The State Of Our Open Threads: After Appalachian State

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

Well, we are bringing this weekly breakdown of the board's saltier moments back this year, although as you would expect, there is not too much in the way of significant data which can come out of one game. All the same, we do have some data and a few comparisons of note to report all the same. I've expanded the analysis for this game to include a few more phrases, and I plan to include a few more user-suggested items in the next game or two (I didn't have time to fully update the spreadsheet before the game - actual work stuff, grumble grumble...)

Anyway, the breakdown of what was tracked for this game:

 photo 2014_SOOT_AppSt_zps03508d85.png

One thing that immediately comes to mind is that the board had a conservative game plan here and stuck to the old "shit" and "fuck" standby statments in their various forms. These came out to be about 42% of all tracked words despite the expanded analysis. In a change of tenor from last year, the references to Shane Morris only occured when he was in fact in the game, not like last year when some had given up on attempting winning and wished to put him in the game. As for "Borges", there was a distinct absence of anyone wishing that Al would be placed in the game, but instead these were all comparative statements about playcalling / scheme. No, not one of them preferred Al. 

The offensive line was big news, of course - I didn't formally introduce context with this one, but a fair number of the statements were basically of the "we still have issues, but it's better" variety. Appalachian State qualifiers and all that, but there was an air of hope that serviceability was in the cards. 

The thread itself was 831 posts long, which when compared to last year would qualify as the third shortest open thread if this had been 2013. Only CMU and Minnesota produced threads of less than 831 posts last year.

The swearing efficiency rating of this thread, which is total size over tracked instances, is 8.94. In other words, one of the tracked words appeared about once every nine posts, so it was a relatively calm affair on the board, perhaps made calmer by the fact that a number of us (myself included, at least for three quarters when my son was getting tired) were actually there and posting only intermittently if at all. Interestingly, the only games which were less efficient last year were also CMU and Minnesota. Indiana actually had a slightly better rating at 8.63.

If you have anything you think should be added, post it here and I may very well throw it into the analysis. 

LSAClassOf2000

August 31st, 2014 at 9:02 AM ^

Definitely not in earnest, I would say. There was only one reference to firing someone, but it came around the time of the Gardner sack if I remember the time stamp correctly and was part of string of joking (well, semi-joking) statements. That being said, the staff is indeed off the hook for yesterday, if the mood chart (which I didn't publish this week) is accurate.

victors2000

August 31st, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^

the determination of what the word "F*ck" represents. It's the most versatile - or based on one's experience with the word, "flexible" may be more accurate - word in the english language: Noun, verb, adjective, or pronoun, just to name a few syntactical uses. How is one to determine the meaning derived from the use of the word, "F*ck"?

I'll hang up and listen.

LSAClassOf2000

August 31st, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

There's not enough yet to seriously comment right now, of course, but it does get tracked behind the scenes for later discussion. "Excited fuck", "Angry fuck", and a few other major categories are now part of the analysis, and functional usage was added late last season - it was more or less a three-way race between adjective, interjection and adverb. It saw a lot of use as an infix in the Penn State game, especially as overtime wore on.  

AR-15

August 31st, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

If people are going to cuss in open threads, make sure the words are spelled correctly. We wouldn't want OP to accidentally omit any data (assuming you control+f the words you're looking for and not read every post)

alum96

August 31st, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^

It was opening week for swear words so you can't really read too much into it.   I saw a few holes in their play, and they came out versus an overmatched opponent.  I think the biggest improvement in swear words generally comes between the 1st and 2nd game of the season.  I would not take swear words lightly - I expect them to come out next week with a fire under their a$$.  If MGoBlog is truly top 10 material we will be prepared for the coming onslaught of swear words and show we can adjust to it.

wayneandgarth

August 31st, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^

Keep in mind that it was easier to post while in the stadium. Therefore, you could surmise the posts were down further. In other words, more posting should be expected this season.

Njia

August 31st, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^

I know it was the first game and the team won, but I just wasn't happy with this outcome. I would have expected a lot more from a group of veterans.

After all, it IS a holiday weekend, which means I would have expected to see a lot more effects of large bar tabs and beer purchased by the case. For instance, there were far too few "FIRE BORGES!" and "THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!" references in the threads. The comments were downright coherent, in fact. What a shame.

Moreover, there was very little the way of Internet Tough Guy talk going on when Morris threw the pick. Some posters likely got their wishes (whether hoping for Morris to come in AND SHOW WHAT HE CAN DO! or Morris to come in and SHOW WHAT HE WOULD DO!). Still, I didn't see enough in the way of insults, open threats, etc.

Maybe next week will be better. We will be on the road, against a tough opponent, and it kick off time will provide ample opportunity for all day, pre-game drinking.

I expect to see better from this group.

Neutral

August 31st, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^

I'd be interested to see how much of the swearing was only as a direct result of Jabrill coming out of the game after getting hit, or after he wasn't in for the 2nd half. I wonder if that skewed the results at all.

Princetonwolverine

August 31st, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^

While Sparties are limited to trying to analyze football we make comments about the analysis of our analysis.

Go Blue !

sdogg1m

August 31st, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^

Could freak and totally skew LSA statistics by placing a self imposed (individual) ban on cussing.

But I think what LSA is trying to say is we get more frustrated with our coaching, QB, and cuss more when the team is losing and we aren't afraid to be vocal about it.

Makes sense! 

kb

August 31st, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^

fucks and damns have a positive or negative valence? "fucking block offensive line" is much worse than "Fuck yes Funchess".