This Season is Different and That is Hard to Explain

I approach every game as a fan the same way. Worry and fear. Even when other fans say we’ll probably roll this team or that I always say, “Hey, ya never know.” Like you, it’s been driven into me by years and years of excruciatingly tough games. We’re not the only ones. Last night at the Dome SU saw their 30 point lead cut to 22. Everyone was going crazy. “Oh my GOD! C’mon guys!” That made me chuckle. We’ve just had the ball pulled out from under us so many times we can’t help it. Now I’m afraid that as soon as I get comfortable with blowing teams out we’ll lose a couple games in a row. That is with knowing full well that nothing I do as a fan effects the team in any way.

I don’t get grief from friends because they are all the same way. And even when I speak confidently of the Orange to my wife she gives me the “Ya never know.”

The only difference is that I converted my wife to an SU fan 15 years ago, so she’s just like me. I look at the schedule and am legitimately worried about every game for the rest of the season

I’m the guy who was (in 2010) and currently am petrified of Syracuse getting a #1 seed in the tournament because if, SOMEHOW, Cuse were the first 1 to lose to a 16 – and it will happen someday – it would not be fun to follow sports anymore. I literally had a nightmare the night before the Vermont game two years ago that Cuse would lose.

This team will have some closer games and will lose a couple and I just hope that when that happens, they do it in a confidence-inspiring way. This is a special team and it’s so much fun to root for them, and I don’t want that to change with a UMass 2008-esque loss.

She just sort of laughed. But it’s making me feel better to know I’m not alone.

Where I haven’t yelled at the tv screen once, regardless of the lead. My throat hurt from yelling during the Marquette game.

I go into the game the same way. Scared as shit. I’ve turned my step dad from a mild Cuse fan into a diehard one over the past few years and he made a vital error this morning. He said to me “I just dont see this team losing, they are too dominant”. My immediate response was “well, there goes the final four….thanks”. When watching the cuse play, you HAVE to remember heartbreaking losses. Its like its ingrained in you. I’ve been watching cuse for 25 years and its literally part of my DNA to think we’ll lose every game right before we play it. Now, I only think that for a second but I dont think there has ever been an SU game where I didnt, at least for a second, think what would happen if we lost.

I’ll probably never manage to go into a game sure that we’ll win. I get more nervous as time goes on. Because it probably has to happen some time, and when it does happen, even though the team will still be a great team after that, it’ll still suck. I want to be emotionally prepared. And if we somehow didn’t lose before the tournament, I’d be even MORE worried.

I’ve just seen SU blow too many leads and let too many teams in to games. Not to mention that it isn’t just SU. We’ve all seen other teams that looked unstoppable lose.

My girlfriend thinks I’m crazy for stressing about the games the way I do, but I can’t help it. It is crazy a little bit, but that just seems to be how it is for Syracuse fans.

This team really is great to watch though and I am going to enjoy it as much as I can because we all know how rare it is.

every game before the first half run when we are tied or only leading by a couple my gf says “Syracuse is going to lose this one” and I always tell her simply “nope.” I have not been worried about losing a game yet this season. Too many weapons. I’m not saying we’ll go undefeated, just that when we finally lose I’ll be surprised.

All the older Cuse fans have been saying the same exact thing as I’m going to say. You’re not alone in feeling like the next game will be the next loss. We’ve all been through it time and time again. Two years ago was the first time that I didn’t feel that sense of dread leading up to games. I legitimately thought that we could win games. It was a new experience that I just couldn’t believe. So far this year, I haven’t gotten to that point yet, but I feel it could be close. Those of us that have been fans for over 10 years all know about the fear and dread. Even during the title run, I still had it to some extent.

But let’s all get past that and focus on our winning team. This team has already accomplished so much and there’s still half the season remaining.

and I think it caused her to feel sorry for me/us. “That’s not a fun way to cheer.”

No, not always. But it does make seasons like this year that much more exciting (so far).

Totally with you. I am pretty sure we are gonna lose tonight for example. With two different Syracuse records riding on this game (and since it’s freakin’ Pitt) I’m just sure we are gonna come down to earth.

I do this all the time. As I think any die-hard SU fan does. And this thread would back that up. So don’t worry, you are in good company.

So this is my GF first’ season following ’cuse… or college basketball at all for that mater. It was great to show her this post to show her that I am not alone. After so many years of Syracuse breaking my heart in miraculously cruel ways I have learned to put up a protective shell. I want to trust Syracuse, I love Syracuse but I have been hurt in the past.

Hopefully she will never know the pain we have experienced, but it is those painful moments that have made me the neurotic and die hard fan that I am. I cherish every win, and will continue to walk into every game thinking that we will find a new way to destroy my hopes and dreams…maybe not this year though!

btw my GF can name 10 Syracuse players on this roster, not that i’m bragging or anything. She’ll need to read HTGAO soon. I feel like we are in an interfaith relationship, luckily she wasn’t raised with any religion in her house so shes willing to convert to Orangism and her family is very supportive.