Orangutan, I think I understand where these college athletes mindsets are, having been one myself years ago. I remember my thought process when I was her age. You said:
"we take these rivalries and grudges way more seriously than the actual players on the teams." She's 22, I'm 3 times her age. We don't think alike. I'm not a saint. I'm way past the point of caring what others think about me or my opinions. God and my wife are the only two whose thoughts of me matter.
We (UConn fans) understand that Irish fans and fans of other programs may look at our dislike and vitriol for Arike, ND and Vol Nation as petty or childish. It is what it is. We also understand the level of hate, acrimony and virulence many Irish and Tennessee fans have for us (UConn fans), Geno and everything UConn. It's OK, we can live with it!
The sun will rise tomorrow. I know God wants us to love thy neighbor and turn the other cheek. He's still working on me cause I'm not there yet.
You are the exception. You are liked and respected here. The tenor of your posts never suggest hubris or disrespect towards our fan base or our program. We appreciate that. We always enjoy reading your comments.
Tennessee and Notre Dame will never have a warm place in our hearts. We know the hate and disdain their fans have for us.
We know how they curse and disrespect us (and Geno) on their boards.
Some folks here will
never forget (or forgive) the actions of Pat Summit in 2007, and the length she went to bring UConn to its knees. How she accused Geno and staff of recruiting improprieties, and the disrespect she showed Maya Moore and her mother, and subsequently suspending play between the two programs. Personally, I would prefer that we
never resume playing them, and that their women's BB program continue on its current downward spiral into mediocrity.
My personal dislike for ND began way back in the 70's because of the arrogance of their football program, their players and coaches. Nothing has changed in the last 40 years. I also don't like the way Muffet takes the opportunity to go off on Geno in the press every chance she gets, especially during tournament time, calling him a "bully", while she continues to sit boldly on her throne of arrogance and entitlement.
I don't care about/for Arike, just like she didn't care about her actions (gave Dangerfield a cheap shot,
and cursed at Geno in full view and ear shot of young impressionable children in the stands) during the game in December, and refused to apologize for those actions afterwards. Hilarious? I don't think so.
She continues to poke the bear with this tweet
"I'm sure you want to hear something negative". She has earned our perception of her. She's not a kid. She turned 22 on March 2. She's an adult!! I'm older than Geno and Muffet, and I would NEVER disrespect either of them by cursing at them.
As far as I know, she was the only player to openly curse Geno to his face, and refuse to shake his hand in the post-game hand-shake line this season, and you expect us to forget (or forgive) those acts of arrogance, bravado and disrespect? Do you remember exactly what Geno said about the possibility of him and Muffet getting together after the game and having a bottle of wine? There's your answer.
I was very happy that Baylor won. I was also happy to see Ogunbowale (and Notre Dame) experience the agony of a gut wrenching 1 point defeat!!!