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Has the WSU-UO rivalry become one of the best on the West Coast?

PeteTheChop

PeteTheChop

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A lot of people talk about the Apple Cup (and rightfully so), but the annual Cougars-Ducks matchup is becoming a Classic both sides look forward to each season.

There seems to be two opponents that can incite that sort of emotion and intensity as well as smack talking from the respective fan bases.

Oregon and the one coming to Pullman in less than 5 weeks.

Does anyone else think we've got another Blood Rival on our hands?
 
Oregon has always be a pretty heated matchup.

Reuben Mayes going for 357, Chris Miller ruining the RPM season on Labor Day Weekend, the massive on-field brawl that the Cougs totally owned in '94, Peter Sirmon whining about Ryan Leaf being too physical, the no-call PI in the endzone in 2000, rich/cool/4-0 in 2003. The hate goes way back.
 
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Observer11 said:
Oregon has always be a pretty heated matchup.

Reuben Mayes going for 357, Chris Miller ruining the RPM season on Labor Day Weekend, the massive on-field brawl that the Cougs totally owned in '94, Peter Sirmon whining about Ryan Leaf being too physical, the no-call PI in the endzone in 2000, rich/cool/4-0 in 2003. The hate goes way back.
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Good stuff Observer.

Vancouver/SW Washington = Cougar County

City of Portland = Duckville.

Wonder how much the proximity of the two fan bases plays into the hatred and disdain?
 
Observer11 said:
Oregon has always be a pretty heated matchup.

Reuben Mayes going for 357, Chris Miller ruining the RPM season on Labor Day Weekend, the massive on-field brawl that the Cougs totally owned in '94, Peter Sirmon whining about Ryan Leaf being too physical, the no-call PI in the endzone in 2000, rich/cool/4-0 in 2003. The hate goes way back.
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The non-call on the duck DB mauling the Cougar WR deep in Oregon territory in the Mariota-led 38-31 win. Woodie Dixoned us.
 
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CougPatrol said:
The long time fans do. The all time series record is 49-42-7 in Oregon’s favor. A lot of NW history.
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Are there any old school fans left?! When I saw whatever D kid crying on the sidelines in the second quarter and a coach talking him off the ledge, that told me everything about how we are perceived.
They don't take us seriously. Their ego's have given them excuses over the past 3 years. This year reality hit them over the head.
Saying all that, I think that kind of thing is not only fed internally but by the fans and local/national press. I don't think the UO fans of the past 10 years have ever taken us seriously. I think to them, we've been "lucky" the past few years. I think this year was a real eye opener.

Oregon is the new place for 4 and 5 star kids to go, to get soft.
 
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Coug95man2 said:
Are there any old school fans left?! When I saw whatever D kid crying on the sidelines in the second quarter and a coach talking him off the ledge, that told me everything about how we are perceived.
They don't take us seriously. Their ego's have given them excuses over the past 3 years. This year reality hit them over the head.
Saying all that, I think that kind of thing is not only fed internally but by the fans and local/national press. I don't think the UO fans of the past 10 years have ever taken us seriously. I think to them, we've been "lucky" the past few years. I think this year was a real eye opener.

Oregon is the new place for 4 and 5 star kids to go, to get soft.
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they certainly don't, the fans don't and that carries over to the players as well
 
Coug95man2 said:
Oregon is the new place for 4 and 5 star kids to go, to get soft.
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I don’t think that’s true at all. We beat a good team yesterday. Oregon has capitalized on NIKE, and they’re here to stay. They will eventually find the right coach.
 
Oregon tends toward undeserved overconfidence. Just show up in shiny helmets, collect the AYSO participation trophy, and all will be well. Indeed, Oregon is also on the way to supplanting UCLA as the places that HS stars go to get soft and fizzle.
 
Even if we don't like the Evil Empire.....they don't really care about us. They view OSU and UW as their true rivals. If only one side thinks it's a rivalry, it's not a rivalry.
 
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CougPatrol said:
I don’t think that’s true at all. We beat a good team yesterday. Oregon has capitalized on NIKE, and they’re here to stay. They will eventually find the right coach.
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I think NIKE is why they got soft, honestly. They had a good run, sure. They have the talent, no question. Cripes, they have a top recruiting class for years. But that also goes to my point. Can they become tougher? Sure. But at one point does the "We have all this cool stuff, we have incredible facilities, we have all this support, REAAAAALLY cool uniforms (yak), we are going to win because we deserve it" mentality become engrained in the program? After 4 years that we've beat them, that's all I've seen. Are they good? Sure. Our OT win the other year was big. But also realize, our grit is what allowed us to be in that position. The position to win.

