Mixed emotions, crazy thoughts

[LBC_Justin]

I am a die hard Texans fan. I take the abuse daily for it and I do not wear any crown of shame or hide my affiliation. Even though when my car is dirty I get "anti-Bush", "anti-Haliburton", and "oil war" graffiti written in the dirt. Hmmm some how the people of Long Beach think a "Houston Texans" license plate frame means, I support Bush,Haliburton and the war. Oh well, anyways....

It all started a few weeks ago. I woke up on sunday morning and I was not nervous. In fact, I was almost in a strange state of Zen. I knew the result of the game before it happened. I had zero doubt the Texans were going to lose, and strangely it didn't bother me. I now enjoy the games more than I ever have. I have zero expectations for this team. I have written them off as a lost cause (for this season). I am a Texans fan, and deep down I believe the best thing that can happen to this team, is to have the worst record in the NFL. I feel this next draft is going to be the draft that we talk about that changed the franchise. Regardless of who we pick, it is going to change the team drastically. I feel like a kid in a candy story everytime I watch a college football game. I have seen most of USC's games, picking Bush or Lienart or even Vince Young if he comes out, would be awesome. Either one of those USC guys would convert a lot of SoCal people into Texans fans.

Back to the point. I was watching the game on Sunday. We were up by 21 at half time. Then we were up by 10 points with less than a minute to play. At that point for some strange reason, I cound almost see the future. Even with Victory so close, I have ultimate confidence that the Texans would walk away with the loss. We are a team of destiny(in a weird way) and a team that controls our own future. I hope all the other bad teams start winning and we start winning and still manage to keep the #1 pick. But I don't want to take any chances.

Let the Zen continue

 

[swisher]

Yeah, I've been pretty numb to their losses. And on Sunday I wasn't even angry about how they choked...which is sad really.

Now I check the scores not to see how the good teams fared, but to see if the Packers, Niners or Cardinals won.

 

[Texans Horror]

You're not the first person to think we would lose, even when we were ahead. After the first few series in the third quarter, I saw that the strategy had changed to "protect the lead." (This isn't soccer, where one/two goals is almost impossible to come back against.) I knew they were going to lose. I started doing chores while watching the game and losing interest. Are we psychic, or are the Texans that transparent?

 

[texan_fan]

I know how you feel. It's almost surreal.

I had a bet with a friend on that game. He called me at half time ( I gave him my tickets as I had to work ) and I agreed to go double or nothing that they'd lose.

I just KNEW they'd fall apart...

Just out of curiousity, what exactly IS it they're doing in the locker room at half time? Taking a nap? They sure come out of the tunnel as though they're not quite awake...

 

[Wharton]

It all started a few weeks ago. I woke up on sunday morning and I was not nervous. In fact, I was almost in a strange state of Zen. QUOTE]

You were having a flashback from the acid you took last year. I get them from time to time too. Aren’t they great!

 

[Kaiser Toro]

I sit on the visitors sideline and it was interesting to see the Rams players deal with the Texans lead. Stephen Jackson was vehemently upset at the end of the first half.

The team that came out in the second half was incredibly calm including their second year RB. A calmness that was evident in the final minutes. A calm that we have never seen in the Texans history. A calm that comes with being in this position before and having faith that we have the talent and chemistry to orchestrate a comeback.

Have we comeback before, yes, a couple of times but I recall it being a firedrill. Hopefully, we will have a team next year that will have a nice mix of young bravado and confident veteran leadership that can propel us to comebacks and squashing teams when we are up by double digits. We need attitude on this team and it does not have to be brought in at the expense of character.

 

[Napa Auto Parts]

LBC_Justin What the Buzz I SoCall about what the texans are going to do with the 1st pick? we really dont a west coast point of view since rome hardly talks Nfl Draft this early?

 

[mean mark8]

I personally cheer for them to win every game, but for those of you wanting the first overall pick, I wouldn't mind it too. For those of you who feel the first overall pick won't change this dismal team, I would like to point out that Earl Campbell was the 1st overall pick of the Oilers in 1978. Is Bush the next Earl? Wouldn't you like to find out with him on our team rather than somebody else's?

