Was this inevitable?

Probably.

Below are a few choice images from Saturday's game taken from the CJ. It's discouraging, but perhaps necessary, that the main story has become Cards fans' lodged protest against the football program, rather than the Cards actually winning the game (admittedly not that thrilling given the competition) or Will Stein's hometown hero performance (which I do think is an incredible tale and merits excitement). I am grateful that Crawford focused on Stein's determined effort without dismissing the realities of the empty seats in his column, while focusing on the empties a bit more frankly in his blog. On top of those who didn't show up, there also is the statement(s) made by those who did, which my colleague already has assessed very frankly.

A picture tells a thousand words, and to the left and below are a several of them from Saturday's game, taken from the CJ and AP. For better and worse, they say everything that will be remembered about this football game.