And for a D player to be crying before the half... that's ego. That's privilege and that comes from a soft mentality. That's not going to win games. I might be saying all of that prematurely but they are on that road. That's all I've seen.
 
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Coug95man2 said:
I think NIKE is why they got soft, honestly. They had a good run, sure. They have the talent, no question. Cripes, they have a top recruiting class for years. But that also goes to my point. Can they become tougher? Sure. But at one point does the "We have all this cool stuff, we have incredible facilities, we have all this support, REAAAAALLY cool uniforms (yak), we are going to win because we deserve it" mentality become engrained in the program? After 4 years that we've beat them, that's all I've seen. Are they good? Sure. Our OT win the other year was big. But also realize, our grit is what allowed us to be in that position. The position to win.

And for a D player to be crying before the half... that's ego. That's privilege and that comes from a soft mentality. That's not going to win games. I might be saying all of that prematurely but they are on that road. That's all I've seen.
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I was glad that we won a game where they don't have the QB excuse that they've used a crutch the past three years. I will say that it's probably short sighted to assume that Oregon is a bad football team that lives off entitlement and doesn't deserve respect. I'm not a fan of the Evil Empire but given their schedule remaining, they are likely going to be 9-3 to finish the regular season. If USC and Utah play to form and we get an upset over UW or Stanford, the Ducks could end up in favorable bowl game and finish with 10 wins. Bad football teams don't get 10 wins in the Pac-12, even in a down year.

Watching that second half, I can't believe that anyone looks at the Ducks and thinks that they are a bunch of soft, five star quitters who don't give a damn. You don't play the way that they did if that was the case. A soft, entitled bunch of losers would have quit and gotten blown out the way that we rocked Arizona 69-7 back in 2016. So, hate the Ducks all you want....and I do, but don't belittle a team that may prove to be one of our best wins of the season.
 
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Coug95man2 said:
I think NIKE is why they got soft, honestly. They had a good run, sure. They have the talent, no question. Cripes, they have a top recruiting class for years. But that also goes to my point. Can they become tougher? Sure. But at one point does the "We have all this cool stuff, we have incredible facilities, we have all this support, REAAAAALLY cool uniforms (yak), we are going to win because we deserve it" mentality become engrained in the program? After 4 years that we've beat them, that's all I've seen. Are they good? Sure. Our OT win the other year was big. But also realize, our grit is what allowed us to be in that position. The position to win.

And for a D player to be crying before the half... that's ego. That's privilege and that comes from a soft mentality. That's not going to win games. I might be saying all of that prematurely but they are on that road. That's all I've seen.
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There is no fight in that kid. Crying at half time??? Thats a kid with a $30,000 locker and wanted to win just cause he showed up.
 
Oregon is a very good team. Best money can buy. The bandwagon fans don't care about us. The team and admin hates us because we keep getting in their way.
 
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BiggsCoug said:
There is no fight in that kid. Crying at half time??? Thats a kid with a $30,000 locker and wanted to win just cause he showed up.
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I don't believe I have ever seen a player crying like that at halftime let alone burying his head in a coaches (Big Joe's) chest. The kid is a junior by the way.
 
SaveFerris said:
I don't believe I have ever seen a player crying like that at halftime let alone burying his head in a coaches (Big Joe's) chest. The kid is a junior by the way.
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Like I said last night, I saw it when ASU played their first PAC-10 game against us back in the day. We blew their doors off, and they were used to winning like BSU does these days. They couldn’t handle getting blown out in a conference game.
 
Flatlandcoug said:
I was glad that we won a game where they don't have the QB excuse that they've used a crutch the past three years. I will say that it's probably short sighted to assume that Oregon is a bad football team that lives off entitlement and doesn't deserve respect. I'm not a fan of the Evil Empire but given their schedule remaining, they are likely going to be 9-3 to finish the regular season. If USC and Utah play to form and we get an upset over UW or Stanford, the Ducks could end up in favorable bowl game and finish with 10 wins. Bad football teams don't get 10 wins in the Pac-12, even in a down year.

Watching that second half, I can't believe that anyone looks at the Ducks and thinks that they are a bunch of soft, five star quitters who don't give a damn. You don't play the way that they did if that was the case. A soft, entitled bunch of losers would have quit and gotten blown out the way that we rocked Arizona 69-7 back in 2016. So, hate the Ducks all you want....and I do, but don't belittle a team that may prove to be one of our best wins of the season.
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I get your point. But a TOP 10 recruiting class? For how many years? Coaching is everything. Too many examples of that. Not arguing that. But I've seen raw emotion at our games. They truly EXPECT to win. And when they don't, I see hands getting thrown up in the air during the games, I see literal crying, I see their emotion get in the way and they start getting angry and lashing out on our players. Sorry, Flat. I get your point that they aren't a team that's going to miss out on bowls. But expectations are a bitch. And when things don't go their way, they throw fits. Even look at Cristibol last night. HE was throwing fits. 7-year-olds in Walmart, throwing themselves on the floor and screaming.
 
