As the game clock wound down on Nov. 29 in Corvallis, Ore., many fans couldn't help but experience a feeling of deja vu. The allusion takes all of us back to the 2000 Civil War.
Oregon was ranked No. 6 in the nation, Oregon State No. 8. The Ducks were on track to become the Pac-10 Champions and head to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1994. Oregon needed to win one more game, which happened to be the Civil War.
We all know how that game went down, as Oregon State upset the Ducks 23-13, sparking a three-way tie in the Pac-10 between themselves, Oregon, and Washington.
Oregon had beaten Washington, Oregon State had beaten Oregon, and Washington had beaten Oregon State.
The Huskies went on to the Rose Bowl, defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 34-24. Oregon State advanced to the Fiesta Bowl, crushing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 41-9. Oregon wound up in the Holiday Bowl, squeaking past the Texas Longhorns 35-30.
You may wonder where I am going with this. Well, on Saturday it was not the Ducks, but the Oregon State Beavers who needed a win to secure their own Rose Bowl aspirations. This however would not be the case, as the No. 19 Oregon Ducks crushed the No. 17 Oregon State Beavers 65-38.
Many Beaver fans will ride the excuses train, and swear on a bible that if Jacquizz Rodgers had played, Oregon would not have won. While Rodgers is a terrific running back, putting 27 points of pressure on a freshman running back does not seem like a great way to pull out a win.
This excuse could be deemed acceptable had the Civil War seen the end results of the past two Civil Wars, where the Beavers have won by a combined nine points. In that close of a game, blaming injuries can pass as an acceptable excuse.
However, when a defense lets a single running back rush for over 200 yards in the first half, the injury card will not fly.
Some Beaver fans will tell you that Phil Knight, or the Big Ten Conference paid off the refs, so that the Big Ten could get two BCS bowls. These remarks amount to nothing, and should not be payed attention to.
The fact of the matter is, Oregon won this football game, fair and square. The Ducks never trailed, and when Oregon State looked like they were on the verge of a comeback, Oregon calmly fired back with a score of their own.
For those who said that Oregon's defense could never come close to how great Oregon State's was, here are some game statistics for you.
Oregon put up 694 yards of total offense on the Beavers, while Oregon State put up 463 on the Ducks.
Oregon's run defense held the Beavers to 89 yards, while Oregon put up 385 on the Beavers.
Oregon defended the fly sweep to near perfection, only giving up one instance of the sweep for more than two yards.
Oregon State was better in two areas than the Ducks. Passing wise, the Beavers outthrew the Ducks by 65 yards. The Beavers were also 1-1 on fourth down conversions, while the Ducks did not attempt one.
Now let's look into how this historic defeat reshapes the BCS picture. For Oregon State to advance to the Rose Bowl, they need a terrible UCLA team to upset the USC Trojans next week.
This is not likely, so let's look at what the BCS would look like if there were no more upsets the rest of the season.
BCS Title Game:
16 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Brett Field 7 months ago
Cameron, first off, its the 112th Civil War
Also, the Ducks will most likely play Oklahoma State in the Holliday Bowl, as the Cotton Bowl has first pick for non BCS Big 12 teams and will likely take Texas Tech.
As for OSU fans, don't worry. The Sun Bowl is a good bowl. In fact, other than your one Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2001, its the best bowl you've been too since the 60s. I hope you enjoy El Paso. We'll be thinking of you as we make our 3rd trip to San Diego this decade. (okay, probably not)
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
yeah, sorry about that
major typo
de de de
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Nick Martin 7 months ago
Yeah Beavers havn't been to the Holiday bowl, but at least we've
won our last 4 bowl games
Ducks are 1-4 in their last 5 bowls
Ill throw this little fact your way. The Ducks havn't won the Rose Bowl since 1917 against Penn....not Penn State the University of Pennsylvania
In fact OSU and UO both only have one Rose Bowl appearence since the 60's
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Brett Field 7 months ago
We've won the Pac-10 outright though (in 2001) and would have gone to the Rose in the current system
And I'd take a loss in a good Bowl over a win in a two bit bowl
We have also actually played Ranked teams in Bowls (95 Cotton, 99 Sun, 00 Holliday, 01 Fiesta, 03 Sun, 05 Holliday, 07 Sun) Which the Beavers haven't under Riley. Have fun against Pitt or West Virginia though. (of course with your Bowl luck you'll probably get Notre Dame and thump your chest when you win
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
uh nick, sorry but either your math sucks, or you worded your statement horribly, i'll assume that it was the wording.
