By Jay Jones
One Click Sports News, Co-Owner & Co-Founder
The Pac-10 and Oregon Ducks fans both have the same problem: college football fans don’t think much of you.
SI.com released the results of their 2009 college football fan survey today. For Pac-10 fans, there are a few surprises. For Ducks fans, there are a few things that should have been expected.
SI.com’s Andy Staples summary of the results and methodology yields a couple of interesting points.
Pac-10 fans, you aren’t all that different than your brethren in the other major conferences.
You aren’t as different as you think, Big Ten fans and SEC fans. Same goes for you, Big 12 fans. And those Pac-10 fans over there may crave spicy tuna rolls instead of brats or barbecue, but they consider Saturday just as sacred as you do.
I don’t think this is entirely true. Pac-10 fans, and the most passionate of those fans, are not as passionate about college football as their counterparts in the SEC, Big12, and Big Ten. But I don’t think that difference is as big as some believe it to be.
Take a look at these indicators across the four major BCS conferences:
Big Ten
Big 12
Pac-10
SEC
Pac-10 fans enjoy feeling slighted in favor of the SEC by the “sports media industrial complex” and their “East Coast bias” in a self-loathing way. But as Andy points out, the media isn’t the one responsible for overhyping the SEC (actually, yes, the media does overhype the SEC – but that’s not the point here), it’s the fans that overhype the SEC.
One chunk of data jumped off the spreadsheet. We often hear fans from the Big Ten, Pac-10, Big East, ACC and Big East complaining that the media overhype the SEC. Well guess what? It isn’t us. It’s you.
And when it comes to college football fans, it’s clear that they think more of the SEC and Big 12 than they do of the Pac-10.
Big Ten
Big 12
Pac-10
SEC
Despite the Pac-10’s success against both the SEC and Big 12, it obviously has not had an affect on its standing in the eyes of SEC and Big 12 fans.
Here in the Pac-10, there is one program that does not sit well in the eyes of conference fans: Oregon.
Even though the Oregon fans are viewed as rude and impolite, Autzen Stadium is still the third most favorite stadium to visit in the conference.
Are Ducks fans rude and impolite?
I don’t know.
In my experience attending Pac-10 college football games, I have not seen or experienced more than a handful of scenes of fans (of any school) being rude or impolite to other fans (of any school).
But the evidence (quantifiable, anecdotal, and unscientific) portraying Oregon fans as rude and impolite continues to mount.
Regardless of the evidence’s veracity, Oregon, and Ducks fans, have a perception problem. And in this world where perception is reality, it’s a real problem.
Ducks fans, Pac-10 fans don’t think much of you. What do you think?
Pac-10 fans, is this survey about right?
All I can say is that the first step to recovery is acknowledging that you have a problem.
duckfan99 Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 1:00 am
I hate every team in the Pac 10 accept the ducks and don’t really care what you or anyone else thinks. Suck it.
Jay Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 1:38 am
Duckfan99, just couldn’t resist hammering home the results of the fan survey, huh?
GILL THOMAS Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 2:17 am
I AM A DUCK SEASON TICKET HOLDER FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. I AM ABLE TO GO TO 1 OR 2 HOME GAMES A YEAR BY SELLING THE REMAINDER OF MY TICKETS; QUITE OFTEN I SELL MY TICKETS TO FANS OF OTHER SCHOOLS INCLUDING, OSU, WASHINGTON, USC, MICHIGAN, UTAH, & OKLAHOMA.
I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN BAD REVIEWS; EVEN THE USC & OKLAHOMA FANS.
QUITE THE CONTRARY, THE USC, OU, MICHIGAN, AND BOISE ST FANS HAVES SENT ME EMAILS AFTER THEIR AUTZEN EXPERIENCE TELLING ME HOW IMPRESSED THEY WERE AND HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED EXPERIENCING THEIR “AUTZEN EXPERIENCE” AND WANTED TO COME BACK.
THAT SAID; I LOVE THE REPUTATION OREGON & AUTZEN ARE ENJOYING! JUST LIKE DUCK BASKETBALL HAS BEEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
AS FOR MYSELF, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FINANCIALLY AFFORD TO GO TO AWAY GAMES SO I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE REGARDING OTHER SCHOOLS.
I AM A BIT SATISFIED AT HOW THE DUCKS HAVE BEEN MANHANDLING SOME OF THE MORE ESTABLISHED TEAMS SINCE CHIP KELLY HAS ARRIVED IN EUGENE.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE MY EXPERIENCES & VIEWPOINTS.
