Jason Taylor Tribute

[Cykron]

It seems that tonight is a night for bashing, so I will add mine.  I was shocked at the non-reaction to the Jason Taylor tribute.  Few of the Akron fans around me were even watching it.  Maybe they had seen it before.  But I thought the video was really well done.  It actually had a plot line and development of narrative themes (and it took me a while to figure out the frequent "20 mile" references).  I was riveted to the jumbotron.  And then, when it was done, there was a smattering of applause.  I stood to my feet and cheered about as loudly as I can for someone related to the team that was putting pressure on us before halftime.  Yet, I don't think I saw a single Akron fan around me who looked like he cared during that tribute.  What was up with that?  Would it have been different if he was there in person?  

[ZippyRulz]

Frankly, they should have canceled the tribute until/unless he could be in attendance. Which may have been never.

 

[Dr Z]

According to the Miami Herald, JT is involved in some legal issues at the moment. 

[ZippyRulz]

His actual excuse was the hurricane but the airports were re-opened by Tuesday before the game.

 

[ZipsVoice]

Yes his "excuse" was the hurricane, but it had nothing to do with the airport opened.  He was spending time working with his foundation to help the people needing it in the Miami area after the hurricane hit.  And what the heck does legal issues have to do with this?  The way this University treated his entire Hall of Fame induction was a complete joke.  This University should be ashamed that they did not provide opportunities for fans and alumni to make a presence in Canton for the induction ceremonies and festivities.  How hard would it have been to put together a couple of bus excursions including tickets to the event for The Faithful to fill?  They can put a bus trip together for a football road game, or a basketball road game.  Or how about a Meet and Greet for the regular Joe Akron to attend?  He paid a lot of tribute to the U during his speech and during every interview he gave.  Big effing wow...we hosted his post party, but was any of the fans and lesser people in the hierarchy allowed to attend?  Cykron is right, no one seemed to give a crap, because it was obvious that Akron didn't give a crap, and that what U of A did to hype the day, hype the HOF, was just perfunctory and it's a crying shame.  And why the heck do people have to bring up his divorce, "legal issues", etc.  Why the hate for a player that sure makes U of A lot better than it deserves some times.  

Edited September 21, 2017 by ZipsVoice

[LZIp]

I agree the bashing is uncalled for as he was assuredly dealing with his own issues and helping other people in the aftermath of the hurricane. What makes you think Jason Taylor wants to meet and great a bunch of Joe Akrons or that a bunch of Joe Akrons want to meet and great with him? The University had a private party for him at the stadium. You're kidding yourself if you think "the faithful" would have filled anything. Somebody on here had trouble getting 6 people to fill a table for an event. We have some good die hards, but in general our fan base sucks. This is nothing new.

Edited September 21, 2017 by LZIp

[feetg10]

19 hours ago, Cykron said:

It seems that tonight is a night for bashing, so I will add mine.  I was shocked at the non-reaction to the Jason Taylor tribute.  Few of the Akron fans around me were even watching it.  Maybe they had seen it before.  But I thought the video was really well done.  It actually had a plot line and development of narrative themes (and it took me a while to figure out the frequent "20 mile" references).  I was riveted to the jumbotron.  And then, when it was done, there was a smattering of applause.  I stood to my feet and cheered about as loudly as I can for someone related to the team that was putting pressure on us before halftime.  Yet, I don't think I saw a single Akron fan around me who looked like he cared during that tribute.  What was up with that?  Would it have been different if he was there in person?  

Honestly, I may have been sitting by you. Did you tell, "You guys should be going crazy for him right now."? If so, you are right. I thought it was odd that they said nothing  after the video. I was waiting for something a little more formal. So I was quietly watching the video and expecting more. Wish he could have made it. 

[Blue & Gold]

1 hour ago, feetg10 said:

Honestly, I may have been sitting by you. Did you tell, "You guys should be going crazy for him right now."? If so, you are right. I thought it was odd that they said nothing  after the video. I was waiting for something a little more formal. So I was quietly watching the video and expecting more. Wish he could have made it. 

