The Game. THE Game! The Civil War Game. The
game of all games, happens this Thursday, at 6 pm PST, in Eugene,
Oregon. This game will decide which school (Oregon or Oregon State)
will go to the Rose Bowl against Ohio State, AND which school wins
the Pac 10 Championship. It will even be broadcast on ESPN.
The
Civil War Games began in 1894, as the rivalry between the Oregon
Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers, but it wasn't called the 'Civil
War' until 1929 and that name didn't become common usage until 1937.
At this time, Oregon is in the lead in the rivalry 56 – 46 – 10.
While the “Civil War” usually refers to the annual football game,
it can also refer to men's and women's basketball games. Other
significant events and games include:
1910: following a 12-0 Oregon victory in Corvallis, fans of both teams began a verbal argument that escalated into exceedingly rowdy behavior as Ducks fans returned to the train station to leave. The UO's public relations department spread stories of (then) Oregon Agricultural College hooliganism to the statewide press, offending students of OAC and causing the rivalry to be suspended for 1911, and the 1912 and 1913 games being played in neutral Albany, OR.
1937: After defeating Oregon 14-0 in Corvallis, Oregon State fans had a large rally the next evening. The following day, about 2,000 OSU students went to Eugene to have another celebration. State police initially stopped the group, then agreed to lead them through the town if they agreed to behave. However, once Oregon students got out of class, the situation escalated with Ducks pelting Beavers with tomatoes and water balloons, some Oregon State students were thrown into the millrace.
1954: 50-60 UO students went to Corvallis and lit the traditional OSU homecoming bonfire early. It had been done before, but this time OSU students captured 15-20 UO students and held them "prisoner". The captured students had their heads shaved, were painted orange and black and some were forced to do menial labor for OSU fraternities.
1960: an Oregon student 'kidnapped' OSU's homecoming queen. She was returned home 30 minutes later,unharmed.
1972: Oregon tore down the south goalpost after defeating Oregon State 30-3 in OSU territory – a brawl ensued when OSU students tried to defend the north goalpost.
1983: "Toilet Bowl," a 0-0 rain-drenched exercise in futility, which featured 11 fumbles, five interceptions and four missed field goals. Did either team want to win? After this, 'overtime' was instituted.
1998: Oregon State wins in double overtime (the first ever overtime Civil War), 44-41. Beaver fans rushed the field after the first overtime, but a penalty gave the Ducks another chance. It took officials 15 minutes to clear the field, after which the Ducks scored to send the game to a second overtime. The Ducks managed a field goal in their possession, but the Beavers scored again to give them an upset win, their fifth win of the season, and their best record since 1971.
2000: Oregon came into the game ranked #5 in the country, Oregon State #8, the only time both teams have been ranked in the top 10. With a win, Oregon would go to the Rose Bowl; the Beavers needed a win to force a tie between the two teams, and keep alive hopes of going to the Rose Bowl. Oregon State won the game 23-13, but was denied the Rose Bowl, because the University of Washington beat Washington State later the same day. Oregon State went to the Fiesta Bowl instead.
2007: OSU snatching the victory in 2007 (at Oregon) in double overtime.
2008: Oregon returning the favor in 2008, beating OSU 65-38 (preventing OSU from going to the Rose Bowl) and winning the Holiday Bowl bid.
So, will the Oregon Ducks have Beaver
Stew this week? Or will the Oregon State Beavers have Duck Soup?