Life is what you make it Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 2:28 am
To take the results of a poll administered on a website is ridiculous. It only polls people who have access to computers and check them regularly, ie college kids. It is not all encompassing. Granted, Oregon fans are vocal, and loud, but rude? I’m a native, I’ve been to most games, and duck fans are hostile, but not rude.
joe562 Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 5:08 am
The problem is that these people coming from other schools to Oregon’s games get out among the masses and don’t like that the oregon fans get up and howl down to the field, especially when ducks are on defense. They think we should all be “rah-rah” while we sit on our hands for 4 quarters and anything else would be just plain rude.
Mr Stats Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Jay, when you say quantitative evidence shows the Duck fans are rude I am curious if you mean the qualitative opinions of other fans being turned into quantitative stats? Just curious what you mean by quantifiable evidence.
DuckAndCover Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 8:27 am
And thank YOU Gill Thomas for keeping your caps lock on for the entire post. It makes it much more enjoyable to read….not so much.
As for the fans, I’ve heard we have a pretty rowdy bunch, but from my own experience, UW fans are pretty crazy too. My girlfriend got hit with an entire head of cabbage on our way in the game, and while her and myself were walking outside (while winning of course), a guy about 45 – 50 literally shoulder checked me in the chest, unprovoked, and kept walking like nothing happened after nearly clearing me off my feet.
Jay Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Mr Stats, good question.
The quantitative evidence I was referring to is the increasing number of people who are getting tossed from Autzen.
During the ASU game, 112 people were kicked out.
While I understand this is a relatively small number when compared to the 59,000 plus who attend the game, I do remember the good ‘ol days when only 70 people were getting the boot.
And if I had to take a guess, I would bet that’s right up there in the Pac-10. Although, I can think of at least two schools that probably can’t match that number.
Since Stanford has the most polite fans (disregarding the band), I can’t imagine that over 100 people are getting tossed out of games down on the farm (again, disregard the band).
The other is Washington State. I’m not sure 100 people are showing up for the games (including the band).
research duck Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Jay,
FYI…quantitive evidence/analysis is not based upon your assumptions. How can you measure numerical data or imperical observations without actual data? your statement, “I can’t imagine that…” is simply not based upon fact, nor should it be factored into your fan rudeness equation.
label this correctly as opinion and It may help your journalistic integrity. That being said, my opinion is not far off your own. Duck fans are louder and very possibly appear ruder than other less passionate football fans.
Do more Duck fans get removed from games than fans from other programs? I’m open to the premise but you’ll have to provide actual evidence.
john Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I am a beaver fan and alumni. I also lived in Seattle for 10 years and attended many husky home games in the 1980’s, near the zenith of Husky power and arrogance. Not once did I ever feel at the Husky Stadium the threat of actual physical harm that I have felt at Autzen. Only at Autzen have home team fans moved to sit in the visiting team section to berate and abuse (including shoving and pushing Beaver fans) opposing fans in my experience. In contrast, I traveled to attend the Cal game in Berkeley two weeks ago and sat in the OS fan section, and there was not one moment of concern with showing up or showing our support.
The perception of rude Duck fans is reality in my first hand experience.
Jay Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Research Duck -
First, I want to address your assumption that I am a journalist.
I am not.
Even though I am on the radio occasionally (like tonight, Friday Oregon Huddle, 5pm-7pm, KUGN 590 AM), I am an entrepreneur who co-owns and co-founded One Click Sports News.
But is not my rudeness equation.
Fans seem to have a rudeness equation.
And Oregon fans are getting tagged as rude and impolite.
Why do you think that is?
Pac10'er Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am
In this survey there is a pattern across all conferences, not just the Pac10, and it is that places, like Vanderbilt, where visiting teams most often win are considered polite. Places, like LSU, where visitors most often lose, are considered rude.
In recent years, Autzen has been a tough place to play. In years past, it was Husky Stadium and Washington was considered arrogant and rude.
There are few exceptions to this observation of mine, most notably Nebraska which was considered polite even when they were stomping you 70-0. But, generally it is true.
Rachel Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Really- who cares? I’ve never witnessed anything above a little heckling so I can’t say that our fans go above and beyond. However, using the “fans kicked out each game” stat is a little weak. I saw 2 guys in my section get kicked out with 4 mins left in the USC game for drinking. They weren’t being rude or abusive. They broke a rule which didn’t hurt anyone. But they are marked down as a “stat” that people now use to punctuate that Autzen is a “hostile” environment. Please.
