Don't Let The Aroma Fool You

Most everyone has them somewhere in their lives.

Sometimes they have pictures on them. Occasionally there are toys on them. If you are in a library they have books on them. More times than not they have dust on them. They are in homes, businesses and essentially everywhere you go on a daily basis.

I am talking about shelves.

There are 18 days until the Civil War splits friends and families apart at the seams. All the talk around the state at the moment is about that game and that it will be for the right to play in the Rose Bowl. It is as if the games that both teams have to play this next week are a foregone conclusion. Except one thing, they are not.

Oregon is going into a stadium where in their last two trips they have seen their starting quarterbacks go down to never return again in an Oregon uniform. In 2005 the turf snuck up and broke Kellen Clemen’s leg. In 2007 that field decided to finish the job that the Autzen Stadium turf had started in the prior game on Dennis Dixon’s knee.

In both instances Oregon was in the midst of a program changing season.

Oregon State travels to Pullman to take on a horrible Washington State team. This is a team that has one win and a host of horrible losses. I know what you are thinking, this is essentially a bye-week for the Beavers. Except one thing. This is Pullman.

This is a magical place where the cold can be bitter and rain can turn to snow in an instant. And in games where weather can be a factor you can never be certain about anything.The weather forcast for Saturday, 38 degrees for a high and a chance of rain. But that is 6 days out and it could get better, but it is November so it will probably get worse.

My point? Shelf the Rose Bowl talk until you get to that point. Because all that talk is a waste of breath until after next Saturday’s games. Too many things can go sideways between now and then. It would be the same as day dreaming about winning the lottery, only to realize that you never bought a ticket.

Wait a week. That is all I ask. By this time next week, if both Oregon and Oregon State win, then you can talk about you are blue in the face. But not until then. Not for another 144 hours.

Let the Rose Bowl talk collect dust for one more week. Then, if it is appropriate, take it off that shelf and dust it off.