Dec 7, 2022·edited Dec 8, 2022Liked by John Canzano
Yes, we’ll have to wait for dust to settle to see how this Pandora’s ‘Portal’ Box shakes out. There will be success stories but also buyers remorse.
I feel badly for HS players who’s commitment gets pulled due to incoming transfer (looking at you Deion/Colorado) but probably will become common across many programs. That part I don’t like, at all.
The pressure to build super teams (and I say that as UW fan who loved the arrival of Penix) will likely also be damaging to existing collegiate student athletes who might lose coveted scholarships to new comers.
I think current NCAA rules states Teams can’t contact players who haven’t officially entered portal. But there’s no enforcement of that, especially when one sees a player enter portal on day 1 and he’s already scooped up by new program by close of same day.
I support Athletes ability to change program, portal overall is good thing. But it’s going to need more guardrails or parity is out the window. Things like:
1. Limit # of times student athlete can transfer during collegiate career
2. Place cap on # of transfers per season, per team
3. Scholarship protection for existing players on team
Without these can see even (further) divide between have’s and have not’s, conferences will continue to lose relevancy, increase in fair weather fans and of course some schools will simply stop fielding football teams
I'd like to see NIL reform...no NIL payments until after your freshman year. I thought NIL was designed to support current players, not for buying high school seniors.
So what you’re asking for is what we had…until we didn’t because the NCAA, coaches and administrators abused the status quo for years until the pendulum swing the other way.
I actually think this is increasing parity. The Pac-12 was far better this year with all the transfers coming from the other conferences. G5 conferences are narrowing the gap. Alabama already has 19 transfers, most of which are former four or five stars. We’re seeing a course correction to what it was before the four team playoff, and it will only get better once the playoff is expanded to 12 and every conference gets a realistic shot.
I get your POV, and agree in short term there’s a dispersion of talent, Pac12 benefited for sure. I’m just wondering as time goes on and pre-portal collusion grows greater, could teams develop where all the cream-of-the-crop talent repeatedly land on a finite # of teams? Like the Cal Linebacker who entered portal and was on UCLA squad 3 hours later. Could that kind of pre-arranged transfer happen x50 w/ top talent funneled to big NIL/TV programs. Maybe that’s too much to coordinate and an unfounded fear
There’s also the thought of what happens to guys entering portal and are not picked up, and existing school says ‘sorry, can’t come back’ …do those land at the local community college, or drop out of school completely…. I sure hope this free agency doesn’t push schools that are low on endowments to divest from fielding teams that bring in TV $ revenue. That could have negative impact to sports (Title IX) if those non-football athletics are dependent on that $$
Gave up my season tickets years ago due to lots of drunk Duck fans yelling at the players and coaches. Duck fans are even drunk, embarrassing and rude on the road. Tough to acknowledge Duck fan behavior as my Duck family football history involves three generation going back to 1939-40
I have been to many Oregon State games the past 10 years. I have never witnessed any abuse of players, even in the Anderson years. OSU fans are very appreciative of their players and coaches (when the coaches try). So this issue is not every program. I can believe the Ducks have this problem because PK has led them to have high expectations at all times. That is the sin of excessive expectations
And I spoke to my Duck fan neighbor yesterday who attended the NOT CIVIL WAR with his buddy/ Beaver season ticket holder. Beaver fan was embarrassed and apologized to my neighbor Duck fan who was yelled at, flipped off and further verbally abused by the Beaver fans...goes both ways, unfortunately.
As a Duck alum and fan living in Colorado, I've seen them play in Boulder, Salt Lake and Laramie--always decked out in green/yellow. I never experienced any harassment and in Salt Lake and Laramie had home people thanking me for coming. Sad that maybe that isn't the way visitors--fans and teams--are treated in Autzen.
I’ve been to Autzen to watch UW take them on too many times to count. Some Duck fans get really riled up at any fan in purple when the Kenny Wheaton pick pre-game is played on the jumbo… I love it though, it’s part of Autzen game-day now
Visit to Husky Stadium, we get em’ back… when relieving yourself in men’s room, everyone takes aim at those little yellow rubber duckies floating in the urinals
In my working years I was an Agent for Safeco Insurance. We would get Safeco tickets to attend games at Husky Stadium to see the Ducks play the Huskies. Most times the tickets were in the Husky section where we would take much abuse. The last time a fan made some comment about a timeout as a TV timeout. Then he said oh you don’t have TV in Oregon and other stuff. We never went back. Who needs to drive 3-4 hours in the traffic to Seattle to endure that when you could watch it on TV, once we got TV in Oregon.
The question was not about Beaver fans vs Duck fans. Of course there is a lot of trash talk in that case. That has been going on for over 100 years. Did you read John's column on Civil War games that were canceled over trash talk and fighting in 1910-11 and then played in Albany on neutral ground? The topic is about fans trash talking their own players and coaches. That just does not happen at OSU which you would know if you ever attended any Beaver games
Its funny how "we" can't refer to the game played between the Duck's & Beavers as the "Civil" war...