Also Gill- thanks for buying season tickets and selling them to opposing teams. Great duck fan.
GetRidOfBCS Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Who cares? That poll is about as scientific as Sarah Palin.
Ray Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Duck fans treat every game like a rivalry game. And every Pac-10 opponent thinks of Oregon as a rivalry game. Pretty much everybody in the Pac-10 can beat Oregon, but its always that really hard game where your team is fighting up as the underdogs nowadays. Jealously could also be a factor. Everybody has a strong opinion of the school one way or the other.
And I agree, I think visiting fans sitting among the masses take a little bit of offense at how deafeningly loud it gets when their team is on offense. And I cant blame them. 50000 trying to mess up your team by yelling at them? That could be mildly offensive i suppose.
ALL YEAR, the only visiting section which even tried to muster a noise response were the SC fans. (If 10 is Auzten on all cylinders, they belted out a pretty decent 4) The point is: look at where SC is in the “rudeness standings”. Second place. Right after Oregon.
Dane Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 10:24 am
So the Pac 10 think Oregon has the rudest fans? Guess what: We’re in good company. The other conferences thought the following schools also had the rudest fans:
Florida
LSU
Ohio State
Michigan
Hmmm, I’m noticing that these schools are also synonymous with winning and having terrific home field advantages.
Not that I want people to hate Duck fans, but typically the fans that are hated are the ones that follow schools that are winning.
dan odiorne Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Gill Thomas- Why are you yelling?
James Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 11:38 am
We’re the rudest fans and yet Autzen is ranked the third favorite venue to visit by opposing teams….?
Coastal Duck Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
My take is that much of the “rudeness” attributed to Duck fans in general is, by and large, generated by an “over-exuberant” student section and perhaps those fans on the west end of Autzen that flank the visitor’s section.
The profile of the “rude Duck fan” might include “young,” and “too much alcohol.” The overwhelming majority of fans, while maybe not going out of their way to be “welcoming hosts,” just ignore visitors in the opponent’s colors.
I’ve tailgated for many years in and around Autzen and have witnessed only scattered incidents that were anything more that good-natured ribbings of opponent’s supporters.
Almost every stadium has their idiots – Autzen is no exception.
Samurhino Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I think it’s a combination of things that lead to this perception. First off like no other team in the PAC-10 the Ducks have two actual full on passionate rivalries with the Beavers and Huskies which is going to skew the results. Whereas other teams will have one teams fans pulling their ranking down the Ducks have two. Secondly the Ducks are incredibly passionate and the stadium is very loud and rowdy so even if an opponents fans never are personally offended they may be offended by the overall atmosphere. Third…the fact that the least passionate, most comatose fans in the league are said to be the nicest just further reinforces that passion is being equated with being rude.
I’d also add that its completely ridiculous to surmise that the fans have a perception about the SEC not the media when its the media’s influence that drives fans perceptions.
Edwardo Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I think it’s all a jealousy issue over Phil Knight, the uniforms, the facilities for the players & the marketing. There’s just an overall dislike for the Ducks because of those things. The way I read it, it all comes back to disliking the advantage due to Phil Knight. So all you have to do is give the other fans in the league a platform to voice their disapproval of the Ducks & there you have it. Personally I am a Duck fan so I don’t really care what they say, because what do you do with another person’s jealousy? Football is a barbaric thing,.. so some fans become barbaric from any school for that matter. BIG DEAL!!!!
COBeav72 Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Isn’t it still due to the media hype that the Pac-10 still has an image problem? That and all the games being on so late on the East Coast, except maybe USC games? I do not think that your info proves anything else.
Jay Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
COBeav72 -
The info is not meant to prove anything, other than to point out that the Pac-10 is perceived as a distant third behind the SEC and Big 12, despite the conference’s success against those schools.
On the fan side, based on their criteria, Pac-10 fans seem just as passionate as fans in other conferences. Although, I think there are other, better metrics to judge fan passion.
And, finally, the survey reveals that Pac-10 fans think Oregon fans are rude. Tell us something we didn’t know (about that perception).
Does the survey (of over 33,000) prove anything? No. But it’s a good indicator of something.
Dear John Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
John,
Do duck fans a favor and stay away from our stadium. You sound like a weak minded, whining baby, who makes a business of lying and distortion. I’ll make sure to spit at the rest of the Beaver fans I see at Autzen, in your honor.
oregon111 Says:
November 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
the sec can sukit / i hate tebow
the big&slow10 is boring
the big12 is the big2
acc/big east should just play basketball
da wac is wac
duck haters are sad, jealous, losers
free legarette!