Arizona was an amazing place to be over the past weekend for all of us Oregon fans. And while the temperature, sun, and environment was something to enjoy, it was the kindness of the Auburn Tigers fanbase that has many Oregon supporters, myself included, looking back at the experience with a smile.
Walking through sunny Scottsdale, Arizona on Sunday was a blast. Full of Oregon and Auburn fans, the Scottsdale streets were a blur of orange, blue, green, and yellow. Both Auburn and Oregon held their pep rallies at the same location, three hours apart. And both schools were extremely well represented as fans came out in the tens of thousands to get amped up for the biggest game of the year.
And while it certainly got tiring to hear "war eagle" every time Auburn fans passed each other - and to see nearly every other Auburn fan with a button-up Tigers polo and parted hair - their kindess was nothing less than fantastic.
Sure, there were a few bad apples. But in this case, those bad apples were so few and far between that they really didn't ruin the whole crop.
Auburn fans are great.
And anyone who's been to Autzen Stadium knows that Oregon fans get can a little on the... well... let's just say on the rowdy side. So most Ducks fans aren't used to being treated so well by opposing fans, but the BCS National Championship environment was something else indeed.
It had to be extremely refreshing for many Oregon fans to attend a game in which the two teams' fans weren't there to hate on the other team, but to only cheer for their own.
Inside University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the game was certainly fun to watch, but the fans of both sides were, for the most part, extremely respectful to each other. And with Auburn fans outnumbering Oregon fans inside the stadium about 2-1, it was outstanding for fans repping Oregon gear to not get tormented despite being easily outnumbered.
In my own experience, I had Oregon fans to my left and Auburn fans to my right. And never once did any of the Oregon fans insult or argue or do anything unrespectful towards the Auburn fans, and those same Auburn fans never once did anything unrespectful towards any of us.
Even in victory, Auburn fans were gracious. When the time for taunting had clearly arrived, Auburn faithfuls only cheered for the Tigers, leaving Oregon fans to mourn without adding insult to injury.
Even on the flights, Auburn fans were kind. I had the unfortunate bad luck of having to fly from Portland to Dallas, and then on to Phoenix, followed by the same trip backwards on the way home.
On neither of the flights from Dallas to Phoenix and Phoenix to Dallas - where there were about six of us Oregon fans surrounded by an entire plane full of Auburn fans - did any Tiger supporters have anything but praise for us and the performance the Ducks had on the field.
Needless to say, I think I speak for a great majority of Oregon fans who made it to Glendale when I say that we have nothing but respect for the Auburn Tigers.
Congratulations to them for supporting their team to a well-earned victory. But, even more so, we thank them for doing so with the utmost integrity.
Have any thoughts of your own? You're encouraged to comment at the bottom of the article!
© 2011 Max Price - All Rights Reserved.
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Max also covers the Portland Trail Blazers and Pacific University Boxers for Examiner.com. In addition, he covers all sports in Oregon for OregonSportsNews.com.
Comments
Here's an unhappy Oregon fan saying to Auburn fans: Win a game without playing dirty, without kicking our players in the head with cleats, without having interceptions waived off, without refs missing the fact that Dyer's wrist was down, without a QB that cheats on homework and steals laptops.
That comment should have been directed towards Auburn players, not the fans. Thanks for the input, but this article is about the fans, not the team on the field.
Jesse, thanks for your kind words. I was at the game and I agree that both groups of fans behaved very well. We met many Oregon fans and most were also very gracious. One guy said War Pigeon once, but like you said I think hearing us say War Eagle every few minutes probably got old. Thanks for your article!
Officiating is part of football. I'm sorry if you don't always think it's fair. Congrats on a tough game and great season.
Sounds like sour grapes to me. I myself was disappointed in Eric Smith and Nick Fairly for the cheap shots they took. The officials justifiably penalized us for their actions. Other than these 2 isolated incidents, I thought it was a well played game on both sides. I also realize your Duck shaded eyes thought Dyer was down, but the fact is he was not. I have not heard of any legitimated media person who thought he was down. It would not have mattered if he were down though because we would have scored either way. We have been there and done that many times this season. By the way, I don't think Oregon's fan base has much to gripe about about concerning player's dirty play. You do remember Lagarette Blount's post game cheap shot at Boise don't you? Oh yeah, also what was the deal with your former QB who was an Ole Miss Reb this year? Just admit that the Ducks were beaten by a superior team and stop whining.
Thank you for your kind words about the Auburn family. We take great pride in our fan base and 9 times out of 10, respect the other team's fans (the exception being that school from Tuscaloosa). I didn't have the fortune to go out to Arizona but it's good to hear the family was well represented.
Thanks for the kind words. Now can y'all teach Bama fans better manners, please? Bama can't stand our status this year and take every opportunity to belittle us. I thought the game was exciting, and I must say that I love your yellow socks! (I wish AU would wear tiger-striped pants.)
Even in victory, Auburn fans can't stop putting Alabama down. Let's not forget how supportive Auburn fans were last year. Congratulations on enforcing the stereotype :)
I was in AZ and can say that the majority of the Oregon fans I encountered were very nice!! Being a part of the AU Family means loving Auburn - not hating everyone else. I'm happy your experience was a good one, although I am not surprised.
