Sports Column

Be careful what you cheer for, UO fans

On Sports

By dwight jaynes

The Portland Tribune, Sep 4, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (55 Reader comments)

A few things I saw or heard this weekend that seem almost bewildering:

• Yes, Michigan was beaten 34-32 at Ann Arbor by Appalachian State. Biggest upset in college football history. But what was even more difficult to believe is the big roar of approval the announcement of the score got at Autzen Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Hey, Duck fans, do you realize what distressing news that game was for your program? First off, Michigan will be on a mission next week against Oregon. That game suddenly got a lot tougher. Second, if you win at Ann Arbor now, how much impact will that have?

Gosh, just think, if you win that game, you could be considered in the same class as Appalachian State.

• Speaking of whom, the NCAA has a new name for teams that used to be Division I-AA. It’s now the Championship Subdivision. And everyone is just going along with it. It’s an unwieldy mouthful, it sounds demeaning and if you ask me – I think we ought to just keep calling it Division I-AA.

• Oregon State opened its season with a stadium-remodel job, a winnable game, a lot of momentum from last year – and about 5,000 empty seats. Man, somebody in that athletic department needs to get busy and sell some tickets. Or give them away.

You really need to have those seats filled if you want to look like a big-time program.

• Why are people surprised that Portland State struggled in its opener? Did you think the Vikings had stockpiled the kind of players they need to play the style they wish to play? It’s going to take a while, folks.

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