Ducks vs. Beavers: Top 10 Most Memorable Oregon-Oregon State Civil War Games

Today marks the 114th annual game between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, known colloquially as The Civil War.

It will be the last time the two teams will meet as members of the Pac-10 conference and the first time one of the teams (Oregon) will be playing for a berth in the BCS National Championship game.

During the regular season, it is perfectly normal for Duck fans to root for the Beavers and vice-versa in a show of interstate solidarity.  This all comes to a grinding halt during Civil War week where loyalties become apparent and the Civil War earns its namesake amongst sports fans in the state of Oregon.

Oregon leads the series 57-46 with a tie occurring 10 times.  The winning school's alumni association receives the Platypus Trophy that depicts a platypus, an animal that shares features of both a beaver and a duck.

In the last 114 years, there have been many Civil War games that could be deemed classics or of note due to certain circumstances.

Here are, in this writer's opinion, the top 10 most memorable Civil War matches.

UPDATED:  My photos from the 2010 Civil War are up.  Check out the signs, hits and cheerleaders right here.

10. The First One

The first ever meeting of the two schools was on Nov. 3, 1894 in Corvallis.  Grover Cleveland was president and Oregon State University was known as the Oregon Agricultural College and the University of Oregon was called simply "State University."

The team from Eugene was known as the "Lemon Yellows" while the Corvallis squad was called "The Hayseeds."  (Amongst Duck fans, that name for OSU has actually stuck to this day.)

The Hayseeds won the inaugural contest 16-0 after which both teams gathered in the OAC's Alpha Hall, a women's dormitory for a meal prepared by the school president's wife.

Football hadn't yet gained much popularity in Oregon at that point.  More fans attended the meeting of the school's two debate teams six months later.

9. 1987: The Blowout

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

23 Sep 1989: Quarterback Bill Musgrave of the Oregon Ducks drops back to pass during a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. Stanford won the game 18-17. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport

In the most lopsided game of the entire history of the Civil War, QB Bill Musgrave led Oregon to a 44-0 victory.

For Beaver fans, there was nothing at all special or memorable about this game.  For the Ducks, there wasn't much on the line as they didn't even make it to a bowl game that year.

For me, I love that score and it's my article, so there.

8. 1998: The Instant Classic

The Beavers win their first Civil War in 10 years in a double-overtime thriller for the ages.

Check out, Ken Simonton in for the win in the above video.

7. 1983: The Toilet Bowl.

The 1983 Civil War game was an atrocity.  Eleven fumbles.  Four missed filed goals.  Five interceptions.

The game ended in a 0-0 tie, the last game to do so due to the introduction of overtime in NCAA football.

The teams were a mess, the weather was a mess, nothing was on the line.

Thankfully, all the highlights have been flushed.

6. 2008: Oregon Plays the Spoiler, Big Time

Oregon State entered the 2008 Civil War ranked 17th in the nation and with a victory, would earn a berth in its first Rose Bowl since 1944, and a chance to avenge a loss to Penn State who had slaughtered them earlier that season.

Oregon was ranked 23rd and had been plagued by injuries all season.  This was the final regular season game to be coached by longtime Duck coach Mike Bellotti.

Long story short, the Ducks dropped 65 points on the Beavers in front of a record crowd of 46,319 crushed, mostly Beaver fans at Reser Stadium.  It was the most points ever scored on Oregon State in any game.

Oregon State did not go to the Rose Bowl, but instead played Pittsburgh in the Brut Sun Bowl where they won 3-0 in one of the lowest scoring bowl games ever.

Oregon beat Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl 42-31 in what would be quarterback Jeremiah Masoli's coming-out party.

5. 2000: Clash of the Titans

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

18 Nov 2000: Joey Harrington #3 of the Oregon Ducks moves with the ball during the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers defeated the Ducks 23-13.Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport

With Oregon ranked No. 5 in the country and Oregon State ranked eighth, the 2000 Civil War was the first time both teams were in the top 10 when they faced off.

