By
Jacob Thorpe
February 2, 2010
Picture this scene.
Photo by John McLellan.
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli points to the Oregon fan section of Husky Stadium as he scores a touchdown during Washington’s 43-19 loss last season.
Nov. 6, 2010.
Washington has just defeated the defending conference champion, the Oregon Ducks. Paul Allen hands a beautiful crystal goblet engraved with “Columbia Cup” to Jake Locker, starting a new tradition and a new chapter in the heated football rivalry between Washington and Oregon.
Washington’s football rivalry with Oregon has just about everything. It has proximity, hatred, venom, and easily the two most spirited fan bases in the Pac-10. It has irrationality and history and that damn Kenny Wheaton highlight played before every game at Autzen Stadium. So why doesn’t it have a trophy?
This rivalry deserves a trophy. The Michigan-Ohio State and Oklahoma-Texas rivalries have proven that when two state schools, both of which have legitimate tradition and success, play for regional bragging rights, good football ensues. The rivalry between Oregon and Washington is arguably the biggest interstate rivalry in the Pac-10. Autzen is the toughest place to play in the Pac-10, except, of course, for Husky Stadium, which averages 65,000 fans during an 0-12 season and still holds the record for highest decibel level during a game, according to ESPN.
It’s time the schools decide to legitimize it and make it official. We could call the trophy the “Columbia Cup” and battle for it every year. It’s already one of the biggest, most passionate rivalries in the game. Let the rest of the country find out. The UW is on the upswing, and Oregon is good; turn this game into a sexy rivalry, and you think ESPN won’t be interested? This game could be a great moneymaker for all.
The great thing about this rivalry is that both teams want it so, so badly. Fans of both schools feel superior, and legitimately so. Oregon fans will tell anyone who asks that they’ve beaten Washington six-straight times.
However, Washington fans love to remind listeners that the UW’s all-time record against Oregon is 51-35-4 and that the UW has won a Rose Bowl as recently as 2001. Oregon hasn’t won it since 1917. More importantly, we as fans need somebody to hate. Our natural rivals are too different. They’re no fun to hate. As a UW fan, I see a bunch of my friends who go to WSU during every break. I don’t hate them; I grew up with them. I sure hate those no-good, dirty, cheating Ducks, though. I hate them for being the best team in the Northwest, I hate them for being propped up by Nike, and I hate them for what their uniforms do to fashion and good taste. Any UW fan who’s ever dared venture to Autzen knows firsthand that those dirty Ducks feel the same way about me.
There just isn’t the same level of animosity between any of the other Northwest schools. Sure, Oregon fans dislike Oregon State fans, but they also see them at work every day. But, really, ask yourself: If LaMichael James was hanging off a cliff, would you save him?
Of course you would. But, be honest, you’d spend a moment thinking about what it would mean for Oregon if you didn’t, wouldn’t you?
The players, coaches and fans recognize the importance of this game. It’s time the schools’ administrations did as well. First-year Oregon coach Chip Kelly did his part to add fuel to the rivalry before he ever coached a game, accusing Washington coach Steve Sarkisian of padding Jake Locker’s stats in the spring game.
No matter how you slice it, this game has all the ingredients of a big-time college football rivalry. Now, let’s make it official.
Reach columnist Jacob Thorpe at sports@dailyuw.com.
36 Comments
#1 Peter
on February 2, 2010 at 10:57 a.m.Oregon does not have legitimate tradition nor success.
#2 Vince
on February 2, 2010 at 11:09 a.m.Oregon is a rival to washington like a hammer is to a nail.
#3 MrC
on February 2, 2010 at 11:25 a.m.How about the Hammer and Nail Rivalry?
#4 Josh Roberts
on February 2, 2010 at 11:51 a.m.As a UW grad living in Duck territory, I would like nothing more than a trophy that we can start ripping from their greased palms. But......that being said, Oregon is the much better program now ( and has been really for the last 15 years) so while I like the chatter, maybe we should see some wins V the *ucks before we start worrying about a trophy.
#5 Starbuck's Sucks
on February 2, 2010 at 12:45 p.m.UW would be piggy backing on Oregon's success. Duck fans don't really care about Washington right now. Yeah the fans are pricks, but the games are blowouts. We prefer loving to knock Oregon State out of the Rose Bowl every year. Have some winning seasons, become a legit team again, and then we'll talk. Until then have fun with the most irrelevant rivalry in sports... the Apple Cup.
