in something less glorious than the touchdown that occurred.  However, the rest of the players doing their jobs gave our team those six points.  Ryan related that play to our current season, along with the talk of Coach Bowden and whether he should or shouldn't retire and what the team should or shouldn't be doing.  Ryan's point was this:  everyone associated with FSU right now has a job.  The football players' jobs are to practice as hard as they can and go out and play every game with every ounce of heart that they have.  The coaches' jobs are to impart not only the knowledge of the game but the spirit and goodwill that go along with being talented and lucky enough to participate in the sport at such a high level.  And then, it comes to us, the fans.  What is our job?  Our job is to support the team.  The whole team.  And right now, the head coach of that team is Bobby Bowden, and deservedly so.  Bobby has brought us season after season of great plays, great games and great players.  As the Noles progress through the transitional phase of being a young and inexperienced, but determined and motivated team, it's still our job to support them, and it's really more important now than ever.  The players are doing their jobs, and the coaches are continuing to produce players with integrity and heart.  So, if you are an FSU fan, please keep doing your job.  Support the team.  

For anyone that knows me, I'm the last person that will ever say winning isn't important.  Of course it is, and of course it feels better when we're winning.  But the true measure of character (and this goes not only to our players and coaches, but also to us as alumni and fans) is how one behaves when he isn't number one and when things aren't perfect.  So, next time you get frustrated because the win-loss column doesn't look exactly like you want, remember this: These are kids out there playing, and they are doing the best they can.  So please, do the best you can to support them.