This thread has morphed. Back to your original question.

No.

Do I enjoy beating them anymore than USC, Stanford, or Utah? No.

Do I think that some of there fans are entitled dickheads? Sure.

If I’m forced to choose between a win over udump or a win over the Ducks? I’m picking the win over the mutts every time. If I have to pick between a win over the Ducks or the Trojans? Well it depends on which one does more for the Cougs.

We really only have one rivalry.
 
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I did not interpret the kid crying as him being soft or wanting a participation trophies. He seemed like he really wanted this game and was frustrated it wasn’t going as planned. IE passion. I played sports growing up and this was usually the case; I never interpreted it as soft. Whether that’s a legitimate way of expressing frustration I’ll leave to the board.

To the original question, I don’t see a rivalry. We were duck food for most of the common era leading up to this 4-year run. If we keep beating them the next year or two AND they get good and stay good, we will have their attention. Until then, they’re basically Evergreen State College South with about the same marijuana intake and interest in football.
 
Listen, it’s a rivalry. The players, coaches, and alumni want to beat their NW rivals. Hell, every conference opponent is a rival to some degree.

Silly topic, really. League games are bigger than non conference games. NW games have an added zip to them.
 
chipdouglas said:
I did not interpret the kid crying as him being soft or wanting a participation trophies. He seemed like he really wanted this game and was frustrated it wasn’t going as planned. IE passion. I played sports growing up and this was usually the case; I never interpreted it as soft. Whether that’s a legitimate way of expressing frustration I’ll leave to the board.

To the original question, I don’t see a rivalry. We were duck food for most of the common era leading up to this 4-year run. If we keep beating them the next year or two AND they get good and stay good, we will have their attention. Until then, they’re basically Evergreen State College South with about the same marijuana intake and interest in football.
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Believe it was Dye who was hugging air on the Borghi TD before half and then hugging Big Joe on the sideline. I don't know exactly what it was but it was a strange emotional response with a half to go. Whether he is or isn't "soft" you don't want one of your defensive leaders having a breakdown on the sidelines.

Agree with you on the original question. I don't see much of a rivalry. To Oregon we are probably about like Oregon State is to the UW. As bad as Oregon State is the last couple of years they are still a lot better than we were pre-Leach and it's really not even close. Regardless, WSU is relevant and that's no easy task in the "arm's race" era.
 
SaveFerris said:
Believe it was Dye who was hugging air on the Borghi TD before half and then hugging Big Joe on the sideline. I don't know exactly what it was but it was a strange emotional response with a half to go. Whether he is or isn't "soft" you don't want one of your defensive leaders having a breakdown on the sidelines.

Agree with you on the original question. I don't see much of a rivalry. To Oregon we are probably about like Oregon State is to the UW. As bad as Oregon State is the last couple of years they are still a lot better than we were pre-Leach and it's really not even close. Regardless, WSU is relevant and that's no easy task in the "arm's race" era.
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I do not consider Oregon to be a rival either. Don't necessarily like them. But, I never have circled the calendar looking forward to the Duck game.
 
Flatlandcoug said:
Even if we don't like the Evil Empire.....they don't really care about us. They view OSU and UW as their true rivals. If only one side thinks it's a rivalry, it's not a rivalry.
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It’s a NW rivalry and most Ducks would agree. Although, it’s not much of a rivalry when we continually beat them by double digits.
 
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SDCoug said:
This thread has morphed. Back to your original question.

No.

Do I enjoy beating them anymore than USC, Stanford, or Utah? No.

Do I think that some of there fans are entitled dickheads? Sure.

If I’m forced to choose between a win over udump or a win over the Ducks? I’m picking the win over the mutts every time. If I have to pick between a win over the Ducks or the Trojans? Well it depends on which one does more for the Cougs.

We really only have one rivalry.
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I'd rather win over UW, obviously. And I agree with SC, just due to the historical nature of it. But Stanford and Utah? All things equal, I'll take a W over Oregon over those two.
 
chipdouglas said:
I did not interpret the kid crying as him being soft or wanting a participation trophies. He seemed like he really wanted this game and was frustrated it wasn’t going as planned. IE passion. I played sports growing up and this was usually the case; I never interpreted it as soft. Whether that’s a legitimate way of expressing frustration I’ll leave to the board.