I'm perplexed why Webster's definition of "courteous and polite" can't be the connotation as apposed to the latter. In any event, any institution of higher learning is about the students, not the fans. A suspect a good portion of the "rude" behavior stems from those fans who didn't attend either college or were formally educated.
Attending college football games at places like TCU is a far cry from how Oregon / Oregon St. attendees act. Both school's fan base should be required to attend a game in the likes of TCU for an education in civility and class.
In the current PC environment that we're in...Im afraid that the attempts to preclude exclusion is resulting more in confusion and uncertainly. The lines are very blurred.
Very sad. I expect it was a poor, unclassified retaliation from all the septic tank comments imparted by drunken Duck fans at Autzen. Crappy excuse, but idea has real basis in truth as any other PAC 12 team or fan will state after having the atrocious and celebrated treatment at Autzen
Catch 22 we all want our programs to be of high expectation but what comes with that is higher disappointment. Being a beaver fan is like the weather in the northwest… you really appreciate those sunny days
So you believe that Oregon fans were, as this former player wrote to Canzano, "...jeering at Oregon stars Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas". Again, OREGON fans were "jeering" at two of the most beloved Ducks in modern history??!? Maybe this former player was hyper sensitive and heard fans complaining that DAT did not block for Marcus on what would have been a touchdown run. Otherwise, it's absolute BS.
I'd agree, I dont ever remember in any game i've ever been to hearing anyone take issue with any of the players or coaches outside of the occasional chant of "rothenfluh" at one point when things were not looking good.
I'm a Trojan, alum and fan. Have been to most of the Pac stadiums when my alma mater is playing the home team. My experience almost everywhere is that adult fans are civil and generally respectful with infrequent exceptions. The general exception at a number of schools is students who've been overserved who just have lost civility.
My wife and I were excited to go to Autzen for the first time, and my thinking was "They are kind of like us. Good team, good fans and support, cute cheerleaders, the Duck is a fun/cool mascot....just a quality program and culture." Is what I thought.
What greeted us was a little different (this was Matt Barkley era, maybe 10 years ago or so). Just angry, entitled people who dropped the worst invective and language our way and made us feel super uncomfortable and unwelcome. Not a good experience, not going back.
I'm sure there are those who have bad experiences as visiting fans in the Coliseum as well. But seriously, the animosity we encountered was unprecedented: I've visited 20+ stadiums as a visiting fan and this was the worst by a pretty good margin. So, unfortunate, and maybe just my experience.
But it's interesting, I really wonder how many places players have had to accept the abuse that the former Duck noticed....not sure. Not sure that something like that is widespread, John. But, you are out there in the CFB world every day, and I'm not. It's a brave new world, that's for sure, and this reader hopes that some boundaries and rules are created soon that will corral the Wild West that's the transfer portal.
I agree that players should have freedom, but there also needs to be some predictability for programs. The NCAA is toothless today, so it may end up being up to the conferences to figure it out.
Last, JT Daniels sound like not the model of good behavior as a transfer candidate. But I remember when he came to SC family members were driving almost all of the nonsense. Not that that is an excuse, but there are other players in these dramas.
In any event, thank you for your ongoing excellent coverage and writing !
Unfortunately this is the nature of the beast visiting other stadiums, particularly college venues.
I’m certainly no teetotaler but much of it is alcohol induced. Part of it is entitlement. Almost ALL of it is by someone who is either too young to have graduated, or never went to the school at all.
FWIW, the worst fans I’ve ever seen (by a million miles) were LSU fans.
It's funny you call out LSU as the worst fans. My only experience in SEC country was when Oregon State opened their season in 2004 at Baton Rouge. Decked out in my OSU finest, wandered around the tailgaters, heard a few "Tiger Bait!" chants, and then offered beer.
Entering the stadium, an LSU fan gleefully told me how hot it was (and it WAS hot). I said, "Eh, not too bad." After a long pause, he says, "Bullshit!" and we laughed.
Overall, I found LSU fans to be fun and friendly. On the other hand, Oregon State wasn't really considered a threat to the defending champs. If I was wearing Gator gear, things might have been different.
As for the game, three missed extra points and an overtime loss later, OSU acquitted themselves pretty well.
Ducks are anathema on West Coast, probably further. Just ask BYU players families and fans subjected to that disgusting anti religious hate displayed by Autzen and not a sole at UO did a thing to stop and are still excusing it.Beyond disgrace fans, players, coaches, admin and P Knight. Drunken ducks are worst excuses of fans I have ever seen. Only in entitled Eugen, the land of tolerance, fairness and understanding!!!
There was an investigation and it was found to be false. The kid is autistic and a policeman was right next him and other fans didn’t here any racial slurs.
As an Oregon alum and long-time football season ticket holder, I'm embarrassed to say that your assessment of the visiting fan experience at Autzen is, unfortunately, accurate. I've been to every stadium in the conference at least twice. Oregon, UW and UA stand head and shoulders above the others for fan douchiness.
