Some Realizations…
Over the past 3 years (since the birth of Andersyn) I’ve realized that BGSU sports really aren’t that important to me. And, in fact, I really just don’t care that much about most of them. How did this happen? I went from being a “fanatic” to “fair weather” in almost no time flat.
The same goes for this website. I rarely update the home page with stories or info. I almost never post in the forums, and I most certainly don’t go browsing through them for “pleasure reading” anymore. It just all seems so trivial and trite to me anymore… Part of me is sad about this, part of me thinks I’d be crazy if I felt otherwise.
It doesn’t help that BG is really pretty bad in everything. Seriously… with the exception of women’s basketball, what has BGSU won in the past 5 years? 10 years? 15? I’ve gotten to the point where I just don’t want to make the half-hour drive, pay for the tickets, and sit through a sub-par performance when I could be spending it with my wife and daughter instead.
The exception to all this for me is men’s basketball. I still get excited thinking about making the drive to BG for games. I still think “This is gonna be our year!!!” The new Stroh Center has me even MORE excited for this season than recent years…
So, what does this mean? It means, expect to see some changes around here in the not-too-distant future. I’ve considered shutting the site down completely (It doesn’t make much sense to do something if your heart isn’t in it… and for the past couple of years, my heart hasn’t been in it). I’ve considered selling the site, but I’m not sure to whom I’d sell it… I’ve considered just shutting down the forums and keeping the main site up and just blogging about men’s hoops. I haven’t figured out the answer yet, but I’m pretty sure this website isn’t going to continue on in its current state.
Let me know if you all have any thoughts. I’m not saying it’ll change my mind, but I’ll take everything into consideration.
Stroh Trash Can
It would definitely be a shame to see this website disappear. This is a place where many BGSU grads can call home, talk about current sports, talk about past sports, and just congregate. To shut down the forums would end almost all of that. If you truly aren’t into running the site, perhaps there is a way to turn it into a community-run site. Or, one of the major regulars, that have been around here for almost as long as you, could take over the daily duties of operations. I would just definitely hate to see the site go, or drastically change from its current format.
I agree. As someone who does still love BG sports, but is waaay out of their market, this site is my home for keeping up with the teams and feeling a connection to other fans. I can’t blame you if your heart isn’t in it, but if it comes down to it, I will be very sorry to see the site go.
If you decide you’re going to sell the website, let me know. I’m interested in keeping it going.
Grant, this site is precisely the reason why I am such a big BG fan. It would be a shame to let it go. We have developed such a community here. If you do decide to get out of it, let me know. I would love to help keep it going.
I, myself have found my love of BG has feigned a bit. A combination of life changes and some disagreements with the direction of the department probably have something to do with it. With that said I’d love to see the site continue but understand completely if you’re ready to move on without it as part of your life. You’ve already done a great service to the BGSU community and helped create some great friendships.
Grant, It just is a case of priorities. You started this for your Dad, he is very proud of you. I was proud to have Howard as a friend and I feel the same about you. Just follow your heart, see you at the Stroh.
Grant, I understand completely where you are coming from. A few years ago I was attending every home BB game and it would be a cold day in hell before I missed a football game. Then my kids got older (jr. hi, high school) and my priorities changed completely. I can’t remember the last bb game I went to (might have been when the ‘Jesus twins’ were playing for Miami) and I haven’t been to a single football game this year. And honestly, I haven’t missed it at all. Family is a much more important priority. Do what you think is best, but I would miss stopping in here daily to catch up on BGSU news and happenings. Thanks for all you have already done.
Children have a way of changing your life don’t they?
I’m a lot like you. I don’t go to the forums anymore… I just can’t take all the griping. I miss the fun of the site when it first started. We got to know each other, and things were up front, yet more clever than cruel. I think the site may be falling prey to the tone of society as a whole…. Who can we complain about or blame today.
It’s hard to be happy when you are losing, that’s for sure. But there is pride in the effort of young men and women representing our fine university.
Do what you think is best. You’ve provided a great playground for us all.
I love those dang falcon orange trash cans, too.
Tracey, I really like your line about “pride in the effort of young men and women representing our fine university.” Wins and losses aren’t everything…
Grant,
I’d lost connection with BG sports over the years, mostly because of distance. In the pre-internet days that was pretty easy since it was difficult to impossible to find out what was happening on campus.
Then, I stumbled upon this site and it rekindled my passion for my alma mater. I had a place to get news, find out what was happening, etc. Simultaneously, UB entered the MAC giving me the opportunity to see the Falcons play again.
I also understand how having a child changes your view on what matters and what’s important. But keep in mind what sports meant to you and your dad and how they can also be special between you and your daughter.
As you know, I’m happy to support the site in any way youi see.
Grant
I understand your feelings about the site and BG sports and life in general. Being a dad changes your perspective so much…sometimes the things we used to cherish most become almost inconsequential. I think I told you this before, but you’re a good guy and I’m sure you’re a good dad too. That’s the best tribute to a father I can think of. Whatever you do with the site…thank you. It’s been fun…that night of the MACC in 2003 when a bunch of us just hung out in the parking lot before the game really captured what this site was meant to be…a place to hang out and enjoy BG sports. It’s one of my favorite memories of BG sports and I wouldn’t have experienced it without AZZ.com.
