Criticism is a part of every sport. Athletes are almost perpetually on the receiving end of critique from former players, the media, and of course, the most brutal of them all- the fans. Love and hate are two opposite extremes of a very vast spectrum among sports fans.

The space between the two extremes leaves a lot of room for critique. But sometimes fans’ insistence on offering unsolicited criticism is amusing (and alarming). One of the brightest stars in college football, C.J. Stroud’s experience with this leaves us questioning where the line between passion for the game and incessant badgering should be drawn.

Fans went the extra mile to ensure C.J. Stroud earned criticism via the unlikeliest source

While appraisal from fans usually ranges from hints to improve performance, all the way to blatant hate, their words are generally taken with a pinch of salt. But the extra mile fans went in order to offer unsolicited criticism gives one a lot to think about.

With the advent of social media, the two-way communication street between athletes and fans was opened. With varying amounts of accessibility to their favorite stars, those who are passionate about the game have easy access to convey their thoughts. Criticism on social media has become so common that athletes no longer bat an eye at the copious number of interactions online. But C.J. Stroud avoided all of this by staying away from social media during the season. The Ohio State QB removed himself from any kind of situation that left him open to being targeted. But even that did not stop fans from saying their piece.

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Undeterred by his lack of social media presence, fans reached out to him through different means. According to Sports Illustrated, the QB explained, “So, man, I was getting DMs—I don’t have social media throughout the season—I was getting DMs on Venmo, the money app, from fans telling me, ‘Play better,’ things like that.” The lengths fans go to make their criticism known is rather shocking. Here’s how users online reacted to Stroud’s experience.

Stroud’s experience comes as shock to some users

Fans remarked on the persistence of certain fans with regard to Sroud’s experience. They exclaimed

One user called this kind of fan behavior ‘toxic’

As bizarre as it is, some ardent fans will look for every possible alternative when they set their minds to something. Stroud, who has entered his name for the 2023 NFL draft and has already caught the eye of one team, will soon find out that the spotlight only gets brighter from here onwards. At the end of the day, it’s all a part of the game and choosing how one deals with criticism is all that matters.