Bear Down Wildcats

If there's one idea that everyone on this board can get behind, it's the obvious fact that our behavior affects the outcome of games. So imagine the positive effective it would have if all of us did the same thing. We'd have to save it for a really important game, like an Elite Eight game against a higher seed.

So give us your ideas. Your favorites. If we start to get some degree of consensus on some of them, then we can vote on them.

I go for symbolic gestures and rituals of sacrifice. Here are my suggestions for consideration:

- Paint one eyelid (the "prodigal eyelid")

- Give a dollar to a bum*

- Pour a beer down the sink

- Give half your sandwich to your roommate or pet


* This idea might be hobophobic.

Well my rituals are the same for any football or basketball game. I watch the game until(if) it starts going badly. Then if it ever does, I change the channel and wait 10-15 minutes and furtively check the score on my phone. If things improve I change the channel back. Seems like I usually bat .750+ on things turning around when I change the channel.

Post photos of us bare chested.


Yes that means you too MTC.

ASUHATER! wrote:Well my rituals are the same for any football or basketball game. I watch the game until(if) it starts going badly. Then if it ever does, I change the channel and wait 10-15 minutes and furtively check the score on my phone. If things improve I change the channel back. Seems like I usually bat .750+ on things turning around when I change the channel.

I do that, too. How common is this? I check my phone and the in-game thread. I did this for the tourney game against Memphis State (worked) and the football post-season game against Oregon (didn't work).

Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

Tossing and turning and lack of sleep.

I don't wear any gear for my team the day of a big game. That's about it

Note to self: gets some Snoqualmie Wildcat IPA for the games.

ghostwhitehorse wrote:Note to self: gets some Snoqualmie Wildcat IPA for the games.

Beer choice is important. Will not drink Four Peaks or Santan products on any game day regardless of opponent. If playing an Oregon school, no Oregon beer. Etc.

Had not heard of Wildcat IPA will have to try it.....except, what if we're playing Kentucky?

At least we're wearing pants this time.

azthrillhouse wrote:

ghostwhitehorse wrote:Note to self: gets some Snoqualmie Wildcat IPA for the games.

Beer choice is important. Will not drink Four Peaks or Santan products on any game day regardless of opponent. If playing an Oregon school, no Oregon beer. Etc.

Had not heard of Wildcat IPA will have to try it.....except, what if we're playing Kentucky?

Bevmo has the Wildcat: http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail ... -IPA/37992

However. . .the appropriate beverage for drinking while watching the Horse Country Cats is bourbon.

Smashed a bottle of louis jadot beaujolais 2013 during the pac-12 tourney.

Can't deviate now...

My leg twitches uncontrollably and I ignore everyone else speaking to me.

right before tip I remove my pants, grab my balls, and bear down as hard as I can

ASUHATER! wrote:Well my rituals are the same for any football or basketball game. I watch the game until(if) it starts going badly. Then if it ever does, I change the channel and wait 10-15 minutes and furtively check the score on my phone. If things improve I change the channel back. Seems like I usually bat .750+ on things turning around when I change the channel.

I'd love to say this is idiotic, but I've done it more than once. Not because I think it works, but because I can't stand to watch them play bad. If I'm behind the action (DVR) and we're trailing, I hit the five-minute fast forward button. I repeat until we've caught up. If we win, I go back and watch what I missed. If not, I've saved myself the agony.

The one I'll never forget is the Chen game against CU. Checked phone, and was stunned to see we caught up. Then turned TV back on.

Of course, this does not apply to the tournament. Always watch that live.

Daryl Zero wrote:At least we're wearing pants this time.

When did we start doing that? Off to Dillard's I go.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

I shower in my jeans.

But, seriously, I pace. And cannot watch somewhere where this isn't an option. I wonder how parents of players can just sit in the stands. I'd be headed for a concourse or constantly standing.

During timeouts, I clean the kitchen or just generally bang around in there. I do not drink. If it's going well, I'll check the in-game thread. But that place is toxic otherwise.

gumby wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

I shower in my jeans.

But, seriously, I pace. And cannot watch somewhere where this isn't an option. I wonder how parents of players can just sit in the stands. I'd be headed for a concourse or constantly standing.

During timeouts, I clean the kitchen or just generally bang around in there. I do not drink. If it's going well, I'll check the in-game thread. But that place is toxic otherwise.

Yeah, let's hope not.

This is important and is a must if you want the Cats to go far

Never have sex or masterbate on game day.

