A Love Affair

My love affair with the Oregon Ducks started in 1989. The spring to be exact. I was living not too far from where I live now and most weekends I would make the two hour drive south to spend time with my boyfriend who was attending the University of Oregon. As soon as my Dodge Challenger rolled onto Franklin Avenue and I caught that whiff of Bread baking from the factory, I felt like I was home. I became a part of campus life Integrating into whatever my boyfriend was doing. And I loved every minute of it.

I watched Trailblazer games from the basement of his dormitory.  I ate grilled cheese sandwiches from the cafeteria. I went to math classes and I went away on weekend trips with people from his dorm.  I was an unofficial Duck.

The next fall I moved to Eugene to be closer to my boyfriend. And although I lived a good 20 minutes from campus I found myself there a lot. Football season was huge for us. There were the pre-game parties, the post-game parties, and the game in-between the two. He would sneak me into the student section and for two years that's where I watched the Oregon Ducks get stomped on.

I was caught up in the mania of wishing for a winning season.

Then it happened.

In 1995 the Oregon ducks went to the Rose Bowl. By this time I was married but not to the duck loving boyfriend. At least my husband was from Eugene so I could continue with my love affair. He at least understood it. We were living in Provo, Utah going to school at Brigham Young University.  I remember going home to Oregon for Christmas and freaking out about how much my Rose Bowl sweatshirt was gong to cost.  But it had to be bought.  Had to.

The Ducks didn't end up winning that year despite the mania in Eugene of wishing for it.

Then 15 years later they got another chance.

 But lost.

The Ducks haven't won a Rose Bowl title since 1917. That's a long time.

Today I wish them the best. I've come a long way from those early college dorm days being snuck into the game.  Today I will watch the game in my family room surrounded by three teenage daughters who love the ducks because their momma loves the ducks.  And a husband that will probably play on his tablet during the game but sit by me in support nonetheless.  My girls don't have any first-hand experience with them like I do but they know I love them and that's enough for them.  For Christmas this year they all got Oregon shirts and sweatshirts and unlike 17 years ago, I could afford them.

Good luck, Oregon. You deserve this win.

And so do I.