You gotta admit that it would have been strange to build the University of Texas in, say, Wyoming.

I'm totally with you on the potato salad thing though. If that doesn't prove the unfairness in life, I don't know what does.
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--- laxduck wrote:

College athletics have never been "fair."

Is it "fair" that USC is in Los Angeles or Texas is in Texas?

NIKE was founded AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. Why shouldn't the university and it's athletics benefit from that?

Should Montana State be pissed that OSU invented potato salad? Is that fair?

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The one defining thing that seperates our Billionare Donor is he actually lettered in a sport at that school, which is something I can't find with the other wealthy donors.

But as far as single donations from donors, Stanford has two that come to mind (our own sugar daddy Phil gives them alot of Cash as well), and Jim Clark who founded Netscape also gave Stanford $150 million. Stanford has the wealthiest endowment on the west coast and is forth in the country in size.

Goerge Lucas gave USC like $175 million and thats not even their largest single donation!

I dont even want to look at what the Harvards and Princetons of the world can claim, but its safe to say without Phil we would be decidedly poorer.

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--- AnnieDuck1 wrote:

It's not as if other schools don't have several multimillionaire donors, it's just that they don't a really well-known billionaire donor/alum who got started on his first million working with another Oregonian.

I donated money before Oregon became so successful and have continued to do so.

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When Pickens made his original stock ddonation, it was reportedly valued at over $300 million. I would say that matches up quite well with Knight. The value of that portfolio did drop significantly during the market downturn, but the original thought is what counts.

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--- DuckPride100 wrote:

T. Boone Pickens is very generous donor to OK State, but he is not in Phil Knight's class.

Having said that, OK State is lucky to have Mr. Pickens in their corner.

GO DUCKS!

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--- Gladstone Gander wrote:

He probably is along with Pickens at okie st. But do you believe even with PK that Oregon doesn't lag behind fan bass at USC, Cal, UCLA, ASU, SU or UW?

Other fans resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller that didn't know their place and they changed it up. But nobody seems to resent how ND, USC, OU or tOsu....got there leg up early last century with big money and cheating and shady deals. It's much harder to do it today with all the rules and scrutiny then when USC used to sign 200 kids they just didn't want playing elsewhere. If you think SEC is dirty now they built those programs with $100 handshakes and girls and houses...far beyond Reggie Bush stuff. There are NCAA rules today because of what the SEC did for decades.

But let's cry about what PK does for Oregon. Plz....,

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--- DuckPride100 wrote:

I happen to think that Phil Knight is the most generous alum of any college on earth. If our opponents don't like it, they can kiss our collective rear ends.

He and his wife have made being a Duck fan much more fun.

GO DUCKS!

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Nothing sad about it if your a duck, and he's not the ONLY reason but he is a big reason.

You sound like one of Richards buddies....

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--- RedRacer1999 wrote:

It is sad because Knight is the only reason Oregon is on a (semi) national stage. The teams did not make the school famous, a donar did.... but Blount did punch that H out guy, he pu nched him right in the face..wow.

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You are close, but other fans really resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller who have far too many fans who forgot where they came from.

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--- Gladstone Gander wrote:

He probably is along with Pickens at okie st. But do you believe even with PK that Oregon doesn't lag behind fan bass at USC, Cal, UCLA, ASU, SU or UW?

Other fans resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller that didn't know their place and they changed it up. But nobody seems to resent how ND, USC, OU or tOsu....got there leg up early last century with big money and cheating and shady deals. It's much harder to do it today with all the rules and scrutiny then when USC used to sign 200 kids they just didn't want playing elsewhere. If you think SEC is dirty now they built those programs with $100 handshakes and girls and houses...far beyond Reggie Bush stuff. There are NCAA rules today because of what the SEC did for decades.

But let's cry about what PK does for Oregon. Plz....,

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--- DuckPride100 wrote:

I happen to think that Phil Knight is the most generous alum of any college on earth. If our opponents don't like it, they can kiss our collective rear ends.

He and his wife have made being a Duck fan much more fun.

GO DUCKS!

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I can't speak for other fans reasons for resenting Oregon, but it is hard to argue with your statement about having too many fans who lack perspective. I have seen behavior that reeks of this at virtually every game I have attended in recent years, in Eugene and on the road. I wish it would stop, but unfortunately, it appears to be a side effect of success.

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--- millcreekcoug wrote:

You are close, but other fans really resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller who have far too many fans who forgot where they came from.

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Heard it all now.

I disagree. If you are a jackass you are a jackass, whether you are from Oregon or WSU (plenty there too) or UW, or USC....

