What would it be???
Hi gang,
Getting ready for the upcoming season with a new FO and coaching staff I started thinking about Bruce Arians and what advice, as a lifelong Cardinal fan, I would give him if I could have his ear for a moment.
The first thought that occurred to me was the atmosphere at UofP and opposing fans. All the Cardinal fans on ASFN who go to or have gone to games know exactly what I mean. When we play the Cowboys, Steelers Bears, or (now that they're good again) the 9ers, there are TONS of opposing fans like up into the tens of thousands. As a fan I just pretend they aren't there.
Listen, I know that NFL players and coaches are pros and they get paid for this, but I never fail to feel bad for the players when this happens. Especially the young guys who aren't really prepared for it. Most of these kids have come from High Schools and Colleges where they ALWAYS have home field advantage, no matter what. No matter how much you get paid, it HAS to be shocking/annoying/frustrating and bordering on hurtful to walk out of the tunnel in your own stadium to boos and look up and see your home stadium half full of opposing team fans.
So my point is, if I could talk to Arians I would just make sure that he understands that it's going to happen and why. Most people in Arizona are from somewhere else and so most of them are fans of other teams. Until we put a couple rings on their fingers non-cardinal fan Arizonans are going to keep being opposing fans who come to home games, so dont stress about it, dont let it shock you or your players, prepare everyone that it's coming and use it as motivation!!
The reason I bring it up is that Green and Whiz always were in denial about it. They acted like it wasn't there. They acted like fans who wouldn't acknowledge it but were totally annoyed by it at the same time. The team wants to praise us fans for our 7 or 8 year sellout streak but nobody wants to admit that the streak only exists (in part) because a bunch opposing team fans have been filling the seats at certain games for years.
Like I said, if I could give BA advice that would be it. Don't be ashamed of it or embarrassed, just convince your team to use it as motivation. Make it your mission to change it. But dont let it bother your team.
But that's just me.
What would your best advice to BA and Kiem be? I am honestly curious because I respect the opinions of the posters on this forum.
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