The year was 2001.
Oregon State was 5-5 entering its Civil War contest with Oregon on Dec. 1. A national audience looked to Autzen Stadium, the 46,000-plus fans in attendance and the game between the Beavers and Ducks.
At stake for Oregon was a berth to the Fiesta Bowl. For the Beavers, a win would mean a bowl invitation. A loss, and a 5-6 season would haunt them until the 2002 season.
In what many could consider Oregon’s most significant Civil War victory — because of the spot in the Fiesta Bowl — the Ducks squeaked out a 17-14 win on a rain-soaked Saturday. The Beavers couldn’t get their offense going behind quarterback Jonathan Smith and missed playing in a bowl game for the first time in two years.
Saturday’s game at Autzen between the Ducks and Beavers doesn’t have the same do-or-die feeling for Oregon State, but a major bowl bid is on the line. Win, and the Beavers are guaranteed at least a third-place finish in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Lose, and Oregon State is relegated to, at best, fourth. The difference could mean a trip to the Holiday Bowl, Sun Bowl, or Insight Bowl, among others.
“Fortunately, the game comes at a crucial point of our season,” Oregon State running back Steven Jackson said. “Major bowl bids are on the line. We want to finish the season out with three conference wins, and we had a good start toward our goal last weekend.”
If the Beavers defeat Oregon and then follow up with a victory over USC on Dec. 6, they could find themselves in a tie for second place in the Pac-10. That would leave the Trojans in the Rose Bowl, most likely, and set the Cougars and Oregon State into a battle for the Holiday Bowl. That committee could select whichever team it likes, although Washington State may be its choice because of the Cougars’ 36-30 win earlier this season.
If the Beavers lose to the Ducks and Trojans, and UCLA loses to USC on Saturday, Oregon State and UCLA will tie. Each will be destined for either the Insight Bowl or Las Vegas Bowl. Finally, if Oregon State loses its last two games, UCLA defeats USC and California beats Stanford, then the Beavers would land in sixth and most likely the Silicon Valley Football Classic.
Makes the last part of the season seem interesting, huh?

Bleeding orange and black
The parting shots between the Ducks and Beavers have already been started.
No, Keith Lewis hasn’t said anything. Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti has silenced the senior free safety from talking to the media for the rest of the season.
This time, the words came from Corvallis.
Oregon State linebacker Richard Seigler has been in the Civil War since joining the Beaver program in 1999 out of Chaparral High School in Las Vegas. He had a little fun with the game, giving everyone his feelings on Tuesday.
“We’re expanding Reser Stadium and we are going to have some extra seats, so the gates for all the Duck fans to come on over to Beaver nation are open,” he said. “We’re adding seats, so if Duck fans want to make the transition to Beaver nation, our arms are wide open. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Oregon State head coach Mike Riley will be in his first Civil War since rejoining Oregon State prior to the start of this season. In his two previous games on the sideline, he lost, 48-30, in 1997, but came back with a 44-41 overtime win the next year.
“I think that pretty much was a landmark game in that regard,” Riley said in reference to the win propelling the Beaver program. “We played a very good Oregon team in a really good football game by both teams, and to win it under pressure of overtime was a big, big thing for sure.”