#6 fuck huskies
on February 2, 2010 at 1:32 p.m.jelious jelious people wow you people are wose then beaver fans we got a top 10 recruting class 6 5 star all americans stuf class comming in with the team we already have there isnt no trophy because for the fact we whoop your asses every year wouldnt be fair we would have to many trophys in the toph case huskies suck ass you all know it your big recruits want to come to oregon lol washington fans are horrible you people go to far with the stuff you do an say to the other teams and for the loudest stadium why does people onespn an all over college football say we are the loudest in the nation or maybe it's just because nobody cares about your sorry washington teams so they dont care to go hear lol you people keep thinkin the past back in what 91 lol lol now you guys hat are lucky to win 5 games a year or wait 5 games is a awsome season for you guys i forgot enjoy that apple cub lol the two worse teams on the west coast and northwest thats your sorryasses super bowl apple cup two sorry teams playing for a cup you suck huskie people we'll beat your asses again next year and near future so sit back enjoy and love the ass whoopin keep your head up.
#7 Starbuck's Sucks
on February 2, 2010 at 1:40 p.m.Poster 6 has to be a Husky fan.
#8 T-Duck
on February 2, 2010 at 1:49 p.m.*uck Huskies, come on, you are making us all look bad. Its called punctuation, try it!
I think it would be great to have a rivalry and a trophy. But lets be honest, UW has been terrible for the better part of the decade and the Ducks have been near the top of the Pac-10 for that time. Once UW becomes a better program again, then we can start talking trophied rivalry. Until then, it would only be, as someone else put it, UW piggy-backing off of Oregon's (recent) success. I'm not trying to "dawg" here (haha, get it?) But the two teams are no way alike, not like Texas/Oklahoma, Georgia/Florida, Ohio State/... Ok maybe its a little like Ohia State/Michigan with Michigan being in the crapper as of late.
I say lets revisit this debate in about three years, that's the time UW has to re-establish themselves as competitors.
#9 Mike
on February 2, 2010 at 1:59 p.m.I don't think that you can call the ducks husky match up a rivalry today. Maybe a few years back when the scores were nail biters, but the real rivalry for the ducks is and always has been the Beavers. We don't even have a trophy for that game. Every thing is cyclicle. Go Ducks
#10 Duckstudent
on February 2, 2010 at 1:59 p.m.Isn't it weird that UW can't beat Oregon, even though they have THE BEST QUARTERBACK EVER TO PLAY FOOTBALL!!!!?????
FSN NW just reported that Jake Locker cured cancer.
#11 Brandon
on February 2, 2010 at 1:59 p.m.@T-Duck
I know, right? Let's revisit this after Oregon has won a Rose Bowl for the first time since 1917...
#12 mike
on February 2, 2010 at 2:04 p.m.Brandon, I know, but isn't it the journey getting there? You know! listening to all those Huskies yapping, snapping, and to no avail. The ducks fly south and the Huskies are taken back to their kennel.
Sigh! Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
#13 apple mac book
on February 2, 2010 at 2:06 p.m.Jake Locker could probably steal a laptop without being seen...I'd take that over previously incarcerated Masoli, what a great guy.
#14 Robbie G
on February 2, 2010 at 2:10 p.m.I like the "Hammer and Nail" idea. Might as well take a hammer and nail the trophy to the Oregon trophy case because that thing ain't moving for a long time.
Let's see, next year will be another blowout loss at Autzen. Then after that you will lose Jake "Should've Left this Year and Cleaned out My" Locker and will be hovering aroung 2-3 wins a year (none against the Ducks). Last 6 games (note: Oregon's score is the higher one in each game):
31-6
45-21
34-14
55-34
44-10
43-19
I can't figure out the high point for the Huskies, was it when they held Oregon to 31, only lost by 20, or scored 34 points.
#15 David
on February 2, 2010 at 2:12 p.m.I think this is a great idea. I am a Duck fan but I respect the rivalry and the effect it has on the region year in and year out. Why does Washington have to be good again for this to be considered a good idea? Last year was 43-19 and I still remember being nervous before the game about having to deal with the Husky fans for a whole year if we lost. That level of dislike deserves a trophy. I say bring on the "Columbia Cup".