If you are a poor winner or a poor loser you are a jackass.

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--- millcreekcoug wrote:

You are close, but other fans really resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller who have far too many fans who forgot where they came from.

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--- Gladstone Gander wrote:

He probably is along with Pickens at okie st. But do you believe even with PK that Oregon doesn't lag behind fan bass at USC, Cal, UCLA, ASU, SU or UW?

Other fans resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller that didn't know their place and they changed it up. But nobody seems to resent how ND, USC, OU or tOsu....got there leg up early last century with big money and cheating and shady deals. It's much harder to do it today with all the rules and scrutiny then when USC used to sign 200 kids they just didn't want playing elsewhere. If you think SEC is dirty now they built those programs with $100 handshakes and girls and houses...far beyond Reggie Bush stuff. There are NCAA rules today because of what the SEC did for decades.

But let's cry about what PK does for Oregon. Plz....,

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--- DuckPride100 wrote:

I happen to think that Phil Knight is the most generous alum of any college on earth. If our opponents don't like it, they can kiss our collective rear ends.

He and his wife have made being a Duck fan much more fun.

GO DUCKS!

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There isn't really much that can be done, other than simply enjoying the success your team is having.

In the end, who cares what other fans think of your favorite team's fans?

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--- duck85 wrote:

I can't speak for other fans reasons for resenting Oregon, but it is hard to argue with your statement about having too many fans who lack perspective. I have seen behavior that reeks of this at virtually every game I have attended in recent years, in Eugene and on the road. I wish it would stop, but unfortunately, it appears to be a side effect of success.

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--- millcreekcoug wrote:

You are close, but other fans really resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller who have far too many fans who forgot where they came from.

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I care what folks think of the University of Oregon as reflected in the public actions of the players, coaches, staff, students and fans of the athletic programs.

I don't like seeing the UO painted with a broad-brush based upon the perceptions that Oregon fans are "bad".

additional thoughts:

1. I don't agree that "bandwagon fans" are all bad; and I certainly can understand bandwagon fans that have only experienced Oregon as a winning program with lots of national attention perceiving the program as great and "above" other programs ... that is actually a fact relative to other Pac12 programs the last 4 or 5 seasons ...
2. I think part of the pain that some rival fans feel when they enage the newly minted bandwagon fans for Oregon is how those fans ARE focused on the recent success - which in turn diminshes the perception of the rival teams ... again, it is unfortunate that the "truth hurts" sometimes.
3. I personally have been a fan of Oregon for many years, and so I know "where UO came from" in terms of a history of falling short and ending up near the bottom of the Pac10 in many sports ... but like the UW fans I encountered last year at the WSU game in Seattle, they have no clue about my history with Oregon and they were still upset with my reference to RECENT performance in response to their recollection of historical records among the schools (9 in a row versus still being behind by 16 games in the all-time series record with UW).

Yes, I think people should avoid being jerks. But my definition of a "jerk" does not have to do with rooting for a winning team and showing some pride in that record. My definition of being a jerk is being obnoxious and unpleasant without provocation - on the flip side, if you engage me with some snide comment about my team, don't be surprised if my responses reflects how my team has fared versus your team.

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--- millcreekcoug wrote:

There isn't really much that can be done, other than simply enjoying the success your team is having.

In the end, who cares what other fans think of your favorite team's fans?

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--- duck85 wrote:

I can't speak for other fans reasons for resenting Oregon, but it is hard to argue with your statement about having too many fans who lack perspective. I have seen behavior that reeks of this at virtually every game I have attended in recent years, in Eugene and on the road. I wish it would stop, but unfortunately, it appears to be a side effect of success.

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--- millcreekcoug wrote:

You are close, but other fans really resent Oregon because they were a bottom dweller who have far too many fans who forgot where they came from.

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It is the jerks who yell obnoxious crap at opposing fans without any provocation that I am talking about. I agree, however, if an opposing fan from a team we have owned in recent years (that would be pretty much all of the P12 for all you non Duck fans on the board :-) ) starts spouting off, then they should get it with both barrells. I am all for good natured ribbing, and am certainly not including that type of conduct in my comments. That's the stuff that makes it fun between fan bases.

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--- Green85 wrote:

I care what folks think of the University of Oregon as reflected in the public actions of the players, coaches, staff, students and fans of the athletic programs.