Oregon was playing for a Rose Bowl bid, the Beavers needed a victory and some help from Washington State in the Apple Cup to make it to the Granddaddy of Them All.

The game was a nightmare for Oregon's star quarterback Joey Harrington.  "Joey Heisman" had six turnovers in a losing effort and swears to this day that he'll never go back to Corvallis for any reason.

The Ducks went on to beat Texas in the Holiday Bowl while the Beavers went on to make the whole state of Oregon extremely proud in a 41-9 trouncing of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl.

4. 2001: The Duck Strikes Back

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 1: Quarterback Joey Harrington #3 of Oregon Ducks hands off to tailback Onterrio Smith #2 against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene Oregon on December 1, 2001. Oregon defeated Oregon State 17-14. (Photo by Otto

The Civil War was played at Autzen Stadium in Eugene and the 9-1 Ducks were ranked No. 4 in the nation. The Beavers were there to play spoiler and to achieve a winning record.

Joey Harrington played much better at home and Keenen Howry and Maurice Morris provided game-changing performances for the Ducks. 

Oregon pulled off a 17-14 victory and earned a trip to the BCS Fiesta Bowl due to some kind of computer glitch that kept them out of the BCS title game.

Their victory over future Pac-12 member Colorado meant that Oregon State and Oregon both won the Fiesta Bowl in consecutive years.

3. 1994: Rebirth of the Quack

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

12 SEP 1992: QUARTERBACK DANNY O''NEIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON COMMUNICATES WITH THE PRESS BOX COACHES DURING A 21-7 LOSS TO STANFORD. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule/ALLSPORT

The climax of a Cinderella season for Oregon, the 1994 Civil War was the only thing standing in the way of Oregon and the Rose Bowl.

Played at Parker Stadium in Corvallis, the 1994 Civil War was one for the ages.  The Beavers gave the Ducks all they had and played with tremendous heart and guts.

The Beavers led by a field goal in the fourth quarter but Oregon's QB Danny O'Neil orchestrated a 70-yard drive for a touchdown and with it Oregon's first Rose Bowl invitation in nearly 40 years.

More on that amazing season here.

2. 2009: All-In for All the Marbles

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 3: Bryson Littlejohn #43 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates their Civil War victory over Oregon State holding a rose in his teeth at Autzen Stadium on December 3, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks defeated the Beavers 37-33. (Photo by T

In 2009, it was the first time the winner of the Civil War was guaranteed a Pac-10 championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

This was the first Civil War I got to witness in person and I'd never seen anything like it.  The Ducks were incredible.  The Beavers were relentless.  Everything was on the line and 60 minutes of football would decide it all.

It was back and forth all evening with the Ducks finally prevailing 37-33 with a Kenjon Barner first down sealing the deal.

It would be the second year in a row where the Ducks would keep the Beavers out of the Rose Bowl.

1. 2010: This Is It

Photo by Joel Conrad Bechtolt of Bleacher Report

Today's game means history for the Ducks and redemption for the Beavers.  If Oregon wins, they are practically assured of a spot in the BCS National Championship game.  If Oregon State wins, they become bowl eligible and salvage a disappointing season.

More than that, the Ducks can put Oregon football on the map for good.  Oregon State can pull off the biggest upset in NCAA football this year and exact revenge on an Oregon squad that has squashed their dreams of roses two years in a row.

Fans of U of O and OSU football know that when it comes to the Civil War, all bets are off.  Rankings mean nothing and home-field advantage doesn't play as big of a part as we're all Oregonians.

This will be the only time all year that I do not root for the Beavers and I'm sure many Beaver fans can say the same thing about my Ducks.  

It all comes down to one game, just like it has so many years before.  For Oregon football, the 2010 Civil War is the most important one in all 114 years of its existence.

Go Ducks, Win the Day!

UPDATED:  My photos from the 2010 Civil War are up.  Check out the signs, hits and cheerleaders right here.