As State fans, why are we so pessimistic?

[She Mate Me]

My theory on pessimism centers on our older fans (sixty and older). There's a significant block of these folks who are afraid of success. Not all of them; I'm guessing this applies to about 35% of that age group.

They want us to win, of course. They attend a few games and give a little money. But somewhere deep down, in places they don't talk about at parties, they're afraid that winning will bring change. And they're uncomfortable with that. They might not get to park close to the stadium. They might have to pay more for their seats. Or stand up to see over the youngsters ringing those stupid cowbells. They take a perverse pride in being "lovable losers". They say things like "I hope we don't get ranked. We play better when we're not ranked." And "We don't deserve a bowl game/regional host/tournament bid."

They don't like losing, but it doesn't tear them up inside. They can get home faster with less traffic. God help them if visiting fans don't have the most amazing experience in our stadium. Create an intimidating environment to help our team win? No, it's too loud or too bright or too new or an opposing player's great aunt might post something mean about us on Facebook.

I've honestly never met a single State fan that fits these criteria.

Hope that wasn't pessimistic.

 

[Dawg84]

The three most memorable seasons in the past 40 years:

2014
1998
1988

Tech and Ten being one of the three most memorable seasons in MSU football is the Roman Slave telling the 2014 Centurion “All this will pass.”

1980 almost made the 40 years. Fun year as a sophomore!

 

[ckDOG]

Why would I be optimistic and be let down the vast majority of seasons? I'll be pessimistic and have the occasional surprise. It's easier that way.

Being pessimistic doesn't mean you don't care either. Just a simple defense mechanism after having a grasp on reality after some experience.

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

For me, it happened when you (op) were just a 1 yr old.
1988: MSU went 1-10 in football, 13-15 in basketball(was the beginning of the rebuild though), and I became an MSU baseball fan. Only to lose to Cal St Fullerton in extra innings.
I was a junior @ MSU, transferred from USM, and was in the drumline/pep band. Sitting in an empty home stadium with a 1-10 football team can tarnish the best of them.

 

[mcdawg22]

I think the group that is 10-15 years older than me gets a pass. In their formative years 75-90 we were bad in basketball, bad in football except every 10 years and consistently lost to our rival, and got completely snakebit in baseball with one of the most talented teams ever assembled in the sport. My age group on the other hand was college age for SEC West in football, Sweet Sixteen and Final Four in basketball, and multiple CWS.
I thought about something funny. We think of how we blow it but Ole Miss really has that moniker. Every year the Bryce Drew highlight is shown at the same time Morgan William is shown. Not to mention 4th and 25, Kick and the Pick, Pegues punt return, Bo Wallace fumble, and Simulating Dog Urination. The group 10-15 years older than me has the immaculate deflection and the PI call.

 

[golferdog]

Short Answer for me - 50 years of EXPERIENCING Mississippi State fandom

I have a State friend that is really pessimistic about our football team. I asked him why he was so negative. He said if we lose then the team met his expectations. If we win then it is an exciting experience for him. He said thinking this way prevents him from being upset when we lose.

This sums it up, no matter how "good" we are, MSU has never won a meaningful game against any upper echelon program. It's hasn't happened in football (since 1941, and no one cared back then). If we had a history of winning we would be more optimistic.

 

[Ranchdawg]

This sums it up, no matter how "good" we are, MSU has never won a meaningful game against any upper echelon program. It's hasn't happened in football (since 1941, and no one cared back then). If we had a history of winning we would be more optimistic.

You are right most years. 2014 was the exception.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

This thread title sounds like the set up to a Norm Macdonald joke; one where the set up and punchline are the same.

A recent report was released studying the cause of pessimism in Mississippi State sports fans. It turns out the cause is: they are fans of Mississippi State.

I didn't say it was funny, it just sounded like one of his jokes.

 

[615dawg]

I grew up out of state, so my entry to Mississippi State fandom came as a college freshman. When I was in college, we were a combined 7-1 against Alabama and Auburn. We had an SEC Championship appearance and very nearly had two more. We controlled our own destiny to win the West in November four straight seasons.

The 2001 Rose Bowl season woke me up. I bought into all the kool aid. When we crapped the bed the first half in the opener against Memphis, I ignored it. 9/11 happened and football didn't seem as important, but that season, full of so much promise, ruined me.

Then 2002 and 2003 happened. Then the Croom era.

 

[TPIPER36]

Football I understand the pessimistic view. Basketball I sure don’t understand that.

 

[MagicDawg]

It saves time.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

Football I understand the pessimistic view. Basketball I sure don’t understand that.

Have you been in a coma the last 20 years?

I mean, even in the Stansbury years we never made it to the second weekend of the tournament.

 

[TPIPER36]

Have you been in a coma the last 20 years?

I mean, even in the Stansbury years we never made it to the second weekend of the tournament.

We are currently ranked 19th in the country get out of here with this dumb take

 

[soccerdad]

Everyone should just draft monthly to our NIL even if it’s $20 a month. This will eventually change as schools programs will Put the brakes on this through congress. All schools go thru ups and downs before Saban, Bama did. Look at Auburn. This society wants things instantly due to technology well not everything works that way when dealing with people.

 

[aTotal360]

You are right most years. 2014 was the exception.

2014 was amazing but we only really beat 8-4 teams.

 

[She Mate Me]

We are currently ranked 19th in the country get out of here with this dumb take

We haven't been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1996. That means we haven't been a Top 16 team in 28 years. And we've only been a Top 16 team twice (it was basically the same team) in 60+ years.

So maybe get TF out of here with your optimism based on nothing factual.

That said, I hope like hell we win it all this year, but I'm not even optimistic we'll be playing in the 2nd weekend.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

We are currently ranked 19th in the country get out of here with this dumb take

Um, the question was why are we so pessimistic. Years of frustration do not magically get erased by a couple of big wins in non conference play.

To wit: we may be 19th in the nation, but we are only the 7th or 8th best team in the conference.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

This is the answer I got when I asked AI:

what is Mississippi State's record in football

Mississippi State Bulldogs football team has an all-time record of **588 wins, 619 losses, and 39 ties** (.488 winning percentage) as of the end of the 2024 season[1][3]. They have participated in **15 bowl games**, achieving a record of **15 wins and 11 losses** in those contests[2][3]. The team's performance in recent seasons has varied, with a current season record of **2 wins and 10 losses** in 2024[1].

So being pessimistic is just reality. I still wear my shirt and hat after a loss.