Campus THEN and NOW Series - Part 2: Autzen Stadium

Caitlin H.

October 4, 2009 - 9:20 AM

I feel like much of my life has been a balance between athletics and academics. I get excited in the classroom. I love to learn. On the court and on the field I've always thrived on feeling like a part of a team. I've genuinely enjoyed for years the thrill of athletic accomplishment. I get the same kind of high when I sit down to paint, or heck, color in a coloring book. I love going for a jog along the trails next to the Willamette River. I used to be inspired when I'd pick up my saxophone to for a concert - (I've been meaning to pick it up again one of these days). I feel energized when I try something new. I feel alive when I find myself casually chatting about world events or academic theory. Bottom line: I think I love feeling inspired.

As a student at the University of Oregon I pay something called an incidental fee. It is a fee paid through my tuition that goes towards a multitude of services and opportunities on campus. Because of this fee I ride the city buses simply by showing my student ID at no additional cost, I can visit the career center for resume help, I utilize the student recreation center, I attend conferences on campus and other guest speakers, and I most certainly attend Duck athletic events.Check here if you'd like to see a list of other benefits the incidental fee offers to students. Quite often I find myself using this fee to get inspired - I already pay it, might as well use it right?

In the fall, there is nothing I love more than spending my Saturdays at Autzen Stadium. Autzen is, to say the least, a powerful place. I remember my first year as a student at the UO I would get darn right ecstatic when I experienced the mile long trek from the residence halls to the stadium across a river and through a park. It was like a river of yellow moving on land. Autzen is consistently ranked one of the loudest arenas in college football - as I understand it we've been louder than a small jet plane at take off. The energy in the stadium, for any duck fan, sends shivers down your spine. I suppose visitors might tremble too - but for entirely different reasons.

This Saturday I went to the UO football game against Washington State. For me this is a big rival game every year - a large number of my graduating class in high school went to WSU. To say the least, it wasn't such a ‘big game' as far as the action on the field was concerned. The ducks defeated WSU 52-6. It was actually one of the calmest experiences I've ever had at Autzen. The stadium energy is entirely different in big conference matchups or when we play a ranked team. But as I always do, I had a wonderful time.

Before heading into the student section myself, I took some time to catch up with alumni and talk to them about what their experiences were like as a duck in the student section - the same corner of the stadium I sit in now. Josh Pritchett, class of '96, was kind enough to speak with me before joining me in cheering on our ducks to victory. Josh had some incredible stories to tell. I can only imagine what the '94 game against the Huskies must have been like for him to see live. Duck Vision (a video montage played before opening kickoff) still shows the footage of Kenny Wheaton's interception against Washington quarterback Damon Huard known now as ‘The Pick.' It's part of my pre-game tradition to cheer at this same play every Saturday as much as yelling out ‘it never rains at Autzen Stadium.' I don't even remember when I became aware of what ‘The Pick' was, other than at some point in my journey of becoming avid duck fan, I suddenly knew. That video clip means something to me as a duck fan, but I can only imagine what it must mean to a different generation of duck fans, something I had never considered before. According to Josh that football season really created a demand for duck gear in the UO bookstore. And well, I think it is safe to say, that hasn't changed since.

When Josh was a student at the UO he was able to pick up his student season tickets in one stop at the ticket office outside Mac Court. I'll admit, I'm jealous of that. I battle online every week before a home game for my chance at going. Students now reserve their tickets online, one game at a time. Generally it is the most stressful part of my weekend, worrying if I'll get a ticket or not, or if I'll even be able to log into the athletic department website fast enough. Josh noted he never heard many grumblings of students unable to attend duck events that wanted to go. I can't say that is entirely the case of what I hear now.

I'll admit, I was a little sad to hear Josh never really learned the words to the fight song. I can imagine it might not have been terribly popular then. Although I'm told the ‘quackers' aka duck lips were. I've been advocating for more alumni to learn the words to the fight song at duck games. I'll be sure I give you a chance to learn before closing.

Football game weekends usually mean I have a busy Sunday for homework before heading back into the classroom on Monday. Or in my case, the dance studio on Monday. At least I can crank out that climatology lab knowing my ducks had a sound victory over the weekend!

Thank you for taking the time to tell me about your duck story Josh!

Oregon, our Alma Mater
We will guard thee on and on
Let us gather round and cheer her
Chant her glory Oregon
Roar the praises of her warriors
Sing the story Oregon
On to victory urge the heroes
Of our mighty Oregon!

Coming next: Gerlinger Hall & Gerlinger Annex