1009 miles to the stadium
Oregon Ducks vs. Kansas State Wildcats
6:30 kickoff
Climate controlled temperature with a 0% chance of rain
(thanks to the dome)
It's January 1st, the first day of the new year, and they say what you do today is what you will do all year. Great, Kimi and I are dressed in Duck gear drinking beer at a dive bar in the desert. So far, 2013 doesn't look any different than, well, the last eight years!
The Well Bar, the best watering hole for Ducks in the desert.
HAPPY 2013 DUCKIES! (Let's keep it happy with a Fiesta Bowl win in two days)
As some of you more astute readers may realize, Kimi and I have had quite a few brushes with fame this season. Our celebrity hob-knobbing doesn't change today either despite being in the duckiest, diviest bar to be found in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Just as we are about to raise a toast (again) to the Oregon Ducks, Tom Finneran and his friend stop by to say hello. Naturally, we must have a picture.
Who is Tom Finneran, you ask?
You probably know him better as....
photo by Nate Hanson
THE DUCK NUT!!!
Clearly, the Well Bar is where the biggest fans hang.
After awhile, we head back to our hotel and get our first taste of the K-State fans. They are here in droves, packs, prides, or whatever it is you call a group of wildcats. They're nice though, and very, very excited. Their exuberance is evidenced the following day at our respective pep rallies.
Oregon's attendance? About 2000 people.
K-State's? 25,000! But.... does their mascot arrive by sky? I highly doubt it!
Our sky-diving Duck in his parachuting gear back on solid ground. (Wait, I thought ducks knew how to fly.)
While at the pep rally, Kimi is sure she finds her new car.
I suggest just getting a hood ornament instead.
(I'm afraid she thinks I'm serious and this will be the 2013 tailgating season addition)
Pep rallies and the Well Bar are all good and fun, but we're ready for kick-off. Finally, the day arrives. Of course, with a celebrity sighting.
Ty Burrell predicts a win!
Soon, the game starts, and if the K-state crowd was quiet before, they are silenced now.
Kimi is very excited, as is all of Duck Nation!
We know the state of Oregon is going crazy at home.
The game, featuring two top 10 ranked teams, is so much fun and so action-packed (with the Ducks doing most of the action!) that I don't take my camera out again. The Ducks make big play after big play to become the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Champions of 2013.
Final Score: 35-17 Ducks.
The next few days and weeks are crazy. While most of Oregon leaves the greater Phoenix area the following day, one notable stays behind... Chip Kelly. He stays to interview with a couple of different NFL teams and just when it looks like he's sure to leave the University of Oregon, news breaks that he's staying. The fans rejoice. It had been a roller coaster of a ride with different stories every minute saying Chip is leaving for Philly, for Cleveland, for the moon, wherever, but this one, this one that says he's staying gets confirmed by the U of O.
Only, Chip isn't afraid to change his mind; it's part of what makes him a great coach, and a week later, one final story breaks. One that breaks Duck fans' hearts as it breaks on ESPN: Chip Kelly is leaving Oregon to coach the Eagles. This too is confirmed... by everyone.
The man changed the face of Duck football. He, his coaches, and players gave us the best run in Oregon's history, and what a run it was- 4 BCS Games, including the National Championship Game, in 4 years.
Thank you Coach Kelly!
So, that's it. The season is done and so is this blog.
As always,
Thanks for following the Duck Tale!
