Team culture has changed. What about the fan culture?

[TC in St. Louis]

Like most Bills fans, I've been watching every game for many years; never missed a game during the drought.  Spend nearly every day during the offseason keeping track of all the moves, entered just about every season with optimism, but was never shocked at the disappointments.  

 

But when this new regime took over, they promised to change the culture.  A few years into it, the only remnants of the old team are Jerry Hughes and our long snapper.  It's like we're an entire new organization.  

 

That being true, then our fan base should have developed a new culture.  We are entitled to expect winning football.  We should be rid of that gut feeling of pending doom.  We should accept that losses will happen, even if the team is great.  We should be feeling like the fans of the team that was 13-3 and made it to the conference championship game.  We should have faith in this team, shrug off the loss and feel like it's gonna be okay.

 

I still have that bad feeling in my gut...that we're gonna lose this week.

 

I hope we have a new fan culture, because I need it.  

Edited September 17, 2021 by TC in St. Louis

[Greg S]

It will probably take a Super Bowl win for the fan culture to really change. Until the Bills win it all there will always be some doubt that something bad will happen even with the team good again.

[mushypeaches]

6 minutes ago, Greg S said:

It will probably take a Super Bowl win for the fan culture to really change. Until the Bills win it all there will always be some doubt that something bad will happen even with the team good again.

 

That's exactly it - I won't ever be able to even begin to get over my worry until after we've hoisted the trophy

[The Wiz]

Meh, it's just a game and entertainment; not like I obsess over it.

 

*checks post count*

 

I mean, I try not too anyways.

Edited September 16, 2021 by The Wiz

[jkeerie]

14 minutes ago, TC in St. Louis said:

Like most Bills fans, I've been watching every game for many years; never missed a game during the drought.  Spend nearly every day during the offseason keeping track of all the moves, entered just about every season with optimism, but was never shocked when at the disappointments.  

 

But when this new regime took over, they promised to change the culture.  A few years into it, the only remnants of the old team are Jerry Hughes and our long snapper.  It's like we're an entire new organization.  

 

That being true, then our fan base should have developed a new culture.  We are entitled to expect winning football.  We should be rid of that gut feeling of pending doom.  We should accept that losses will happen, even if the team is great.  We should be feeling like the fans of the team that was 13-3 and made it to the conference championship game.  We should have faith in this team, shrug off the loss and feel like it's gonna be okay.

 

I still have that bad feeling in my gut...that we're gonna lose this week.

 

I hope we have a new fan culture, because I need it.  

This is very valid.  Quite honestly, I was concerned that the fan base was overly confident even to the point of arrogance.   I never take anything for granted.  On any given Sunday, any team can win.  As Chris Berman would say, "That's why they play the game!"    The Bills need to play their best every week and get used to playing their best.  I'll be nervous this weekend as I am every weekend, until they're up by 21 with 2 min to play.   So...your feelings are understandable. 

[LeGOATski]

Bills fan culture has already started to change, I think, with more optimism and confidence. However, fans will always be a week-to-week animal with shortsighted views and the tendency to self-project on the team.

[MPL]

Changing organizational culture is like turning a giant container ship. 

Changing fan culture is also like turning a giant container ship, but that ship is in the Suez Canal. 

We'll get there eventually. 

Maybe?

Edited September 16, 2021 by MPL

[Tenhigh]

34 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

You think? 
 

Wasn’t their a thread on here asking the question if we are going to behave like Patriots fans now that we are destined for greatness.😅

 

Teams go from really good to bad year in and year out…. So it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see them have a rough year. 

You can dream, Scotty, you can dream.  But please keep your failure pron to a minimum. 

[Success]

I mean, the Red Sox have won 4 championships since 2004 - and their fans still go instant doom when the team loses. Especially to the Yankees.

 

Some things become genetic.  It will take a LOT of wins for Bills fans to fundamentally change their outlook (imo).  We're more optimistic in general, but all it takes is a loss like this past Sunday for doubt to creep in & say, "hey, I've been here all along."

 

[FilthyBeast]

1 hour ago, TC in St. Louis said:

Like most Bills fans, I've been watching every game for many years; never missed a game during the drought.  Spend nearly every day during the offseason keeping track of all the moves, entered just about every season with optimism, but was never shocked when at the disappointments.  

 

But when this new regime took over, they promised to change the culture.  A few years into it, the only remnants of the old team are Jerry Hughes and our long snapper.  It's like we're an entire new organization.  

 

That being true, then our fan base should have developed a new culture.  We are entitled to expect winning football.  We should be rid of that gut feeling of pending doom.  We should accept that losses will happen, even if the team is great.  We should be feeling like the fans of the team that was 13-3 and made it to the conference championship game.  We should have faith in this team, shrug off the loss and feel like it's gonna be okay.

 

I still have that bad feeling in my gut...that we're gonna lose this week.

 

I hope we have a new fan culture, because I need it.  

 

I also can't shake the feeling that we aren't only going to lose again this week but look just as bad or worse as the steelers game. And if we lose and go to 0-2 this week the season isn't over per se, but getting back to the playoffs will be a long shot especially in a loaded conference where winning the division is probably the only real path for the Bills this year. Also it's hard to argue the culture of the team has truly changed because we shouldn't be in that position to begin with.

 

As for the fan culture, why should it change? Because we've finally made the playoffs a few years after 17 miserable years? The reality is this team has accomplished nothing other than a division title and deep playoff run during a weird covid year. You have to do it over and over and over again like the 90's Bills even if you fall short of the ultimate prize.

58 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

You think? 
 

Wasn’t their a thread on here asking the question if we are going to behave like Patriots fans now that we are destined for greatness.😅

 

Teams go from really good to bad year in and year out…. So it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see them have a rough year. 

