There is very little that makes Oregon fans happier than ruining USC’s season. With a victory over the Trojans, the Ducks will help pad their playoff resume while simultaneously destroying whatever chance USC had to make the playoffs. Our Mr. FishDuck was at https://worldpokerdeals.com/rakeback-deals/best-poker-sites to study the best online poker sites, when he stopped briefly to rage about his feelings toward our SoCal opponent.
Before 1994 – the year Oregon made its magical run to the Rose Bowl and began climbing into the upper echelon of college football – USC dominated the series with 31 wins to Oregon’s 10. Since ’94, the Ducks hold a 13-7 advantage, and since 2009 (Chip Kelly’s first year as HC), Oregon has gone 7-2 against the Boys of Troy.
2009 is the year that started the “Oregon problem” that USC has endured ever since. Losing games, recruits, and prestige to those “inferior” and “uncultured” simpletons from up north eats them alive. And, since they could not win the battle on the field, they resorted to attempting to win the battle behind closed doors.
In 2022, in secret, the Trojans made a deal to join the B1G, leaving behind the rubes and conference carnage of the Pac-12. USC was finally becoming the elitists they have always strived to be by rubbing elbows with “peers” Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.
Oregon problem solved.
Ducks looking to stuff USC. (Photo by Scott Kelley)
USC would be in blue-blood heaven. No way the Ducks, in their second-tier conference, could compete out west with the Trojans in recruiting and attracting top transfer portal players.
I can still see it now, in late 2021, when USC pried Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma. The arrogance and entitlement in the room when USC smugly told Riley, “And in the summer (2022), we’re going to announce that we’re joining the B1G. The Pac-12 and Big 12 can shine our shoes!”
Sinister laughter and back slapping all around.
Oh, but not so fast…
While the Trojans only meant to cripple the Pac-12, they ultimately hurt the conference so badly that the Pac-12 died from serious complications. This, of course, set off a series of events that ultimately led the B1G to invite Oregon.
“Oregon problem” reinstated.
And, there will be a great big reminder of this on Saturday after the Ducks tattoo the Trojans on the forehead with a great, big, “F-U-S-C!!!”
Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: Scott Kelley
Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in financial technology in SLC, Utah.
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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.