Don't do it

Alieberman wrote:This is important and is a must if you want the Cats to go far

Never have sex or masterbate on game day.

Don't do it

Define game day.

gumby wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

I shower in my jeans.

But, seriously, I pace. And cannot watch somewhere where this isn't an option. I wonder how parents of players can just sit in the stands. I'd be headed for a concourse or constantly standing.

During timeouts, I clean the kitchen or just generally bang around in there. I do not drink. If it's going well, I'll check the in-game thread. But that place is toxic otherwise.

I think parents can do this because they just want their children to do well. It's not entirely different from watching your child perform in a karate tournament. The warped, unbridled emotions belong to the long-term fans of the program whose very sense of being hinges upon finally breaking through again to a Final Four.

Frybry02 wrote:My leg twitches uncontrollably and I ignore everyone else speaking to me.

I have no idea why people try to talk to me. I even know a guy who is as big a fan as me, who posts on these very boards, and who spends the entire game chatting on and on about all kinds of non-urgent matters, for which he expects well-contemplated responses. I'm practically hyperventilating. When we're not in the same house or bar during a game, he's watching it while texting me about whether a margarita requires certain outdoor temperatures for maximum enjoyment, or whether a wild rabbit could come to love a dog who doesn't chase him.

rgdeuce wrote:I don't wear any gear for my team the day of a big game.

gumby wrote:I do not drink.

Alieberman wrote:Never have sex or masterbate on game day.

I'm the exact opposite, but it's all about momentum change.

If we are losing or playing shitty I'll change into different Wildcat gear, get a beer/smoke a bowl, and in extreme cases I'll pause the game, run upstairs, throw my best line at the wife ("Hey baby, the Cats are losing soooooo....") or if she's not willing I'll hit up YouPorn.

I've even done this to games that I've DVR'd and are long over. Still usually works...

Chicat is very focused and intense during games. He talks, but only during time outs, and even then only about the game. He doesn't lose control of his own body like I do, but it's only because he's really focused. After the game, he wants to talk about the game. Hours later when conversation veers in whatever direction (particularly as there are non-basketball people in the room), he'll sometimes get a far-off look and say, "That was a great win."

I've got different seating positions in the living room. As we struggle I move towards the back of the room. As we surge I move closer to the TV.

azgreg wrote:I've got different seating positions in the living room. As we struggle I move towards the back of the room. As we surge I move closer to the TV.

On purpose? Or do you just find yourself there?

Longhorned wrote:

azgreg wrote:I've got different seating positions in the living room. As we struggle I move towards the back of the room. As we surge I move closer to the TV.

On purpose? Or do you just find yourself there?

Teleportation.

Longhorned wrote:Chicat is very focused and intense during games. He talks, but only during time outs, and even then only about the game. He doesn't lose control of his own body like I do, but it's only because he's really focused. After the game, he wants to talk about the game. Hours later when conversation veers in whatever direction (particularly as there are non-basketball people in the room), he'll sometimes get a far-off look and say, "That was a great win."

It's only weird because I watch every game completely alone.

Chicat wrote:

Longhorned wrote:Chicat is very focused and intense during games. He talks, but only during time outs, and even then only about the game. He doesn't lose control of his own body like I do, but it's only because he's really focused. After the game, he wants to talk about the game. Hours later when conversation veers in whatever direction (particularly as there are non-basketball people in the room), he'll sometimes get a far-off look and say, "That was a great win."

It's only weird because I watch every game completely alone.

If it should happen that things go well (only at your pleasure, basketball gods!), we should make Final Four viewing plans.

Longhorned wrote:

Chicat wrote:

Longhorned wrote:Chicat is very focused and intense during games. He talks, but only during time outs, and even then only about the game. He doesn't lose control of his own body like I do, but it's only because he's really focused. After the game, he wants to talk about the game. Hours later when conversation veers in whatever direction (particularly as there are non-basketball people in the room), he'll sometimes get a far-off look and say, "That was a great win."

It's only weird because I watch every game completely alone.

If it should happen that things go well (only at your pleasure, basketball gods!), we should make Final Four viewing plans.

As in planning what seats will we have at Lucas Oil Stadium? I'm in.

Chicat wrote:

Longhorned wrote:Chicat is very focused and intense during games. He talks, but only during time outs, and even then only about the game. He doesn't lose control of his own body like I do, but it's only because he's really focused. After the game, he wants to talk about the game. Hours later when conversation veers in whatever direction (particularly as there are non-basketball people in the room), he'll sometimes get a far-off look and say, "That was a great win."

