A Duck Fan "Comming Home" sung by Mat Kearney

Guaranteed to bring a tear to your eyes if you are an Oregon Ducks!!!

"CIVIL WAR WEEK"

"No time to wallow in the mire" Forget the bad new at home and abroad. Forget the results of last weeks games, forget the record books, forget Thanksgiving ,Forget "Black Friday" sales  !!!

Here in Oregon this is Civil War Week. The week of the game between the University of Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State University Beavers. The game will be on FoxSports1 on "Black Friday" in Eugene at Oregon's Autzen Stadium. The game will be on Fox Sports 1 at 4:PM PST.
Someone said the "Civil War" game "is for the right to live in the State of Oregon" or at least the right to live in the State of Oregon with your head held high. This is one of college footballs oldest rivalries. The oldest west of the Mississippi. Here in Oregon, Ducks and Beavers can be found in most offices, families and neighborhoods. It's brother vs brother, neighbor vs neighbor and coworker vs coworker so it truly is a Civil War. These two teams and their fans do not like each other.

One of my favorite Civil War stories is from World War II. One of the Band of Brothers featured in the HBO mini series, Don Malarkey, is a University of Oregon alum. His studies were interrupted by World War II and he was in the paratroopers in England preparing for the D-Day landings. Eisenhower and Churchill came to view his unit before the beginning of the invasion and Ike asks Malarkey what he did before the war. He said he was a student at the University of Oregon in Eugene, and Ike asks him who won the last Oregon vs Oregon State Football game. Of course Ike played football for Army at West Point.

It is fun to walk around the tailgate parties before the game because you see Ducks and Beavers together. There is a scene in the movie Gettysburg where a confederate general tells a British Army officer who is there as an observer just before Pickett's charge that "All Virginia is here today". At each Oregon vs Oregon State Football game I like to think "all Oregon is here today."
Jon Wilner, of the San Jose Mercury news in California rates the rivalry football games in the Pac-10 and rates the "Civil War" game as the #1 rivalry game when he writes:


"1. The Civil War.

These days, Oregon-Oregon State has the best combination of passion, significance and competitiveness.

The passion takes the form of hatred — much closer to the Arizona-ASU situation than a healthy dislike.

OSU looks with jealousy at its richer, more-famous, more hip neighbor and wonders what might have been if Phil Knight had gone to OSU. The Ducks hate OSU because they’ve been told to hate OSU for decades.

The games are usually high scoring, although not always close, and the home team has dominated this decade.....


Without question, Oregon and Oregon State have been the most successful natural rivals in the conference in recent years. And that makes the Civil War the league’s best rivalry."


I first learned to hate the Beavers in the late 1960's when the Beavers, regularly under coach Dee Andros,( The Great Pumpkin) beat the shi* out of Oregon Duck Teams and did it with such relish.


A number years ago Dee, long retired, not too long before his death, came to a joint Duck/Beaver "Civil War" lunch in Medford and gave a passionate speech about the "Civil War" game that made me want to strap on a helmet and start playing right there. When Dee Andros walked into the banquet room he was wearing a god awful bright orange blazer and a black and orange striped tie. A local young TV sports reporter, who had probably just moved to this area, walked up to him and asked him if he was an Oregon State fan ..... it brought a smile to my face.

(Dee Andros was a veteran of World War II where he served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was awarded the Bronze Star and spent more than a month under heavy fire on Iwo Jima. He was present at the famed moment when Marines raised the American flag on Iwo Jima.)

In my lifetime I can remember twice when the Duck were denied a trip to the Rose Bowl because of a loss to the Beaver..... The first, was in 1964 when I was in high school and listened to the game on a transistor radio at a speech tournament I was competing in. The Beavers won and went to the Rose Bowl. The second, was in 2000 when I spent part of the game at a hospital with a dying relative.

This has been a bad season for the Beavers and they would dearly love to beat the Ducks while we are "down" A win by them will make their season and Oregon fans will hear about it from our Beaver "friends" for the next 12 long months.Oregon  should remember they hate our guts ! They always cheer for us to lose regardless of who we are playing. There is no Pac 12 Championship to play for, there is no Rose Bowl  or National Championship to play for; BUT, there is "the right to live in the state of Oregon!!!

Just remember Ducks, the Beavers will come at us like mad dogs !

Let's go Ducks Win the Day!

Go Ducks beat the Beavers.

Washington Week Part III: It took a Duck to deliver the "W"

The Washington Huskies are very proud of the remodel of the "Mistake by the Lake" but it took an Oregon Duck to delivery their "W" to the remade stadium.

