The Washington Huskies Oregon Ducks Rivalry

The Oregon Ducks vs. the Washington Huskies rivalry dates back almost 100 years.In Oregon at Autzen Stadium fans arrive hours before the game just to yell huskies suck over and over again.The fans from these schools generally despise one another so it wasn't a surprise to hear the chant "Huskies suck!" Except it was during the UCLA game.The Husky game was 1 week away still.

"We know they hate us,"says Larry Triplett,Washington's deffensive tackle.

Two years ago the Oregon Duck fans threw urine and dog feces at the husky players and staff and they've thrown dog biscuits at them for years.

The rivalry supposably started in 1948 when Oregon and Cal tied for the best record in PAC-10conference and Rose Bowl participant was decided by vote taken by conference members.It was generally assumed that the 4 California schools would vote for Cal and the Northwest schools would vote for Oregon.But Washington voted for Cal and recruited Montana to vote for Cal as well,and the Bears got the bid.

Then the war escalated and Oregon beat Washington 63-6,then Washington beat Oregon 49-0 a year later.

Then in 1956,after Washington coach John Cherberg was fired,he went on t.v. and revealed that Washington were being paid by a downtown "slush fund" called the Washington Advertising association.The revelation led to a two year suspension for Washington in 1956.It was determined that 27 players received an average of $135 per month instead of the allowed $75.The PCC banned post season competition for all of its athletic teams.A domino effect which happened in Los Angeles,when USC and UCLA were placed on probation for slush fund irregularities.

More acrimony occurred in 1958 leading to the formation of the AAWU.Yes,fifty-eight rhymes with hate.

In 1995,Washington coach Jim Lambright,lobbied hard for his husky team to be chosen for the Cotton Bowl over the Ducks.He lost and as Seattle Post Intelligencer columnist Bud Withers wrote, "invited at least another half- century worth a bile from Oregon fans."

There was other incidents between too:

In 1962 Oregon's Larry Hill was attempting to catch a pass in the end zone to win the game,but was tackled by the Washington fans who had rushed onto the field.

In 1994 Oregon's Kenny Wheaton ran an intercept back 97 yards to beat the Huskies.

Think there hasn't been any needless scoring going o?In 1973 Oregon won 58-0.In 1974 Washington won 66-0.

Bobby Moore(Ahmad Rashad),from Tacoma Washington,allegedly went to Oregon in part of a relative of his (Donny Moore 1965-1966) was dismissed from Jim Owens' football team.This further inflamed the rivalry.According to the Oregons' official website,Seattle Times ranked Bobby Moore as Washington States forth greatest running back of all time.Ironically the Seattle Times ranks Jonathon Stewart,out of Lacey,as the states fifth greatest running back of all time.Stewart,who enrolled in Oregon in 2005,could have been soured on UW,in part,by the cloudy miasma of the NCAA investigation in 2003,which eventually cost the NCAA a $2.5 million in a lawsuit settlement,it made with former UW coach Rick Neuheisel.UW fans wonder if the snitch,who anonymously refers to himself as Peter Wright and who emailed the NCAA about Neuheisels auction activities was an Oregon fan.

Husky fans believe Oregon turned Washington in for the quiet day rules violations that occurred in 1999 when Neuheisel took over as head coach.

Proceeding the game in 2003 after the Huskies won 42-14,the Huskies had a prolonged 30 minute celebration that haunted players and coaches all week.They danced on the Oregon "O" in the center of the field.

Oregon's Keith Lewis took some swipes at the Huskies and essentially guaranteed his team would be dancing on the Husky Stadiums modified "W" at the end of the next game the following year.

After the next game 2003 game Washington won 42-10 at Husky Stadium and danced on the modified "W" themselves.

And then there is the Bellotti factor.After the quiet day visits in 1999,Gary Barnett and several other coaches,as reported by the press,signed a letter protesting what the punishment might be for Washington.Barnett said "they petitioned the NCAA to make the punishment fit the crime,because it won't.They'll get there hands slapped and get reinstated. That's just the way its done.I just think that's ridiculous."Later two of the coaches who signed the petition denied doing so.The press had mistakenly reported that Mike Bellotti, Oregon's coach,was one of the coaches signing the letter.The fact that he didn't sign it doesn't mollify Husky fans;the whole thing was unfair in their minds.

And now theres the Rick Neuheisel factor.If being the head coach for Washington wasn't enough,Oregon fans remember how he,as coach at Colorado,called for a fake punt against the Ducks in the 1996 Cotton Bowl even though the Buffs were leading 38-6.

And Washington fans believe the Oregon coaches who turned in Neuheisel to the NCAA  for recruiting during dead period once he arrived in Washington in 1999.

Not exactly a love fest.

Part of the problem in Autzen Stadium is that the proximity of the fans to the players,there is barely eight feet from the field to the stands and fans are allowed on the field to get to there seats and when the game is over, to exit the stadium.Basically its a security disaster waiting to happen.

Years ago,Washington coach Lambright,accused Oregon coach Mike Bellotti for "preaching hate."He backed off a year later and both schools have tried to downplay hate for the fans and the players.