It's only weird because I watch every game completely alone.

Same here. When the Cats are on (football or basketball) the family finds something else to do.

When the game is not going well, I have to fast forward, or at least mute it for a while, so I can calm down and take a short trip to my happy place. Otherwise my heart-rending shrieks of frustration are misunderstood by the dog, and he thinks the house is under attack, and bites a cat.

At least my wife has learned that it does not help to try and converse with me at these times.

gumby wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

I shower in my jeans.

But, seriously, I pace. And cannot watch somewhere where this isn't an option. I wonder how parents of players can just sit in the stands. I'd be headed for a concourse or constantly standing.

During timeouts, I clean the kitchen or just generally bang around in there. I do not drink. If it's going well, I'll check the in-game thread. But that place is toxic otherwise.

With me, it depends. Big game, I'll be emotionally locked in from the get go. Team we should beat, it depends on how we perform. If we take care of business, I may never raise my voice.

Earlier this year, I had a family tragedy that spanned some U of A games. It helped my perspective on things, frankly. It's fun to be passionate about Arizona, but I have a lot less negative passion. These are just college kids, and I'm blessed to be able to root for a nationally dominant program.

I'm sure all that perspective would probably go out the window if we lost short of the EE, though. I'm lucky to be basically surrounded by Arizona alums at work and home. I do have to restrict the pantslessness to home, though. That's not a public tradition.

I found a couple of 24 packs of Coors Heavy, aka Tan Can, right before the 1997 championship game. They didn't have a pop top and came with a church key to open them MASH Movie style.

Never seen them since.

azgreg wrote:

Chicat wrote:

Longhorned wrote:Chicat is very focused and intense during games. He talks, but only during time outs, and even then only about the game. He doesn't lose control of his own body like I do, but it's only because he's really focused. After the game, he wants to talk about the game. Hours later when conversation veers in whatever direction (particularly as there are non-basketball people in the room), he'll sometimes get a far-off look and say, "That was a great win."

It's only weird because I watch every game completely alone.

Same here. When the Cats are on (football or basketball) the family finds something else to do.

Same here. My son will start off watching with me, but eventually gets lost. I prefer this. He can't stand Walton, so he skips those games entirely. He may still track game upstairs, and return if it's a blowout.

In 2011, I was slightly behind the Texas game, because I kept pausing it to calm down. Just before Texas gets the five second violation, he comes downstairs. So I had an inkling that something miraculous was about to happen.

My wife usually watched the games with me, but her expert analysis of "that was a good shot wasn't it?" just drives me batty.

So that's why I am in every game thread here. Along with Twitter, and Facebook. I have a laptop by my sofa for such a dedicated purpose.

Merkin wrote:My wife usually watched the games with me, but her expert analysis of "that was a good shot wasn't it?" just drives me batty.

So that's why I am in every game thread here. Along with Twitter, and Facebook. I have a laptop by my sofa for such a dedicated purpose.

My wife knows every Wildcat player and their roles and (somehow) key players on the opposition. But nine of her ten in-game comments are about new furniture ideas. It makes me want to validate her focus by breaking the furniture we have.

If my wife watches with me, she usually falls asleep mid-way through the first half. Which leads to me comically jumping up and down, fist-pumping, shimmying, and so forth in complete silence. If someone filmed me in black & white, it would look like a silent film from the 20s. (Title Cards: "The Wear Down!" & "Shut up Walton!!!" & "FUCK YOU REF!!!")

Whether she watches with me or not, I still have to be pretty quiet. With two sleeping children and a wife who has to get up at 5:30 for work, I've gotten pretty good about expressing my emotions physically but not verbally.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

gumby wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

I shower in my jeans.

But, seriously, I pace. And cannot watch somewhere where this isn't an option. I wonder how parents of players can just sit in the stands. I'd be headed for a concourse or constantly standing.

During timeouts, I clean the kitchen or just generally bang around in there. I do not drink. If it's going well, I'll check the in-game thread. But that place is toxic otherwise.

With me, it depends. Big game, I'll be emotionally locked in from the get go. Team we should beat, it depends on how we perform. If we take care of business, I may never raise my voice.

Earlier this year, I had a family tragedy that spanned some U of A games. It helped my perspective on things, frankly. It's fun to be passionate about Arizona, but I have a lot less negative passion. These are just college kids, and I'm blessed to be able to root for a nationally dominant program.