Washington Week Part II "THE PICK"

 I have re-edited a post I made a few years ago for "Washington Week," the week the Oregon Ducks play the Washington Huskies in football. In Washington Week Part I (posted below) I outlined why Oregon fans learned to hate the Huskies and were always losing to them. Now on to Part II.

Washington Week Part II: "The Pick"

On October 22, 1994, Oregon football changed. The 1994 season didn't start out that way. Oregon lost to Hawaii, Utah and Washington State. There were only 25,000 fans at Autzen for Utah. At that game I looked around the parking lot and wondered "where is everybody?." The Ducks had beaten U$C in LA but we thought it was a fluke. Then came the Washington game in Eugene on October 22, 1994. I didn't want to drive three hours from Medford to Eugene to watch another Washington "blow out" of the Ducks. ( see post below) I had been there too many times before. In those days with two teenage children at home my kids took turns going to the games with me as we had two season tickets. It was my daughter's turn and so we drove to Eugene. I always like to park on the campus side of the Willamette River and take the footbridge over to Autzen. On a nice day it's a wonderful walk over the river and through the woods to Autzen. I parked on Franklin Blvd. and walked by the New Oregon Motel. It was full of Husky fans. We had also stopped by the book-store on campus and it was full of Husky fans. We got to the game and took our seats in SECTION 13 and the game started. Washington was ranked the # 9 team in the nation. Oregon kept it close. Oregon was leading by four points when Washington scored to go ahead 20 - 17 with 7:44 minutes to play. The game seemed to unfold as it had so often. "nice try"..." a moral victory" ... "close but no cigar". NOT THIS TIME. Danny O'Neil Oregon's QB led the Ducks on a 98 yard drive to regain the lead. It will forever be known as "The Drive." The Ducks now led 24-17 with 2:40 to go in the game. Washington then started their own drive and advanced to the Duck 8 yard line with 1:09 to play. With each yard the Huskies made, every Duck fan knew that Washington would score and win the game as they had so many times before. " So close, but no cigar." Then there was a play that will live forever in every Duck heart. Washington had plenty of time to give the ball to heralded tail back Napolean Kaufman. Instead, QB Damon Huard threw the ball in the flat toward Dave Janoski. Kenny Wheaton the Oregon CB timed the throw perfectly and stepped in front of the Washington receiver and intercepted the ball and ran it all the way back for another Duck touchdown to win the game 31-20. I was standing watching the play with my daughter. We both began to jump up and down!!! We then hugged as we both jumped up and down!!!. It was redemption! My daughter and I will always have that moment in time. On my dying day I will remember it. The play became known as "THE PICK". It is shown on the big screen at every Oregon home game just as the team comes on the field. Jerry Allen, the radio broadcaster's call of the play, has become a favorite of Duck fans... "KENNY WHEATON'S GOING TO SCORE....KENNY WHEATON'S GOING TO SCORE" I have a framed print of the play hanging in my office.(See picture above) After the game the many Husky fans looked crushed. The three hour trip back to Medford was like floating on air. Oregon went on to win the Pac 10 Championship that year and the entire family went to the Rose Bowl. It was the Ducks first time since 1958.
It was the beginning of the Golden Age of Duck Football ! Lets Go Ducks!... Beat the Huskies!

Here is "The Pick" on YouTube!

Washington Week Part I (or How I Learned to HATE the HUSKIES!)

 

 

This is a re post of a post I make every year when the Oregon Ducks play the Washington Huskies with a few minor changes.

To every Oregon Duck Fan "Washington Week" is the week the University of Oregon Ducks play the University of Washington Huskies in football. This year the game will be Saturday in Seattle at the "Mistake by the Lake." 1 PM (PT) on FOX SPORTS 1 on TV. To make it even more special ESPN Gameday will be there earlier in the morning.