John, there are several threads in play here: game day experiences, student athlete “abuse,” and NIL/portal realty. As an ex UO football player I wrote you a few years back about my wife and I terminating our season tickets because of the in stadium experience. Alcohol and football don’t mix well. What we observed was extremely inappropriate Duck fan behavior. But, having a team mate get hit with a tomato by a Cougar fan on punt coverage at Pullman, it’s incredulous to think just Duck fans are boars.
Regarding student athlete abuse I played in a long ago era so strict comparisons to todays events might not be valid. And, I’m Caucasian so I can’t understand the student athlete experience the same way players of color do and wouldn’t presume to speak for them. I do believe, however, most if not all of my teammates (all races) enjoyed the privilege of playing for the Ducks, receiving a top level education, building valuable networks for career employment, and having an enhanced college experience because of our celebrity and uniqueness other students could not avail themselves of. It was a blast, without doubt the best four consecutive year experience of my life. I’m forever grateful.
As to the transfer portal and NIL stipends, I’m saddened about the loss of tradition and diminished feeling of family for my alma mater. But, that ship has sailed. Athletes are taking advantage, coaches are taking advantage (witness Cristobal and Dillingham abandoning their teams prior to the conclusion of the bowl season), heck entire schools are taking advantage (witness USC and UCLA bailing out on the rest of us in the PAC). Like I said, the feeling of family for “my team” will erode and traditional rivalries won’t have the same intensity, but I do believe the product itself (games) will continue to provide exceptional entertainment value for us. Cheers.
"In the end, he didn’t walk away from college football with an NFL career and millions of dollars in income. He was left, instead, sitting in a corner-end zone seat surrounded by intoxicated, misbehaving fans who didn’t understand his plight."
Plus a six figure education and invaluable contacts that can open doors for them for the rest of their lives. Whose fault is it really if they do not understand or capitalize on the unique opportunity their "slavery" gave them?
Pennies on the dollar, really , John? Not trying to be critical of you, but education is a 6 figure plus thing, these days.
I also am not trying to be brutal toward this kid, and I do see his point (especially about how freaking rude the fan base can be). But his discounting of the opportunities given to him to get a first class education (often up through a Masters degree) and the Nike contacts and other booster contacts annoys me. He was given a *literal* life-changing opportunity, which he paid for by getting the opportunity to play the game he has loved all his life. Yes, it takes time and is dangerous, but I daresay there are literally hundreds of kids who would change places with him in a heartbeat for no compensation at all. They are called walk-ons (plus the hundreds who would but know they are not good enough so they don't try and even walk-on).
It’s a strange calculation that the players make. Even though 97% of them will fail to make the pros, they go all in on football, do as little as possible in the classroom, don’t bother to reach out to the rest of the students to experience college life, don’t finish their degrees, or if they do, it’s in a non-marketable subject… then after all is said and done, claim they’ve been used by the universities.
I’ve heard numerous ex-players on the radio say they try to encourage these guys to focus on more than just football, but the kids just look at them like they’re nuts, convinced they’ll be one of the 3% who makes it.
Probaby true with most but my son was friendly with Kenyon Barner at OU and he told me that Barner really reached out to non football students and tried to immerse in the college experience.
The idea that these top athletes are anything more than people playing in a minor league in preparation for the NFL is as absurd as the oxymoron, "student-athlete." The top 35-40 schools in the ESPN/Fox semi-pro leagues are now just like the NBA G-League, or minor league baseball, and should pay their employees a fair wage just as those other minor leagues do.
The only real solution to this is to accept that places like Alabama or USC are minor league "semi-pro" teams simply renting the name of the school, and that is just fine, once people realize what is going on. But for the schools like Cal and Stanford it is time, as some have suggested, to consider either giving up the game, or better yet, forming new leagues where the athletes are there to get an education first and foremost and playing sports is secondary.
How this would play out is wide open, but the schools that cannot compete, or do not want to try, versus the semi-pro league are going to need an alternative "plan-B." That way today's hired help that play for TV can make the money they really do deserve, and kids that want an education can have some fun playing sports and get their degree at the same time.
John...how cool, as I caught your attention :) My son always said I should have ended up as an old grizzled reporter, smoking a cigarette over my broken down typewriter at the Chicago Tribune with a pint of rye in the drawer...hahahaha.
I think that is what I am trying to say is that if kids want to shoot for the NFL they can play in the ESPN/Fox semi-pro league, and just as not all kids in the G-League or the baseball minors make it they are there to give it at least give it the old college try...hahahaha. However, as you point out most kids never get near the NFL, and most of them know that and for those kids that want an education, and to play football, then there would be a league for that too.
Cal couldn't win a Rose Bowl in the last 84 years so what are the chances now....zilch, and in fact the Rose Bowl will just be a NC semi-final site...but, maybe there could be an east and west coast league that squares off on New Year's day in the Rose Bowl...sort of a throwback to tradition, but modified for REAL student athletes...I'd pay for that game!