I'm sure all that perspective would probably go out the window if we lost short of the EE, though. I'm lucky to be basically surrounded by Arizona alums at work and home. I do have to restrict the pantslessness to home, though. That's not a public tradition.

I know 0 people (personally, since you are all people) who are Arizona fans. I come from NH and didn't go to UA so that makes it difficult. Because of this, people I know think I am an insane person (my wife and rest of my family included) because of how much I love this team.

I don't watch Arizona games with anyone if humanly possible. Thank god they play their games late so my wife is usually asleep, because she says I legitimately scare her when I scream at the TV if there is a bad call. I am a calm, laid-back, rational person in every other aspect of my life besides Arizona bball, the Red Sox, and the Celtics. And the latter two for some reason just don't compare to Arizona.

I wear both the shorts and the jersey for every game. I never wear the same color for the first half, but if the first half goes poorly I switch to the full kit for the second half.

I was forced to watch the Wisconsin game last year at a bar in NYC because it was my sister's 21st birthday. I wore my shorts and jersey and brought a backpack with the second jersey. It is safe to say I shamed the two Wisconsin fans in the bar because of how crazy I was, and how little they clearly cared about the game even though they had their Wisconsin sweatshirts on. By the end of the game they might have even, just a small part of them, been rooting for Arizona because of how much I wanted it.

This year, I will not be forced to watch the game with anyone, anywhere besides my living room, unless of course I am watching from Lucas Oil Stadium. If that happens, I will be one happy man.

Longhorned wrote:

Merkin wrote:My wife usually watched the games with me, but her expert analysis of "that was a good shot wasn't it?" just drives me batty.

So that's why I am in every game thread here. Along with Twitter, and Facebook. I have a laptop by my sofa for such a dedicated purpose.

My wife knows every Wildcat player and their roles and (somehow) key players on the opposition. But nine of her ten in-game comments are about new furniture ideas. It makes me want to validate her focus by breaking the furniture we have.

My wife and I have a good setup. The only time it gets strained is when Arizona has a bad loss and she occasionally doesn't give me quite enough of a buffer period to recover. For instance, about a minute after our loss to ASU went final, she asked me what I thought about dinner. Apparently, "**** dinner" was not the response she was looking for.

Spaceman Spiff wrote: My wife and I have a good setup. The only time it gets strained is when Arizona has a bad loss and she occasionally doesn't give me quite enough of a buffer period to recover. For instance, about a minute after our loss to ASU went final, she asked me what I thought about dinner. Apparently, "**** dinner" was not the response she was looking for.

Hahaha that's hilarious. When we lost to UNLV I was home in NH and had friends over. I told them all to leave right after the game ended but, since my wife is not an asshole, she yelled at me and made me realize that I never see my friends. There's a reason she's called my better half

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

Longhorned wrote:

Merkin wrote:My wife usually watched the games with me, but her expert analysis of "that was a good shot wasn't it?" just drives me batty.

So that's why I am in every game thread here. Along with Twitter, and Facebook. I have a laptop by my sofa for such a dedicated purpose.

My wife knows every Wildcat player and their roles and (somehow) key players on the opposition. But nine of her ten in-game comments are about new furniture ideas. It makes me want to validate her focus by breaking the furniture we have.

My wife and I have a good setup. The only time it gets strained is when Arizona has a bad loss and she occasionally doesn't give me quite enough of a buffer period to recover. For instance, about a minute after our loss to ASU went final, she asked me what I thought about dinner. Apparently, "**** dinner" was not the response she was looking for.

After we lost to Ohio State two years ago, right after the final buzzer I switched off the TV, threw the remote
on the couch and said, "Here, watch whatever you want" and started to walk out of the room. My wife responded, "Oh great. Anger..."

I turned around and was about to irrationally start yelling at her but then I saw the look on her face as she realized she should have just shut her mouth and that she was regretting saying anything and that was enough for me. I didn't say anything. Just turned back around and went out to the garage and didn't come back inside the house for what felt like an hour but was probably only 15 minutes. After that I was fine. But I think she'll give me a few minutes before making any comments the next time she's around me after an Arizona loss.

Chicat wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

Longhorned wrote:

Merkin wrote:My wife usually watched the games with me, but her expert analysis of "that was a good shot wasn't it?" just drives me batty.

