Sound Off.

Byline: The Register-Guard

New attitude needed

I admire Mike Bellotti's calm. I've enjoyed watching the Ducks become a strong football program. But I dislike the current attitude, the flashing of tail feathers under the opponent's nose. It reeks of conceit.

I liked Duck football better when we were the little team that could - sometimes - kill giants. I liked Autzen Stadium better before the remodel: The noise level was more intimidating, and it took less time to exit the stadium. I like Donald as our mascot; he keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously.

Lest you think I only love 'em when they're winning, consider I'm a 1965 UO graduate. I've watched UO football at Hayward Field and Multnomah Stadium as well as at Autzen. I've had season tickets off and on throughout my 40 years in Eugene. I've sat through many games in drenching rain. I stayed for the entire 0-0 Civil War/Toilet Bowl.

But I'm ready for a place where, if there is college football, it's just a game.

LEE DARLING

Eugene

Fans boorish 

Ever notice how Ducks fans get all into chest thumping and bravado - claiming `We won! We rock! We are No. 1!' - when U of O wins, but when they lose, it's more of a quiet humility and more of a "they stunk today"?

It's called victory through association. You are not immune to it. I cannot tell you, however, how often I have had to deal with obnoxious postgame drivers after a win.

The epithets of rudeness screamed toward the opposing team's fans accompanying each victory make me glad every time U of O loses. I thank God my California alma mater had more of a focus on academia than profit through athletic exploitation.

Ducks fans: Show your best side. Your attitude is more important than your reality.

ALLEN BENNETT RUSSELL

Eugene

Set better example

I recently attended the homecoming festivities at the U of O and found events beyond the football team's loss dampening my spirit.

My seat being near the USC section, I observed behaviors of many in green and gold in excess of loyal fans. Screaming obscenities and vulgar gestures abounded toward the USC band and fans.

I was disappointed to the point of asking "What's your purpose?" to some nearby. The answer only created more questions in my mind. "What's your problem?" they chided as they continued.

Some were students, but more were not. I am an alumnus of Oregon and have loyalty to no other. I am also a high school teacher and spend many hours with kids outside the classroom.

The examples kids present observed were mixed. Most loyal fans cheered our team and groaned with the disappointments, but these others were just spectacles.

How can we expect kids to find ways to have fun where it is not at the expense of someone else, if adults young and old are such poor examples? Our young mirror our society. What kind of world do you want to live in?

Don't avoid these morons in hopes they will go away. Ask them why they feel the need to ruin a fun day for others. If enough people ask, they might think twice about what they are doing.

DINO COOPER

Brookings

Show support

If you were an actual Duck fan that stayed until the very end of the fourth quarter this past Saturday at Autzen, I suggest you pat yourself on the back.

It truly bothers me as a Eugene native and lifelong Duck fan when our team is down and fans leave with a whole 15 minutes left. If you know anything about the Ducks, then you know they have a reputation for being able to pull through in the end.

I am sorry you all left so soon and didn't get to witness the last couple of touchdowns the Ducks made. My husband is a player on the team, and even he noticed all the fans leaving and mentioned to me after the game how it bothered him.

This is not supposed to be all about if we win or lose. I used to think that the reason fans came out was to show their support. I believe to support is to be there for our team through the thick and the thin. If you are one of those people, we thank you for that.

You might want to consider whether you are a true blue Duck fan or a fair-weather fan. If you're a fair-weather fan, I hope you stay home and watch it on TV.

I'll tell you right now, unless you have done it or are close to a player, I don't think you have any idea what it takes to go out there every Saturday. You might try putting yourself in their shoes and think of how you would feel if you were in their place.

I just think we need to adjust our thinking, stop being so spoiled from our incredible 2001 season and remember what being a real Duck fan is all about.

ANDREA LOFTIN

Eugene

Weed out negativity

In every era at every school there are so-called fans who attend games but lie silent and shriveled in the sunshine of victory.

They yearn for the rain that comes with a loss so they can "blossom" into weeds of negativity, griping, complaining, spewing invectives and calling for coaches' heads (successful coaches who these not-really-fans think have lost their touch overnight).

When the light of victory shines again, the non-fans wither once more and bury themselves in the sands of silence, waiting and hoping for rain. Thankfully, these "fans" are in the minority.

ANN HERRICK

Eugene

Avoid arrogance

Bob Welch's commentary on spoiled Oregon football fans ("Less swagger, more hunger," Oct. 29) was amusing to this Oregon alum, now living in my native state of Florida.

In Tallahassee, where football is a religion, Florida State lost this past weekend to the country's most popular school in both football and religion, Notre Dame.

With the amount of newspaper space, TV/radio time and general fan discussion devoted to the game - almost all of it bashing FSU - even Jesus himself would have a hard time getting any publicity for a Second Coming. And this was directed at a team that until last year had spent 10 years finishing in the top five of the polls.

Face it Oregon fans, your program is on the precipice of the really big-time, as Welch alludes to in his column, right alongside the FSUs and Oklahomas. And the frenzy to win more games, build better facilities and design flashier billboards will only intensify with each 10-win season. But you don't have to become an "arrogant Goliath."

In 1981, when FSU traveled to Lincoln, Neb., to play the college football behemoth of the time, FSU escaped with a win. Cornhusker fans didn't yell obscenities, either at their team or at the visiting fans in the stadium. No, they gave FSU players a standing ovation as they left the field.

