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Where would we be without 19-10?

eriadoc

eriadoc

Texan-American
When we were awarded the Texans, I know we were all extremely excited. We found out tailgating was back, we had a team of our own to root for on Sundays, and we all looked forward to when they might be good someday. But realistically, we all knew, deep down, that they'd be bad for a while. And let's face it, many of us thought it might take a while to become fully emotionally invested.

Then 19-10 happened. I personally was hooked instantly, felt the joy of having a team I could really get behind, and felt like the sky was the limit.

Fast forward to today, and I'm wondering if my emotional investment in this team might be a bit more rational if 19-10 had not happened. If the team's current course of progress had occurred without that climax in the first five minutes of the movie, would I still be as emotionally invested? Would I be in more of a wait-and-see mindset? What about you?
 
A very interesting point I've never though of. I can very much relate to your feelings. But I don't have an answer for you.
 
eriadoc said:
When we were awarded the Texans, I know we were all extremely excited. We found out tailgating was back, we had a team of our own to root for on Sundays, and we all looked forward to when they might be good someday. But realistically, we all knew, deep down, that they'd be bad for a while. And let's face it, many of us thought it might take a while to become fully emotionally invested.

Then 19-10 happened. I personally was hooked instantly, felt the joy of having a team I could really get behind, and felt like the sky was the limit.

Fast forward to today, and I'm wondering if my emotional investment in this team might be a bit more rational if 19-10 had not happened. If the team's current course of progress had occurred without that climax in the first five minutes of the movie, would I still be as emotionally invested? Would I be in more of a wait-and-see mindset? What about you?
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I don't see how one game or the first game makes any difference at all when it is a 16 game season and the end result of that is what matters year after year. We could have been blown out by 40 points in that game, and then had 12-4 season in year 3 or 4 and that game would have still meant nothing to me, because I'd be happy about the 12-4 season at that moment. That was just one game that took place a long time ago and hasn't hindered our success in any way or helped our success. It was great to see a win against the Cowboys in their first game they ever had, but it was still one game out of 16 none the less.
 
Texecutioner said:
I don't see how one game or the first game makes any difference at all when it is a 16 game season and the end result of that is what matters year after year. We could have been blown out by 40 points in that game, and then had 12-4 season in year 3 or 4 and that game would have still meant nothing to me, because I'd be happy about the 12-4 season at that moment. That was just one game that took place a long time ago and hasn't hindered our success in any way or helped our success. It was great to see a win against the Cowboys in their first game they ever had, but it was still one game out of 16 none the less.
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It has nothing to do with our success or lack thereof. But I think it does have something to do with the level of connection some fans feel to this team. If they had gone 4-12 in that first season and beaten whoever else, it would have simply been a 4-12 season. But since the opening game was a humiliating defeat for the Cowboys, it hooked quite a few fans moreso than a 4-12 team might otherwise have.
 
eriadoc said:
It has nothing to do with our success or lack thereof. But I think it does have something to do with the level of connection some fans feel to this team. If they had gone 4-12 in that first season and beaten whoever else, it would have simply been a 4-12 season. But since the opening game was a humiliating defeat for the Cowboys, it hooked quite a few fans moreso than a 4-12 team might otherwise have.
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Exactly. I hated the Cowboys then just as much then as I do now, so beating the Cowboys on our very first game hooked me instantly. I would have still supported the Texans, but that was the proverbial icing on the cake.
 
Without 19-10 we would be without the single greatest moment that this franchise has achieved to this point. Sad that it was our first game 8 seasons ago.

To be quite honest, I never even think about that game anymore. Cynicism has a way of tempering the faded celebration of a meaningless game.
 
Emotionally invested? Probably. I just think 19-10 is kind of a symbol of this team having some seriously high, if misguided, hopes placed upon them by fans. No way I expected them to win that game and win they did I thought the sky was the limit.

