The skepticism associated with the dramatic rise of Oregon football -- the Ducks are all style, no substance; merely beneficiaries of their ties to Nike and its deep-pocketed founder Phil Knight -- has largely been erased.
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But UO's negative reputation as the nouveau riche of college football is back after a former player sent a scathing letter to Oregonian columnist and radio personality John Canzano chronicling unpleasant and abusive behavior by fans while attending his first game at Autzen Stadium as a spectator.
The title of the former player's treatise? "I Love The Ducks. I Hate Duck Fans."
"I will never attend a duck game as a spectator again. I am disgusted by duck fans and I will sit back and observe from afar with high hopes for the player's (sic) success and understanding of their sacrifice, without having to hear the spoiled woes of ignorant fans," the former player writes.
At a time when UO is flying as high as it ever has -- ranked No. 2 in the BCS led by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Marcus Mariota -- this is an unwelcome return of a reputation the program has been working so hard to shake.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
