Morning Quack Fix: 6.3.09

It’s just odd because I’ve always felt transferring was a “gentleman’s game” in sort. A coach and AD do their best to persuade the kid to stay, but when it’s clear he wants out, especially for a reason like Smith’s- it seems reasonable enough- then they grant the release, but usually they’ll leave a list of schools they CAN’T transfer to, and those include either conference schools, rivals, or non-conference schools who the team will be playing in the players immediate future.

I know that CU has had some transferring issues this year (I believe 5 players have left already) and maybe they are just trying to stop the bleeding. But when a guy requests a transfer because he wants to pursue a certain major, that seems ridiculous the CU is trying to hold him back.

I know. I was hoping he’d slide to the Rangers at 14 like Smoak did last year.

If you are implying that their fanbase is any less loyal because of the numbers you posted, that’s where you and I disagree. I do agree with you in the sense that these reports may highlight some differences in the way that Oregon and Oregon State manage their respective alumni. It also potentially brings light to the economic differences in the fanbases (although I have no data to back this up) but at the end of the day, all across the country, you hear very similar stories. This isn’t just an Oregon State problem.

Oregon is the exception, not the rule.

Also, it would be interesting to have Oregon release a similar report but somehow I doubt one is forthcoming.

The other thing too. Oregon State released AWESOME deals right before the season and even into the season where you received nice discounts for going to a pack of games with your kids. I know a couple of friends that are waiting to see if those deals pop up again

My personal view regarding Oregon fans vs Oregon State fans. Everyone wants to point to the stadium numbers. Yes, Oregon’s are higher. They regularly are overfilled (what is that? I thought a capacity meant NO MORE CAN FIT. But what do I know anyway), and Oregon State rarely has a sell out since the new stadium side and end zone were put in, increasing capacity to 45,000.

My take on this: I don’t think there are more Oregon fans than Oregon State fans in this state. In fact, I think its pretty fairly even. But where the stadium numbers differ in the fact the a majority of Oregon fans live in the Valley- that is, Portland, Salem, Eugene, and the Southern parts of the state. I think the Oregon State has a pretty good monopoly on the rural parts of the state, eastern and central Oregon, and including the coast, this just simply being out of the fact that Oregon State has always been the aggie college in this state. Disagree with me all you want, but I’ve been to rural Oregon. I’ve seen the Beaver flags flown. The only rural area that isn’t majority Oregon State is Ontario area, which actually now has a large following of Boise State fans, being it an hour drive away. Now I know these areas are low in population, but my point is, it adds up. What the problem is, when most of your (Oregon) fans live 2 hours away from Eugene, it makes it quite easy to travel. But for farmers from Eastern Oregon, who may live 3-5 hours away, it’s not that simple. Those guys are working every day, Sunday-Sunday, and at early hours. It’s not easy to leave a game and get home around 2 AM and get up at 6 AM. Why do that when you can watch the game on TV and be in bed by 9? It makes no sense, and I don’t blame them for it.

Another key issue regarding this is the size of the cities themselves. According to wikipedia, which pulled these stats from census.gov, the Eugene MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) has a population of around 340,000. This means that within probably a 30 minute to hour drive to Autzen, there is that many fans, because we know that this area is strictly Ducks. Very few Beavers south of Corvallis, even in the country parts (Monroe, Pleasant Hill, etc).

According to the 2000 census, Corvallis MSA had around 80,000 people. This area includes (I believe) Philomath and Corvallis and Albany. So within the same basic drives, there is a rough difference of 260,000 people. Say what you will about these statistics, but it’s basic simple math. This is going to make a difference.

So if we’re arguing that Oregon has better numbers than OSU then there really is no argument, there are only facts: Oregon has higher attendance numbers that Oregon State. But if we want to argue the loyalty or passion or knowledge or any other non-qualitative issue, then I will be right there, defending my Beavers, because I honestly believe the passion that we have rivals that of yourself. Simple case, football revenue numbers from last year: Oregon State finished 3rd, only behind USC and UCLA.

As for the USC game, I’ve said this before: It’s not easy to attend a Thursday night game, at 6 PM, when you won’t get home until roughly midnight (with work the next day) as it is. Throw into the equation the economy was on its way down, and Oregon State was (I have NO idea why) charging $75 a ticket, and suddenly, if your a dad with a wife and two kids, you’re looking at a $300 game, not to mention gas, food, booze, and probably a day off work the next day as well. Now I disagree with this reasoning, but for a lot of people who were considering the above mentioned costs, this team was 1-3, having lost to Stanford and getting creamed by Penn State. There were probably a lot of people who said “I can’t afford $200-$300 to watch this team get trounced.” Had we seen an OSU team that was 3-0, or even 2-1, I think that game sells out easy.

Any thoughts?