OSU last went to the Rose Bowl in the '60s, which makes your statement "OSU and UO only have one Rose Bowl appearence since the 60's" false. Oregon went in '94, but the Beavers have not been since '64.
You should have said, "OSU and UO together have only one Rose Bowl appearance".
I sense that you are very bitter about the Civil War, because you throw out these stupid trivial statements.
If you can't accept that Oregon State lost, and just deal with it, maybe you should try rooting for either the Huskies or Cougs.
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Iceman 7 months ago
humm, florida beating Alabama isnt an upset. Alabama is a 10 point underdog. just to clear that up
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
Yeah I realize that now, I was writing this before that was announced, so I went off of the BCS rankings.
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John B 7 months ago
Cameron, the score of the 2000 debacle was 23-13.
Hot rumor out of El Paso is that the Sun Bowl wants Notre Dame! The Beavs might enjoy whipping up on them for the third time this decade.
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
yeah, sorry i realize that,
i was out of it yesterday, i'll go and fix it
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
good to know, thanks for the info
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David Hedlind 7 months ago
Someone mentioned that Texas Tech will likely be in the Cotton Bowl. Assuming no major upsets Oklahoma State will be one team the Holiday Bowl would look at the other being the North division champion Missouri.
Ohio State of course will be considered to an at large bid.
There is no guarantee that the Orange Bowl will take Cincinnati. the Big East has a BCS Berth but no tie in bowl. They could just as easily end up in the Sugar or Fiesta as the Orange.
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
that's interesting, I always thought that the Orange Bowl was a Big East-ACC Bowl. I guess West Virginia being in the Fiesta Bowl last year proves that wrong.
The BCS is so confusing, I really hope we implement some form of playoff.
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Brett Field 7 months ago
Rob Moseley's blog posted that a Holliday Bowl official said that it would choose Okie State over Missouri if that was the choice
And I seem to remember Cincinnati players celebrating with Oranges after the game against Syracuse, but I also remember West Virginia playing in the Fiesta Bowl last year, so I dont know how that works out
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Cameron Jerde 7 months ago
I did some research, and the only bowl that has two automatic bids is the Rose Bowl, with the Pac-10 champs and Big-10 Champs. The Fiesta takes the Big 12 champs, the Orange the ACC Champs. The Big East has an at large bid. The Big East used to be an automatic bid for the Orange Bowl, but that was changed in 2006.
So theoretically Boise State, Utah, and Cincinnati are interchangeable in which bowls they will go to.
David-
Ohio State is too low in the BCS polls to be considered for an at large bid. They are behind Boise State, and are currently No. 10 in the BCS. There is no possible way for them to receive an at large bid because of the tie in situations and the at large bids.
The Sugar will take either Bama or FLA because of how high they are in the polls. The Fiesta will either take Texas or Missouri.
I guess the only possible way for Ohio State to be considered for an at large bid is if Missouri beats Oklahoma, because that might drop Oklahoma out of contention.
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Brett Field 7 months ago
Ohio State can get an at large bid. The only stipulations are 9 wins and top 14, so both Boise and Ohio State are up for the last bowl spot, either sugar or Fiesta
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David Hedlind 7 months ago
they did celebrate with oranges because that does seem like the likely bowl for them but i also saw a predicition of Sugar somewhere by a writer. West Virginia beat UGA in the Sugar a few years ago.
Ohio State is eligible for a BCS at large bid like Brett said. 9 wins and top 14. Order of ranking doesnt matter. so even though Ohio State is behind Boise State in the rankings, as an at large Ohio state could go and Boise State will be left high and dry.
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