As for the comment about the AU team... you are only making yourself look bad. We could easily bring up the past of some of the Duck's players but why waste the energy hating on Oregon when I can spend it cheering on Auburn!! Check your memory about your own players before you start crying about ours =)
The Ducks played a great game and have nothing to apologize for - I don't think we could have found two more evenly matched teams in the entire country. Except for a few quirks of fate, the game could have gone either way (at just about an...y time, too) - and the fact that Auburn didn't blow them out in the 2nd half speaks volumes for their defense.
Also, looks like you've got a good chance at going for the title next year, too (at least better than Auburn looks at this point):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR201101...
Auburn Grad '03 here
We really do appreciate the kind words. I wish I could have attended the game. I'm sure the Auburn fans thought the same about you guys. Nice article man! Good luck next year. you guys should be awesome!
War Eagle!
LOVE this article! As someone who was in attendance at that game, I agree completely. We had many Duck fans around us and had a great time with them - especially when they would try to get me to high five them when Oregon scored (I accidentally obliged once)! I even got a few congratulatory handshakes in the parking lot afterwards. We Southerners take our hospitality with us wherever we go and I'm glad that almost all of us Tigers were well behaved. Best to you and GOOD LUCK to the Ducks next year!!
I want to complement the Oregon fans for their graciousness after the game. As I was leaving the stadium, I was surrounded by Duck fans who congratulated us on the win. I told them that I hope they can come back next year and win it all.
Having lived on the West Coast, including the Pacific Northwest, for 6 years, Oregon has always been my favorite PAC 10 school. I was so glad that Oregon played a terrific game. And, although I could not attend the championship game, I'm not surprised that the fans of the two schools treated one another with respect and courtesy, while still being avid supporters of their team.
I expect OU to have another good year in football in 2011. The early game against LSU will be a real challenge, as LSU will probably be the preseason pick to win the SEC title in a lot of polls. If OU can get past LSU, a return engagement in the championship game is possible.
By the way, I for one love the OU uniforms, and especially the fact that the players get a big say in which uniforms the team wears each week. Just another of the little things that makes OU a unique program.
ARE YOU SERIOUS!! Auburn is about the worst fan base there is in the whole SEC. They were just on their best behavior since they didnt really know what they were getting into......trust me if it had been on the crappy "plains" you Duck fans would have been greeted by the same assaults and poor treatment as all the other teams that visit there......they might have even brought out the water cannons on you if you had won. I have personally been physically assaulted and another occasion shot by a water cannon for doing absolutely NOTHING.......You were just lucky you were in Arizona!
Um, excuse me.. what Auburn game did you happen to attend in which everyone on the plains wasn't kind? Sure, there are the rare occasion of fans who are a little on the rude side. However, what school doesn't have those fans? Just by reading your comment the only way you could honestly believe that is if you are a Bammer. In which, we will never be generous to you.
Maybe sec fan26 is a GA fan. I seem to remember when the Bulldogs were hosed after jumping the hedges. Somethings you never forget.
I seem to remember that the reason the Georgia fans were hosed with the stadium sprinklers was that they jumped onto the field after a game in the late 1980's and were tearing up the logo in the middle of the field. I was there. I know. Quit whining Georgia fan.
The Ducks I sat around were nice. The "O" and the guy in front of me doing the duck call got a little old, but at least they weren't wasted like the Auburn fans behind me.
28-27, 'bammer.
So, Georgia fan (sec fan26), in other words. . . you broke the law in 1986 by rushing the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium? Full disclosure next time please. Oregon is not the only team to post such an article:
http://www.dailygamecock.com/viewpoints/auburn-hospitality-sets-standard....
Bulldogs were told to return to their seats and when they didn't, they were hosed......big deal ! Tough luck, clowns!
The irony on the water cannon incident is that it happened at an AU GA game when Pat Dye (ga alum) was AU coach and the facilities director that turned the sprinklers (which is what they were not canons) was a Ga grad as well. They must have had firsthand knowledge of how to contain a Ga crowd that could not follow simple instructions
The Auburn family takes pride on being good hosts and good fans. I could cite numerous articles, like the one here, where opposing fans have written to praise us for our hospitality at games "on the plains." Most of the Oregon fans that I met in Arizona were also good natured, especially in our hotel which was overwhelmingly filled with Auburn fans. (I told them that they were an "endangered species" in our lobby and they would laugh.)
We did meet a few Oregon fans who would say "Roll Tide!" to us, which, we thought, was sort of lame. (Why not just say, "Go Ducks!"? On the whole, I thought the fan base of both schools acted well and the players of both schools played their hearts out. Oregon has a good shot at returning to the championship game next year and, unless another SEC team is playing, I will be cheering for them.
War Eagle!
I was a student at that Georgia game. We were picked to win and were upset by the Dawgs. Hundreds, maybe thousands of UGA fans stormed the field and began tearing up the hedges and turf. Many ran straight to the student section and began throwing wiskey bottles in to the stands. One whizzed just past my head and hit a girl two rows behind me. It busted her nose and mouth. There was blood everywhere. It was a surreal scene. There are no water cannons at Jordan-Hare. They turned on the sprinkler system. It worked too.
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