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Oregon elects to keep hockey trophy despite USC winning championship

Feb 27, 2010, 10:30 AM EST

16 Comments

There are sore losers and then there are so-sore-it’s-pathetic losers.
Sometimes, it’s hard to let go of something that means so much, but despite the pain suffered in the loss, there comes a point when there is no other choice but to do what is right. And then there are occasions when people (or hockey programs, in this instance) childishly refuse to give up something despite widespread condemnation for their immature, selfish actions.
That is conundrum the University of Oregon hockey program finds itself in presently. The defending PAC 8 champions the past two years and after dominating the PAC 8 hockey conference during the regular season this season, the Ducks faltered during the playoffs, losing to eventual conference champions USC in the semifinals.
Now USC would appreciate it if Oregon would relinquish the “Championship Cup” and give it to them, the trophy’s rightful owners. But the Oregon hockey program apparently does not see it that way as they’re refusing to turn the trophy over. Classy.


After defeating Washington in the PAC 8 championship game on February 20th, the Trojans rightfully assumed the University of Oregon would be turning over the trophy, but there the Trojans were at the awards presentation banquet last week and the trophy was nowhere to be found.
Unbelievable.
Well within his right given the circumstances, USC head coach Mark Wilbur pulled no punches when asked to comment on the lack of the Championship Cup’s presence:

“The absence of sportsmanship in a sport that cherishes its traditions leaves me speechless. It hurts the students, players, the fans, UO, and the league.”

“It’s pathetic..grow up and face the classless act and apologize publicly to the league and the team. Forget our seven previous championships – for this year’s team, it’s their first! I never thought I would witness such a class-less act at this level.”

The University of Oregon nor its hockey team has made any public statement to USC or the PAC 8 regarding their refusal to accept defeat, admit their mistakes up to this point and apologize for their deplorable behavior. Even if Oregon eventually sees how egregiously they have erred and ultimately turns over the trophy, Coach Wilbur will nevertheless continue to lament the loss of a memory stolen from his players. Still, if and when USC receives what is rightfully theirs, Wilbur has an idea what the team will do:

“What else, throw another victory party!! Maybe we should thank them for giving cause to celebrate again. But, that doesn’t replace that moment stolen from my players and our fans.”

Below is the video of USC scoring the winning goal against Washington in the closing seconds of the championship game. Tied 4-4, Ryder Fyrwald scores with 12.6 seconds left in the third period.

I guess even if they never get the trophy, they will always have the YouTube video. I suppose that’s something.
Once again, unbelievable.
***
University of Oregon Out of Class; Ducks Nesting on USC’s PAC 8 Hockey Championship Trophy [PR Web]

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  1. Skip - Feb 27, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    My understanding is that Jeremiah Masoli has the trophy and is holding it for ransom. Or is it Jamere Holland, or Lamichael James, or Kiko Alonso, or Rob Beard. Please return it to the hockey team so they may present it to the Trojans!

  2. pcb - Feb 27, 2010 at 2:11 PM

    Typical classless Ducks. I can assure you, if your hockey team wins it next season, USC will graciously hand it back………that is if they eventually get it in the first place. What an embarrassment for your university.

  3. Jeannie - Feb 27, 2010 at 2:17 PM

    SC wants a trophy. Waaaah. Buzz off.

  4. Curt - Feb 27, 2010 at 3:09 PM

    That’s UO for you!!! That’s how they acted when they came to Boise to get their a**es kicked. Talk about babies!!!!!!

  5. Duckrhyme - Feb 27, 2010 at 3:34 PM

    Jeannie, apparently the Ducks want a trophy even more, even if it’s not theirs. Now stop crying and grow up.

  6. Frank - Feb 27, 2010 at 4:31 PM

    Well the way they acted at Boise, the way their players have been arrested, what can you expect from the state of Oregon? They have continually shown themselves as a classless group of people.

  7. Bob - Feb 28, 2010 at 2:09 PM

    First off, this is a club hockey league not division-1. no athletes are on scholarship. This is a league ran by students for the enjoyment of the game. How is USC seriously “hurt” they did not get some janky trophy? remember its club hockey. oh, does anyone remember when USC club hockey made sportscenter when their goalie took off his gear and “mooned” the crowd. Talk about being classless. The University of Spoiled Children need to stop bitching.

  8. NV girl - Mar 5, 2010 at 2:54 AM

    Bob….
    It’s not a “USC versus Oregon” thing. What if USC hadn’t had won the championship and the University of Washington (the #2 seed) had been victorious? That would have been their first championship win and they would have been without their trophy.
    Bottomline, it’s a sportsmanship & respect for tradition. Clearly this year’s UO team is lacking in both.

