The Economy of Poor Fan Support

Many students may be disappointed with the football team's performance on Saturday. Most of us, I believe, expected more of a game than we saw. But for the most part, what happens on the field is beyond our control. For the most part, all we can do is watch. For the most part, at least.

There was a day when BYU fans all across the East side of the stadium would stand and yell the entire time we were on defense. Teams had trouble in the huddle and audibling because of the noise in the stadium. Alas, Saturday after the third play of the game Florida State had a first down and many fans were so amazed by this that they felt they could no longer rise and shout, for these were not the Cougars they thought would be out. Fans continually lost momentum as FSU scored, O'Neil Chambers fumbled, and the halftime show put them to sleep. By the third quarter, there had been enough turnovers and Florida State touchdowns for many fans to consider the unthinkable and leave the game a whole quarter early. Fans were already streaming out of the stadium causing traffic problems with twenty minutes left in the game, when Max Hall completed an 80-yard touchdown to McKay Jacobson, and missed that completely. There was still hope for the mighty cougars, yet they lacked the loyal strong and true, who claimed to join in song in praise of the team, with strong faith.

Why did this happen? That's easy to answer--adjustable rate mortgages. Yep, I believe the financial crisis made many of the best fans turn away from buying tickets this year because of their high price. The selling price was also too lucrative for many poverty-stricken fans to hold on to their tickets, but instead sell them to lessor fans in order to pay for food, rent, dates, etc. A small few of us stood the entire game long, cheering for a comeback, having heard stories of how the faith of our fathers brought miracles to pass in Holiday Bowls of past days, knowing that there was still hope for a comeback.

In the future I hope those who intend to leave the game early will sell their tickets, or even give them away, to someone who will rise and shout for four quarters of football. It's better for the team, it's better for fans, it's better for BYU.

Who's Talking To Your Kids These Days

Your child is going to have one professional visit their school. Both of these men spoke in public schools yesterday. In case you haven't heard of either of them, I've listed their credentials and recent newsworthy events in their lives. Who would you rather have?

Michael Vick

• Graduated from Warwick High School (VA)
• Attended Virginia Tech University for 2 years where he played football
• Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League
• Played six years for the Falcons; voted to Pro Bowl three times
• November 26, 2006- gives Atlanta fans the bird after team's fourth straight loss
• July 2007- charged with a felony for running a dog fighting ring (Bad Newz Kennels)
• September 14, 2007- tested positive for marijuana while on bail
• November 2007-began prison sentance
  
• July 7, 2008- declared chapter 11 bankruptcy
• May 2009- released to house arrest
• July 27, 2009- reinstated to NFL
• August 13, 2009- signs contract with Philadelphia Eagles
• September 8, 2009- speaks to students at Nueva Esperanza Academy

or

Barack Obama

• Attended Occidental College in Los Angeles for two years before transferring to Columbia University and graduating with a degree in Political Science
• Director of the church based Developing Communities Project in Chicago
• Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School
  
• President of the Harvard Law Review
• Illinois state senator 1997-2004
• Keynote speaker for the Democratic National Convention 2004
  
• U.S. Senator 2004-2008
• President of the United States 2008-present

I will concede that Michael Vick was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and nearly unbeatable on Madden. Also, Barack Obama used drugs and alcohol in high school, is a democrat, wants to give health care to everyone living in the United States and has mismanaged the country's economic conundrum. That being said, Michael Vick has been out of prison for four months, whereas Barack Obama has been the leader of the free world for eight months.

Was that an easy decision? The people with the easiest decision are probably those who chose Michael Vick solely on the basis that President Obama is a democrat and they disagree with his policies. Maybe they've lost a love one their job, maybe they threaten to hike taxes to an intolerable point, or maybe they're all just part of a conspiracy theory posing Barack Obama to be the next Adolf Hitler or the antichrist. Presidents aren't perfect, but they are the figurehead of this nation. Does anyone remember "My Fellow Americans?" Two former presidents (one democrat, one republican) find themselves at the bottom of a conspiracy and are on the run. At one point they find themselves hitching a ride with a family in their station wagon. As it turns out, the couple lost their jobs due to Jack Lemmon's budget cuts, and James Garner's economic downturn. You can watch it all on YouTube--I highly reccomend it.

James Madison provided for conflict to exist in the nation when he wrote the constitution. Without conflict, we see things like monarchy, facism and suffering. Conflict provides opportunities for the unhappy to formally rise against those in power and bring about change. President Obama and his supporters seemed to believe change was needed and did something about it. He's no better or worse a man than George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, or Al Gore, although he may be a better speaker. At the end of the day, I think all three of that bunch would agree with what Obama said in his speech to the kids. I've provided a link to that, as well as a recap of Michael Vick's message as well.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4455112