Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 05:43, 9 December 2009

The Civil War is the colloquial name for the annual college football game in Oregon between the Oregon State Beavers and the Oregon Ducks. First played in 1894, it is the seventh-oldest college football rivalry game in the United States.

History

The game was first played in 1894 and has been contested 113 times as of 2009. The University of Oregon holds a series lead of 57-46-10. The game was not contested in 1900, 1901, 1911, 1943, and 1944 and two games were played in 1896 and 1945. The first reference to the "Civil War" name was in 1929 and came into common use in 1937. Prior to that, it was called the "Oregon Classic" or the "State Championship Game."

The game is usually played in even-numbered years at the home field of Oregon State University in Corvallis (since 1954, Reser Stadium, formerly Parker Stadium) and in odd-numbered years, at the home field of the University of Oregon in Eugene (since 1967, Autzen Stadium). Seven games have been played at Multnomah Stadium (now PGE Park) in Portland: in 1908, 1917, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1950, and 1952. The 1912 and 1913 games were played at a neutral site in Albany following a riot after the 1910 game.

From 1997 through 2006 the winner of the game was the home team. The streak was snapped in 2007, when Oregon State University beat the University of Oregon at Autzen Stadium 38-31 in double overtime. In 2008, the Ducks returned the favor in Corvallis by beating OSU 65-38. The streak of visiting teams winning was snapped at two games in 2009 when the Ducks won 37-33 in Eugene.

From 1959 to 1961, the Platypus Trophy was awarded to the winning school. The trophy was lost for 40 years and found in 2005, and beginning with the 2007 game, was awarded to the winning school's alumni association.

Other athletic contests (most notably, men's and women's basketball) between the schools are also referred to as Civil War games.

Memorable games

1933: In a game played before 32,183 spectators at Multnomah Stadium in Portland, both teams came into the game undefeated: the Beavers were 5–0–2 and the Ducks were 7–0. The Beavers scored first, but the rest was all Oregon, with fullback (and future Chicago Cardinal) "Iron Mike" Mikulak rushing for 89 yards on the way to a 13–3 victory. The Ducks won a share of the PCC championship, but Stanford got the bid to the 1934 Rose Bowl.

1957: The Ducks had a 6–1 conference record and the Beavers were 5–2. A Beaver win at Hayward Field would give them a share of the conference title, but since the Beavers had been to the 1957 Rose Bowl, the Pacific Coast Conference's no-repeat rule meant that no matter what, the Ducks were headed for the 1958 Rose Bowl, their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1920. Both teams scored on their first possession, but that ended the scoring until late in the third quarter, when Beaver kicker Ted Searle put Oregon State on top, 10–7. A late fumble by the Ducks' Jim Shanley secures the win—but not the Rose Bowl—for the Beavers.

1969: With the score tied 7–7 and less than a minute to play, Oregon State placekicker Mike Nehl attempted a 29-yard field goal to put the Beavers ahead. Nehl had already had one field goal blocked and missed one field goal on the day, and this one was blocked by Oregon's Jim Franklin, hit an official, bounced off the foot of Oregon linebacker Don Graham, and was recovered by Oregon State tight end Bill Plumeau at the Duck 4 yard line. Nehl again came on to try his fourth field goal, and this time, connected on a 21-yard kick to give the Beavers a 10–7 win—the sixth on the way to what would be eight straight OSU Civil War wins.

1983: Played during a rainstorm and pitting two mediocre squads against each other, the game ended in a scoreless tie and is commonly known as the "Toilet Bowl" due to the poor quality of play exhibited in the game. It was not a steadfast defensive struggle: there were eleven fumbles, five interceptions, and four missed field goals. It was the last NCAA Division I football game to end in a scoreless tie, and with the introduction of overtime into NCAA football (which eliminated ties), it is unlikely to ever happen in the future, unless a subsequent rule change allows tie games to once again occur.

1988: The Beavers had not won a Civil War in 13 years coming into the game, and Oregon head coach Rich Brooks had not lost a Civil War in 21 attempts as either a Ducks coach or Beavers coach or player. Both streaks ended on this day, with the Beavers posting a solid 21–10 victory that included two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

1994: Oregon needed a win in front of a hostile Parker Stadium crowd to secure a bid to the 1995 Rose Bowl, but they trailed 13–10 in the fourth quarter. Duck quarterback Danny O'Neil the Ducks on a 70-yard drive that culminated in a 19-yard pass to Dino Philyaw to give them the 17–13 win and their first Rose Bowl in 37 years.