I don't like seeing the UO painted with a broad-brush based upon the perceptions that Oregon fans are "bad".

additional thoughts:

1. I don't agree that "bandwagon fans" are all bad; and I certainly can understand bandwagon fans that have only experienced Oregon as a winning program with losts of national attention perceiving the program as great and "above" other programs ... that is actually a fact relative to other Pac12 programs the last 4 or 5 seasons ...
2. I think part of the pain that some rival fans feel when they enage the newly minted bandwagon fans for Oregon is how those fans ARE focused on the recent success - which in turn diminshes the perception of the rival teams ... again, it is unfortunate that the "truth hurts" sometimes.
3. I personally have been a fan of Oregon for many years, and so I know "where UO came from" in terms of a history of falling short and ending up near the bottom of the Pac10 in many sports ... but like the UW fans I encountered last year at the WSU game in Seattle, they have no clue about my history with Oregon and they were still upset with my reference to RECENT performance in response to their recollection of historical records among the schools (9 in a row versus still being behind by 16 games in the all-time series record with UW).

Yes, I think people should avoid being jerks. But my definition of a "jerk" does not have to do with rooting for a winning team and showing some pride in that record. My definition of being a jerk is being obnoxious and unpleasant without provocation - on the flip side, if you engage me with some snide comment about my team, don't be surprised if my responses reflects how my team has fared versus your team.

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Green85 wrote: because Phil Knight chooses to donate millions of dollars to UO Athletics?

I keep reading about how the success of Oregon football, basketball, baseball, softball, golf and other sports is solely built on the money from Phil Knight ... and somehow that makes those accomplishments by those student-athletes less worthy of respect ...

What do you say to a rival fan to address the negative connotation they attach to Oregon's "sugar-daddy"?

I can't control what Phil Knight decides to do with his money - really I can't.

But I am a loyal fan of Oregon and I admit I take some borrowed pride from the athletic teams' success while wearing my alam mater school colors in public. Am I a bad fan?

where are all these articles on Oregon golf success solely built on Phil Knights  money?  link?

I bet the average season ticket holder, over the years, has donated/spent a higher percentage of their descretionary income on Oregon athletics... than Phil Knight has.

What matters most of all is who is the most classy of the classy.

Oddly enough, teams at the top never seem to have "classy" fans according to bottom-feeders. I mean, this place gets trolled hard by UW and OS fans, yet they get a break and are still considered "classy".

As such, I now define "classy" talk as being the sign of a fanbase whose team is getting their asses kicked by the "non-classy" teams.

Phil supplies the capital and everyone else keeps it running.

The new Cas Center is going to cost way more to maintain and staff. The Jaqua Center requires maintainance and staff.

Whenever Phil opens the wallet the results are something great, but also a never ending tab for utilities, maintainance, and new staff members. That tab is picked up by the little guys like all of us.

Could you provide the link or source of those increase costs of the new Cas center?

Oh, and could you provide the comparison cost numbers you referred to in your post for running Mac Court vs Matt Court, or the old law school vs the new law school, or the old library to the new library. 

Thanks!  

Mosster47 wrote: Phil supplies the capital and everyone else keeps it running.

The new Cas Center is going to cost way more to maintain and staff. The Jaqua Center requires maintainance and staff.

Whenever Phil opens the wallet the results are something great, but also a never ending tab for utilities, maintainance, and new staff members. That tab is picked up by the little guys like all of us.

I don't have links, but I'm going to go with the common sense of if you make your facility four times larger it's going to cost quite a bit more to keep it going day-to-day. 

The Jaqua Center didn't exist before so there is a whole new set of costs instead of just a bump up. 

It's awesome the Phil provides these facilities but it's expensive to keep the biggest and best running.

Gladstone Gander wrote: Could you provide the link or source of those increase costs of the new Cas center?

Oh, and could you provide the comparison cost numbers you referred to in your post for running Mac Court vs Matt Court, or the old law school vs the new law school, or athe old library to the new library. 

Thanks!  

Mosster47 wrote: Phil supplies the capital and everyone else keeps it running.

The new Cas Center is going to cost way more to maintain and staff. The Jaqua Center requires maintainance and staff.

Whenever Phil opens the wallet the results are something great, but also a never ending tab for utilities, maintainance, and new staff members. That tab is picked up by the little guys like all of us.

Every school seeks funding from its alumni. They have large departments just to do that. Whether it comes from 100 millionaires or one billionaire is really not important. University of Washington has many cash cows, for example. They also own a huge chunk of the real estate in Downtown Seattle which is an advantage that U of O will never have. All in all Universities like UCLA and Washington have so much more non tuition derived revenue than U of O will ever have. Shall we scream unfair? Clearly there are haves and have nots all over the map. Oregon has always had to do more with less. Phil Knight, evened the score a bit, but just a bit.

geo

PDXDuckFan wrote: What matters most of all is who is the most classy of the classy.

This guy gets it