I freed myself from message board addiction, and now, Cat-Griz is alot more fun

This is supposed to be fun. But for the longest time, and for one big reason, it wasn’t fun for me.

In many ways, being a Griz fan wasn’t fun for way, way too long.

It wasn’t because I take it too seriously. I’ll never quit doing that. And no, it wasn’t because of losing, or weather or ticket prices, or any other reasons most fans complain about on the regular.

The reason that I sucked the life out of being a Griz fan, and for so long, made this particular week absolutely miserable was my addiction to an internet message board.

From the early part of the last decade I certainly went down a rabbit hole on Egriz.com. Not only could I not stay off it, but I also couldn’t help but engage. And for a time, that engagement became an obsession.

Now, let me just say this: I have nothing against Egriz. I’ve met some really cool people there, including someone who has become one of my closest friends. Also, as it was originally intended, Egriz can be very informative. Contrary to what our rivals all say, Egriz is the premier board for FCS football, and the proof is the fact that so many folks from our rivals frequent it, and they do it because they like it, no matter what crap they actually say they’re on there for.

There are always some very good football discussions on Egriz, there’s inside information, and, plenty of really good stuff there. Egriz does a lot of good and for some people, it can be a lot of fun and a good place to talk about the Griz.

Of course, there’s a dark side to Egriz, just as there are too many internet boards that allow people to post anonymously, and mostly without repercussions. No matter what people will say after they realize they’ve done something stupid on the internet, they meant what they typed. And Egriz has been no different.

I have seen the absolute worst of humanity on sports message boards and Egriz, Bobcat Nation and other boards are not innocent. Hatred, arguments, threats, confrontations and more, it’s all on the internet for people to see, and then when you throw the Cat-Griz rivalry into the mix, look out.

No, what has gone on on those boards from time to time is absolutely not all in good fun, especially a lot of the Cat-Griz stuff. Is there good fun? Yes there is, but it goes way beyond that.

And for a long time, I got way too wrapped up in the bad stuff. And by wrapped up I mean, I thought I was a crusader for good.

I would spend hours and hours on Egriz, writing diatribes and novellas, sticking up for Griz coaches, players, arguing with what we considered “bad fans,” I even stuck up for the Bobcats on there, too. In fact, I was probably known as one of the posters who spewed the least amount of rivalry venom on the board. All-in-all, I was trying to fight back against all the things I thought were wrong with how people behaved on these message boards. The volunteer moderators try to keep things civil but, come on, it's not really possible because of one the biggest issues. The anonymity.

I have always thought it’s wrong and even pathetic to be a jerk on the internet and never have to face the music so to speak. So, at one point, I put my money where my mouth was. On both Egriz and Bobcat Nation, I tossed out my username “Havgrizfan” and began using my real name and full location. And for a time, it was liberating because at least I wasn’t a hypocrite. At least, when I posted something, it had my name on it. I had to own it. Just like this column.

But even that didn’t cure everything that ailed me when it came to Egriz, and especially during Cat-Griz Week. Even with my identity exposed, nothing changed. The late nights, the long posts and the disgust and disdain for other posts and posters didn’t change. And I couldn’t stop getting mad, upset and disgusted, but more importantly, no matter how bad I felt, I couldn’t stop reading and responding.

And from there, it made me almost dread Cat-Griz week. Seriously, because I couldn’t stay off Egriz, I really didn’t like this rivalry anymore, and in some ways, I still don’t. To literally HATE a football fan has to be the dumbest, most moronic thing on the face of the earth. And to literally threaten another football fan is even worse. Seriously, it’s madness.

But that’s where we are, and while a good portion of this rivalry is healthy and all in good fun, every year, a larger and larger chunk of the rivalry is going in the wrong direction, and it comes from both sides. Cats and Griz are equally guilty.

For me, though, I haven’t engaged in a long time. Essentially, I liberated myself. I climbed out of the rabbit holes which are football message boards, and, man, do I see things differently now. Don’t get me wrong, I still read both boards occasionally, but I haven’t started a post, or responded to one in many years. I'm surprised my accounts are even still there.

No, I decided, at some point, to just let it go. Those of you who truly do want a fight, those of you who truly do hate the other side, you can have it. It’s all yours. It’s just awfully weak to do it anonymously.

I’m done with that internet message board side of this rivalry, and it feels great. Do I love the Cats? No, absolutely not. Do I love this rivalry? You bet I do. It’s one of the best in college football and I’m glad I’m a part of it. But it’s different now. I’m now longer obsessed with Egriz, or posting on message boards of any kind for that matter, and that’s changed my entire perspective. And while I know fans will take this rivalry way too far, I’ve removed myself from that side of it. I’m no longer a crusader. I’m no longer trying to fight all that’s wrong with this rivalry and fan message boards for that matter. It didn’t work. It only made me miserable, and for a time, it really was an addiction.

Now though, I’m free from that addiction. I’m free to, at the very least, enjoy Cat-Griz Week. I’m able to honestly ignore the stupidity with how BOTH sides treat each other and have fun with it again.

Yes, when it comes to the Brawl of the Wild, and being a Griz fan in general, closing the rabbit hole was the best thing I ever did.