I Love my Ducks, But REALLY?!
As a UO graduate and Duck, I can’t help but be embarrassed about the current PR crisis facing my alma mater’s football team. Over the past two months, the UO football team has had seven players involved in legal trouble, from accusations of theft and domestic violence to DUII arrests. It’s one of those things that just makes me say, “REALLY?!” (I love that saying right now).
But, really. Soon we’ll be known as the University of Oregon Jailducks. At what point do you stop talking and actually take some action? Regarding star player LaMicheal James’s case, I understand head coach Chip Kelly needs to get all of the “facts” straight (according to his recent interview with Oregonian columnist John Canzano’s radio show, The Bald Faced Truth), before making any rash decisions. However, there’s no doubt that Kelly is sending a mixed message about discipline to his team and the public. I strongly feel that unless a precedent is set in place and players are held accountable for their actions with real consequences, the University of Oregon’s reputation as a whole (athletically and academically) will severely suffer.
The University of Oregon Jailducks?
In an interview last week on KVAL of Eugene, one of my former PR instructors at the UO, Kelli Matthews, said that when legal matters are involved, organizations are not always able to be as transparent as they’d like. This is one of the stickiest aspects about this particular PR crisis. Although I feel Coach Kelly has done a great job with addressing the situation, maybe he really can only do so much — and so little — because of legal implications. However, I have to agree with John Canzano that Kelly’s actions do seem inconsistent according to expectations that should be held for ALL players.
I love my Ducks, but a clearer message NEEDS to be sent, or most of them will be wearing black and white striped uniforms come this football season.
My fellow Ducks, how do you feel about this PR crisis? Is Chip Kelly handling it well? What should Chip Do?