My dad always used to tell me, you can lie to other people (though it's not ethical) but you should never lie to yourself (because it borders on derangement). A lot of these kids are lying to themselves thinking that they have an "NFL future" and that they're just this season's version of Joe Burrow or Justin Fields. Thus you have players hopping from university to university (like JT Daniels) thinking "this is where I'll break out." There's nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical about any player doing that. It just doesn't square with reality for the vast majority of them. My recommendation to any of them would be to pick a school that suits you and get a degree that will assist you in making your life a success. If you make it to the NFL, that's just gravy.
Four four years I had a GKid at UofO & her boy friend at OSU. Each year we attended the Civil War and each year everyone had a great time. Pre game parties where our group was quite large and equally divided, and walking through campus to the games, plus stadium parking lot functions say no name calling or jerk behavior. The only problem was it always rained in Reser, and was 72 and sunny in Autzen!
At the U. of Oregon, current In-state tuition, $14,421 USD, Out-of-state tuition $40,464 USD - plus room and board, ~$13.5K, probably a few books, ~$1150. In state, approximately $30-grand/year. These numbers are from the university, so it's an accurate estimate. I imagine it's tax free, but I don't know.
If they don't take advantage of a college education, whose fault is that?
But I did play HS football, baseball, soccer, etc... It was alot of hours beyond studies and I recall sometimes being envious of my friends going home when I got on a bus for an away game.
I did it because I liked it and playing ball was fun.
Too bad Spartacus on a scholly felt like he was an indentured servant. No compassion for these guys. Play sports because you like it and because it is golden ticket to an education. If you dont like it unlike in the real Spartacus times you can by your own free will walk away.
I would have died for the privilege to play college football and to put on the team colors! It sounds like for some of these guys it is a chore.
It is a business period. Remember you hear "Next man up!" expresses the disposable attitude of professional (college incl.) sports. If you don't perform you aren't paid. Play at your own risk. This is not backyard, recreational sports. Injuries and disability are common.
the best part of going to games in person is I look around at lots of fans and not one of them is on twitter fretting about recruits or who's playing.. they just root for their home team. Ive embraced this and try to help my sons enjoy the moment. Not everyone gets to go to games, for fun or entertainment. Relish the time.
As a former player, I see it from the side of the isle that we as prospective players, large in part, made the choice to play for whatever team offered us or we chose. The NCAA whiffed on this: failed to look ahead on what is now manifesting in this ensuing chaos! There is NO justification nor compelling reasons why a player should be able to transfer to 4ea teams during his 4-6 yrs (Covid) of eligibility! The "inmates are running the asylum" with no consequences. There is no value placed on staying the course and working yourself into a starting role (which in most athlete's cases) doesn't occur within your first year of eligibility. Just imagine how this is going to play itself out with these athletes when entering the "real world" job market.
Simply awesome John and great reporting as always. As a college football fanatic as long as there are people like me the $$$ will flow into a broken system. I hope you are right that it settles in time. Happy Holidays!!
Good article! I’ve learned to get over blaming players, coaches or the game for transfer portal policies because I remind myself it is now just a business. The good old days of loyalty and team spirit are sadly gone.
Look at post game locker rooms? A LB transfer from Florida had a terrific game against USC. He was part of the post game Utah locker room celebration.
Even pros who win a Super Bowl are not solemn and ready to bolt the locker room post game.
I believe that NIL is being abused as originally intended but I am happy athletes (including many the female who has signed an NIL deal) deserve to be paid. After that, like all things in life, it comes down to an individual's character.
Yes, we’ll have to wait for dust to settle to see how this Pandora’s ‘Portal’ Box shakes out. There will be success stories but also buyers remorse.
I feel badly for HS players who’s commitment gets pulled due to incoming transfer (looking at you Deion/Colorado) but probably will become common across many programs. That part I don’t like, at all.
The pressure to build super teams (and I say that as UW fan who loved the arrival of Penix) will likely also be damaging to existing collegiate student athletes who might lose coveted scholarships to new comers.
I think current NCAA rules states Teams can’t contact players who haven’t officially entered portal. But there’s no enforcement of that, especially when one sees a player enter portal on day 1 and he’s already scooped up by new program by close of same day.
I support Athletes ability to change program, portal overall is good thing. But it’s going to need more guardrails or parity is out the window. Things like:
1. Limit # of times student athlete can transfer during collegiate career
2. Place cap on # of transfers per season, per team
3. Scholarship protection for existing players on team
Without these can see even (further) divide between have’s and have not’s, conferences will continue to lose relevancy, increase in fair weather fans and of course some schools will simply stop fielding football teams
I'd like to see NIL reform...no NIL payments until after your freshman year. I thought NIL was designed to support current players, not for buying high school seniors.
It was, but sadly there has been zero enforcement.