I think a lot of the reactions on this board a tainted by that win. I'm guilty of it as well. Expecting them to be in the play-offs, calling for coaches heads seem to be the ideas from fans that are treating this team as if they are carrying on like the Oilers never left. It's a team that's been here since 2002, not 1962. I don't think you can put up billboards on par with Bills and Raiders fans when this team hasn't even been here for a decade yet.

I think our reactions have been tainted by the 19-10 but also by feeling our balls kicked in by the former team when they left.

As I write this I'm getting another theory that might be best left for another thread. I feel like we as fans are like the guys who get dumped on and treated like absolute crap by their wives who finally leave them after years of abuse. When the guy gets a new girl he treats her like crap to get the feeling like he is getting back on his ex but also as a defense to protect himself from getting hurt and dumped on again.
 
Double Barrel said:
Without 19-10 we would be without the single greatest moment that this franchise has achieved to this point. Sad that it was our first game 8 seasons ago.

To be quite honest, I never even think about that game anymore. Cynicism has a way of tempering the faded celebration of a meaningless game.
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Actually Cowboy fans here seem to care about it more now than they did then. I think the fact that Texans have become a largely non-descript, mediocore franchise ( and Mittens a journey back-up) reminds them of how embarassing losing to a team in its first game is.

Real sad for us, that it truly is the highlight moment in Texans' history.
 
ArlingtonTexan said:
Actually Cowboy fans here seem to care about it more now than they did then. I think the fact that Texans have become a largely non-descript, mediocore franchise ( and Mittens a journey back-up) reminds them of how embarassing losing to a team in its first game is.

We found out game one jusReal sad for us, that it truly is the highlight moment in Texans' history.
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Without a doubt that was an embarrassing moment as a Cowboys fan. We were smacked in the face on national TV just how bad we were. We ended up only one game better than the brand new franchise. Out of the five game we won, none were greater than eight points. It is amazing after three years of 5-11 over 62K+ people still showed up. I guess we were gluttons for punishment.

The one game that I never hear Texans speak about was the win against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. The stats were horrible, the team was playoff bound, but they lost. I recall being in Texas Stadium when the score was announced, and we couldn't believe it! Most cheered because, there isn't a lot of love between Cowboys and Steelers. Nothing really passionate, but a reason to celebrate non-the-less.
 
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ArlingtonTexan said:
Actually Cowboy fans here seem to care about it more now than they did then. I think the fact that Texans have become a largely non-descript, mediocore franchise ( and Mittens a journey back-up) reminds them of how embarassing losing to a team in its first game is.

Real sad for us, that it truly is the highlight moment in Texans' history.
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StarStruck said:
Without a doubt that was an embarrassing moment as a Cowboys fan. We were smacked in the face on national TV just how bad we were. We ended up only one game better than the brand new franchise. Out of the five game we won, none were greater than eight points. It is amazing after three years of 5-11 over 62K+ people still showed up. I guess we were gluttons for punishment.
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Embarrassing but I think people here hang onto it too much. I get the magnitude of it but unless it was brought up here I never think about it. That Cowboy team was horrible and was led by a scrub QB. Yeah they should have won being established already and the Texans beating them was a big deal but that team and game doesn't affect me one bit. Since then the Cowboys killed the Texans in a game and it has the exact same meaning...nothing. Over the years I have gone towards only caring about the now. I love how my Boys were many times over the last 35 years but I really am looking at this years team wondering why they have a December problem.
 
19-10 only has meaning to Houston fans.

It doesn't mean anything to the rest of the league or its fans. W/L records do.

Remember that play last week, where Dunta blew up Addai, and the DEF started celebrating and then Peyton took advantage of this distraction, quickly lined his team up and nailed an unprepared defense with a 30+ yard pass?

