First played in 1894, the Civil War of football is one of the oldest rivalries on the West Coast. It has been played 109 times, with Oregon possessing a 55-44-10 all-time advantage.
Oregon and Oregon State have traded victories since 1997, with the home team winning each time.
So while many consider the battles at Reser and Autzen stadiums to be the end all of the Ducks and Beavers intrastate rivalry, it is the compilation of Civil War battles for nine different sports at the two schools which determines the Civil War Cup Series champion.
The year-long tally was started officially for the 1999-2000 season, when Oregon first won the newly established title 11-6. That year and in years following, champs have been determined by giving points for each Civil War matchup. One point is awarded for victories in men’s and women’s golf, volleyball, soccer, men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling, two points for a win in football and a best two of three series for softball.
With fifteen total contests and a total of seventeen points awarded throughout the year, the school with the most victories in head to head competition claims bragging rights for three terms. And aside from the Ducks’ 56-14 win over Oregon State in 2005, the Beavers own the two most recent Civil War Cup Series’ titles. OSU won 12-5 in 2005-06 and again by the same margin in 2004-05.
The Ducks secured two straight titles in 2003-04 (11-6) and 2002-03 (9-8). The Beavers won it in 2001-02 (9-8).
Oregon looks well on its way to breaking the Beavers two-year winning streak in the series this season. The women’s volleyball team swept Oregon State, the women’s soccer team squeaked out an overtime victory and the golf team stringed together a valuable win – all resulting in points for the Ducks. Including an Oregon women’s golf loss, the unsettled record stands at 4-1 in the Ducks’ favor.
In the 2000-01 season, the series’ only tie occurred after the women’s soccer game ended in a draw and both teams were awarded half of a point. Both schools racked up 8.5 points that year.
During the 2005-06 season, the men’s basketball team split games with Oregon State. The Ducks won 70-64 at McArthur Court, but were defeated 65-62 at Gill Coliseum. The women’s basketball squad did the same, losing at Corvallis in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, 63-61, but winning in Eugene 54-45.
The volleyball team did its part this season by sweeping Oregon State. A convincing 3-1 match win at home and a 3-0 stompdown in Corvallis helps Oregon’s chances at a title this year. The soccer team, headed by sixth-year super-talent Nicole Garbin, pulled off a 2-1 overtime victory this year, as well.
Oregon’s men’s golf team had the Beavers’ number this October. Behind Matt Ma’s 3-under 69 medalist performance, Oregon took home a nine-stroke victory in the Northwest Collegiate Classic. The Ducks have not been consistent in men’s golf, however. It was the first time since 2001 that Oregon won it, and Oregon State snatched first place honors just one year earlier as the Ducks slipped to a seventh-place finish. At the Salbasgeon Invitational this year, the Ducks finished 11th while the Beavers concluded course play in fourth.
Oregon softball struggled in last season. They were defeated 2-0 in Eugene, and then swept 4-3 and 2-1 on the road. The Ducks’ wrestling squad lost 20-18 in Corvallis last season, and was crushed at home 32-7 in its 105th Civil War battle in seniors Shane Webster and Joey Bracamonte’s final matches at Mac Court.
Basketball, wrestling and softball have yet to renew their rivalries, which, combined with the outcome of Friday’s contest, will ultimately determine the Civil War Cup Series Champion of 2006.