Civil War 2009

Keri S.

December 7, 2009 - 12:18 PM

Although it sounds completely cliché, this Thursday is a day I will always remember. With the stakes high for the ducks, the anticipation leading to the big civil war game was killing me all week. In a "winner takes all" situation, the ducks had a lot to fight for: Pac-10 championship, invitation to the Rose Bowl, and the usual bragging rights for the whole year.

But before the game on Thursday, I had my final DSC project due and a 20 minute presentation for Sports Business. At 4:00 (exactly two hours before kickoff), I sprinted home from Lillis to put on all my warmest layers and then get to Autzen. My friend Diana also had class until 4, so we both scrambled together.

Once we crossed the foot bridge and saw Autzen Stadium lit up and roaring with excited fans, it hit me: this is my last football game as a student. It was hard not to get emotional. Every fall I plan my weekends around the football schedule, and skip on other plans to get decked out in my Oregon finest and cheer on my boys home or away. Although I am sure I will attend many games as an alumnus, NOTHING will compare to the experience you get as a student in Autzen Stadium. This is just one more grand finale to check off my list as I get closer to graduation. But OH MY GOSH...is there a better way this last game of mine could have gone?

Once we got to Autzen, Diana and I met up with our friend Alexi who was saving us seats in row 16! I have never been able to sit so close to the field, and was so ecstatic to be able to witness the game from this view! On the way to my seat, I heard "okay everyone, get together". As I turned around, I saw the camera man for Duck Vision start filming right where I was standing. On my last game, I met one of my lifelong goals of being on Duck Vision! Although the moment was brief and only lasted about ten seconds, it was so exciting!

As I finally found my friends and waited in anticipation for the game to start, I watched the Ducks warm up. Wearing their throwback jerseys from their last Rose Bowl trip, the Ducks looked sharp! At Oregon, we get so much grief for having flashy and "too many" jerseys, so I really enjoyed seeing them go with a classic, non glamorous look. To me, it sent the message of "We are here to play football and that is going to be our focus. Tonight, let our skills impress you not our glam". Don't get me wrong, I love the glam of Oregon football, but tonight was different.

With less than five minutes on the clock before game time, Puddles started getting ready to ride out on the motorcycle (my favorite part of the game by the way!) I heard an amazingly familiar song: "I love my ducks!" and looked to Duck Vision to see the video being played. I was so glad that the Athletic Department and Supwitchugirl were able to reach a compromise in this deal and play the campus hit for all of Autzen to see. As the entire student section sang along, I began getting butterflies for the game to come. It was finally here!

Before I knew it, the game was over and Oregon came out victorious 37-34! This means I won my annual bet I make with my Grandpa and was now a whole $1 richer!

As the field and student section became flooded with roses, my friends and I decided to skip rushing the field. Instead, we went to the tunnel where the players came out to congratulate our Ducks in person! As La Michael James came out, he handed his rose to Alexi. We stuck around a little later than normal to soak in Autzen before we had to say goodbye as students.

As I left the stadium, I thought about my very first game at Autzen. I was a junior in high school, and my older sister Kristen was able to get me an extra student ticket. As my interest for Oregon football started, it soon turned into a passion and an obsession! Where ever I end up, I will forever be a Duck and forever wear my green and yellow proudly every Saturday during the college season. So many of my fondest memories at the University of Oregon involved our football team, and for me this was the only way I could imagine finishing the season of my senior year! I went to the game with great friends, and witnessed some great football for the record books!

Congratulations to both teams for a game well played, and good luck to Oregon State in Las Vegas. As for my ducks, we are going to the Rose Bowl, baby! Show those Buckeyes what top tier Pac-10 football looks like!