Blame this on the Supremes as much as a do nothing until it is too late NCAA.
So what you’re asking for is what we had…until we didn’t because the NCAA, coaches and administrators abused the status quo for years until the pendulum swing the other way.
I actually think this is increasing parity. The Pac-12 was far better this year with all the transfers coming from the other conferences. G5 conferences are narrowing the gap. Alabama already has 19 transfers, most of which are former four or five stars. We’re seeing a course correction to what it was before the four team playoff, and it will only get better once the playoff is expanded to 12 and every conference gets a realistic shot.
I get your POV, and agree in short term there’s a dispersion of talent, Pac12 benefited for sure. I’m just wondering as time goes on and pre-portal collusion grows greater, could teams develop where all the cream-of-the-crop talent repeatedly land on a finite # of teams? Like the Cal Linebacker who entered portal and was on UCLA squad 3 hours later. Could that kind of pre-arranged transfer happen x50 w/ top talent funneled to big NIL/TV programs. Maybe that’s too much to coordinate and an unfounded fear
There’s also the thought of what happens to guys entering portal and are not picked up, and existing school says ‘sorry, can’t come back’ …do those land at the local community college, or drop out of school completely…. I sure hope this free agency doesn’t push schools that are low on endowments to divest from fielding teams that bring in TV $ revenue. That could have negative impact to sports (Title IX) if those non-football athletics are dependent on that $$
Like Addison to SC. 'Illegal' contact with players and their agents is off the charts.
Gave up my season tickets years ago due to lots of drunk Duck fans yelling at the players and coaches. Duck fans are even drunk, embarrassing and rude on the road. Tough to acknowledge Duck fan behavior as my Duck family football history involves three generation going back to 1939-40
I have been to many Oregon State games the past 10 years. I have never witnessed any abuse of players, even in the Anderson years. OSU fans are very appreciative of their players and coaches (when the coaches try). So this issue is not every program. I can believe the Ducks have this problem because PK has led them to have high expectations at all times. That is the sin of excessive expectations
I think it happens at a lot of stadiums. Alcohol... expectations... humanity...
And I spoke to my Duck fan neighbor yesterday who attended the NOT CIVIL WAR with his buddy/ Beaver season ticket holder. Beaver fan was embarrassed and apologized to my neighbor Duck fan who was yelled at, flipped off and further verbally abused by the Beaver fans...goes both ways, unfortunately.
I think it happens at a lot of stadiums.
As a Duck alum and fan living in Colorado, I've seen them play in Boulder, Salt Lake and Laramie--always decked out in green/yellow. I never experienced any harassment and in Salt Lake and Laramie had home people thanking me for coming. Sad that maybe that isn't the way visitors--fans and teams--are treated in Autzen.
I’ve been to Autzen to watch UW take them on too many times to count. Some Duck fans get really riled up at any fan in purple when the Kenny Wheaton pick pre-game is played on the jumbo… I love it though, it’s part of Autzen game-day now
Visit to Husky Stadium, we get em’ back… when relieving yourself in men’s room, everyone takes aim at those little yellow rubber duckies floating in the urinals
In my working years I was an Agent for Safeco Insurance. We would get Safeco tickets to attend games at Husky Stadium to see the Ducks play the Huskies. Most times the tickets were in the Husky section where we would take much abuse. The last time a fan made some comment about a timeout as a TV timeout. Then he said oh you don’t have TV in Oregon and other stuff. We never went back. Who needs to drive 3-4 hours in the traffic to Seattle to endure that when you could watch it on TV, once we got TV in Oregon.
As an old guy (waves cane in the air) civility seems to be a lost art in today's USA.
Much of this IMO has to do with unsocial media and people taking shots from a keyboard they would never dare to take in person.
Can’t upvote this enough Jon
The question was not about Beaver fans vs Duck fans. Of course there is a lot of trash talk in that case. That has been going on for over 100 years. Did you read John's column on Civil War games that were canceled over trash talk and fighting in 1910-11 and then played in Albany on neutral ground? The topic is about fans trash talking their own players and coaches. That just does not happen at OSU which you would know if you ever attended any Beaver games
Its funny how "we" can't refer to the game played between the Duck's & Beavers as the "Civil" war...
I'm perplexed why Webster's definition of "courteous and polite" can't be the connotation as apposed to the latter. In any event, any institution of higher learning is about the students, not the fans. A suspect a good portion of the "rude" behavior stems from those fans who didn't attend either college or were formally educated.
Attending college football games at places like TCU is a far cry from how Oregon / Oregon St. attendees act. Both school's fan base should be required to attend a game in the likes of TCU for an education in civility and class.
We are free to refer to it as the Civil War. The schools aren't, though.
In the current PC environment that we're in...Im afraid that the attempts to preclude exclusion is resulting more in confusion and uncertainly. The lines are very blurred.
At least in regards to PC administrators.
The game was a potato salad field and it happened as I mentioned...