The video caught me by surprise. I was talking to a friend when another friend tapped me on the shoulder to alert me to the Jason Taylor video... about a minute in. Afterward I gave the video about a 5-second standing ovation. But I guess that was the big moment.

[ZippyRulz]

3 hours ago, feetg10 said:

Honestly, I may have been sitting by you. Did you tell, "You guys should be going crazy for him right now."? If so, you are right. I thought it was odd that they said nothing  after the video. I was waiting for something a little more formal. So I was quietly watching the video and expecting more. Wish he could have made it. 

 

He could have made it if he wanted to. He has people that could manage the foundation for 1-2 days. But it may have looked bad for him to go off to receive football accolades while the locals were in need. At the very least he could have rescheduled. There would have been a lot more fan response if he was there standing on the 50 yard line. What's the point of going crazy for the video if there's no recipient there? It's like people in a theater applauding at the end of a movie...why?

 

[Cykron]

On 9/21/2017 at 5:12 PM, feetg10 said:

Honestly, I may have been sitting by you. Did you tell, "You guys should be going crazy for him right now."? If so, you are right. I thought it was odd that they said nothing  after the video. I was waiting for something a little more formal. So I was quietly watching the video and expecting more. Wish he could have made it. 

 

 

Yep, that was me.  I felt like I was more excited about it than the Akron fans around me.  If nothing else, I could watch and cheer those highlights all day long.  

 

Perhaps you are right.  It did kind of sneak up on us as it started.   But it was certainly long enough for everyone to figure out what was going on.  And like with the national anthem, if somebody doesn't know that it started, somebody nearby will poke him.  

 

Regardless, he was a great player and worthy of the tribute.  I hadn't made the Akron connection and probably wouldn't have if not for the timing of this game and the Hall of Fame induction.  

[Dr Z]

First time I got to listen to JT on NFL Sirius this Sunday night. He took over for James Lofton, who I really liked. JT did pretty good. 

 

Luckily he was able to make it to Atlanta on the 17th. 

 

 

[Zipgrad01]

4 hours ago, Dr Z said:

First time I got to listen to JT on NFL Sirius this Sunday night. He took over for James Lofton, who I really liked. JT did pretty good. 

 

Luckily he was able to make it to Atlanta on the 17th. 

 

 

Of course he was. ?

[Cykron]

19 hours ago, Zipgrad01 said:

Of course he was. ?

 

 

Which came first?  Taylor dissing you or you dissing Taylor?  

 

Regardless, based on the fan non-reaction during the tribute, I may understand why he wouldn't prioritize coming to Akron.  Too bad.  Strange things happen sometimes in relationships with celebrity alumni.  Hope you catch patch it up. 

 

We finally brought back Troy Davis, our Heisman runner-up (yes, you read it correctly, look it up) last season who was not exactly a Rhodes Scholar.  And then he proceeds to spend a week in campustown bars, get cited for public intoxication, and be unapologetic ("hey, the fans want to buy me drinks").  

[Zipgrad01]

3 hours ago, Cykron said:

 

 

Which came first?  Taylor dissing you or you dissing Taylor?  

 

Regardless, based on the fan non-reaction during the tribute, I may understand why he wouldn't prioritize coming to Akron.  Too bad.  Strange things happen sometimes in relationships with celebrity alumni.  Hope you catch patch it up. 

 

We finally brought back Troy Davis, our Heisman runner-up (yes, you read it correctly, look it up) last season who was not exactly a Rhodes Scholar.  And then he proceeds to spend a week in campustown bars, get cited for public intoxication, and be unapologetic ("hey, the fans want to buy me drinks").  

After he went pro he never really made any effort to come back to the university.... well.....ever. I have no problems with him and I am definitely a fan. I'll just say I wasn't shocked that he had an excuse to not attend. 

[Dr Z]