So that's why I am in every game thread here. Along with Twitter, and Facebook. I have a laptop by my sofa for such a dedicated purpose.

My wife knows every Wildcat player and their roles and (somehow) key players on the opposition. But nine of her ten in-game comments are about new furniture ideas. It makes me want to validate her focus by breaking the furniture we have.

My wife and I have a good setup. The only time it gets strained is when Arizona has a bad loss and she occasionally doesn't give me quite enough of a buffer period to recover. For instance, about a minute after our loss to ASU went final, she asked me what I thought about dinner. Apparently, "**** dinner" was not the response she was looking for.

After we lost to Ohio State two years ago, right after the final buzzer I switched off the TV, threw the remote
on the couch and said, "Here, watch whatever you want" and started to walk out of the room. My wife responded, "Oh great. Anger..."

I turned around and was about to irrationally start yelling at her but then I saw the look on her face as she realized she should have just shut her mouth and that she was regretting saying anything and that was enough for me. I didn't say anything. Just turned back around and went out to the garage and didn't come back inside the house for what felt like an hour but was probably only 15 minutes. After that I was fine. But I think she'll give me a few minutes before making any comments the next time she's around me after an Arizona loss.

My wife has learned to fear Arizona losing. None of this "Oh, well, the season is over, what's next? Pie?" expectation.

I usually just get real quite for awhile. I'm usually fine after about 30 minutes or so.

I was on my first "weekend away" with my current gf last year during the Wisconsin loss. It was still during that period of the first several months of dating where I didn't want to freak her out or do anything too crazy in front of her. So when we lost I silently turned off the tv, grabbed a beer from the mini fridge and opened the door to our balcony. I just walked out and closed the door behind me and sat down and watched the sun set for about 20 mins in silence. I think she understood then and never said anything about it.

She has no interest whatsoever in Arizona sports though. It is kinda better that way than her having just a half assed interest where she tries to be encouraging and watch with me but then makes comments like Merk's wife

azgreg wrote:I usually just get real quite for awhile. I'm usually fine after about 30 minutes or so.

After a half hour I'll accept it, and then fall asleep and dream about it all night and wake up the next morning to the depressing realization that it's all really real. Then I'm down for the next week with momentary jolts of "I'm going to put my life back together again!" followed by immediate plummets back to the depths of despondency. Slowly over extended time, I'll rise again to a new ceiling that's slightly lower than where I was before the loss, but never a complete recovery. The only thing that raises the ceiling is an eventual Final Four or National Championship. I've been slightly worse off every year since 2001, but still at a relatively acceptable high point from the spikes I got in 1997 and 2001.

dcZONAfan wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote: My wife and I have a good setup. The only time it gets strained is when Arizona has a bad loss and she occasionally doesn't give me quite enough of a buffer period to recover. For instance, about a minute after our loss to ASU went final, she asked me what I thought about dinner. Apparently, "**** dinner" was not the response she was looking for.

Hahaha that's hilarious. When we lost to UNLV I was home in NH and had friends over. I told them all to leave right after the game ended but, since my wife is not an asshole, she yelled at me and made me realize that I never see my friends. There's a reason she's called my better half

No, getting prickly isn't good for me either. She usually balances me out quite well, but the immediate aftermath of a bad one is usually a good time for me to take a few minutes to regain my perspective.

It's why I like being surrounded with U of A people. In the wake of the Illinois game in 05, I was in a house with about 20 people, and at least a half hour passed before anyone uttered more than 3-4 words. Everyone knew why no one was talking, and no one tried to be sunshiney.

I love this thread. Like therapy. I know I've posted this before, but we had a group Easter egg hunt planned right after the 2005 Illnois game. A neighbor rings the doorball, just as we're blowing the lead. I open it, and utter a terse, "Arizona game."

He replies, "Is that still on?"

Awkward silence. I want him to go away. He wants in. Can't very well turn him away. Then, "Oh wow!" "Another three!" "Another turnover!" "Wow!"

I just suffer in silence. Then, somehow, trudge outside and pretend to enjoy the little kids searching for eggs while enduring the occasional, "What happened to Arizona?"

F@uck Easter.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Ever since I removed my pants prior to the 2011 second half vs Duke, removing my pants has been a go to move. I also will change the channel, and if that helps, watch a movie and check in for a few seconds now and again.

Changing clothes is my big one.

If nothing I own works, I usually end up sitting on my couch (yeah right, more like pacing) in my underwear.