Game Day at the University of Oregon

Wow, is there anything more fun than a college football game on a beautiful fall day?  We're big Oregon Duck fans, and there is no better time to be a Duck than now, when they are No. 2 in the National Rankings. We've followed the team through thick and thin, going to the games rain or shine! Of course, the mantra in Oregon, is that "It never rains in Autzen Stadium!" 

Looks like Darth Vader, but it's actually a colorful guy advertising the Oregon Bookstore.

Tailgate parties were in full swing.  Someone had actually hired an Elvis impersonator, and he was in the parking lot, belting out tunes. 

It was a special day to have both of the kids with us.

Dear daughter and I!

It's always a rush when the Mascot Duck roars out of the bunker on a motorcycle, with the team behind him.  The crowd goes wild!

Beautiful sky!

ESPN'S Game Day was on campus earlier in the day for their morning program, College Game Day, and they returned after the Ducks beat Stanford.  The first half of the game was a nail bighter, but the team came back second half to work their magic!

Setting up for the evening game recap show.

Everyone swarmed around the announcers as they set up for the broadcast...reminded me of the ant farms that my kids had when they were little.

When we returned home at 1:00 AM, we discovered that we'd been 'Flocked'  with green flamingos by our good friends, the Johnson's.

 

Game Day

I've never been much of a football fan until I became a Oregon Duck by marriage.  Truth be known, I'm probably in it more for catching up with friends and the tailgates, but my DH is a die-hard fan, reading the blogs each night, and being a season ticket holder.  I actually get up each Saturday morning and watch ESPN's Game Day with him so when we heard the show was coming to Eugene for the Game of the Decade with USC, we just had to make the two hour trek south.  We drove down with our friends (like family), Mark and Barb at 4 AM! Oh yeah, did mention it was rainy, dark and cold?  It was us and the long haulers at that hour, and as we approached  Autzen Stadium, it stood out like a lit up space ship.

Imagine the excitement with thousands of wild and crazy fans, many holding signs and cheering wildly, as Chip Kelly, the team coach, rode in on a motorcycle just like the Duck Mascot does as the team charges into the Stadium before the games.

We walked around the beautiful 150 year old campus, and arrived back at Autzen close to game time.  It was Halloween and Tailgates were in full swing, with plenty of costumed revelers. I had stop and snap a picture of this Michael Jackson and Thriller re-enactment.

Of course, anyone who knows Barb, knows that she loves an excuse to dress up as her alter-ego, Velma-here at the EconoLodge!

Once the game started, there was a feeling that momentum was on our side, and the Ducks beat USC 47-20!  There's supposed to be a five-minute rule before fans can go onto the field after the game is over, but that went out the window as crowds swarmed the field.  The top dog in the Pac-10 was displaced!!  I've never seen anything like it, and we just stood and watched in awe.

Here's the four of us-only the brave dressed up for Halloween!

ESPN Game Day sets up for the post-game show, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit.

Like ants, the crowd moved over to see the post game ESPN Show.  There's lots of excitement around Oregon these days...will the Ducks make it to the Rose Bowl or (gasp!), the BCS Championship?  Pretty exciting time to consider the possibilities!