The first NFL game I remember was seeing Marino getting sodomized by the Jags in the divisional round in '99. Since then, being a Dolphins fan has been nothing but pain. The thing is, for some reason I’m totally okay with the Dolphins underperforming. Even this season, which is late playoff run or bust, I’m completely understanding of all our failures. As long as the Fins even smell like they’re on the right track, I’m ecstatic.
Within the same general time frame, one of the first college games I remember is the University of Miami destroying Nebraska in the National Championship. The Canes were dominant. Everybody was going to the NFL. These days I have no patience for the Canes. My standards are so much higher. It doesn’t make sense to view these two teams through such a different lens.
Is it just me, or do you guys also benchmark against your early memories? Trying to figure out why I didn’t love the Dolphins any less during their one win season, but a 5 loss Canes gives me heartburn.
Im definitely in the minority here where I only got into football recently (last 5 years) when I was already in my 20s so I have literally no childhood memories of any form of football
My parents were big Oilers fans. When the team left for Nashville, they pretty much lost any interest in the NFL.
2010 was when I started showing interest in the NFL, and of course the Texans. The stars we had on defense in those early years of my fandom really did set the bar high for my expectations for defense. DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Mario Williams, Kareem Jackson, Whitney Mercilus. JJ Watt certainly leaves a hole that is impossible to fill.
There’s now an entire generation of patriots fans that want to fire bill for a few mediocre seasons and 1 really bad one. BB has given us so much success he deserves to leave when he wants. Brady doesn’t win 7 rings without BB, constantly gave his generational QB a Top 10 defense. Yeah Brady left and went to a stacked young team and won a SB but they went 8-9 a couple years later. Consistently producing a great defense isn’t easy and if we move on from bill our offense AND defense will be shit almost instantly.
Born in 03 to parents who root for the Seahawks and Patriots. I’ll be the first to admit success is all I’ve known and losing affects me more than the average fan probably.
But I’m not a fair weather and wont stop following because we’re losing.
Yes, probably. I’m a Cowboys fan, and the first season I watched was when they lost the NFC championship game to 49ers. “The catch.” I was nine at the time. After that, I lived through the 1-15 season before things turned around in the 90’s. So I can’t relate to fans that get so angry at every little misstep. I’m like, dude, it could be so much worse.
Oh yeah. This team is easily the best Dolphins team since I was in diapers. If we win one playoff game this will be the greatest Dolphins season I ever saw
Yes, it did and this hasn’t been the same Steelers I grew up watching for a long time now. Art II’s becoming a disgrace to the Rooney name.
Pretty much. I’m a 90’s kid.
I don’t expect Superbowls or deep playoff runs every year. I had been a Steelers fan for well over a decade before I saw them win a Superbowl. I’m happy rooting for my team rather than getting too into hating them for all the ways they aren’t perfect.
But damned if I don’t feel entitled to a good defense. When we don’t have a good defense, I get pissy.
Yep, I was 9-years-old when Jerry bought the team, and I was just starting to really follow/understand sports. Watched Jimmy build a team that won three Super Bowls. I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll never see anything like that again.
Grew up as a bucs fan, so… yeah.
The first glimmer of success I remember was when they got Derrick Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Alstott in the mid 90s.
Had a nasty Defense, but was still quarterbacked by Trent Dilfer
I really started getting into playing football and watching it around the time of the 4 Super Bowl runs.
So yeah, not great Bob.
Let’s see… the first season I remember watching as a kid was about 1991 and I’ve watched and hated it ever since.
Yep, still a football fan.
Yes. My childhood was the golden age of QBs. Now i have to watch Tommy Devito, Dobbs, and Aiden Oconell
Bro, as a lifelong Seahawks fan, let me tell you about a certain Vinny testaverde touchdown scored in 1998 to dash my playoff dreams.
Started watching the Lions at 0-16. So yeah, it’s been all uphill from there.