Spring fever at UO Spring Game

EUGENE, Ore. -- Fans filled up Autzen stadium early Saturday morning to catch a first glimpse of next year's University of Oregon football team.

The team competed in an intrasquad scrimmage known as the annual Spring Game.

After more than four months of staying inside, fans couldn't wait to get back to tailgating at Autzen.

"There's the long break between here and next football season, so the Spring Game takes the edge off," said Bryan Crews, a Duck fan from Eugene.

Some fans went all out at the spring tailgate party. Crews had a custom made Duck grill and a new sound system that he's bringing to every tailgate party.

"Somebody thought we were a radio station one day," Crews said. "My name is Bryan so somebody said, 'oh this is KBRY,' and it stuck."

Saturday's excitement is all geared toward the Ducks and another successful season fans are hoping for.

"We're going to bring it like we do every year," said Jamie Spoor, a Duck fan.

While fans lost a few of their favorite players this year, they said this won't keep their Ducks from winning.

"We did lose some, but we also gained some. I think we're going to do just fine," Spoor said.

"We have some pretty good battles going on for the quarterback position and defensive line so it's going to be an amazing season I think," said Kevin Kelly, a Duck fan from Eugene.

"I'm hoping we'll go beyond Rose Bowl, we need to get that BCS championship again," Spoor said.

The Spring Game also served as an opportunity to collect canned goods for Food For Lane County (FFLC).

Fans could get in to the game with three non-perishable food items. FFLC is projecting more than 70,000 pounds of food was donated at Saturday's game.

The Ducks will open the 2012 regular season September 1 against Arkansas State at Autzen Stadium.