My father had bought me football season tickets to my alma mater, Oregon State University. To reciprocate his kindness, I paid an exorbitantly high price for a pair of Civil War tickets. This would be my father’s first trip to Autzen Stadium, and it was my chance to say thank you.
We came dressed in orange and black, knowing it would be a hostile crowd. But this was in all good fun, right? It was just a football game.
What ensued from the kick off was constant barrage of harassment from multiple Duck fans. Three different fans were actively trying to pick fights with myself and my 60-year-old dad.
At halftime, two Duck fans just couldn’t handle the fact two Beaver fans were in their presence. They got in my face and both sucker punched me, once in the back of the head. In the ensuing melee the security came down and broke up the fight, but that was it. No warnings. No investigation. The only proactive thing security did was throw my dad’s OSU hat in the garbage.
My dad and I, wanting to watch the last moments of Beaver season, went back to our seats after halftime. Numerous Duck fans came by to check on my dad and me. They all said, “Not all Duck fans have that little class.” Yet as the game deteriorated into a rout, the surrounding Duck fans continued to hurl a constant barrage of insults and profanities at the two of us. My father, having had enough, turned to me and asked if we could leave.
I know that not all Duck fans are that bad. It was heartening to have a group of total strangers come up and check on us. But the overall culture in the section we were sitting in was to ignore the actions of the local bullies. Compounding the problem was the total incompetence and ineptitude of the University of Oregon security.
I really went to the game hoping to have a good time with my dad.
Instead, I ended up with a concussion, and we both had the worst sporting experience of our lives. I’m sure not all Beaver fans had such a dismal time at the game, but I would recommend that until Autzen Stadium significantly upgrades its security no visiting team fan attend a game there.
Josh Balloch lives in Salem.