As University of Oregon student and Taylor’s bouncer Ross Beam changed the leaderboard at Taylor’s from “Ducks beat the Bucks” to “We still love our Ducks,” he refused to be pessimistic about the University of Oregon’s loss against Ohio State at the National Championship.
“It was kind of heartbreaking,” Beam said. “But we made a lot of strides as a team this year. We had a lot of good things this year.”
Beam was in the Persian Gulf in 2007 when he saw his first Ducks game on the Armed Forces Network. He’s been a fan ever since. When he returned to the states he applied at the UO and got a job working security at Taylor’s. He’s currently studying history.
UO senior Jacob Bentley wasn’t as optimistic about the game’s outcome.
“I’m disappointed,” Bentley said. “I really thought we could do more with the team. It’s progress. We’ve made a couple steps in the right direction.”
Some reactions to the game were more extreme: Several small fires were reported to Eugene Fire Department around the West University area, including a burning office chair at 20th and Harris.
Many fans, however, were reserved: Quiet students streamed out of Rennie’s Landing as Drake’s “Started from the Bottom” played in the background. Beam said he didn’t expect any trouble at Taylor’s the night of the loss.
“We usually have a pretty well-behaved crowd,” Beam said.
As kickoff approached earlier that night, hopeful students gathered to watch the game in bars on 13th Avenue, as well as in different watch parties on campus. About 100 went to the Student Recreation Center, where ESPN had a camera crew and the university offered free pizza. Sophomores Joe Casebier, Eric Fruchtbam and Paarth Patel were three of the students who went to the SRC to watch the game.
“The atmosphere is the number one (reason I came to the SRC), that’s for sure. I’m a Duck fan and I want to be with all my people,” Casebier said.
The SRC also gave students the opportunity to be on ESPN, which was present at the Rec Center on game day.
“We want to to be with the fans, and who doesn’t want to be on ESPN?” Fruchtbam said. “I’m definitely trying to be on ESPN.”
In the EMU fishbowl, students were given green and yellow leis, glow sticks and free snacks as the game began. The EMU watch party attracted current UO students as well as prospective Ducks. Romeo Recinos, a third year Western Oregon University student, drove 55 minutes to watch the game at UO. He plans to transfer to the University of Oregon in the fall, and welcomed the chance to visit his future home.
“There’s a camaraderie when you come together with people who have a common interest,” Recinos said. “It gives me a feel of the campus life and being a part of that community.”
Current UO sophomore Tyler Payne also came to the watch party for the community.
“It’s a big thing for the school and I thought being here with the students would be a little more exciting,” Payne said.
Lifetime fan Mark Dodd watched the game at Rennie’s Landing. Dodd grew up loving the Ducks, and has a giant ‘O’ and a Duck peeking through tattooed on his calf.
“There’s no other team,” Dodd said.
Unlike Dodd, Isaac Zornes is a newcomer to Eugene, and was also the only Buckeyes fan in Rennie’s Landing.
“I believe in fundamental football,” Zornes said. “I cheer for the Ducks, I cheer for my Buckeyes.”
Emerald reporter Anna Lieberman also contributed to this article.
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