Civil War 09

I have a friend who thinks that his being able to see the Beavs play, either from the stands or at home in his living room, has an effect on the outcome. Often during tense moments, he disappears, returning only once things have settled down again. He may just have a weak bladder and truly has to use the bathroom during these nerve-racking plays, but personally I think he really can’t handle the pressure. And up until this past Saturday, I tended to make fun of him for this.

What happened on Saturday you ask? Only the second biggest game of the Pac-10 2009 season. Oregon v. Arizona . . . the team that wins out goes to the Rose Bowl. But if Arizona loses a game, and the Beavs win out, guess who’s spending New Years in Pasadena? After two over times, Oregon managed to squeak one out over Arizona. And just when I managed to calm myself down from watching such a good game, a major realization hit me. Winner of Civil War now goes to the Rose Bowl. Either I am spending New Years in Pasadena, or the Duck fan who sits next to me at work is.

The chance to go to the Rose Bowl is always exciting, unless you’re USC and the Rose Bowl is your consolation prize and all you have to do is drive across town to play. And after last year’s Civil War, I’m already nervous. This is the second year in a row that the Beavs have held their bowl destiny in their own hands. Win out and you see roses. Lose and go to some obscure bowl. And last year the Beavs took a beating during Civil War . . . one that happened to be the worst beating ever on their home turf.

I spent a lot of Sunday running scenarios in my head. Could the Beavs pull out a win at Autzen? It’s been done before. But the Ducks look pretty darn good. Up until Saturday, the lowest number of points they had posted against competitors was 42. And while the Beavs have some solid defense, we haven’t been putting up those kinds of numbers on offense. The trick will be to shut down Masoli and James. And this was the point in my thought process that I realized I knew too much about football for a girl.

As much as I make fun of my friend who thinks he controls the outcome of a play by leaving the room, I am already nervous for the game. It really could go either way. And I really want to spend New Years in sunny Southern California rather than snowy Montana. I realize that my being nervous or what I wear will have exactly zero out come on the game. Deep down I am completely rational. But there is something about being a fan that caters to the irrational. Something inside us that says if I wear orange for the next week and a half, I can somehow control the outcome of the biggest Civil War in history.

If wearing orange or knocking on wood or sending happy thoughts into the universe gives the Beavs even an ounce of advantage on the 3rd . . . . well then I am perfectly happy to be a crazy fan. Go Beavs.