Did you go to oregon? cause your reading comprehension sounds like you went to oregon.
Unfortunately, bad fan behavior at both places.
Very sad. I expect it was a poor, unclassified retaliation from all the septic tank comments imparted by drunken Duck fans at Autzen. Crappy excuse, but idea has real basis in truth as any other PAC 12 team or fan will state after having the atrocious and celebrated treatment at Autzen
Catch 22 we all want our programs to be of high expectation but what comes with that is higher disappointment. Being a beaver fan is like the weather in the northwest… you really appreciate those sunny days
I could not say it any better! When you do get that sunshine, like the Steve Johnson years of Beaver Basketball, you really enjoy it!!
So you believe that Oregon fans were, as this former player wrote to Canzano, "...jeering at Oregon stars Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas". Again, OREGON fans were "jeering" at two of the most beloved Ducks in modern history??!? Maybe this former player was hyper sensitive and heard fans complaining that DAT did not block for Marcus on what would have been a touchdown run. Otherwise, it's absolute BS.
I'd agree, I dont ever remember in any game i've ever been to hearing anyone take issue with any of the players or coaches outside of the occasional chant of "rothenfluh" at one point when things were not looking good.
Seriously?
I'm a Trojan, alum and fan. Have been to most of the Pac stadiums when my alma mater is playing the home team. My experience almost everywhere is that adult fans are civil and generally respectful with infrequent exceptions. The general exception at a number of schools is students who've been overserved who just have lost civility.
My wife and I were excited to go to Autzen for the first time, and my thinking was "They are kind of like us. Good team, good fans and support, cute cheerleaders, the Duck is a fun/cool mascot....just a quality program and culture." Is what I thought.
What greeted us was a little different (this was Matt Barkley era, maybe 10 years ago or so). Just angry, entitled people who dropped the worst invective and language our way and made us feel super uncomfortable and unwelcome. Not a good experience, not going back.
I'm sure there are those who have bad experiences as visiting fans in the Coliseum as well. But seriously, the animosity we encountered was unprecedented: I've visited 20+ stadiums as a visiting fan and this was the worst by a pretty good margin. So, unfortunate, and maybe just my experience.
But it's interesting, I really wonder how many places players have had to accept the abuse that the former Duck noticed....not sure. Not sure that something like that is widespread, John. But, you are out there in the CFB world every day, and I'm not. It's a brave new world, that's for sure, and this reader hopes that some boundaries and rules are created soon that will corral the Wild West that's the transfer portal.
I agree that players should have freedom, but there also needs to be some predictability for programs. The NCAA is toothless today, so it may end up being up to the conferences to figure it out.
Last, JT Daniels sound like not the model of good behavior as a transfer candidate. But I remember when he came to SC family members were driving almost all of the nonsense. Not that that is an excuse, but there are other players in these dramas.
In any event, thank you for your ongoing excellent coverage and writing !
Unfortunately this is the nature of the beast visiting other stadiums, particularly college venues.
I’m certainly no teetotaler but much of it is alcohol induced. Part of it is entitlement. Almost ALL of it is by someone who is either too young to have graduated, or never went to the school at all.
FWIW, the worst fans I’ve ever seen (by a million miles) were LSU fans.
It's funny you call out LSU as the worst fans. My only experience in SEC country was when Oregon State opened their season in 2004 at Baton Rouge. Decked out in my OSU finest, wandered around the tailgaters, heard a few "Tiger Bait!" chants, and then offered beer.
Entering the stadium, an LSU fan gleefully told me how hot it was (and it WAS hot). I said, "Eh, not too bad." After a long pause, he says, "Bullshit!" and we laughed.
Overall, I found LSU fans to be fun and friendly. On the other hand, Oregon State wasn't really considered a threat to the defending champs. If I was wearing Gator gear, things might have been different.
As for the game, three missed extra points and an overtime loss later, OSU acquitted themselves pretty well.
And OSU could and should have won the game!
Ducks are anathema on West Coast, probably further. Just ask BYU players families and fans subjected to that disgusting anti religious hate displayed by Autzen and not a sole at UO did a thing to stop and are still excusing it.Beyond disgrace fans, players, coaches, admin and P Knight. Drunken ducks are worst excuses of fans I have ever seen. Only in entitled Eugen, the land of tolerance, fairness and understanding!!!
BYYU fans not the greatest. Just ask the Duke volleyball athletes!
There was an investigation and it was found to be false. The kid is autistic and a policeman was right next him and other fans didn’t here any racial slurs.
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/34555769/byu-says-found-no-evidence-racial-heckling-duke-women-volleyball-player
And if not the worst, the drunkest?
As an Oregon alum and long-time football season ticket holder, I'm embarrassed to say that your assessment of the visiting fan experience at Autzen is, unfortunately, accurate. I've been to every stadium in the conference at least twice. Oregon, UW and UA stand head and shoulders above the others for fan douchiness.