  9. Anti-Bob - Mar 5, 2010 at 6:12 AM

    For someone with a disdain for club hockey, you sure know a lot about it.
    As you so eloquently put it, club hockey indeed is run “by students for the enjoyment of the game,” students who have to shell out a lot of money and time to compete. So if anything, it’s competition in its truest form (note the usage of “its” vs. “it’s”, for your future reference), arguably more so than NCAA players with scholarships. So in the end, that “jinky trophy” is the what they’re all playing for, love it or hate it…. that same jinky trophy is what ALL the PAC-8 teams aim for. Ask them what they think of it.
    This is not a USC issue… it’s an UO issue in disrespecting the rest of the league. When they chose not to bring the trophy, they didn’t know USC would have won it… UW, ASU, Cal and even ucla may have, and if any one of those schools won, they would have been likewise affected (UW more so, for not having won the Championship yet). If you don’t believe that a team pic in front of the scoreboard with the perpetual trophy is important, then you might as well throw away all of your family photos and burn your baby pictures.
    (And “University of Spoiled Children?” Really? You need updated material.)

  10. quackaddict - Mar 5, 2010 at 6:50 PM

    look, i love how everyone keeps saying it reflects poorly on the university as if the administration had a direct hand in it. Idk if you guys understand this, but this is a “club” sports program, directly managed by the players and students. So the students slip up and don’t bring the trophy. Ya it sucks but you dont see me indicting all of usc because they use illegal recruiting methods. You guys are just as bad as us “classless” u of o students.
    I also love all you people from boise indicting all of oregon because Blunt punched a guy. Apparently under your logic i should assume that everyone in the state of idaho is a neo nazi since their headquarters used to be there. Grow up, get over it, and do something useful for society instead of reading obscure sports articles. oh and before you say “well why are you reading this?”, my best friend plays on the USC hockey team and sent me the link for the article. Go Ducks

  11. quckaddict is an idiot - Mar 6, 2010 at 4:35 PM

    Illegal recruiting methods? Sorry to disappoint but the usual, standard form recruitment letters (which, by your depth of intellect on the matter are considered “illegal”) for USC have not been sent out the last 2 years. Glad you have your facts straight about USC recruiting. USC had around 5 new members this year and if you are referring to the initial absence of loftus and ryder, well… sometimes college students register for a team, pay the dues and only show up periodically. Its college, after all.
    Its not an obscure article either. Its NBC. Tells you something about how widely insulting it is to forget the end-all reward of a tournament. Whether club or ncaa, money was spent, teams traveled, an extreme of time and effort was invested, and Oregon forgot the reward and then went silent when SC sent the initial requests. This outburst is the result of that silence and negligence. All of which could’ve have been avoided at several stages prior to the publishing of this article.
    Fight on, ducks.

  12. Mark - Mar 7, 2010 at 12:17 AM

    I played in the Pac-8 over a decade ago. USC coach Mark Wilbur was a total jerk back then and clearly he still is today. USC dressed a Canadian professional hockey player against us. Wilbur said he knew nothing about it and kept playing the guy all season and in Nationals. What’s worse, not handing over a trophy or violating NCAA rules? I think you know the answer.

  13. Kim - Mar 20, 2010 at 1:50 PM

    I don’t even see how any Oregon fan can justify their actions in this case. Bringing up instances from OVER A DECADE ago. Falsely accusing them of “illegal recruiting” (which stated previously, they don’t even recruit anymore). Spatting out “University of Spoiled Children” (we’re not in the 20th century anymore kids, times have changed). All of that is completely inapplicable to this situation. The truth of the matter is: you didn’t bring the trophy because of your lofty egos and, even worse, you failed to fork it over when another team rightfully earned it.
    You’re sore losers. Sack up, accept it, and have some class.

  14. Fred - Apr 22, 2010 at 2:40 PM

    This is just another example of how at the University of Oregon the inmates are running the asylum. If the their administration had any power up there they would force these “student” athletes to hand over the trophy and do the right thing.
    Perhaps the PAC 10 should do the right thing and force all University of Oregon sports team to forfeit all conference sporting events until the trophy is turned over.

  15. Timothy Leary - May 25, 2010 at 2:30 PM

    Oh, it’s club hockey!
    So, what? you idiot.
    Sportsmanship does not apply? Returning a trophy does not apply? Are you really that stupid?

  16. doug jhonson - Sep 25, 2010 at 4:16 PM

    that sounds like the ducks there hockey team is a bunch of winning little boys and the staff what a joke. They play for oregon becaused they cant make it in any real hockey programs. I use to play for the club team when it was fun and the players ran the show not some idiots that are rec players

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