To the original question, I don’t see a rivalry. We were duck food for most of the common era leading up to this 4-year run. If we keep beating them the next year or two AND they get good and stay good, we will have their attention. Until then, they’re basically Evergreen State College South with about the same marijuana intake and interest in football.
Click to expand...

Seems like we were relatively competitive with Oregon for all except the Wulff era. Maybe I'm misremembering, but I remember some great Brink vs Oregon games.
 
Flatlandcoug said:
I was glad that we won a game where they don't have the QB excuse that they've used a crutch the past three years. I will say that it's probably short sighted to assume that Oregon is a bad football team that lives off entitlement and doesn't deserve respect. I'm not a fan of the Evil Empire but given their schedule remaining, they are likely going to be 9-3 to finish the regular season. If USC and Utah play to form and we get an upset over UW or Stanford, the Ducks could end up in favorable bowl game and finish with 10 wins. Bad football teams don't get 10 wins in the Pac-12, even in a down year.

Watching that second half, I can't believe that anyone looks at the Ducks and thinks that they are a bunch of soft, five star quitters who don't give a damn. You don't play the way that they did if that was the case. A soft, entitled bunch of losers would have quit and gotten blown out the way that we rocked Arizona 69-7 back in 2016. So, hate the Ducks all you want....and I do, but don't belittle a team that may prove to be one of our best wins of the season.
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but, but, but... they had an injured lineman. That single person made the entire difference of why they lost to the lowly Coogz.

Went over to the duck pond forum - amazingly humble for the most part. Yeah, there are a couple of Belottis on there who can never credit any other team for their win, but for the most part they see themselves as a team that hasn't quite gotten there yet and lost to a decent team with good match ups.
 
Fab5Coug said:
Seems like we were relatively competitive with Oregon for all except the Wulff era. Maybe I'm misremembering, but I remember some great Brink vs Oregon games.
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And Brink and Herbert went to the same high school in Oregon. Sheldon.
 
Fab5Coug said:
Seems like we were relatively competitive with Oregon for all except the Wulff era. Maybe I'm misremembering, but I remember some great Brink vs Oregon games.
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Prior to this 4-year run, Oregon won almost 80% of the matchups in the 20 years preceding. Duck food - but no longer.
 
Current Streaks against Pac-12 teams (record in last 3+ years in parenthesis):

UA - 0 (2-1)
ASU - 2 (2-0)
Cal - 0 (1-2)
CU - 1 (2-1)
UO - 4 (4-0)
OSU - 5 (4-0)
Stanford - 2 (2-1)
UCLA - 2 (2-0)
USC - 0 (1-1)
Utah - 4 (2-0)
UW - 0 (0-3)

It's interesting that Cal is the only team outside of UW that we have a losing record against since our current runs started in 2015. It also seems like we've played Utah more often than just twice in the past four years.
 
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SaveFerris said:
Believe it was Dye who was hugging air on the Borghi TD before half and then hugging Big Joe on the sideline. I don't know exactly what it was but it was a strange emotional response with a half to go. Whether he is or isn't "soft" you don't want one of your defensive leaders having a breakdown on the sidelines.

Agree with you on the original question. I don't see much of a rivalry. To Oregon we are probably about like Oregon State is to the UW. As bad as Oregon State is the last couple of years they are still a lot better than we were pre-Leach and it's really not even close. Regardless, WSU is relevant and that's no easy task in the "arm's race" era.
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Honestly Dye was one of the only kids out there who could make an open field tackle for the Ducks. Hunter Dale put all the rest of them to shame
 
UO vs WSU has become a good matchup and and big & important game the past few years (under Leach) but not quite a rivalry. With all the WSU coaches the Ducks poach, however, it could become more of a rivalry! On that note, I love that Boobie & Borghi both found extra motivation to do well with Mastro on the other sideline.

Glad Cougar
 
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chipdouglas said:
Prior to this 4-year run, Oregon won almost 80% of the matchups in the 20 years preceding. Duck food - but no longer.
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Mostly pretty close games though, save for anything with Wulff stench on it.

Got routed in 07
Won in 06
Close losses in 05 & 04
Blasted them in 03
Won in 02
Close loss in 01 & 00
 
I am total Coug living in Seattle. Mutts feel they have a true rivalry with the Ducks based on their hatred toward the Ducks. Both schools or shall I say booster(s) throwing a ton of dough into their teams in order to get an edge.

I don't feel the Ducks is a true rivalry for Cougs. In fact, if the Cougs are not playing them, I am close to being a Duck sympathizer as I have to like any team the Mutts disdain that much!
 
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