Oh to be a Beaver Fan

I wore a new orange thermal – not my usual white long sleeve T. As the Beavs were getting killed in the Civil War (the big rivalry football game against Oregon), this is the thought that ran through my head. Having played sports growing up, I understand superstitions as the athlete, but this was the first time it spilled over to me as a fan.

About two years ago, I got sucked into the world of college football – namely Oregon State football. My guy friends all had season tickets, and since they had extras, more often than not I found myself spending my weekends in Corvallis. This year I bought my very own season ticket and joined in the insanity that is being a Beaver fan.

For the most part, being a Beaver fan is like being in an abusive relationship. They have had a number of bad (ok, terrible) seasons, but the last few years have been exciting to watch. This year, after starting the season with three losses on the road, they beat USC in the second most exciting game I’ve seen them play (the first being when they beat USC in ’06). From that point on, the Beavs controlled their own destiny – win out and they would go to the Rose Bowl. This is the part where the abusive spouse is on the wagon. Things are going great, and you really believe that this time, they have changed. In the back of your mind, you’re still expecting the worst, but as your team keeps winning the memory of prior beatings starts to fade.

With dreams of spending New Years in Pasadena, it was finally time for the Civil War. Where against my better judgment, I decided to switch up my usual game gear and added not only an orange thermal, but also an orange vest (instead of the usual black). And then it happened . . . my team fell off the wagon. Hard. It was like a sucker punch to the gut for 3 solid hours. With visions of palm trees quickly fading, fans were quick to blame themselves. All around me I heard fans berating themselves for wearing a different hat or for wearing black instead of orange or for wearing a new t-shirt instead of the one that had brought the team luck earlier in the season.

And thus the cycle begins again. As fans, we’ll cheer for the Beavs during the Sun Bowl, buy more orange clothes as the college football gear goes on sale, and wait anxiously to buy our season tickets once again next spring. When August 2009 rolls around, the memory of Rose Bowl hopes will have faded and we’ll start the caravan back down to Corvallis in hopes that this time, this year, this team will not hurt us as they have in the past. And next year I will not be switching my game outfits.