1998: Oregon State prevails in double overtime (the first ever overtime Civil War), 44-41. Beaver fans rushed the field after the first overtime after the Ducks failed to score on fourth down, but a pass interference penalty gave the Ducks another chance. It took officials 15 minutes to clear the field, after which the Ducks scored to send the game to a second overtime. The Ducks managed a field goal in their possession, but Beavers running back Ken Simonton scores to give the Beavers an upset win, their fifth win of the season, and their best record since 1971.

2000: Oregon came into the game ranked #5 in the country with Oregon State at #8, the only time both teams have been ranked in the top 10. With a win, Oregon would go to the Rose Bowl; the Beavers needed a win to force a tie between the two teams, and keep alive hopes of going to the Rose Bowl. Oregon State won the game 23-13, but was denied a Rose Bowl bid when the University of Washington beat Washington State later the same day. Oregon State was extended an at-large invitation to BCS' Fiesta Bowl, one of only two at large BCS berths extended to the Pac 10 through 2008.

2007: Oregon State wins 38–31 in double overtime at Autzen, the first road team to win the game in 10 attempts.

2008: Oregon State needed a victory to get a bid to the 2009 Rose Bowl, their first Rose Bowl in 44 years. Instead, Oregon ran away with a 65–38 blowout, setting Civil War records for the most points scored by one team and the most total points scored.

2009: Oregon wins 37-33 in a back-and-forth game. They will represent the Pac-10 in the 2010 Rose Bowl, their first appearance since 1995. It was the first time the Civil War guaranteed the winner a Rose Bowl berth.

Notable game-related incidents

1910: following a 12-0 Oregon victory in Corvallis, fans of both teams began a verbal argument that escalated into exceedingly rowdy behavior as Ducks fans returned to the train station to leave. The UO's public relations department spread stories of (then) Oregon Agricultural College hooliganism to the statewide press, offending students of OAC and causing the rivalry to be suspended for 1911.

1937: After defeating Oregon 14-0 in Corvallis, Oregon State fans had a large rally the next evening that lasted for six hours. Approximately 2,000 Oregon State students decided to caravan the following day to Eugene and have another celebration. State police initially halted the group, then agreed to lead them through the town if they agreed to behave. However, once Oregon students got out of class, the situation escalated with Ducks pelting Beavers with tomatoes and water balloons, some Oregon State students were thrown into the millrace, and other OSU students taken to Skinner Butte, stripped and forced to repaint the "O" hillside letter yellow and slide down the painted surface.

1954: 50-60 UO students infiltrated Corvallis and lit the traditional OSU homecoming bonfire early. While it had been done before, this time OSU students were able to capture 15-20 UO students and hold them "prisoner". The captured students had their heads shaved, were painted orange and black and some were forced to do menial labor for OSU fraternities. One captured Duck was marched through the OSU campus with a sign that said "I'm a dumb Duck."

1960: a UO student abducted the OSU homecoming queen from the front of her home in Corvallis. She was returned unharmed thirty minutes later, but before that the OSU student body president received a ransom note demanding he ride a child's scooter to the center of Eugene and make a public appeal for her return.

1972: After a 30-3 UO victory at Corvallis, Ducks fans stormed the OSU field to take down goal posts; after taking down the south goalposts, Beavers fans attempted to defend the north goalposts, resulting in a large brawl.

Scores

References and notes

1. ^ Edmonston Jr., George. "Up Close and Personal: Greatest Civil War Games". Oregon State Alumni Association. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
2. Edmonston Jr., George. "Happy Birthday Parker (Reser) Stadium". Oregon State Alumni Association. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
3. ^ Binder, Doug (November 22, 2008). "Civil War: The complete game-by-game history". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 29, 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
4. Hunt, John (November 26, 2009). "Civil War: Rewind 52 years to the biggest game ever in Oregon". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
5. ^ Doug Binder, Civil War: 5 moments that fanned the flames of the rivalry, The Oregonian, November 22, 2008, Accessed November 23, 2008.
6. Up to 1926 known as OAC, Oregon Agricultural College.
   1927-1936 known as OSAC, Oregon State Agricultural College.
   1937-1960 known as OSC, Oregon State College.
   Since 1961 known as OSU, Oregon State University.
7. ^ In 1896 and 1945 two games were played
8. In 1907, Oregon AC did not allow a single point, outscoring opponents 139-0 in 7 games
9. Riots during 1910 game resulted in cancellation of 1911 Civil War game
10. ^ 1912 and 1913 games played on neutral field in Albany due to riots at the 1910 Civil War game
11. In 1943 and 1944, there were no teams due to World War II
12. First Civil War played at Parker Stadium (now Reser Stadium)
13. First Civil War played at Autzen Stadium
14. The 1983 game is known colloquially as the "Toilet Bowl"

External links

• University of Oregon Football Media Guide
• Oregon State Football Media Guide

• College (American) football rivalries in the United States
• Oregon Ducks football
• Oregon State Beavers football