Grant-Favor, would you consider organizing an ” Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com” baskettball reunion game? I would love to see a game at the Stroh and meet up with some other AZZ.com basketball fans. Pick a game and throw it out there, see how many Falcon fans will return to campus for a game. Count me in. Go Falcons!!
Thanks to everyone’s feedback so far, whether it’s been here, via email, txt or phone calls. Still weighing all options and re-visioning everything.
Welcome to Parenthood. One’s outlook on life certainly changes. One thing is for sure…. you want to spend your time wisely and typically as much of it with your kids.
You certainly don’t need to hear someone else chiming in about how great the site is and how its help us reconnect to our alma mater. You understand all of that.
Websites, like any business, can become bigger than its creator – which is a good thing. People want to see them continue. Selling certainly will be tough…. you have to let it go knowing the next “owner/stewart” may not run it like you would. But selling it is probably the best thing for the community that the website has created.
On the other hand…. there are sites like Facebook where a new AZZ page could be created and people could connect there. Seems like so many of us are already connecting there as it is.
I like the idea of using Facebook…you could run this site w/o the forums and people could interact as they choose on an AZZ page over there…you wouldn’t have to worry about policing it as such and the “community” that’s been built here and go on….
Ugh. I hate facebook for these things. Facebook has a tendency to change designs every couple months, and fan pages get lost all the time on that site.
Grant, I can’t think of much else to say that others haven’t already. My heart nearly broke when I read this. I know how the feelings of your love for BG sports and your love for your child can drive you crazy! I’ve been there too! It’s so hard to believe how fast the time goes by. It really doesn’t seem that long ago that I was at a hockey game and pregnant with my first. Now he’s old enough to buy me a beer! Although I’m still waiting for that to happen, my point is that you need to enjoy every precious minute with Andersyn as she’ll be off doing her own thing before you know it! Now that I’m not so busy with my own kids (both are BGSU students now), I find that I spend much more time on AZZ. I hope you will be able to keep the site going in some capacity. If you have considered having site moderators again, I’d be happy to help again! While I understand your feelings, the selfish part of me hopes that this site can continue. Despite the “pissing and moaning” that goes on here, it’s still a LOT better than any other site out there! And again, thank you a million times over for all you’ve done for us. I’ve made lifetime friends thanks to AZZ for that alone, I’ll always very grateful!!
Grant:
I am in the same mode as you. Other sports, meh. Men’s basketball, yea baby! My kids love going to the games, so we go to football, but I spend it more as quality time with them then paying attention to the game when they are with me.
My suggestion is if Men’s BBall is what is important to you, then make this a Falcon Men’s Basketball site. Nothing wrong with that. Besides, you have to do something, since you named your daughter after the arena. I game my kid the initials BG, after all, so I will make the “sacrifice” and go to games.
I love this place and know the history and the reasoning behind it. Interestingly enough, I’m shopping for a new boat and looking for a museum to take the old tug.
I, like you, don’t find this place nearly as engaging as it once was and I find myself not coming here as often. It’s not for the lack of winning but for the shear slump of negativity and inanity which permeates the culture now-a-days.
I have your back and will support you in whatever you decide – and you know this. I’ll help where I can.
Mark
Grant- you did a really cool thing here with this site and I’ve certainly enjoyed the interplay over the years with various Falcon fans. Fatherhood does change things- I went through exactly what you are talking about- a lot of things I thought were important just didn’t seem so anymore. I did find that I came back to some of them as the girls got older and began to share my interests and I picked up some new things due to their interests. Now, Samantha is in the Rocket locker room before every women’s home game and her sharing my love for UT has been every bit as gratifying for me as it has been for her. You may very well find that’s the case with Andersyn. I hope you do. It would be a shame to see this site shut down or dramatically altered(there, I said it) but I think most would understand.
Grant, sorry to hear these kind of thoughts. Like it or not, AZZ has become an official destination for BG fans to speak their minds both about our teams and the administrators in charge of our athletic programs. The site is critical and we should find a way to transfer ownership. BG is bigger than any of us and the forum deserves to live on for the next generation.
Take it down Grant.
It has been enjoyable, or was I should say. It has morphed in to a hate a fest where one group finds another less deserving or important. Then just spends time posting about it, which does no one any favors. As a Browns I have seen Browns fans booted for less over there. The “fans” here just lack respect for anything or anyone that is not on their radar. Aye Ziggy is nothing more than a house of infighting, bickering and whining gripers. Nothing about Fan support, that is unless it is one sport over another. To add insult to injury your allowing “fans” to run unabated bashing programs, with unfounded and at time outright ignorant claims only fuels the fires. This is as you sad likely part of your moved position.
Time to shut it down.
Those who are “fans” will move and create new homes, where fan support is mainstream, and bashing not tolerated.
Step back Grant. Enjoy your family, and basketball, football etc again.