#16 Mac
on February 2, 2010 at 2:16 p.m.Great article. As an Oregon Alum I could not agree more. Actually, we have a huge group of Husky’s that we tailgate with every UO-UW game. This has been going on for about 5-7 years now. It quickly became a competition of who could show up the others with a lavish tailgate. And we do have a trophy.
The “Eros Trophy” which is a statue of the Greek god painted half green and half purple. He is now symbolic of “the Greek god of Duck and Husky love.” In our circle Eros is presented to the fans of the loosing team after the completion of each UO-UW football game.
The idea was for the loosing fans to tote him around for the year in their position (tailgates, holiday mixers etc.) and to return him the following year with a photo album of Eros’s adventures for the year. Fortunately we have never been in position of Eros and unfortunately our Husky friends have never followed through with his adventure photo album. But its great fun and a rivalry both schools should embrace. Cant wait to host our Husky friends next year at Autzen!
#17 Greenblood
on February 2, 2010 at 2:17 p.m.A trophy would be fine.
But something very simple needs to be pointed out: Since 1998 the question for the Pac-10 champ is not, "Did you win the Rose Bowl?" It's, "Did you win your BCS bowl game?" The Ducks are the most recent NW team to do so.
Sorry for that inconvenient and painful truth.
#18 UW Rapist
on February 2, 2010 at 2:20 p.m.Look! Its already devolving into our lovely banter!
I dunno about you, but in reality, where I live, the criminal justice system has decided that Masoli wasn't actually involved with that little incident...
Garrette Embry was kicked off the team for a similar story, even if he was only getting revenge for the back alley beating of one of his teammates...
The rapists WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL for the UW a couple years back... their stories had different results.
#19 UW is desperate
on February 2, 2010 at 2:24 p.m.UW fans are really keeping this rivalry afloat and very likely think about more about Oregon than vice versa. True Duck fans still despise UW, but the intensity has been tempered in recent years due to the quality of what UW puts on the field. At this point, UW fans should be more concerned about putting some wins together rather than just beating Oregon and getting essentially a meaningless trophy/cup. If UW doesn't get better soon, there will a whole generation of Duck fans that could care less about the UW "rivalry" and the UW fan clenching onto the all time record between the schools like it matters.
#20 D
on February 2, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.Um, LaMichael James is a Duck--remember when he burned you earlier this year? I think you meant to ask Oregon fans if we would save Jacquizz. And of course we would, just so the Beavers couldn't use that as an excuse for losing to us.
And I agree with Josh...the only thing currently missing in this rivalry is that there needs to be wins on both sides.
#21 Oregon XC champs
on February 2, 2010 at 2:34 p.m."Autzen is the toughest place to play in the Pac-10, except, of course, for Husky Stadium.". Wow we're all a little biased when it comes to our team, myself included, but that was an outlandish statement. I've been to many games at both Venues even when the puppies actually were relevant and there is no comparison. Autzen is louder with crazier fans and it's not close. Uw has a track around the field nuff said.
#22 Darwin
on February 2, 2010 at 2:35 p.m.A trophy would be cool, Like others have said tho UW needs to get much better.
#23 UODuck92
on February 2, 2010 at 3:17 p.m.I still kinda like the whole "NW Champions" deal that Skippy created back in the day- that way all four could compete for the mythical crown.
I don't need a trophy to hate UW, just UW to be UW. I think Dawg fan can say the same for the UO...
#24 You DumbDuck
on February 2, 2010 at 3:18 p.m.Hey Robbie, how about you show the previous two years when we put up 40+ on you guys?
OregonXCchamps: ESPN measured the noise for the 1992 Nebraska@UW game at 135 decibels on the field. That's more than the human ear can safely withstand. Even with the track Husky Stadium will always be louder because of the overhangs, and because 70% of the seats are between the two endzones.
D, I think you misread it. I think the author was directing it to UW fans, to show that they hate Oregon more than OSU fans do.
UWisDesperate: UW is getting better. Look at our recruiting class. Look at our games against USC and Cal this year. If you think Sark isn't >>>>>>> than Ty and that UW isn't getting a whole lot better FAST than you're mistaken.
#25 Robbie G
on February 2, 2010 at 4:11 p.m.You, I probably didn't mention it because it's irrelevant to the 6 game win streak that Oregon is currently on. Oregon has won the last 6 meetings by 20 or more points each game. The point is to show Oregon's recent dominance in the series...any moron would've been able to figure that out. Pretty sad when your comments don't even register on the moron scale.
