If you’ve followed Kansas football for any length of time — 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, even 50 years — you’ve seen, or perhaps even been a part of, a fan base that has suffered through all kinds of frustration, dashed hopes and disappointment.
Few stretches have been as rough as the past seven seasons, though. Kansas has won just 13 games during the dreadful run from 2010-2016 and, every year it seems as if the fan base has had to endure a handful of games — sometimes two or three, sometimes six or seven — that factor into the conversation about the lowest points in recent memory.
One such game popped up last weekend, when the Jayhawks were rocked, 43-7, by Memphis and played a big part in helping the Tigers kick tail.
I’ve covered all but two games during this stretch and, therefore, have seen and heard it all from the fan base that somehow keeps coming back with hope and optimism each season, though in dwindling droves each year.
That’s why it qualified as notable, at least to me, when I watched, saw and heard the reaction to this latest dud. Whether you’re talking about losses to K-State, whippings by Oklahoma and Baylor or no-shows against Texas Tech, West Virginia, Oklahoma State or a handful of non-conference foes, the anger and frustration coming from the fan base on Saturday was as bad as I can remember.
It’s not so much that the fans can’t handle losing. If anything, they’ve become experts on how to do that. And, for the most part, I don’t think any of them are expecting a reversal of fortunes immediately. What they are expecting, however, is progress. And, whether it’s there during the offseason and practice or not, it’s not showing up on Saturdays and that is creating quite a problem when it comes to support.
I’ve heard countless times from some of the most die-hard fans that losing is something they can handle as long as the losing comes with great effort, sound coaching and solid play. The Jayhawks are there in the effort department. Trust me. These guys — at least the great majority of them — are working and playing their butts off. But too often they’re beating themselves, imploding at the worst times and making life way, way, way too easy for their opponents.
With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to gauge the mindset of the fan base on Twitter a few hours after KU’s latest loss. As I expected, I received responses that included a lot of anger and frustration and even saw more than a few fans who were already willing to write off the season.
Not the “Don’t worry guys, it’s almost basketball season,” crew. They never go away. I’m talking about true blue KU football fans who seem to be incredibly frustrated about everything from the plays that are called and decisions that are made to the outcome of games and the apparent lack of growth and development.
Here’s a sampling of the variety of the opinions I encountered over the weekend, moving from the I’m done crowd to the I’m still with them folks. I realize Twitter is not the end-all, be-all platform for true sports fans, but it is the easiest place to tap into a wide variety of people and opinions. Beyond these posts, I saw similar frustration surface on message boards, Facebook and even heard quite a bit in person.
As you’ll see, it’s feelings like these that put second-year head coach David Beaty and the entire program in very dangerous and unsettled waters.
There isn’t much time needed to calm down. Low expectations = low stress. Waiting for program to give us something to invest in.
— TJE ????️????????️⚧️???? (@gimmethewooby) September 17, 2016
I think the fan base is done for the year. We’ll pay attention to the ISU game but it’s really difficult to stick with #kufball
— Chad Gerber (@chadjgerber) September 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/Kufan81/status/777266405217476608
Time to buy out yet another coach, offer the whole enchilada to Lane Kiffin. I’m not kidding. Facilities r there, let’s go.
— StevieT (@swonder44) September 18, 2016
The guy is in way over his head. He’s not even qualified to be OC at this level. Zenger needs to be fired NOW
— Ben Wiseman (@beems34) September 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/MichaelWorner/status/777237565376036864
https://twitter.com/rgerstner/status/777598646212636673
just seems as if this will not ever get better. This is the worst coaching gig in the land….job is a death trap
— Aaron Allen (@JayhawkNole) September 17, 2016
well it was embarrassing and that’s getting old
— Randy Maxwell (@Maxhawk4) September 17, 2016
There is no progress. Talent and depth are non-existent. But coaching decisions/preparedness are also non-existent
— Matt Franzenburg (@frazmatazz) September 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/BizzHawk/status/777281530389368832
ive been a fan for 40 years – this is tough – I was willing to give Beaty 4 years to be competitive – but this is really tough
— Randall W. Bond (@HoltonMusicMan) September 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/Scott_KCScouts/status/777264115215577088
https://twitter.com/bthothan/status/777268755512434689
Playing a terrible team week 1 was a mistake. Made people think we were better. We aren’t.
— Ben W. (@twocoach) September 17, 2016
I respect Coach Beaty, but I feel he’s just “saying the nice thing” in this presser. Just get mad man! We all know this isn’t good
— 4th_N_Goal (@KUSTATS) September 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/FitzDaddy85/status/777269306010718208
not ready to say that yet. Need to look at a program that recently went from 0 to winning and see what/how they did it
— IL Jayhawk Redbird (@ArbogastTom) September 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/tjmcgrvy4/status/777347113319399424
https://twitter.com/OneBuc82/status/777265533594931200
Is it not rightfully so? All we have heard about is this high powered offense? I think anger is justified. https://t.co/uYc1aGVj0v
— Dustin Odum (@Hoops_CoachOdie) September 18, 2016