THAT'S what 19-10 means. One moment of glory that's quickly eclipsed by other factors.
 
eriadoc said:
It has nothing to do with our success or lack thereof. But I think it does have something to do with the level of connection some fans feel to this team. If they had gone 4-12 in that first season and beaten whoever else, it would have simply been a 4-12 season. But since the opening game was a humiliating defeat for the Cowboys, it hooked quite a few fans moreso than a 4-12 team might otherwise have.
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It was a great moment at the time, yes. However I would have had the same passion regardless of what happened in that game, because I'm a typical football Nut from Texas. It's in my blood to be passionate about football. I expected a horrible first season for us in that year and that's exactly what we got. It was no surprise since we had just started and didn't have a lot of talent. That win was great for that week, but just like any season I was thinking about the next game the very next week.

At this point, I could care less about that game and it doesn't mean anything to me. We've never even had a winning season, and all I care about is seeing the Texans get on track to becoming a consistent winning franchise. I don't look back at one game in a disappointing season and embrace how great that game was. I think ahead about what we can do to fix things or move in the right direction.


I wish I could look back and have the fond memories that you do on that game and truly embrace it the way you still are. It would be much easier on me as a fan. I'm just not that kind of guy. I'm always thinking ahead and I usually feel really good and comfortable when I think our future looks bright and successful. The only time I ever felt that way was when we finally fired Capers. But that feeling didn't last long for me once I saw a hand full of games under Kubiak. Now I have that same feeling again where I can get excited for the future, but we need to find a competent HC that I can believe in for the long term.
 
I consider myself as big a Texans fan as most here, but honestly that game does not mean that much to me.

Sure, it was great at the time, but it was just one regular season game. I don't give it much thought either way. I'd be a big Texans fan regardless because they are the Houston Texans.
 
To get to the point of the post, 19-10 meant a lot for the franchise starting out. Everyone knows expansion teams are supposed to suck. And despite the decent quality of players picked up in the expansion draft, this was a team with a rookie quarterback, no offensive line and no playmakers.

I know I expected the worst in that first season.

I was born in La Porte but grew up in San Antonio and never really followed the Oilers. My favorite team growing up was whoever the Cowboys were playing that week.

So when the Texans started I finally had a team of my own. And for the Texans to face the Cowboys in the first game of the season, there was no better way to kick things off. Even if I expected to lose.

The excitement visible at Reliant Stadium and that I felt watching that game on TV and was able to carry me through a disappointing opening season. But it faded after season one was over.

In a historical context, that game was a great way to start a franchise (if I remember correctly, only the Vikings way back when were the only other team to win their first game in an expansion season) but in the longer run it will ultimately prove to be meaningless.
 
Texecutioner said:
It was a great moment at the time, yes. However I would have had the same passion regardless of what happened in that game, because I'm a typical football Nut from Texas. It's in my blood to be passionate about football. I expected a horrible first season for us in that year and that's exactly what we got. It was no surprise since we had just started and didn't have a lot of talent. That win was great for that week, but just like any season I was thinking about the next game the very next week.

At this point, I could care less about that game and it doesn't mean anything to me. We've never even had a winning season, and all I care about is seeing the Texans get on track to becoming a consistent winning franchise. I don't look back at one game in a disappointing season and embrace how great that game was. I think ahead about what we can do to fix things or move in the right direction.


I wish I could look back and have the fond memories that you do on that game and truly embrace it the way you still are. It would be much easier on me as a fan. I'm just not that kind of guy. I'm always thinking ahead and I usually feel really good and comfortable when I think our future looks bright and successful. The only time I ever felt that way was when we finally fired Capers. But that feeling didn't last long for me once I saw a hand full of games under Kubiak. Now I have that same feeling again where I can get excited for the future, but we need to find a competent HC that I can believe in for the long term.
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You're misunderstanding the point of my posts.

aamcneill said:
To get to the point of the post, 19-10 meant a lot for the franchise starting out. Everyone knows expansion teams are supposed to suck. And despite the decent quality of players picked up in the expansion draft, this was a team with a rookie quarterback, no offensive line and no playmakers.
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Especially in terms of how it sucked in the fans. That's really the intent of this thread. I'm curious if people can even identify how much that single win affected how quickly and how thoroughly they became fans after that game. I personally think that, although I wanted to be a fan of the Texans, it may not have happened so quickly or thoroughly as it did if not for that win. And that means that now, even though that win is meaningless, I'm sucked in.

