Our thirst for wins and championships poses an interesting question: how far will we go?
When Oregon played Auburn four years ago in the National Championship game — I recall getting into a tit-for-tat email discussion before the game with a Tiger engineer who was very erudite and pretty challenging to play against in our chess-with-words. Yet as our emails continued, the facade we both carried began to melt away and we just became fans…supporting our teams. Did it matter that we were professionals in our fields? Only in verbiage and writing skills, but in the end we simply wrote of our undying love for our teams, which transcends all income strata, race, and ethnic group. We would do or say anything to support our Alma Maters.
Well — that sounds good if we read it aloud off a computer monitor, but really…how far would we go? It was at this point that a man I had come to respect, like, and enjoy bantering with made a horrendous confession to me. He agreed that there was too much smoke with Cam Newton to assume there were not any fires in the background, but it changed nothing for him. For that he was ashamed, and admitted that he would like ONE Auburn National Championship in his lifetime, and if that meant they cheated with the nonsense surrounding Cam Newton and that’s what it took to hold the trophy aloft, then so be it. Cheating to win the National Championship was worth it to him.
The Tallahassee Police Dept?
Seminole fans have confirmed that moral standard through their approval of all the misdeeds surrounding Jameis Winston, to a degree I find breathtaking as I read their apologists jump into action. They have become the worst at openly and defiantly defending what has clearly been wrong to the rest of the country. Their dishonesty truly knows no bounds.
I think about all the players who have been suspended at Oregon over the years, and the cost to the program. The suspension of Cliff Harris probably cost us a “Natty” and perhaps could have been two, while the near season-long suspension of LaGarrette Blount was a nationwide phenomenon. Our veteran and star quarterback for the 2009 season was removed from the team due to the events that unfolded of which he was a part of in winter 2010. Actions of Oregon basketball players last year left the team with only three returning players this year due to the removal of those present and future stars for the Ducks. Coaches cannot be with players 24/7, but they can punish them correctly when misdeeds are discovered. Oregon has done that regardless of the players’ importance to the particular program. We aren’t perfect, but we’re trying.
Following the extraordinary reactions of the Florida State fans makes me reflect upon the Devils Choice…if given to Oregon fans — what would they say? Would they endorse cheating just once to win the National Championship? FishDuck.com Editor-in-Chief Mike Merrell has stated that no more than 10% of Duck fans would stoop as low as Seminole fans. Yet I think the number could be higher…
Know that I personally would rather lose than cheat to win, and do NOT want Winston to miss our upcoming game. I wish our beloved Ducks to play Florida State fully loaded and ready for us; no excuses.
A National Championship in football for Oregon…and a first one ever. Is cheating worth it, Oregon fans?
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
Related Articles:
Charles Fischer has been an intense fan of the Ducks, a season ticket holder at Autzen Stadium for 38 years and has written reports on football boards for over 26 years. Known as “FishDuck” on those boards, he is acknowledged for providing intense detail in his scrimmage reports, and in his Xs and Os play analyses. He is single, has a daughter Christine, and resides in Eugene Oregon where he was a Financial Advisor for 36 years.
He now focuses full-time on Charitable Planned Giving Workshops for churches and non-profit organizations in addition to managing his two Oregon Football Websites, of FishDuck.com and the Our Beloved Ducks forum. He is a busy man!
He does not profess to be a coach or analyst, but simply a “hack” that enjoys sharing what he has learned and invites others to correct or add to this body of Oregon Football! See More…