My thoughts exactly, RJ. We have too many drunken douchebags masquerading as fans. It's embarrassing.
John, there are several threads in play here: game day experiences, student athlete “abuse,” and NIL/portal realty. As an ex UO football player I wrote you a few years back about my wife and I terminating our season tickets because of the in stadium experience. Alcohol and football don’t mix well. What we observed was extremely inappropriate Duck fan behavior. But, having a team mate get hit with a tomato by a Cougar fan on punt coverage at Pullman, it’s incredulous to think just Duck fans are boars.
Regarding student athlete abuse I played in a long ago era so strict comparisons to todays events might not be valid. And, I’m Caucasian so I can’t understand the student athlete experience the same way players of color do and wouldn’t presume to speak for them. I do believe, however, most if not all of my teammates (all races) enjoyed the privilege of playing for the Ducks, receiving a top level education, building valuable networks for career employment, and having an enhanced college experience because of our celebrity and uniqueness other students could not avail themselves of. It was a blast, without doubt the best four consecutive year experience of my life. I’m forever grateful.
As to the transfer portal and NIL stipends, I’m saddened about the loss of tradition and diminished feeling of family for my alma mater. But, that ship has sailed. Athletes are taking advantage, coaches are taking advantage (witness Cristobal and Dillingham abandoning their teams prior to the conclusion of the bowl season), heck entire schools are taking advantage (witness USC and UCLA bailing out on the rest of us in the PAC). Like I said, the feeling of family for “my team” will erode and traditional rivalries won’t have the same intensity, but I do believe the product itself (games) will continue to provide exceptional entertainment value for us. Cheers.
Brad Halverson, UO football ‘66-‘69
It's a great topic.
"In the end, he didn’t walk away from college football with an NFL career and millions of dollars in income. He was left, instead, sitting in a corner-end zone seat surrounded by intoxicated, misbehaving fans who didn’t understand his plight."
Plus a six figure education and invaluable contacts that can open doors for them for the rest of their lives. Whose fault is it really if they do not understand or capitalize on the unique opportunity their "slavery" gave them?
I don't agree that college football is slavery. I do see his point, however. He worked for pennies on the dollar for that scholarship.
Pennies on the dollar, really , John? Not trying to be critical of you, but education is a 6 figure plus thing, these days.
I also am not trying to be brutal toward this kid, and I do see his point (especially about how freaking rude the fan base can be). But his discounting of the opportunities given to him to get a first class education (often up through a Masters degree) and the Nike contacts and other booster contacts annoys me. He was given a *literal* life-changing opportunity, which he paid for by getting the opportunity to play the game he has loved all his life. Yes, it takes time and is dangerous, but I daresay there are literally hundreds of kids who would change places with him in a heartbeat for no compensation at all. They are called walk-ons (plus the hundreds who would but know they are not good enough so they don't try and even walk-on).
It’s a strange calculation that the players make. Even though 97% of them will fail to make the pros, they go all in on football, do as little as possible in the classroom, don’t bother to reach out to the rest of the students to experience college life, don’t finish their degrees, or if they do, it’s in a non-marketable subject… then after all is said and done, claim they’ve been used by the universities.
I’ve heard numerous ex-players on the radio say they try to encourage these guys to focus on more than just football, but the kids just look at them like they’re nuts, convinced they’ll be one of the 3% who makes it.
Probaby true with most but my son was friendly with Kenyon Barner at OU and he told me that Barner really reached out to non football students and tried to immerse in the college experience.
Well Barner is a class,guy.
Amen
The idea that these top athletes are anything more than people playing in a minor league in preparation for the NFL is as absurd as the oxymoron, "student-athlete." The top 35-40 schools in the ESPN/Fox semi-pro leagues are now just like the NBA G-League, or minor league baseball, and should pay their employees a fair wage just as those other minor leagues do.
The only real solution to this is to accept that places like Alabama or USC are minor league "semi-pro" teams simply renting the name of the school, and that is just fine, once people realize what is going on. But for the schools like Cal and Stanford it is time, as some have suggested, to consider either giving up the game, or better yet, forming new leagues where the athletes are there to get an education first and foremost and playing sports is secondary.
How this would play out is wide open, but the schools that cannot compete, or do not want to try, versus the semi-pro league are going to need an alternative "plan-B." That way today's hired help that play for TV can make the money they really do deserve, and kids that want an education can have some fun playing sports and get their degree at the same time.
A lot of the players don't make the pros. Most don't.
John...how cool, as I caught your attention :) My son always said I should have ended up as an old grizzled reporter, smoking a cigarette over my broken down typewriter at the Chicago Tribune with a pint of rye in the drawer...hahahaha.
I think that is what I am trying to say is that if kids want to shoot for the NFL they can play in the ESPN/Fox semi-pro league, and just as not all kids in the G-League or the baseball minors make it they are there to give it at least give it the old college try...hahahaha. However, as you point out most kids never get near the NFL, and most of them know that and for those kids that want an education, and to play football, then there would be a league for that too.
