(Part two of a two part series)
After attending a disappointing game during a disappointing season for Maryland, I was excited to get out to the West Coast to see a "real" game. I attended the Oregon-USC game in Eugene, OR in a game that featured not one but two legitimate, big-time football programs. USC has a few national titles over the last decade. Oregon has been ranked in the top-10 in the BCS for the last few years with a national title appearance last year. Really, could a football fan ask for anything more?
Technically, I was rooting for Oregon. My brother is a junior there. The best part about a game like this though, is that you can enjoy the game for the game itself. I wasn't overly nervous about the execution, defensive lapses, or lack of effort by any one team. Sure, I got a little distraught when Oregon fell behind early. I definitely got excited when they made a furious comeback at the end of the game. Overall, it was just great to watch great teams play football. It was different to see a team like the Ducks not buckle when down by 17 points. They know they have a unique offense that can score a ton of points. They were undaunted by their deficit.
Conversely, it was unbelievable to watch a real quarterback like Matt Barkley play live. A top NFL prospect for next year's draft - should he choose to come out - Barkley was disecting the Duck's young defense. He threw for 4 touchdowns. Receiver Robert Woods, another stud, couldn't be stopped either. As much air as the USC offense took out of Autzen Stadium, you could tell you were watching a competitive game between two really good teams. They both have only lost two games on the season.
The atmosphere there is incredible. In a state like Oregon, there aren't any pro teams to take the spotlight away from the college scene. The state is split - you're either a Duck or a Beaver (Oregon State). Hell, the OU-OSU game is called the Civil War. Autzen Stadium is truly a great stadium. When the Ducks were making their way back into the game, it was deafening. The student section had creative cheers. Chip Kelly is already a legend there. The PA announcer was as enthusiastic as the fanbase. It was freezing that night, and it was a packed house. No one left early. It was the most exciting game I've ever seen live.
The pregame was just as big. It featured a huge school-sponsored tailgate in the beautiful indoor practice facility right next to Autzen. There were huge inflatables with interactive games for kids to play. Food and beer vendors waved green and gold pom-poms to lure you to their station. Puddles, the mascot, was walking around high-fiving people. There was a band in the middle of the facility to serenade people as they wandered around. And this was totally seperate from the parking lot tailgating! It was clear that Nike has just about everything to do with such a display. I would say Oregon is glad that Nike is on their side. It was a great time.
The Ducks did end up losing 38-35. It was disappointing considering Oregon hadn't lost a home game in two seasons. Afterwards, the fans weren't super upset. They knew they still had the Rose Bowl in their sights if they beat their rivals in the final game of the regular season. The fans took it in stride. They know their team is good. LaMichael James is one of the best running backs in the country. They feel confident. It was refreshing to see a fanbase not fall apart after a loss. It must be nice to know you are always in contention.
Watching two winners go head-to-head is something all football fans should try and do. It is a lot easier if one of those teams isn't your favorite team. You can just enjoy the product. There is a clear difference in the attitude and aura of a town that houses a football school. Everything is ramped up a notch...and it's awesome. I will always love Maryland, and I will always enjoy the tailgates. But now I want to head to other places, like maybe the Southeast, to see how they do things on Saturday afternoons. I would imagine its a lot like Eugene, if not bigger. Every game of every week is an event. That's what it means to be a football school.
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