As is so often the case these days with anything related to Oregon football, the focus leading up to next week’s season opener against LSU is away from the field.
How long will All-American cornerback Cliff Harris be forced to sit out? Will linebacker Kiko Alonso, ever the mystery, suit up against LSU? And, most recently, what will happen in the aftermath of a bar fight near the LSU campus that reportedly involved starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson?
It’s always something these days, though it seems that Oregon fans are enjoying the reversal in fortunes. A quick sampling of tweets directed at The Register-Guard’s Rob Moseley:
@TonyDiFrancisco: “There’s a big difference between kicking a marine in the head while on the ground and speeding tickets.”
@ScottReed_DSA: “Some are just frustrated that there hasn’t been any real call by (LSU’s) local media for immediate suspensions.”
@uoduxguy: “Clownzano has called for suspensions before all the facts were out multiple times.”
Ah, nothing like a potshot at John Canzano to make your point. Besides the obvious weaknesses in these arguments (it’s not even confirmed that Jefferson was involved in the fight, and today was the first time the players spoke to police), this small sample of reaction illustrates a deeper problem that plagues damn near every fan base.
Think about when you first heard about the LSU incident. What was the first thing that crossed your mind?
I’m going to hazard a guess that it wasn’t, “Oh, how terrible. I hope everyone’s alright.” Or, “College bars really need better security these days.”
No, if you’re a die-hard Oregon fan, the first thing you thought about was most likely Jordan Jefferson’s playing status. You saw his name in the report and thought, “Interesting. This may be a break for the Ducks.”
I know this because that’s the first thing that popped into my mind when I heard the news. Though I try very hard to remain objective, as a student here it can be exceedingly difficult. I am still conditioned with the instincts of a fan, instincts that tell me to look out for my team and my team only.
It was those very instincts that likely guided the reactions of thousands more Oregon fans when the news broke, that prompted a feeling of, dare I say, happiness.
I’m not here to lecture you, or to claim that all Oregon fans delight in violence. Rather, this post is meant simply to urge you to think about what it means to be a fan.
When should it ever be okay to take pleasure in the news of a bar fight?
Real lives are at stake here, bright futures that may have been extinguished by one ill-placed kick. We all felt for LeGarrette Blount when he lost most of his senior season after the Boise State incident. We rushed to defend LaMichael James when many seemed ready to convict him a year and a half ago.
It was the right thing to do, an encouraging exhibition of human compassion.
Those feelings shouldn’t be limited to one side of the playing field.