Huskies Are the New Beavers, Stay In Your Lane Kiffin, and the Civil Apple Cup War

For the past several decades, the Oregon State Beavers have been Oregon’s in-state rival and proverbial “little brother.” The Beavers have had stretches where they were just no competition for big brother. They had stretches where they were very challenging for Big Brother. But, ultimately, they could never overtake Big Brother. Their path to challenging Big Brother often resembled a high-stakes game, similar to a night spent in a casino like the ones you can find on kasyno-na-pieniadze.pl.

And, now, with the Beavers in a different, low-grade conference, the Ducks and Beavers are no longer even related. But, have no fear. The Ducks are not relegated to being some awkward only child. They have a new little brother…

The Washington Huskies.

The Ducks’ new “little brother” is spunky. In fact, so spunky that he made the national championship game just two years ago. But the Ritalin quickly wore off, and the Huskies instantly fell back to irrelevance. The Huskies will have the occasional good seasons and the occasional bad seasons, but like the Beavers before them, they will consistently be mediocre and “meh.”

The Huskies cannot compete with the Ducks in coaching, talent or brand. They do not have the recruiting chops nor the power of Oregon’s NIL collective. And, any time the Huskies exceed expectations, their coach’s name will float around for bigger jobs. They are a second-tier Power Four stepping-stone to the elite.

But, take solace, Huskies. Sometimes families grow. You are not alone out west in being Oregon’s little brother…

Just ask USC.

Will Kiffin Ever Get It?

While Lane Kiffin was brash and unlikable early in his career, I have actually viewed him positively on his return to success. Part of that is because he is winning at a traditionally lower-tier SEC school, and along the way beating many of the unlikable blue-bloods, such as Alabama.

The Oregon program has run away from the Huskies. (Photo Eric Becker)

Kiffin is heavily flirting with potential jobs at Florida and LSU. My advice is to take the Dan Lanning route and stay where you are. Become an elite coaching legend at a school that does not have any. Become the Bear Bryant at Ole Miss the way Lanning is looking to do so at Oregon.

There have only been a million examples of coaches hopping over to a “better job” and flopping. Sports is illogical. Do not look any further than your cross-state rival, Mississippi State, where Dan Mullen elevated the lowly Bulldogs into a competitive program before jumping ship to Florida. It did not work out, as he now coaches UNLV.

We always get suckered into thinking, “Well, if he had success at that mediocre program (Ole Miss), then he should thrive at a big-name, traditional powerhouse school (Florida, LSU).”

You cannot measure the intangibles. Stay where the going is good. But, he probably will not listen.

The Civil Apple Cup War

See what I did there? Pretty clever, huh?

Since 1994, the year Oregon began its slow and steady climb in the world of college football, the Ducks have gone 21-9 against the Huskies, which includes a 12-game winning streak.

Saturday’s game calls for clouds and temperatures in the 40s with little chance of rain.

I never make predictions, so what the heck: Oregon 41, Washington 20.

Perhaps, instead of combing the names of each team’s former rivalry game, we should come up with a brand new name for this game. How about:

The Little Brother Beatdown

Has a certain ring to it.

Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: Eric Becker

Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in financial 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.