Oregon’s baseball team fell just short of making it to the 2012 College World Series this week, a win against Kent State on Monday would have earned Oregon its first trip to the College World Series since 1954. Unfortunate that Oregon couldn’t advance as it may be, it still is a remarkable feat to host a Super Regional in just …
FLYOVER COUNTRY: The Sports Bra Curse
Anyone who has read my various musings over the years knows that I am not into conducting amateur psycho-analysis on opposing fan bases. That said, every so often, the “real world” intrudes and basically confirms what I already suspect about the opposition. Such an intrusion was recently captured in a photo at Goss Stadium in Corvallis during Civil War baseball …
1963 Ducks: The Last Great Oregon Football Team Before the Modern Era
At the time they may not have recognized the impact they would have during their time in Eugene, when the young men of the 1960 football recruiting class arrived on campus at the University of Oregon. By the time they were done though the mark in history was undeniable, their achievements at the UO surpassed only by their accomplishments in …
Dual Threats: Oregon Ducks Excelling in Football and Track
This weekend marks the opening of the Oregon men’s outdoor track and field season with the Oregon Preview meet. Scheduled to participate in the 100 meters are Oregon football players Dior Mathis and B.J. Kelley. I’ve always looked forward to following Oregon football players who participate in other varsity sports, particularly track and field. I thought for my first article …
Conclusion: Oregon’s 2001 postseason decade anniversary
Tempe, Arizona: Tuesday, January 1, 2002; A day Oregon fans would long remember. Their beloved Ducks were completing a very special year with an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, the Pac-10 Championship site. Oregon’s four Senior Captains Wes Mallard, Steve Smith, Justin Peelle, and Joey Harrington took midfield to greet and shake hands with Colorado’s captains. Colorado won the coin …
Oregon’s 2001 Postseason: Part 4
It was New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2001. A year with many twists and turns was about to draw to a conclusion, and everyone prepared for only the second official year of the new millennium. The world had yearned for the year 2000, but had to wait another year for the official new millennium to begin, as had been explained …
Oregon’s integral role in the history of the Grandaddy of them all
On New Years Day in 1890 the first Rose Parade was held in downtown Pasadena, CA; devised as a way to entice people from the east coast to purchase real estate in Southern California, an effort to convince those with deep pockets to escape the cold winter weather for sunny Southern California. “In New York, people are buried in snow, …
The 19 Greatest Seasons in Duck Football History (with a 20th slot reserved for this year)
Win or lose the Rose Bowl on January 2, this year’s Oregon squad has already earned a special distinction: one of the 20 greatest seasons in the history of a team that has been playing football since 1894. After all, this year’s regular season produced only the Ducks’ fifth outright conference title (along with 1994, 2001, 2009 and 2010) and …
Oregon’s 2001 Postseason: Part 3
Despite the disappointment of the BCS excluding Oregon from the Rose Bowl (site of the national championship game that year), the Oregon team and fans had a lot to celebrate. Most fans were ecstatic to see their beloved Ducks headed to represent the Pac-10 against a very good Colorado team. The general Eugene atmosphere was very positive as the team …
Oregon’s 2001 Postseason: Part 2
Just a little over ten years ago at this time, the final NCAA BCS rankings were released. At 11-0, The Miami Hurricanes were the only undefeated team and earned the undisputed #1 ranking in each poll. The Oregon Ducks were one of only four one-loss teams at 10-1, and had done everything right other than their difficult, heartbreaking loss at …
Revisiting the Wisconsin series: 2000-2001
The upcoming Rose Bowl pitting Big-10 champion Wisconsin vs. Pac-12 champion Oregon is not the first time the two teams have met. A decade ago the Badgers and Ducks played in a home-and-home grudge match that was as bitterly fought of a series as had occurred in recent memory. With the Rose Bowl looming and the recent series tied 1-1, …
Oregon’s 2001 Postseason: Part 1
On December 1, 2001; the celebration was on in the pouring rain at Autzen Stadium. Hundreds of fans swarmed the field despite the harsh weather conditions, knowing their beloved Ducks had won the undisputed Pac-10 Championship and were bowl bound. Many had brought Tostitos Chips to celebrate the berth of the Fiesta Bowl, but all true fans had hoped for …