There has been bad blood between these two schools for years.. It started in 1948 when there was a tie between Cal and Oregon to go to the Rose Bowl. In those days ties were settled by a vote of the Pac 8 schools. (the Arizona schools were then not part of the conference.) Oregon expected the Northwest schools to stick together but Washington voted for Cal and as a consolation the Ducks led by QB Norm Van Brocklin went to the Cotton Bowl. Before Autzen stadium was built Oregon would play some of it's home games against Washington at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. In the 50's it was not unheard of for fistfights to erupt in the stands between Duck and Washington fans. In 1968 I drove to Seattle to watch Oregon beat Washington 3 to 0 on a Ken Woody field goal during a rain swept game. During the 1970's, 1980's and into the 1990's Washington dominated the Ducks and were the premier team in the Northwest. Husky fans would descend on Eugene and Autzen Stadium in their god awful purple and would almost outnumber the Duck yellow and green. They would fill up Eugene hotels like locusts and bring their large band. Husky fans became known for their arrogance. Once on a trip to Seattle I ask a Husky fan the outcome of a game and was treated like a fool to expect anything but a Husky win. My Dad, not a football fan, was treated the same way when he struck up a conversation with a Husky fan at a hotel before an Oregon/Washington game. I know it's only a game but I learned to hate the Huskies and their fans.( Every time I start to get too smug as an Oregon fan I always try and tell myself "remember don't be like a Husky fan") At Husky home games they would blow their siren after each score as they beat the sh** out of hapless  Oregon Duck teams. That all ended on October 22,1994, and I was there!!! (Has it been 19 years!) To be continued... Lets Go Ducks

Win the Day 

Oregon Duck Coach Helfrich: "Drop DirecTV. Make the Switch Today!"

New campaign by Pac-12 Networks to go after DircTV for not carrying the Pac 12 Networks.  Make the switch to Dish!!!

Are You Ready For Some Football!

New 2013 Oregon Football Poster

Greatest Plays in Oregon Football History - New! (HD)

If you are an Oregon Duck football fan do yourself a favor and  watch this video....... stay till the end.  It brought tears to my eyes. So many memories.

The Return of the 4 Musketeers

 

With the two kids now living back East it is not too often that we all get together to go to an Oregon Duck football game. However, arrangements for a game this fall have now been made, airline tickets purchased, and the 4 DUCK FANS  will be TOGETHER at a game to watch our beloved DUCKS! 

Is this Dad excited or what!

In past years our kids have gotten together to go to Duck games when  the Ducks have gone East for games at Michigan, Purdue and Tennessee but Mom & Dad were not there.  Not this year!

Let's Go Ducks!  Win the Day!

 

GO DUCKS !

The Oregon Ducks long nightmare with the NCAA is over and with a fair result!  I only wish it hadn't taken so long.  Now we can focus solely on what happens on the field.  Are you ready for some football!!!!!!!!! 

I got up early this morning after a fitful night of sleep, turned on my computer and fixed a pot of coffee (WITH CAFFEINE) and waited for the NCAA and the SCOTUS to announce their decisions with came out almost at the same time giving me a good case of sensory overload as I monitored  my TV ( FOX NEWS/ ABC's Good Morning America), my computer (emails, twitter and Oregon Duck websites) and my iPad too. I did all this  while getting ready for work and having breakfast.

Can't disagree with SCOTUS on DOMA and their non decision on Prop 8 in California.

Oregon Ducks: "Double Secret Probation"

"An inside source at the NSA has given ATQ some leaked recordings from the NCAA. We have an exclusive on what punishment for the Ducks is about to be handed down"

Addicted To Quack has a very funny post on former Washington Huskie and current  NCAA President Mark Emmert and his dislike for the Ducks!

http://www.addictedtoquack.com/2013/6/13/4425410/quack-fix-double-secret-probation

Mark Emmert aka Dean Wormer: "I hate those guys!"

One of the Guideposts to Summer!

First College Football Magazine. Picked it up at Fred's yesterday. One of the Guideposts to Summer! Yes, that is Oregon QB Marcus Mariota on the cover.

"The Way We Were"

http://fishduck.com/2013/05/misty-watercolor-memories-of-the-way-we-were/

Smiles we gave to one another

"Civil War" game in Eugene on Dec 3,2009; Oregon 37, Oregon State 33...... WE'RE GOING TO THE ROSE BOWL!

DIsh Network after one week!

I love it and wonder why I stuck with our local cable company (now owned by Charter) for over 40 years.  I am getting more for less cost.  The picture is great and rain does not degrade my picture. I switched so I could watch my Ducks on the Pac 12 Networks, which Charter refused to carry, but there is so much more that is good about the Dish Network.

It started when I went into a local store here in Medford named "No Wires Media" locally owned by a couple who's kids attend the same school as my children when they were young.  The wife runs the store and husband does the instillation. No calling someone in some far away call center and taking potluck as to who shows up to do the instillation. They were also able to get me a discount from Charter for the Internet and phone that I was keeping.

I ordered the 200 station package with one Hopper and three Joeys to connect four TVs in our house.