 

[Double Barrel]

Why am I the only one on this board who wants to see us win a few more games before we go into hibernation until August

You're not the only fan on the board that wants to win every game, regardless of the reprecussions in the off-season. There are many of us that still believe in the cause and root for the hometeam to victory every Sunday.

Silver linings are consolation prizes after the season is over.

I can understand LBC_Justin's pov, though, even if I don't see eye-to-eye with it. Pessimism has a way of seeping in when you're team is 1-10. I don't blame him for that, and even though I HOPE they win every Sunday, I have to admit that there are times when I don't think they will.

It's the old battle between the heart (hope) and the mind (think), and often they are at opposite ends of the spectrum (i.e. idealism vs. realism).

 

[billtxus]

David Carr was the first overall pick, and I dont see him single handedly winning games. If they get the first pick the best thing they can do is trade down for multiple picks. They gave away too many for Babin and Phillip B.

 

[cadahnic]

Jerek youre completely right. Who the hell wakes up and says I want to be a failure in life. I want to be a failure so that someone can take care of me. other than the pathetic people in La. or on welfare(*******s) everyone wants to succeed in life. We all love the stories of winners. I want a team that wins, I think most of the people on this site want our team to win, but they are too stupid or better yet maybe ignorant in their mindset that the only way to win is to lose. Hell I wish business was that easy.

 

[Kaiser Toro]

Jerek youre completely right. Who the hell wakes up and says I want to be a failure in life. I want to be a failure so that someone can take care of me. other than the pathetic people in La. or on welfare(*******s) everyone wants to succeed in life. We all love the stories of winners. I want a team that wins, I think most of the people on this site want our team to win, but they are too stupid or better yet maybe ignorant in their mindset that the only way to win is to lose. Hell I wish business was that easy.

Just so everyone knows there are plenty of kids out there that were on welfare at one time due to their parent's inability to succeed. I happen to be one of them and very thankful that we had an extra subsidy to allow me to get out of those living standards once I was of age. So many times we talk about the welfare mothers without thinking of the next generation.

 

[eriadoc]

If this team finishes 3-13, you're not going to feel any better about them at season's end than you will if they finish 1-15. I don't necessarily agree with the "please lose now" mind set, but I understand it. Furthermore, it's poor form to pull out your imaginary high horse and proclaim your opinion superior to all others, or you're a better fan than others because you believe things should be a certain way, etc.

There's a lot to be said for getting the top pick when your team currently stinks. Not only that, but you get the best 2nd round pick, the best 3rd round pick, etc. A few good picks and a coaching staff with a clue could easily turn this into a playoff team.

Personally, I hope we win every game from here out, but I know it's not going to happen. After that, I hope we get the best draft pick we can so that we don't have to suffer through this forever.

 

[Kaiser Toro]

If this team finishes 3-13, you're not going to feel any better about them at season's end than you will if they finish 1-15. I don't necessarily agree with the "please lose now" mind set, but I understand it. Furthermore, it's poor form to pull out your imaginary high horse and proclaim your opinion superior to all others, or you're a better fan than others because you believe things should be a certain way, etc.

There's a lot to be said for getting the top pick when your team currently stinks. Not only that, but you get the best 2nd round pick, the best 3rd round pick, etc. A few good picks and a coaching staff with a clue could easily turn this into a playoff team.

Personally, I hope we win every game from here out, but I know it's not going to happen. After that, I hope we get the best draft pick we can so that we don't have to suffer through this forever.

The fan in me says 1-15 is fine, but the sportsman in me would never think in those terms. Moreover, there comes a point in time where you will get yourself into salary cap hell by repeated high picks or not be able to get the value in a trade because other teams are aware of your cap position.

I agree with your take, implication, that there is no right or wrong. However, the virtual volume is a little high, for my taste, on lose the rest of the games by some posters. But what do I know.

 

[cadahnic]

Eriadoc I would feel better if they were 3-13 rather than worse and I would feel even better if they won the next 5 games and finsihed 6-10. We have two high picks in the third that can be used to get into the second if we want. We can likely get a low second and third for our two high thirds. I would love for us to win games. I just want to win games all games all the time.