That is not so good sometimes.
 
eriadoc said:
I personally think that, although I wanted to be a fan of the Texans, it may not have happened so quickly or thoroughly as it did if not for that win. And that means that now, even though that win is meaningless, I'm sucked in.

That is not so good sometimes.
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Agreed. I fell into the same trap.
 
I, too, would have ended up a Texans fan regardless, because I grew up in Houston/Bellaire. Part of what made that game awesome was how we got to 19 points. In most games, that would mean a touchdown and four field goals. Not here. That safety was the highlight of the game for me. I can still see it now in slow motion, as our linemen grabbed hold of the quarterback and dragged him, roaring in frustration, to the turf of the endzone.

19-10 means the same thing now it did then. It means that Houston could have glory and greatness on the football field. The Texans have yet to live up to the promise of that game, and I think that's why we're as angry as we are.
 
I was a season ticket holder from "jump street". I put up with a ton of **** because I had good friends who were Titans fans. I dealt with with jaded, pretentious, club level, "fans", who couldn't be bothered to watch the entire game from their seats. I felt physically ill after every loss. I MISSED Sunday's game for personal reasons. When I saw the final score and "highlights", I wanted to puke. I'm 55 years old and not an overly emotional guy. I write this in all candor. THIS team simply blows ! The coaching staff isn't winning any awards either. I am SICK AND TIRED of having Houston's, professional, franchises bringing up the rear. Is Houston cursed ? Are we not rabid enough fans ? Did Joe Texan break a deal with the devil ? I've had it, I'm through investing my time into a sub par product. I know, "Don't let the door hit you on the ass !". I'm still a Texans fan and will continue to die with every loss and revel in every victory, but I am DONE with any positive thoughts about this team. I've had it. REX GROSSMAN, ARE YOU KIDDING ME ? I have a stronger arm ! Okay, maybe not, but I swear, what were they thinking when they picked him up ? So I'm supposed to remain calm and roll with the punches, go with the flow ? Screw THAT ! I want, no DEMAND, someone in this organization to be accountable for the lackluster play. I want McNair to rain down lightning and thunder from the owner's suite. I DEMAND an apology from the players and coaches. Okay, I'm through....I think...for now.
 
Livid13 said:
I was a season ticket holder from "jump street". I put up with a ton of **** because I had good friends who were Titans fans. I dealt with with jaded, pretentious, club level, "fans", who couldn't be bothered to watch the entire game from their seats. I felt physically ill after every loss. I MISSED Sunday's game for personal reasons. When I saw the final score and "highlights", I wanted to puke. I'm 55 years old and not an overly emotional guy. I write this in all candor. THIS team simply blows ! The coaching staff isn't winning any awards either. I am SICK AND TIRED of having Houston's, professional, franchises bringing up the rear. Is Houston cursed ? Are we not rabid enough fans ? Did Joe Texan break a deal with the devil ? I've had it, I'm through investing my time into a sub par product. I know, "Don't let the door hit you on the ass !". I'm still a Texans fan and will continue to die with every loss and revel in every victory, but I am DONE with any positive thoughts about this team. I've had it. REX GROSSMAN, ARE YOU KIDDING ME ? I have a stronger arm ! Okay, maybe not, but I swear, what were they thinking when they picked him up ? So I'm supposed to remain calm and roll with the punches, go with the flow ? Screw THAT ! I want, no DEMAND, someone in this organization to be accountable for the lackluster play. I want McNair to rain down lightning and thunder from the owner's suite. I DEMAND an apology from the players and coaches. Okay, I'm through....I think...for now.
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Sounds like livid is...well...livid.