Last Wednesday the installer arrived at 10 AM and had the system installed by 2 PM.  For the most part he was able to use the old cable wiring to the 4 TVs but did have to run a new line to the master bedroom because we are keeping Charter's Internet and phone service. He installed the dish on the side of the house under a window so if it snows I can reach out the window to remove the snow collection with a brush without going outside; but, yet it is high enough to have a great unobstructed  view of the southern sky and so I can walk under it outside  and not hit my head .  He put the main unit called the Hopper in the living room and the Joeys in my wives's sewing room, the master bedroom and the "Man Cave" downstairs in our half basement.

The Hopper unit has 3 separate TV tuners so we can watch three separate stations in the house or record on one tuner and watch two stations on the other two tuners. If all 4 TV's are in use, one  TV will have to watch the same station as one of the other TVs or watch prerecorded programs recorded on the Hopper which is also a DVR.  Not much of a problem since there is only my wife and I since the Kids grew up and moved out. Each TV gets a remote that controls the Hopper/Joey and the TV.There is even a feature that allows me to find a "lost" remotes!



This is the first time we have had a DVR. It's nice to graduate from the old VCR! I can program it to record any program I want on a regular schedule.  For example I programed it to record Bret Baier's news show "Special Report" which is broadcast on Fox News Monday through Friday at 3 PM here on the west coast. Best program on politics on TV. It has a feature that will allow you to record all four major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC CBS) prime time lineups  every night of the week and keep it for a week automatically.
I now get a "slug" of new TV Channels that I love, again at less cost than Charter such as:

Fox Business Network, Turner Classic Movies, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime Movie Channel, Sundance Movie Channel, NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, 2 Comcast sports channels from California and the Pac 12 Networks!!! Also get NASA and Pentagon Channels.

Best yet,  Dish has "TV Anywhere" so I can watch LIVE, all my TV channels  on my computer at home,  at the office and on  my iPad. Anywhere I have  an Internet connection.  So for example, I can program and watch live TV from my home at  McDonald's in Washington D.C. This is not just a few channels but ALL my channels and at no additional cost.

If you are a cable subscriber and are afraid to switch DON"T BE!

Even if Charter should in the future get the Pac 12 Networks there is no going back for me unless there is a substantial improvement in their system and features.

 With apologies to Peter Paul and Mary:  Charter......where have all your subscribers gone....... gone to Dish everyone.... when will they ever learn, when will they ever learn.

The Dish has landed & Life is good!

I can get the Pac 12 Networks and otherwise the TV reception and channel selection is great.  Less expensive than Charter and we have joined the 21st Century with a DVR as part of the Hopper!  I can also watch all of the channels on TV anywhere on my iPad. Why did I wait so long!

Don't buy Charter's commercials telling you will lose reception in a rain storm. Tonight we inaugurated or system in the middle of a thunder and lightning storm with hard rain and there was no perceptible change in our reception.

I went through "No Wires Media" a local brick and mortar store here in Medford located at 1560 Biddle Road and locally owned. Nice folks.



Go Ducks!

Today is D-Day ..... DISH DAY!

Today is the day they install my Dish so I can watch my Oregon Ducks on the Pac 12 Networks.  Let's Go Ducks......... Win the Day!

Goodbye Charter!

Tale of Two Spring Football Games in the State of Oregon

 

 

The University of Oregon Ducks had 36,588 fans at their Saturday April 27 Spring football game in Eugene.

 

 

The Oregon State Beaver had according to the Oregonian  a "(generously estimated) crowd of 8,263" , (yes 8,263) at their Friday night April 26 Spring football game in Corvallis.

Ducks Spring Football Game

Tomorrow, Saturday, the Oregon Ducks will hold their annual "Spring Football Game" to end spring practice.  After the game it will be four long months  till the first game on August 31st. Almost every year I take the 3 hour trip to from Medford to Eugene and 3 hours back after the game.  My wife thinks I am crazy to drive that far to see a glorified scrimmage. Last year over 44,000 Oregon fans showed up for the Spring Game. This year the Oregon Club of Southern Oregon is sponsoring a charter bus from Medford to the game.  The Spring game starts at 11AM and will be broadcast live on the Pac 12 Networks. (Which we don't get in Medford  because of Charter Cable) After the game those on the charter bus will cross the plaza from Autzen Stadium over to P.K. Park to watch the Ducks take on Stanford in baseball. That game starts at 2 PM.  After the baseball game we will head back to Medford on the charter bus.  While in Eugene I will make another pilgrimage to the Duck Store to see if there is anything I cannot live without. Hot dogs, peanuts, football and baseball!  I spend my winters after the bowl games looking forward to this game. What a great day to be alive! Go Ducks!

March Madness: Ducks to Sweet 16

Ducks beat St. Louis University to make it to the Sweet 16 in Men's Basketball  How Sweet it is!