The hall monitors were real for me back then, not virtual. When they'd shush you or write your name down, it was annoying and usually the sign of some inner turmoil, now being worked out via a role only those with some sort of issues seemed to relish.

As for how a board like this would've responded? Tough to accurately guess at how Sunday morning water fountain talk would’ve been expressed in real time via the keyboard. I’d imagine the turnovers vs. Utah and Michigan in ‘84 would’ve sparked much consternation had message boards been around, but the team was incredibly popular. They weren’t all that fast but had no glaring weakness and played a fun brand of ball on both sides. Sikahema was excellent in the return game. Johnson = punter GOAT.

My guess is Cougarboard would've been 80% us arguing for our place in the national rankings. Ute Smack wouldn’t have been a category or even relevant outside basketball season. Air Force smack might’ve been though. Cold Fusion would’ve have been a category. Politics would’ve been dominated by talk of the USSR. Anti-communism wouldn’t been taken up with the same zealousness, if not more, than that of the board’s MAGA champions today.

‘85 OTOH would’ve been Cougarboard Armageddon. The board may not have survived. Bosco's ailing arm and flagging performance (getting booed at home. Yikes!). UTEP loss. Playcalling in bowl loss to Ohio State was savaged by HB Arnett; that topic would've crashed the site.

But in any year, or era, calling the predominant good, good while acknowledging what can and/or should be improved upon seems acceptable board fodder. I don’t think that would’ve been all that different in ‘84.