As “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” plays between innings at Howe Field, Brian Hood will pop out of his seat and pull his wife, Laila, from her chair and into his arms for a dance. The two sway with smiles across their faces until it’s time for the Ducks to take the field. Then, it’s back to the action.
According to Laila, when the music hits her 75-year-old husband’s ears, “joy just overflows.”
“When he hears music, he’s going to dance and he’s going to pull me up with him.”
The Hoods never miss a chance to support Oregon athletics. No matter if it’s softball, football, track or basketball — they are there. The two consider themselves to be Oregon sports fanatics, and have been season ticket holders to just about every sport for 20 years, calling it the “vice” they allowed themselves when Brian retired.
“We decided that Ducks athletics would be a pretty decent vice,” Brian said.
But for the Hoods, there is a special connection to softball.
The connection began in early 2000. Brian was retired after 35 years in the army and was volunteering with Oregon’s team as a tutor. He said he was inspired by the fortitude the athletes showed in both their school work and their sport.
“I was watching the focus and the determination they show and I thought, ‘I really want to get some of that.’”
Despite already having a degree from the University of Dayton in history with an emphasis in American military history, he decided to go back to school. That day, Brain went home to his wife and told her he wanted to become a real Duck.
Brian went to school for archaeology at the UO, and graduated at 67 with honors and a 3.89 GPA. The day of his graduation, Brian was offered the opportunity to participate in an archaeological dig. At the time, his health wasn’t strong enough to participate, but he continued to support the university through athletics.
Eight years later, Brian and his wife of 20 years are attending every game they can.
“When one of us get sick we go ‘You gotta get better by tomorrow, there’s a game,’” Laila said.
Brian and Laila cheered for their Ducks when the team took on North Carolina State in the Super Regionals at Howe Field on May 22 and 23. The Hoods supported the team that inspired Brian to go back to school and danced to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh inning stretch.
“I think it’s extending our life,” Brian said, gesturing toward the field, “just by being part of all this.”
Follow Madison Layton on twitter @MadisonLayton01