That's the class and perspective that I wish FSU had shown during its winning years. Oregon fans still have a chance to do so.

JACK CLIFFORD

Tallahassee, Fla.

Don't bail out

This die-hard Oregon Duck fan wants to know who those people are that left the game early on Saturday.

Are they the new, "fair weather" fans decked out in their new Duck attire, spoiled by the success of the Oregon program these last few years? Or are they the same people who walked out behind me after the ASU game calling the Oregon players and coaches a bunch of losers?

To those people, I say good riddance, please stay home and watch the game on TV. Hey, you can flip it off when it isn't going your way - it's that easy!

What's tough is sitting there in your seat until the dying end, rain or shine, and applauding the players on the field who had no choice but to be out there giving it their best.

Evidently, these people have forgotten (or never knew in the first place) that it's not all about winning or losing, it's about how you play the game. True Oregon Duck fans know this.

LESLIE ZOOK

Marcola

Stay in your seat

Last Saturday, at the USC game, I found out who were the true Duck fans.

They were the ones who were still in their seats as the final seconds ticked off the clock. They were the ones who did not turn their backs on those young men down on the field and walk away.

I was appalled by the behavior of those who did leave early. As a longtime Duck fan, I could not understand how people could do this. I wondered if those people who walked out before the game was over would have done the same thing if their own children had been in the same situation. I certainly hope not.

Those young men deserve to look up in the stands when the game is over and see the same people that were there at the beginning. They should not be left abandoned on the field to deal with defeat by themselves.

If we want to share in their victories, we are obliged to be with them in defeat. To do otherwise is nothing short of cowardice.

I have watched many games in Autzen Stadium over the years, and I have never left before the game is over. I never will. No matter what the result. The next time you have the urge to leave early, I ask that you reconsider. Those young men down on the field deserve better.

TERRY J. KRAMER

Waldport

Bring back Donald

As season ticket-holders, we enjoyed the hatching ceremony at center field right before the game against USC. The story was well-written and well-choreographed, just like everything at Autzen.

The rumor is that Donald will be retired and we will have to learn to love "Robo" Duck. I certainly hope this is not the case.

Donald is fuzzy and warm and part of our tradition. He even has an honorary degree from the U of O, according to the Duck Web site.

"Robo" Duck is too slick and too mean and belongs in a movie rather than on the football field.

Donald is very visible with his orange beak and feet. Robo Duck has a very good physique, but you cannot pick him out in a crowd because of his dark colors.

We need Donald to keep the crowd yelling and screaming like the team has come to expect. If you care about our mascot, call and make sure Donald continues to be the official one.

CATHERINE DAVIS 

Canby

No improvement

Old Bill Moos outsmarted himself. Build an athletic dynasty, and the sheep will follow. Book 12 games, eight at home against overmatched teams to beat up on, and let the crazy computers rank you sixth in the country (but to give some credit to the electronic geniuses, the computers also said Oregon started off with the second-easiest schedule in the country).

I'll barf if I hear Jerry Allen or Ron Bellamy say again, "six victories," when four of them came from very ineffective teams. Oh, yes! Six victories qualifies us for a bowl game, each week going a little further down the list of bowls (I heard rumors we might play in the Bend Bowl) and athletics control the world.

And they ruined beautiful Autzen. The field is quickly enveloped in shadow, lights turned on at the half while the scoreboard tells the fans, "Noise! Noise!" But we've increased the luxuries for the rich, favored few. It's ludicrous and sad.

Thank God the library is opening Dec. 26. Otherwise, Moos might turn that into a basketball court.

But don't worry, the drums are already beating to replace historic McArthur Court for, what, a measly $100 million.

THOMAS ALBION

Eugene

Hot water wanted

I was so pleased to read that the folks who used the escalator to the "club" had all the free beer that they wanted and 46 TVs to watch.

Pity there was not enough money left for hot water in the bathrooms. Could this be a public health problem?

Perhaps some of the golf tournament money could be used for a few hot water tanks.

JOHN M. LANHAM

Eugene

Bonds a pioneer

The Angels have won, but Barry Bonds is the real story. The Giant slugger has accomplished what Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron or Harmon Killebrew never dreamed of. He has made armor a part of baseball - huge, hulking armor.

The game might've been changed forever ages ago if only the likes of Frank Robinson had had the courage of Barry. He could have hovered over the plate, hid behind his ironclad elbow and laughed at Drysdale's chin music.

Bob Gibson would have thrilled us all, as his inside heat incited brawls from armor-emboldened players and got him ejected game after game.

Of course, Juan Marichal, incensed by plate-crowding, bulwarked cheaters, would finally receive life behind bars. And Ted Williams? Who needs him? He'd re-enlist in the military before tarnishing himself with battlegear in a ballpark.

Yet this is only the beginning. The elbow pad on a nondescript player that has morphed into a behemoth attached to Bonds will continue to evolve. Soon every player, with proper dosage, will be protected by a product that will make even the helmet obsolete.

Never again will anyone have to hit a home run after being knocked on his keister. So there'll be more and more dingers. Yes, thank you Barry Bonds for elevating the game. I can hardly wait until it's brought to the next level.

And Ted Williams is rolling over in his block of ice.

STEVEN VEIT 

Eugene

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