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Should College Athletes Be Booed?

Ted Miller outlines a grim possibility for Opening Week.

California fans need to prepare for a distinct possibility that many will not embrace, one that will inspire slapped foreheads and furious and outraged typing across the Golden Bear Nation.

Nate Longshore could win the quarterback job over Kevin Riley.

So how will Bears fans handle that? Will the raucous booing Longshore faced walking off his home field in Sourberry Canyon in 2007 return the first time he hurls an ill-advised interception?

Not saying Longshore is definitely the man. There's still about a week to 10 days before a decision needs to be made as earnest preparations begin for the Aug. 30 opener against Michigan State.

But folks who've watched more than a handful of practices -- when pushed to make a call -- suspect it will be Longshore.

So it might be good for fans to prepare. Let us suggest Dale Carnegie's lesser-known classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence Quarterbacks."

I wrote a similar article earlier this year about it (you're stealing my columns Ted) and maintain a somewhat ambivalent stance on the issue. I don't like booing athletes, but I can imagine the hyped up students turning nasty and even some of the grayer Bears getting a little frustrated if Nate struggles. I doubt he will, but the possibility of more boos out of the gate is not at all remote.

I'm not going to influence the vote on the poll, but you can vote and leave your thoughts in the comments: Should college athletes be booed? If so, under what circumstances?

And separately, if Nate Longshore does start and has a below-average performance against the Spartans, what will be your reaction? And what do you think will be the general fan reaction?

Be nice. You can find the original CGB team at WriteForCalifornia.com.

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