#26 Oregon XC champs
on February 2, 2010 at 4:46 p.m.Dumbduck - Thats hogwash if you believe some espn rating from 1992 makes husky stadium the loudest ever. I'll tell you one thing, being on the field during a game I was not impressed at all. That may be in part because the team is so down, but the actual noise level for the players on the field is not a factor. I believe the atmosphere during a game is terrible, and somewhat due to the track. What a terrible idea to put a track around a football field
#27 T-Duck
on February 2, 2010 at 4:51 p.m.@ Brandon Post #11. Rose Bowls aside. Do you think this conversation would be happening in the 80's and 90's??? Oregon would never think we needed a rivalry with UW. The teams were on two different playing fields. As the two teams are today. All we can talk about is today. Congrats on yesterday, but today is what matters. If UW steps up their game, and Oregon maintains, then an official rivalry would be great.
Sorry, the Rose Bowl argument is weak at best.
#28 Oregon XC champs
on February 2, 2010 at 5:10 p.m.Dumbduck - by the way the quote was "toughest" not loudest stadiums to play at. Either way autzen wins like tiger at the 97 masters. It's a landslide.
#29 414
on February 3, 2010 at 7:19 p.m.uw isn't on the same level as oregon right now. i do agree that oregon does not have the football tradition other schools have. but that's where cross country comes in!!! now that's a uw-oregon rivalry!!!!
#30 HuskyHunter
on February 3, 2010 at 9:55 p.m.Hey idiot, he does that every time he score a touchdown... I would think you would have learned that by now since he has put up so many points on you guys!
#31 fandamonium
on February 5, 2010 at 4:12 p.m.Okay I am going to try and be unbiased (probably won't happen). I am a Duck fan, big time. I must say to the Husky fans that keep pointing out the Rose Bowl victory in 1917, hello yours was almost a decade ago yourselves. We have won 6 straight with an average score of 42-17. This is a what have you done for me lately society, lets be frank you haven't done much. Now I will say this will get very interesting, sooner than later. I actually wish Locker was a freshman than this would be an awesome 3 or 4 years. The fact is we can't win forever and neither can you, that's what makes it fun. For now we have bragging rights and we will voice that right. Now we'll just have to see this year. I'm not the type to go calling Husky fan's names (I've grown, used to do it though) because now I respect that you are just passionate for your team. That's good and that's why I agree that we need a trophy. Although wouldn't a nice green and yellow trophy work better?
#32 mauledbyagoldenbear
on February 6, 2010 at 12:24 a.m.NOONE cares about the North West...
Please don't bore the american public with an atrocity like the "columbia cup"
No one wants to see another event in the bottom 10 to mock.
leave it to the Cali schools to represent the pac10 because whenever we hand it to the North West, they just lose to a conference with the worst losing reputation and the weakest recruiting potential, the big10.
No ONE wants to see the ducks or the huskies on T.V.
#33 IhateCalMore
on February 6, 2010 at 2:20 a.m.mauledbyagoldenbear,
I don't remember the last time Cal went to a Rose Bowl (59'). Everyone, except UA has been since then. I also don't think your mascot (who looks more like an autistic sloth than a bear) is going to maul anything.
No one cares about the northwest? Apparently you do since you're reading the UW paper. Go back to your crappy, broken stadium and keep not making the Rose Bowl.
Go Ducks.
#34 goducks15
on February 6, 2010 at 1:07 p.m.mauledbyagoldenbear,
alot of people actually care about the northwest. if i remember right, the civil war was played for a spot in the rose bowl and pac-10 championship. had it not been played on a thursday, College Gameday would have been there, making it 3 times this past season that College Gameday would have seen the ducks, which is more than Cal, UCLA, Stanford, and USC COMBINED. so obviously the nation cares alot about the northwest, if it sees alot more of it then it does the whole state of california.
#35 KennyWheaton's Gonna score
on February 7, 2010 at 7:55 p.m.Unfortunately, Washington still has a long way to go to make it interesting again. Last year was supposed to be the year to get the rivalry back to respectability and we all know how that turned out. Next year does not figure to be any different. Sorry Husky fan - your relevance in college football is nil these days.
#36 Coug
on February 7, 2010 at 10:01 p.m.Hey UW, screw the "Columbia Cup," lets just build a bridge over that worthless state and move our focus straight down to California. I think we can both agree on that.
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