As a student journalist, opportunities to cover games are always exciting, but I’ve never had an experience quite like this.
This was no Stanford blowout. It wasn’t a meaningless non-conference game early in the season. It was No. 8 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) heading up to Seattle to play No. 7 Washington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12). It was the biggest game in the history of a storied rivalry. It was a collision of two of the best offenses in the game in front of ESPN’s College GameDay and the eyes of the nation.
And I got to cover it for the Daily Emerald.
Surreal.
After receiving press credentials for both GameDay and the game, and traveling to Seattle the night before, the most important day of my professional life started early.
At 3:45 a.m. to be exact.
My trip to UW’s campus was dark and quiet. But as I got closer to the set of College GameDay, the noise and energy grew exponentially.
The entire campus was lit up purple in support for the team. From the stadium, to the fountain, to the library, it was clear that school spirit runs deep in Seattle.
I picked up my credential and got settled on the media platform facing the famous College GameDay table. I settled in for three hours of listening to the GameDay crew break down the upcoming Saturday of college football.
Being able to stand mere feet from Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and, of course, Pat McAfee was incredible. Having exclusive access to the set was a pleasure and a dream come true.
Washington’s students showed out at GameDay. Signs and chants — though not all friendly — filled the morning and as the sun rose, they only got louder.
A virtual interview with Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was one of the segments of the show. I couldn’t hear a word he said. The boos and jeers were overpowering. The Huskies have one of the most passionate fan bases I’ve been around.
Waiting between segments, I was able to talk to other media members and journalists. We shared stories and experiences as well as our takes and predictions for the upcoming game.
When Corso did the unexpected and picked against his beloved Duck friend, I thought the campus might come crashing down around me. It was so loud. The fans were so excited.
The show ended abruptly at 9:00 a.m. and the crowd almost immediately dispersed. Some went to tailgate while others snagged a breakfast. I’m sure some even went back to sleep.
I, on the other hand, headed straight for Husky Stadium. I went up to the press box and fixed my setup for the huge game. The press box felt miles away from the action, but the view of Husky Stadium and the surrounding area was unreal. Rolling hills served as the backdrop and I could spot fans “sailgating” on their boats in the nearby lake. The Huskies know how to do a game day right.
With hours until kickoff still remaining, I went down to the field. I stood feet away from Bo Nix and other athletes as they prepared to play in what was currently a dead-silent stadium, but one that was soon to erupt.
Man, it was loud. All game long, it was hard to talk to the reporters next to me or even sort my own thoughts out.
For the game, I sat in my labeled seat — I quite literally had a place with my name on it — and I won’t dive too deep into the game because, frankly, if you don’t already know what happened, you haven’t been paying attention.
I wrote, observed, updated and tweeted my way through the nailbiter. I wasn’t in the stands, but the energy and constant anticipation still flooded the press box.
With five minutes remaining in the game, I went back down to the field. I only narrowly avoided getting trampled by the Washington fans as they rushed the field to celebrate the Huskies’ 36-33 victory.
Maybe I’m the curse. The Ducks have never lost a game that I’ve covered. Save for two. Both against Washington.
The theme of the day was emotion. The thrill that I had. The excitement and passion of the fans. The heartbreak on the Oregon players’ faces after the loss. The dejectedness that sat in Lanning’s post-game press conference. It all combined for a day highlighted by a whirlwind of emotions, and an opportunity I’ll be forever grateful for.
