Vamos Patos

October 18, 2012 - Thursday Night College Football

3,810 miles to the stadium

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Oregon Ducks

6:00 kickoff

89 degrees - so hot you could Stick A Fork In It! 

In slightly less than 24 hours, we leave Hawaii, crash in a La Quinta near SeaTac, board a second plane, and arrive in Phoenix early Thursday morning with Duck flags and feet at full mast. Our eyelids may look half mast, but don't let that fool ya. We're ready to roll... before we even leave the rental car parking lot, in fact!

We aren't the first Ducks to arrive in Phoenix. The more brazen of the flock are already here, and it isn't long before the largest city in the Sonoran Desert knows it.

Photo via CBS Newspath

Leah Saulnier painting

Local police have not officially announced who they think is responsible for the overnight paint job, but Duck fans are suspected. 

According to KVAL.com, "ASU students and fans typically make a coordinated effort to protect the "A" against such pranks the week prior to the annual game with local rivals Arizona, but for this game, they dropped the ball." Funny, but they wouldn't be the only ones. We didn't know it yet, but ASU receivers would go on to drop or miss the ball in 43% of opportunities later that night. 

We wonder what to do next now that the "A" has already been painted. Kimi remembers a "Duck Bar" somewhere in the greater Phoenix area, and we set out to find it. The Well Bar almost seems a desert mirage with its green and yellow balloons and larger-than-life-sized player posters hanging outside. 

But, it isn't a mirage; it's an oasis, a small green, fertile area amid the desert brown, complete with watering hole.

And it's great. GO DUCKS, or as they say around here...

We hang at the duck dive, taking in the scene, the culture, and a couple of beers, although I think to really understand the Desert culture it would take more than a couple of beers, before heading to Sun Devil Stadium where we find....

The Desert Quackers are throwing a party and everyone's invited!




Thanks, UOAA-Phoenix Chapter! 

Soon, Ducks from all over fill the place, and despite the heat, everyone's feeling pretty cool. Especially us! 

It's here, at Duck Head Quarters, the Oregon Tailgate, where I first learn of FEAR THE FORK. 

Fear the fork? That's ASU's new slogan? I just think that so laughable because if there is one thing America DOES NOT fear, it's the fork! 

Scared yet?  

I didn't think so. The tailgate is a great time filled with lots of nice people, and we can't believe when it's time to leave for the game. Neither of us feel like walking. After all, it is 89 degrees and at least five blocks, so we get someone to drive us! 

A pretty evening in the desert.

And soon the game is underway.

TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN!

43-7 Ducks at the half.

Stick a fork in it - this game is cooked.

But our seatmates keep it interesting...

 Bryan Bennett's mom and family. 

Two happy and tired Ducks soon to leave the stadium. On our way out, we overhear an ASU fan say to her friend on the phone, "Yeah, but the Ducks didn't even try after the 2nd quarter. They had their second and third stringers out there, and the janitor too." Best analysis I've heard yet.

FINAL SCORE 43-21 DUCKS.

Thanks for following the Duck Tale. 

SEE YA NEXT WEEK!