We’ve all seen or heard the term “take the L” on social media. It’s usually in response to a fan of a losing team making excuses for why their team lost or inventing scenarios that, had they occurred, would have changed the outcome of the game. We’ve all had to “take the L” from time to time and it is never an easy thing to do.
One thing I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard is “Take the W”. Winning is great! Everyone is happy! Fans shouldn’t have to be told to “Take the W”. We like winning! But there’s one fanbase that needs to shut up and “Take the W” from time to time and that fanbase says “Hook ‘Em” a lot.
Notorious for high, and often insane, expectations, Texas fans are a rare breed in college sports. It’s not entirely their fault. Texas Athletics is one of the premier athletic programs in all of college sports, winning the prestigious Director’s Cup 3 of the last 4 years and finishing in the top 5 in each of the last 6 seasons. Tack on the 58 National Championships and over 600 conference championships and it’s obvious that Texas fans are used to being the best.
Most of the time Texas fans are happy in victory but every once in a while, some of them struggle to “Take the W”. Yesterday’s baseball win over Dartmouth was one of those times.
Texas didn’t look great on the mound, in the field or at the plate on Friday but they did carry a 4-1 lead into the 8th inning against a Dartmouth squad that more closely resembles a high school team than a D1 team. By the time the top of the 8th was over, that lead had dwindled to 4-3 and momentum was swinging towards the Big Green.
Texas had scored 3 of their 4 runs yesterday in the first 5 frames of the game and the strikeouts began to pile up for the Texas lineup. When they were making contact, the wind and cold were killing the ball in the outfield. There were 3 or 4 shots that are HRs on a nicer day.
Texas pitchers walked 6 and gave up 2 late runs. So what?
Texas committed an error at one of the worst possible times. What should have been out number 2 in the 8th turned into 1 run for Dartmouth. So what?
Texas hitters struck out 7 times and struggled to hit the ball hard down the stretch. So what?
The Big Green had the bases loaded in the 8th with 1 out and a chance to tie before Thomas Burns took over for Ruger Riojas. Burns would get a strikeout and a flyball out to end the threat and close the game for Texas, securing a 4-3 victory in Coach Schloss’ first Texas home game.
That’s a W! Sure it was Dartmouth. Sure there are things the team could have done better in all 3 phases. But it’s February and the weather conditions were awful. In May, nobody is going to care that Texas barely beat Dartmouth on February 21st. All they are going to look at is the W/L column, particularly in conference play. Let’s only panic if we lose.
So, fellow Texas fans. Sit back, relax, shut up and Take the W!