I know the feeling all too well myself.

Actually I have reached the point of resignation.

:coffee:
 
I was already estatic to have the team before 19-10. I knew for a fact that I would grow to be emotionally invested just like I was with the Oilers. Then, it happened and my attachment to the team grew even stronger. It made me love this team more, but I think I would still be just as big a fan if it hadn't happened. Still though it was awesome, but thats just a great memory from the past, I want great memories like that for the present, and future. :foottap:
 
. when I do think about it. I remember the apartment in Austin, the TV ready to roll, surround sound cranked, I had pizza delivered and a 12 pack in the fridge... I was pumped and ready to go .. The first game was one of those things that I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when the conversation comes up..

Other than that, it seems like a lifetime ago, I don't really think of it anymore except for when someone brings it up. I don't really get excited or nor do i dwell on it anymore ..now that I think about it, first two games of that season foreshadowed the next 8... a "big" win only to be slapped down the next week (san diego beat us badly in week 2 for some of those that don't remember)

at the time I went from an emotional high of week one to "Holy **** where did the team go that played in the previous week"

anyway .. enough rambling
:fans:


but my emotional investment started when a team was announced .. the 19-10 was a bonus ..but I also have a habit of falling for low self esteem ladies :thinking:
 
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eriadoc said:
When we were awarded the Texans, I know we were all extremely excited. We found out tailgating was back, we had a team of our own to root for on Sundays, and we all looked forward to when they might be good someday. But realistically, we all knew, deep down, that they'd be bad for a while. And let's face it, many of us thought it might take a while to become fully emotionally invested.

Then 19-10 happened. I personally was hooked instantly, felt the joy of having a team I could really get behind, and felt like the sky was the limit.

Fast forward to today, and I'm wondering if my emotional investment in this team might be a bit more rational if 19-10 had not happened. If the team's current course of progress had occurred without that climax in the first five minutes of the movie, would I still be as emotionally invested? Would I be in more of a wait-and-see mindset? What about you?
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wow, now that i think about it, I wasnt even a sports fan at the time and was at that game, I think your on to somthing but I dont think it applys to every Texans fan....

other than that, i think its that all the fan know that we have plenty of talent on the team but arnt doing jack...
 
That game was fun, but time to move on.

Right now, I'm more worried about the Cowboy's game NEXT YEAR at home. It will likely be a Sunday night game, and will be high profile and national. I just don't want to be embarrassed.
 
Texecutioner said:
That was just one game that took place a long time ago and hasn't hindered our success in any way or helped our success.
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Actually, that game did more to help the Cowboys than it did to help the Texans. While it may have energized a fanbase here in Houston it so irritated one Jerry Jones that he turned to Bill Parcels, who helped turn that franchise around from back to back 5-11 seasons to perennial playoff contenders. In addition, Jerry Jones was so envious of the Texans' Reliant Stadium that he had to try to one-up the Texans with an even more impressive stadium for his Cowboys.
 
TimeKiller said:
Pffft....where are we WITH 19-10?
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This. I derive no satisfaction from winning our franchise opener against a team that's been to the playoffs and won more than its lost since we entered the league and began our steep and difficult climb to mediocrity.

When I see a Texans fan getting after Cowboys fans over 19-10 I'm embarrassed for him. I just wish nobody would ever bring that game up again. It's not like it meant anything in the long run.
 
Hervoyel said:
This. I derive no satisfaction from winning our franchise opener against a team that's been to the playoffs and won more than its lost since we entered the league and began our steep and difficult climb to mediocrity.

When I see a Texans fan getting after Cowboys fans over 19-10 I'm embarrassed for him. I just wish nobody would ever bring that game up again. It's not like it meant anything in the long run.
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yeah, it's just nuts to hang on to a game from 8 years ago that really didn't mean anything. It's not like it was a peek at things to come.
 
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