So, did anyone watch the Civil War Saturday?
I did, and let me tell you, it wasn’t Oregon’s best performance ever. In fact, it ranked right up there with the worst I’d seen in its last two seasons.
So many things went wrong in that oh-so-important game. Where was the passing defense in the first quarter? Was the O-line actually trying to protect quarterback Joey Harrington? And why did Harrington, who thrives on pressure, throw five interceptions?
It’s funny how the hands of fate can be so cruel; how one moment, a team controls its Rose Bowl destiny, and the next, the BCS bowl representatives are snuggling up with the other team. And not just any other team, but a heated in-state rival.
How can it be?
Oregon fans were stunned and shocked after the loss. One can only imagine how electric Eugene would have been that night had the Ducks won — but they didn’t.
Today, I’d bet that many Oregon football fans are still trying to shake away the cobwebs, still trying to get a grip on the grim reality at hand.
No Rose Bowl, no BCS bowl, no 10-win season — at least not yet.
My response? No problem.
You see, Oregon fans, there are still plenty of reasons have Duck pride.
For starters, there’s the Oregon women’s basketball team. True, the women lost point guard Shaquala Williams, their best player, before the start of the season. However, backup Kourtney Shreve has shifted into the starting role well, recently scoring the game-winning four points to beat North Carolina State on the road.
Guard/forward Lindsey Dion is healthy for the time being — another plus for Oregon — and the tall, athletic Alyssa Fredrick has calmed down on the floor to become a steady inside force so far this season.
And, even though Williams is on the bench for the season, spectators at the Ducks’ two exhibition games saw a rare thing from her: a smile, for real.
Oregon was picked to finish second in the Pacific-10 Conference, but with the way it played on the road last weekend, this team could do more. Can you say “three-peat?”
And if you thought the football team had destiny on its side, how about the women’s cross country team?
After struggling with poor finishes in the increased 6,000-meter race format, the Harriers pulled it together in the Western Regionals two weeks ago to earn a coveted at-large NCAA bid. Don’t tell me it wasn’t fate that brought All-American transfer Hanna Smedstad into the mix to run alongside senior Katie Crabb.
Sure, the Ducks didn’t do too well at the NCAA Championships, but the bottom line is that they got there.
Want another reason? How about the men’s basketball team?
Losing to Athletes in Action was not a huge deal; after all, those guys have been playing hoops their whole lives.
The important thing is that head coach Ernie Kent has a core group of players that will be pretty dang good three years from now. Who knows, they may even surprise themselves this season.
Not to mention thunderous dunks a la Bryan Bracey are always fun to watch.
Let’s see, what else is out there — got it! How could I write a column to cheer up Oregon fans without talking about the volleyball team?
Now I know what you’re thinking, that I’m being sarcastic, but I’m not. Truth is, this team got better and better as the season went on, despite a letdown in its final match.
I watched a game earlier in the season, and it wasn’t great. I watched one later in the season, a win against Washington, and walked away thinking that new coach Carl Ferreira was on to something. While the task of lifting Oregon volleyball to par with the Stanfords and UCLAs is monumental, maybe, in time, he’ll be the guy who does it.
No matter how Ferreira’s quest ends, it should be inspiring to watch.
There’s so much more I could write about, too. The wrestling team has senior Chael Sonnen back in its ranks, and anything less than an NCAA title would be disappointing for him. Softball went to the NCAA Tournament last year and is on the upswing. The club hockey team overcame the tragic loss of a teammate last season and is off to a good start. The tennis team has a new facility behind the Student Recreation Center.
So you see? There are plenty of reasons to be a Duck.
Yes, there are even reasons to be an Oregon football fan. If you thought this season was dramatic, think about how huge next season will be, when Wisconsin comes to Autzen Stadium, when a revitalized Southern California team visits Autzen, when bitter Arizona State comes to Autzen, and finally, when the Beavers venture into Autzen.
To say the least, it should be a good year for season-ticket holders.
Anyway, a final message to all you Duck fans out there: Times may seem bleak and unfair, but don’t worry too much. You’ve got more to cheer about than most other schools, including a certain university located 45 miles northwest.
Before you know it, you won’t be so distraught that your team isn’t going to the Rose Bowl, and being an Oregon fan will seem right as rain.