The Ducks flew south this winter break and filled the Los Angeles area with O’s, greens and yellows.
Whether they were walking along the boardwalk of Venice Beach, playing tourist in Hollywood or driving down Los Angeles freeways, the presence of Oregon Duck fans seemed evident. Oregonians, alumni, students and fans nationwide flocked to the area to not only witness the highly anticipated Rose Bowl, but to participate in a highly unique social scene filled with entertainment, California sunshine and most importantly, immeasurable Duck camaraderie.
University senior Adam Ramirez and Bay Area Duck fan Jerry Spaulding had little in common, in fact they didn’t even know each other at all, but felt an instant connection when they crossed paths on the Venice Beach boardwalk last Thursday, both sporting Oregon baseball caps. They high-fived each other and exchanged a “Go Ducks!” shout.
“Just seeing Duck fans everywhere on the boardwalk, slapping high fives with strangers, and yelling, “Go Ducks!” got my adrenaline going and got me that much more excited for the game,” Ramirez said. “It felt as if we knew everybody wearing green and yellow because there was that certain connection between us.”
Ramirez, like many other University students, spent New Year’s Day in Pasadena, not just for the Rose Bowl but to experience the presence of Oregon in LA, the New Year festivities, and the constant flow of people, street shows, vibrant artwork, shops and restaurants.
“Being a senior, I felt just about obligated to go down to LA for the Rose Bowl game. It was my last football game as a University student; I came down here to root for my team, but to also enjoy the beaches, the weather and associated Rose Bowl events,” Ramirez said.
One of many Rose Bowl events was the pep rally held at Santa Monica Pier last Wednesday afternoon. The atmosphere at this well-known venue was perfect for attracting Duck fans from far and wide.
Players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans came together to fuel the growing Rose Bowl hype that had already begun to spread contagiously among fans and supporters. As the Oregon band played game day music, the cheering and chanting from the crowds only grew louder even as it began to rain. The weather at the pep rally was atypical for LA, but the thick clouds and steady downpour made the Oregon natives feel right at home.
University student Miranda Merrill arrived at the pep rally early to walk along the Santa Monica Pier and have lunch in the area. She said the pep rally gave fans from all backgrounds a chance to come together and socialize in a great location.
“The Duck fans were really recognized for coming out in the miserable weather and making a really big showing,” Merrill said. “I thought, the fact that it was raining, yet everyone still showed up showed how dedicated Duck fans really are.”
While some didn’t attend any Rose Bowl events, it wasn’t hard to find a Duck just about anywhere in LA. Many arranged their plans for New Year’s Day around coming to the Rose Bowl, and the fan turnout in the days prior to the big game not only provided a sense of unity, but a sense of fun.
Oregon alumna Erica Corns, now a law student at Golden Gate University, traveled from San Francisco to participate in the socializing associated with the Rose Bowl. She said the Duck camaraderie was like nothing she had ever seen.
“Seeing Duck fans all throughout California was a great experience. While in San Francisco, before making the trip, we encountered fans all throughout the city. Yelling ‘Go Ducks!’ and throwing up the ‘O’ from Pier 39 to Pasadena was the perfect build-up for the game,” Corns said. “It was pretty exciting to see I-5 taken over by Duck fans. The stickers, flags, car paint and Oregon gear definitely made the state of California and especially the city of LA look better. All the Duck fans were excited to see one another, to tailgate together and enjoy the memorable day.”
It was clear that the scene in the LA area was full of anticipation and strong school spirit prior to the game on Saturday. Even though Oregon lost on New Year’s Day, dedicated Duck fans were not done celebrating and showing their spirit.
The “Official Rose Bowl After Party” took place in Hollywood at Empire, a trendy night club. Students, alumni, and past and current players came out to celebrate the end of the season. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., partygoers who attended the upscale event enjoyed drinks, a live DJ and the company of those who remained positive even after the loss.
Leon Murry of Eugene, frequently plans local events and parties at various venues in Eugene and decided to hold the “Official Rose Bowl After Party” in Hollywood because he says it was an ideal location.
“I threw the after party in Hollywood because when you head to California, that is the place where you’ll probably run into a celebrity,” Murry said. We made the party out there to create a high status event, and not to mention the Hollywood night scene is great.”
Murry said the outcome of the game just hours before his event had little to no effect on attendance or morale, and all partygoers were still interested in hitting the Hollywood night scene to kick off the new year.
“The morale of the event was very high-spirited. Although most of us were there for the game, it was still a vacation for most,” Murry said. “Although it did take a moment to shake the loss, at no point was I worried about the turnout. At the end of the day, Empire is still a club in Hollywood and people wanted to have fun and enjoy LA, win or lose.”
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Ducks party hearty in Rose Bowl festivities
Daily Emerald
January 6, 2010
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