Busted Trojans

November 3, 2012 

892 miles to the stadium

University of Southern California Trojans vs. Oregon Ducks

4:00 kickoff

Temperatures in the upper 70s 

Photo by Phil Derner

Another weekend, another trip to the Alaska Airlines ticket counter. Thank you, Oregon Ducks, for helping make me an MVP Alaska Gold Member for the first time ever - 40,000 miles and counting in one year. No wonder I don't know what time zone I'm in anymore! Even this trip, one that stays along the Pacific Coast, includes a time change. At some point during the weekend, we will gain an hour. I hope it means a little more sleep because this morning, Friday morning, I could use an extra hour or two!

We arrive at the airport early with the business travelers, including one fairly famous Oregonian - Joey Harrington. As we walk past him, Kimi gives a "Go Ducks." He smiles and continues on to his gate. No "Go Ducks" back, but at least he's wearing a green shirt. We take it as a good omen for the weekend. 

We're looking for omens. The Ducks are playing USC tomorrow and everything is on the line. USC isn't the championship caliber team they were projected to be, but they still have who will likely be the #1 quarterback in the upcoming draft under center and the best receivers the Ducks will see all season. USC's defense? That's another story. Their coach? Another story still! 

KiffyKins deep in thought.

But the fun of college football is that anything can happen in any given game, despite the defense, despite the coach, and with so much at stake for both teams, everyone knows this isn't just any given game.

This is for pride, for bragging rights, for respect, and for one team, a must-win for a chance to play in Miami come January.

So yeah, Joey Harrington in his green shirt, walking across the concourse of the Portland Airport, must mean something. Something along the lines of 

WIN THE DAY.

A few hours later we land at the John Wayne Airport and are picked up by none other than Kimi's best friend, Susie, aka USC Trojan alum. Later, when we go to the bar for lunch and a beer, I find out Susie is also known as....

Each year Kimi makes sure she has her own personally-etched glass waiting for her at The Pint House. It matches the shirt perfectly, no?

The weather is beautiful in Southern California. Shorts, flip flops, a delicious dinner, and hanging by the pool make for a great Friday night, but the backdrop to the evening is tomorrow's game. How will we feel at this time tomorrow? Will the Ducks still have a chance at the Championship? Will USC do what they built their team to do - beat Oregon in the first defeat of the season? We go to sleep wondering...

We wake up wondering the same things. Later, when we arrive at the Coliseum, Kimi and Susie decide a friendly pre-game handshake is in order. May the best team win and all that....

Or maybe not!

We make our way through the campus to the Oregon Tailgate. White t-shirts that say Storm LA are everywhere. The flock has traveled to LA in high numbers. The weather is gorgeous, but a football storm is brewing. You can feel it in the electric air.

And then, another omen. Amazing Grace begins to play. Loudly. Jesus lovers, manning the different corners on campus with megaphones, play it to the masses. Sitting under the Oregon tent, it feels surreal to hear Amazing Grace 1) played so loudly and with so many verses, and 2) played on the streets of the home team's campus. I look at Kimi questioningly. She shrugs and giggles, "It's the funeral song. We're at a funeral." We start to feel just whose funeral we're at too, and it's not Oregon's. 

Yes, excitement is high. It gets even higher when Oregon's all-time leading rusher stops by the tailgate. 

Last week Kimi gets a picture with Ashton Eaton, this week, LMJ. 

Maureen & Susie too! 

Before long, we make our way into the Coliseum where we find the Duck looking LA cool. 

And not long after that, Oregon storms LA!

Big time. Nine touchdowns (the first in under a minute), 62 points, and 730 yards later, the Ducks leave the Trojans ripped in half. We make the USC fans take a picture with us anyway.

Final Score: 62-51 Ducks.

After note: The Trojans' defense stopped Oregon's offense twice on Saturday. The game clock did too. Think about that. USC and the clock halted the Ducks the same amount of times. I thought that was pretty funny! 

SEE YA NEXT WEEK FROM CAL.

Thanks for following the Duck Tale.