As far as the state of Oregon goes, I live in a house divided.
My dad is an Oregon State graduate and I am currently a junior at the University of Oregon. He is a die-hard Beaver fan, while I am a die-hard Duck.
The Civil War, the annual football game between the Ducks and Beavers, will be played this coming Saturday at Oregon State and is starting to cause quite a stir in my household.
Things can get pretty heated between opposing fans, especially during the week leading up to the rivalry game. My dad and I talk trash occasionally, but it's mostly in fun. Really, he wanted me to go to UO in the first place (in-state tuition, and OSU doesn't have a journalism school). So, while we talk some trash, neither of us is out for blood.
With the Ducks being No. 1 in the country and the Beavers hanging by bowl-eligibility thread, this year's Civil War doesn't have equally as much at stake for both sides. Last year, the game decided who would represent the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl. This year, the game has huge implications for the Ducks (win and go to the BCS Championship game), but the stakes are lower for the Beavs (win and become bowl-eligibile).
ESPN's College GameDay announced it would be on hand for the Civil War and broadcast its show from Corvallis on Saturday morning. I've gone to GameDay the past two seasons when they've broadcast from Eugene and I count both experiences as favorite memories from college. Now that they're coming to Corvallis, I feel it's my duty to be a real Duck fan, go to GameDay and show my colors at an away game.
Since my parents, one of my sisters and I are all going to the Civil War together, we already have an excuse to be in Corvallis. I'm set on attending GameDay, decked out in green and yellow, and I'm trying to convince my dad and sister to come with me. I don't even care if they wear black and orange.
My mom seems a little more open to the idea. (For the record, she graduated from Western Oregon University, so she doesn't really have a horse in this race. She claims to like the Ducks and Beavers equally, but she talks a lot more about Chip Kelly and LaMichael James than Mike Riley and Jacquizz Rodgers, so you do the math.) This morning she emailed me with a GameDay sign idea:
If you can get your dad to join you next Saturday, you should wear your Oregon best, and he should wear his Oregon State best, and the two of you should hold a sign that says “Civil Peace”.Love,
Mom
Oh, mom. You're great. This is a great idea.
It's only Sunday, so I have at least four or five days to convince my dad that GameDay is worth the early morning. If you see a "Civil Peace" sign on Saturday morning, you'll know my mission was accomplished.
