There’s plenty of things to watch for in Saturday’s Pacific-10 Conference showdown between California and Oregon.
Like last year, both teams are 4-0, ranked and looking to throw down to claim status as the team most likely to unseat USC from the top of the conference standings.
There’s Heisman power, there’s ESPN GameDay and there’s – well, the mascots. But that’s something Oregon fans should hope isn’t cast in the public spotlight during the game.
After humiliating the Houston Cougar, and the Oregon Athletic Department for that matter, the Duck will likely be watched at all times by the illicit-behavior police in the luxury suites. If another tussle occurs, it could spell doom for the Duck at all future sporting events.
And, at least for this game, Duck fans should be happy if he’s on his best behavior.
Why? It’s simple. Oski the Bear, possibly the least intimidating and sorriest excuse for a mascot that’s expected to energize the crowd with showboating and theatrics, is someone the Duck should not rumble with. If the two start scrapping with each other, the Duck will come off as a bully who picks on those significantly weaker than him.
On ESPN’s First Take, the Emerald’s Kevin Hudson and a Daily Cal writer debated about who would win if the two did manage to square off during Saturday’s game. ESPN showed clips of the Houston match and then Oski tackling the Stanford Tree. The Cal writer made reference to the bear chopping down the Tree, but it served more as a blow to Oski’s credibility in terms of fighting prowess.
That’s the level the Cal bear will stoop to. The only mascot it can take down is one that’s more pathetic than Oski – a dancing, armless tree that is unable to defend itself. Nice one Oski. That sheepish grin isn’t fooling anyone. We know that behind that weak smile, you’re scheming to make another blind-side tackle when your competitor is doing his job to rally the fans. If only you could do the same thing.
Going back to my childhood in the Bay Area, my dad dragged me to a selected few Cal games hoping to get me to appreciate the sport. But football wasn’t the most interesting thing to watch in my juvenile mind and my focus shifted to the cartoonish mascot, hoping he would keep me engaged in what surely was another rout of Cal at some point in the mid-90’s.
Unfortunately, Oski stood there listlessly throughout most of the contest. Aside from the two or three dance steps he knows, he remained motionless next to the cheerleaders and watched the game without rousing the crowd.
The Duck would be wise to pick his fights accordingly. He’s in the heavyweight class now and any scrap with Oski will only hurt the Duck’s street-fighting cred on the mascot-brawling circuit.
So please fans, and particularly the student section, don’t be asking for a brawl if Oski starts his awkward, hip-shaking dance in the end zone, or if he tries to bait the Duck by doing some assisted, knee-bent pushups in the end zone.
The Duck needs to be on the sidelines at all the games to rally the crowd. He’s mastered it and fighting Oski will only be a detriment to the Duck’s status among mascots.
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