 

I believe even Beane and McDermott commented on how the 2015 Panthers team they were part of went 6-10 following their 15-1 season and a trip to the SB they lost to Manning and the Broncos. That was a far better team than the 2020 Bills too.

 

Bottom line, never take anything for granted in this league and past success has nothing to do with the future unless your name is Tom Brady. Even Mahomes and the Chiefs were dominated in the SB after being odds on favorites to repeat and there's no guarantees they get back there again this season or ever despite having the best QB in the game not named Brady.

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, Greg S said:

It will probably take a Super Bowl win for the fan culture to really change. Until the Bills win it all there will always be some doubt that something bad will happen even with the team good again.

So very true. If you've seen what I've seen over the last 55 years you're always waiting for the hammer to drop. It's exhilarating to see us have a good team again but the "doom" won't end until we win a championship. 

[ThurmanThomasEnglishMuffin]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

You think? 
 

Wasn’t their a thread on here asking the question if we are going to behave like Patriots fans now that we are destined for greatness.😅

 

Teams go from really good to bad year in and year out…. So it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see them have a rough year. 

 

this season has 1989 written all over it

[Rocky Landing]

I've been bathing more often.

[TBBills]

I am, don't know why you aren't.

 

I saw week one going either way and the luck of the draw this time ended up in favor of the Steelers. They have always been a hard play for Josh and company... Miami on the other hand, only the defense has struggled at times, Josh has dominated them without worry.

Edited September 16, 2021 by TBBills

[Dr.Sack]

I’d rather Allen has a career like Aaron Rodgers without a ring, than to get to Super Bowls only to get too amped and have a melt down & we get blown out. Allen needs to chill out like most superstars have learned and play composed no matter what kind of pressure he is facing. He needs answers. He will someday become a field general. Not there yet. 

[That's No Moon]

Why should it have changed? All they did was go from consistently terrible for the better part of 20 years to above average for two seasons. If last week's game didn't make you have flashbacks of every single concern you had about the team, the offense, the quarterback, the coaching staff, the defense in big spots, I don't understand what it would take. They hit every single sour note they could have in week one and it's going to give people a lot of doubt for the next several weeks if not the rest of the season. It doesn't matter if they beat Miami by 40, that underlying doubt will still be there. Can they beat good teams? Is Allen really the guy? Can this be the team to push it over the top or are they fundamentally flawed and just toying with me?

[billsbackto81]

3 hours ago, TC in St. Louis said:

Like most Bills fans, I've been watching every game for many years; never missed a game during the drought.  Spend nearly every day during the offseason keeping track of all the moves, entered just about every season with optimism, but was never shocked when at the disappointments.  

 

But when this new regime took over, they promised to change the culture.  A few years into it, the only remnants of the old team are Jerry Hughes and our long snapper.  It's like we're an entire new organization.  

 

That being true, then our fan base should have developed a new culture.  We are entitled to expect winning football.  We should be rid of that gut feeling of pending doom.  We should accept that losses will happen, even if the team is great.  We should be feeling like the fans of the team that was 13-3 and made it to the conference championship game.  We should have faith in this team, shrug off the loss and feel like it's gonna be okay.

 

I still have that bad feeling in my gut...that we're gonna lose this week.

 

I hope we have a new fan culture, because I need it.  

This is what I wonder. I've thought about posting a dedicated thread but this topic is as good as any to address my curiosity.

 

I'm all in on what McD and Beane have assembled the last 3 seasons. The Bills have proven to be a team on the up.

 

So why is it still they don't get as I say, " the benefit of the call or no call " as frequently as other top teams? 

 

The game Sunday was very frustrating to watch as our O line was constantly called for Holding (and rightfully so) and Pitt got away with multiple obvious hold calls, especially a awful phantom call on Tre (ticky tak hand fighting) that would've really stuck it to Pitt. 

 

As good as they are now, when are they going to get the calls that other top teams get? You would've thought Big Ben was playing in Pittsburgh the way that game was going.

 

 

[Saxum]

Fan culture will never change.  Too many fans have invested in venom and there is no antidote for it for their souls are stained. 

Any improvement will be dismissed as luck or poor play by opponents.   

 

Bills organization has not entirely changed.  While Coach McD dumped most of the training staff and scouts lots of the old guard still work in front office; just some of the top chairs are changed. Beane at least does not need to follow advice they give just listen to it.

 

Bills organization has replaced some departments but not for the best.  

Ticketing office does not support fans like they used to.  

Marketing department now concentrates on businesses not fans.

They were lucky last year and they did not have to do a lot of effort last year.

[That's No Moon]

3 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Considering their lackluster off-season and then watching them in the first game of the season followed by watching the Browns and Chiefs I’m basically there that the SB win ain’t happening this year….

It's a long season and more broken teams than this one have won but there needs to be an awful lot of growth in an awful lot of areas and they have the air of a team that is smelling itself a bit too much.

[The Wiz]

2 hours ago, Success said:

I mean, the Red Sox have won 4 championships since 2004 - and their fans still go instant doom when the team loses. Especially to the Yankees.

 

Some things become genetic.  It will take a LOT of wins for Bills fans to fundamentally change their outlook (imo).  We're more optimistic in general, but all it takes is a loss like this past Sunday for doubt to creep in & say, "hey, I've been here all along."

 

I like this and agree. 

 

For most of my life it's been:

"Well the Bills are probably going to lose"

 

Slowly turning to (over the past three years):

"Well I think they can win that game but not gonna be shocked if they lose"

 

Now it's:

"Well they should win this game but it might be tough"

 

The problem is, after last year, I think too many fans have skipped my "now" and expect them to be the 16-0 patriots and just roll teams.