I had a problem with his problem.
Back in 1997, Sept. 6 to be exact, the Missouri Tigers hosted Eastern Michigan in football at Faurot Field.
The Tigers hadn't played all that well in that season opener, leading 13-10 at the half. But Missouri found its footing in the second half and pulled away to a 44-24 victory.
I wasn't covering the game for the News Tribune, I went as a civilian. So when the game looked in hand early in the fourth quarter, the small group I was with decided to leave.
As we were walking toward the aisle, one gentleman sitting around us said, "It's fans like you that have the program the way it is, you shouldn't leave early."
I turned around, looked at him with a bit of a puzzled expression, turned back around and kept walking.
If that happened today, or Saturday when Missouri fell 35-14 to Texas A&M when I guarantee I would have left early, when I turned around, I would have asked a few questions.
How is it my fault the offense struggled in the first half?
How is it my fault the defense failed to make tackles?
In short, how is it my fault?
I paid my money to get in, I get to leave whenever I like.
In the words of St. Louis Cardinals president John Mozeliak, we were having "philosophical differences." But neither of us could fire the other.
I grew up a Missouri fan, I went to Missouri and sat through a stretch of .500 football teams. Entertaining at times, a bit of a tough slog at others. I know how Missouri football fans think.
Some people who enjoy making a day of it in Columbia. Pre-game tailgate, going to the game, a little more of a tailgate post-game, then head home. Win or lose, rain or shine, they're there.
But there aren't enough of those diehards to fill Faurot Field. There never has been. Saturday was a season-high in attendance at 48,139. The low was 45,655 against Tennessee. It's been a steady number for all five home games.
There has been chatter on social media about the lack of attendance at home games this season, chiding people if they show up when Missouri starts to win in a couple of years, they're nothing but bandwagon fans.
Just a reminder, the Missouri athletic department is a business, they are battling for your entertainment dollar. So if a business, let's say a restaurant, said we're a little below average but we have the potential to be good in a couple of years, so come eat here now.
Doesn't make sense to me.
On his radio show before the season opener against Central Michigan, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz noted the importance of filling Faurot Field.
"I'll tell you what would really help," Drinkwitz told host Mike Kelly. "I need the fans in the stands. We've got to have fans in the stands."
It was just one of Drinkwitz's pleas in the preseason for fans to show up in Columbia. He is a master salesman, he knows a big crowd looks good to potential recruits both in person and on TV. And I truly believe with enough time, Drinkwitz can lead Missouri to consistent winning seasons.
But you want a full Faurot? Win.