Cal couldn't win a Rose Bowl in the last 84 years so what are the chances now....zilch, and in fact the Rose Bowl will just be a NC semi-final site...but, maybe there could be an east and west coast league that squares off on New Year's day in the Rose Bowl...sort of a throwback to tradition, but modified for REAL student athletes...I'd pay for that game!
97% of P5 players don’t make it to the pros.
Like 97% of the so-called 'contenders' do not make the CFB Final 4.
Players deserve what they can get. Like in every other profession, let the buyer beware.
Yes I believe the dust will eventually settle, Any program that has a 3rd string athlete that can be a starter in 50% of other schools, should move on
My dad always used to tell me, you can lie to other people (though it's not ethical) but you should never lie to yourself (because it borders on derangement). A lot of these kids are lying to themselves thinking that they have an "NFL future" and that they're just this season's version of Joe Burrow or Justin Fields. Thus you have players hopping from university to university (like JT Daniels) thinking "this is where I'll break out." There's nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical about any player doing that. It just doesn't square with reality for the vast majority of them. My recommendation to any of them would be to pick a school that suits you and get a degree that will assist you in making your life a success. If you make it to the NFL, that's just gravy.
Four four years I had a GKid at UofO & her boy friend at OSU. Each year we attended the Civil War and each year everyone had a great time. Pre game parties where our group was quite large and equally divided, and walking through campus to the games, plus stadium parking lot functions say no name calling or jerk behavior. The only problem was it always rained in Reser, and was 72 and sunny in Autzen!
Wasn't Spartacus forgetting something?
At the U. of Oregon, current In-state tuition, $14,421 USD, Out-of-state tuition $40,464 USD - plus room and board, ~$13.5K, probably a few books, ~$1150. In state, approximately $30-grand/year. These numbers are from the university, so it's an accurate estimate. I imagine it's tax free, but I don't know.
If they don't take advantage of a college education, whose fault is that?
I think the issue comes with the extra work the players put in... a lot of hours... not sure it's worth the $40k they're being "paid" in most cases.
I didnt play college football.
But I did play HS football, baseball, soccer, etc... It was alot of hours beyond studies and I recall sometimes being envious of my friends going home when I got on a bus for an away game.
I did it because I liked it and playing ball was fun.
Too bad Spartacus on a scholly felt like he was an indentured servant. No compassion for these guys. Play sports because you like it and because it is golden ticket to an education. If you dont like it unlike in the real Spartacus times you can by your own free will walk away.
I would have died for the privilege to play college football and to put on the team colors! It sounds like for some of these guys it is a chore.
It is a business period. Remember you hear "Next man up!" expresses the disposable attitude of professional (college incl.) sports. If you don't perform you aren't paid. Play at your own risk. This is not backyard, recreational sports. Injuries and disability are common.
That’s such a weird perspective from a guy who chased his dream to play ball into college.
High school athletes don’t play sports in exchange for a scholarship. Where’s all the angst about them “working” for free?
You nailed it. Funny I saw your reply after I wrote mine and my HS experience.
Thank you for this helpful column!
the best part of going to games in person is I look around at lots of fans and not one of them is on twitter fretting about recruits or who's playing.. they just root for their home team. Ive embraced this and try to help my sons enjoy the moment. Not everyone gets to go to games, for fun or entertainment. Relish the time.
I like the game-day atmosphere better than the twitter fretting...
As a former player, I see it from the side of the isle that we as prospective players, large in part, made the choice to play for whatever team offered us or we chose. The NCAA whiffed on this: failed to look ahead on what is now manifesting in this ensuing chaos! There is NO justification nor compelling reasons why a player should be able to transfer to 4ea teams during his 4-6 yrs (Covid) of eligibility! The "inmates are running the asylum" with no consequences. There is no value placed on staying the course and working yourself into a starting role (which in most athlete's cases) doesn't occur within your first year of eligibility. Just imagine how this is going to play itself out with these athletes when entering the "real world" job market.
completely agree that the NCAA whiffed.
John, Mark B. here...(Cierra's Dad / Christ the King).
Great thought-provoking and relevant topics. Keep up the great work! All the best to you and your family.
Simply awesome John and great reporting as always. As a college football fanatic as long as there are people like me the $$$ will flow into a broken system. I hope you are right that it settles in time. Happy Holidays!!
Good article! I’ve learned to get over blaming players, coaches or the game for transfer portal policies because I remind myself it is now just a business. The good old days of loyalty and team spirit are sadly gone.
I do not think that team spirit is gone?
Look at post game locker rooms? A LB transfer from Florida had a terrific game against USC. He was part of the post game Utah locker room celebration.
Even pros who win a Super Bowl are not solemn and ready to bolt the locker room post game.
I believe that NIL is being abused as originally intended but I am happy athletes (including many the female who has signed an NIL deal) deserve to be paid. After that, like all things in life, it comes down to an individual's character.