5th & 7

September 29, 2012

179 miles to the stadium

Oregon Ducks at Washington State Cougars

7:30 kickoff

Chilly temps with a cold wind blowing off the Puget Sound

The fifth game of the season with seven more to go (AT LEAST!!), and I'm feeling it. The Doritos, beers, and sausages from the previous four weeks have stretched not only my pants, but my mental toughness too. It ain't being green, not every week I'm learning, but as us sports fans know, there's no crying in baseball and no excuse in football. As Vince Lombardi once said, "It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up." So, up I go, to the cooler, to the chip bag, to Seattle, even if my heart isn't in it this week because that's what you do when you've made a commitment to

EVERY GAME, EVERY STADIUM.

We check into our hotel and check out our view - not bad!

After breakfast the following day, I decide to go for a walk around Seattle before heading to the game. Although I run into plenty of Duck fans, the Washington State Cougars have "Occupied Seattle." They are everywhere, including the bridges, street corners, restaurants, and even the marinas. Nice boat, Coug, but I think we all know what animal does better in water! 

Finally, around 2:30 we leave for Century Link Field, home of the upset as of late. First, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Packers in the most controversial game of the season (Kimi and I were there!) on Monday Night Football. Then, the Huskies, who are using the field this year while their stadium is being renovated, upset #8 Stanford three days later, and now two days after that, the Cougars, who decided to play the Ducks in Seattle instead of their hometown, have to be hoping Century Link Field proves to be a good luck charm one more time as they take on the #2 team in the country. Let's Go Ducks! 

We're Ducky and we know it ~ setting up in hostile territory, we're the first Ducks to arrive.

But, our backup is on its way!

Soon enough, we're a full-fledged flock with even the Seattle transit system joining in (note the train's color).

 Yeah, Seattle, we wouldn't root for the Dawgs either! Speaking of the Dawgs, we woke up Saturday morning to find bones on our truck. We were there for the Cougar game, but Husky sabotage is never far away. Such bad dogs!

Jess, our resident Coug, befriends the Washington State fans tailgating next to us. Turns out they're the family of Andrew Furney, kicker for the Wazzu team. They would go on to watch their son kick for 8 points that night - two field goals and 2 extra points. That's gotta be cool!

"It isn't Pullman, but it is so fun under the overpass between the Cougs!" Jess G-Raaf, the Coug, on tailgating in Seattle. 

Before we know it, it's time to head into the Stadium to watch the Ducks in their first road game of the season. 

Fans pile in ~ some reports claim it's 6:1 in favor of the Cougar fans. I'm nervous for our redshirt freshman quarterback who has never experienced a road game. Can he handle the pressure, the noise, the antagonism?

As it turns out, yes. After a 23-19 halftime score and some nail-biting, exciting football for the first two quarters, the Ducks come out huge to start the 3rd. In less than a minute and a half game time, Oregon transforms their four point lead into an 18 point one. The Ducks put down the Cougs for good with two quick touchdowns and a pick six on a chilly night in upset stadium. The final score is an upset, just not for the Ducks. 

51-26 Ducks.

Thanks for following the Duck Tale!

SEE YA NEXT WEEK!