Time To Raise the White Flag On the Civil War

It is time to say adios to the game.

At least take an extended break until Oregon State gets back on its feet (if ever). When both were in the same conference, there was a certain equality to the matchup that no longer exists. Over the past 50 years or so, Oregon State been the “little brother,” but being in a lower-tier conference now makes it a second-class citizen. Even Mr. FishDuck is starting to ease-up on his Beavis jokes, and focus on his Bet365 gaming fun at Wincomparator instead.

Oregon vs. Oregon State is now a heavyweight versus a lightweight, an A+ student versus a C-, and a penthouse versus the poor house. While Oregon relieves itself on a golden throne in a palatial outhouse, the Beavers are wandering astray in the wilderness, crapping in the woods. (Kind of like an actual Beaver.)

An Oregon lineman waves goodbye to the Beavers. (photo by Steven Chan)

As a fan, it is just not the same. The excitement I now get during Civil War week is no different than if the Ducks were playing the likes of San Diego State or Fresno State. Playing Boise State is way more exciting. Until the Beavers find their footing in this modern-day college football landscape, and get to the Broncos’ level of second-tier success, the game will be completely hallow.

But, even then, it will still not match the old Pac-8/10/12 days.

The harsh reality is that those days are never coming back. In a few years, the Top 40 or so programs are going to break away and become their own entity. The Ducks will be a part of it, the Beavers will not.

It is over.

Every day, on schoolyards across this great state, kids are getting picked first, while others are getting picked last. The destruction of the Pac-12 conference resulted in the Ducks getting picked first, while the Beavers got picked last.

Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: Steven Chan

Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in technology in SLC, Utah.

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Darren Perkins

Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.