 

[eriadoc]

Eriadoc I would feel better if they were 3-13 rather than worse and I would feel even better if they won the next 5 games and finsihed 6-10. We have two high picks in the third that can be used to get into the second if we want. We can likely get a low second and third for our two high thirds. I would love for us to win games. I just want to win games all games all the time.

If we finish 6-10, then we have a 5-game winning streak going into the offseason. THAT is something to be excited about and I'd love to see it!

But 1-15, 2-14, and 3-13 are all pretty synonymous in my mind. I agree with what KT said - the sportsman in me wants to see them win every game. The cynical realist in me wants the offseason to hurry up and get here, for a variety of reasons.

And, hopefully my last comment on the "I'm a better fan" mentality on this board -- I am a PSL/season ticket holder, I go to every game, and I'll be da--ed if someone is going to call me a bad fan. I spend close to $3000 a year on football, much of it going to the Texans. That, of course does not factor in PSLs. There are many folks that spend more than that per season. People are entitled to different opinions.

 

[cadahnic]

eriadoc who called you a bad fan. Everyone on this board other than the idotic jerks and trollers are fans of the Texans. Hell most of the guys I saw at the Pitts and Spitts set up in the TAilgating Lot.

 

[Double Barrel]

I haven't seen too much "I'm a better fan" mentality on the board, but I try to refrain from reading between the lines or assuming to much. I've probably overlooked little comments that could be construed that way, though.

I think it's more of "hardcore" fans vs. "casual" (or fairweather) fans. One doesn't mean "better" or "worse", but rather it is a matter of dedication to the team. Many of us are "hardcore" simply because we go to all games and watch all road games regardless of scoreboard or season record. Others choose to casually watch the games only when the team is winning.

I think we have a right to an opinion, be it praise or criticism, in spite of whatever camp you fall into.

Back OT, eriadoc has a good point about not much difference between 1-15 and 3-13, but I still hope they win in spite of that fact. Teams do not operate in vacuums, and attitudes from one season can carry over to the next. I think the losing mentality of this season started way back during the midway point last season.

 

[eriadoc]

Back OT, eriadoc has a good point about not much difference between 1-15 and 3-13, but I still hope they win in spite of that fact. Teams do not operate in vacuums, and attitudes from one season can carry over to the next. I think the losing mentality of this season started way back during the midway point last season.

I agree with that. I am assuming, for good or bad, that a new coaching staff is going to bring a new attitude and some hope to this team, however. Truth be told, I am hoping we win at least a couple more so we draft about 3rd or 4th, so the Reggie Bush agenda gets shot down
.

 

[LBC_Justin]

If this team finishes 3-13, you're not going to feel any better about them at season's end than you will if they finish 1-15. I don't necessarily agree with the "please lose now" mind set, but I understand it. Furthermore, it's poor form to pull out your imaginary high horse and proclaim your opinion superior to all others, or you're a better fan than others because you believe things should be a certain way, etc.

There's a lot to be said for getting the top pick when your team currently stinks. Not only that, but you get the best 2nd round pick, the best 3rd round pick, etc. A few good picks and a coaching staff with a clue could easily turn this into a playoff team.

Personally, I hope we win every game from here out, but I know it's not going to happen. After that, I hope we get the best draft pick we can so that we don't have to suffer through this forever.

Great post.
Finishing in last place is not only about getting the #1 overall pick. It is about getting the best pick in EVERY single draft round. It gives you power to trade and to change the entire face of a franchise (something we need at this point).

I titlted this topic "Mixed emotions, crazy thoughts" because I want the team to win, but part of me KNOWS that losing is most likely going to be better for the fanchise in the long run. I am not a "today" fan of this franchise. I am a fan of this team for decades to come. Sure deep down I want the texans to win, thus the "Mixed Emotions" but after analysing the reality of the situation I realise losing would be better, thus the "Crazy Thoughts".

ps someone asked about the Southern California perspective on the Texans draft. Most people(radio and public) here, think the Texans are going to take reggie bush, unless the new coach on the Texans decides to nix David Carr, then the Texans would take USC Matt.

Go Texans

 

[Kaiser Toro]

I do not want Bush, but I certainly do not want Leinart.