Got back to Medford from the game. In spite of the final score had a good time. Sat in a Beaver section on the new upper deck and the fans were polite and engaged in good natured banter. Near the end of the game they though they were going to lose. In fact everyone was friendly at the game. Went into the bookstore all dressed in my duck garb and a young girl said I guess you came in here to get some new clothes.
The new addition to Reser is nice but not as nice as Autzen. It was another rain swept game. Picture is of our section on the upper deck. Picture was taken at another game. I wore green.
I was very disappointed we came up short. I was pleased with the passion the team showed especially in the second half. At halftime I watched as the Ducks left the field and were harassed by Beaver fans along the rope line leading to the dressing room over at Gill Coliseum. A very stupid act by the Beavers because I think it was counter productive. Heck, I would have paid them to do it to light a fire under the Oregon team. This is why I never boo the visiting team at Autzen. However this harassment was more personal as it was on a personal up close basis. I saw one Duck player shake his finger at one beaver fan.
This team has not earned a bowl game but it will legally be required to go to a bowl probably the Emerald in San Francisco. The Bowl game should be used purely as a business trip and not as any kind of reward. Leaf has clearly earned the starting QB spot subject to how he performs in the Bowl game. We NEED a special teams coach. Only a bowl victory can salvage any respectability for this season and team. This seasons performance is not acceptable. and the coaches and players need to understand this. I am NOT calling for the replacement of any coach but the fans and administration need to light a fire under then to produce as the bottom line is again not acceptable. If players are not putting forth the required effort their scholarships should not be renewed. It is an honor to wear the Duck uniform and we expect every player to give 100%. Bellotti is a good coach and nice person.... sometimes too nice. Rich Brooks had his problems but if his team had performed as the Ducks did against Arizona after "throwing up" the team would not have needed to worry about their nice dressing room and plasma TVs as they would have been using the tunnels for their locker room after he took a sledge hammer to the TVs and put the locker room off limits. This team needs some "Tough Love." The worse thing that could happen is another Seattle Bowl in San Francisco.Lets Go Ducks!
UPDATE: Ron Bellamy of the Eugene Register Guard had some "right on" quotes in his column after the game:
"Maybe it's a testament to the modern college athlete, or at least this modern Oregon football team, that the Ducks gave great effort Friday, and their coach actually sounded, well, gratified, yes, but also somewhat relieved.
As if that wasn't a given, not something to be taken for granted, not even in the Civil War.....
Is that a step forward? Or, simply, the lack of another step back? Friday, the Ducks cared deeply about the game that every fan in the state cares about. We'll see, next month, how much they care about a bowl game that not many fans will."
