Oregon vs. Washington – one of my favorite weeks of the year – has finally arrived.
There’s a problem, though. I forgot how to care. After all those years of Washington telling us it isn’t a rivalry, I might just agree.
The score since 2004 is 199-85, Oregon. The head-to-head tally is Oregon 5, Washington 0. The respective overall records are 41-21 and 12-47. Should we just drop it?
No, that would be wrong. I’m not ready to let go. For a week, I’m willing to pretend this thing continues to matter.
Washington’s 3-4 start guarantees that the Huskies still haven’t had a winning record in this game since 2000, but it’s enough to let the rivalry masquerade as something relevant again.
The Huskies are under new leadership and are playing games with renewed passion this season. They even beat USC. They claimed the greatest moral victory in the history of sport in the opening week against LSU. And did you see how close they came at ASU and Notre Dame? Sooooo close! Clearly, we have something building here.
So we can pretend.
We can pretend that the Huskies are again a threat to Oregon, that the domination of the past five years can be left to the history books and that the “Great White Sark” of the Puget Sound has this thing moving full steam ahead.
Hey, I’m rooting for it. It’s not like I enjoy feigning interest. I think the world’s a better place when Washington is good. I know I’ll have a lot of Duck fans scratching their head when reading that, but I think it’s fun. Remember 2000? Or 1997? ’95? ’94, anyone? Was that not more fun than anything the last five years has given us?
There’s a reason Oklahoma vs. Texas is such good theater and it’s not because one team is coming off an 0-12 season. Washington, I’m ready for your return.
Of course, at the moment, the Huskies are still trying to get their first winning season since 2002. They’re still trying to prove they’re anything more than a glorified bye week.
And all that leaves us for now is the world of make-believe. So for a week, Malamutes of Montlake, I’ll pretend our rivalry still matters. Please don’t disappoint.
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sure poke the dog with the stick nick. poke em good.
I dont want to hear it though when the doggy bites you.
The only good Huskie is a Huskie on a short leash.
Now we have them where we want them. Lets keep them there.
Besides its the Huskie fans we realy dislike.
Beat the dogs.
GO!!!!!!! DUCKS!!!!!!!
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Poke ‘em and twist I say. If I say anything here that leads the Huskies to a win on Saturday, then our team wasn’t that good anyway.
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I don’t mind kicking the Huskies when they are down, in fact I very much enjoy it. The Dawgs will be back, no need to rush it and certainly no need for me to appreciate it or find anything positive about it. I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of our five wins in a row. I was sitting on the 10 yard line at Autzen when Wheaton made the pick right in front of us. I loved that game. I loved last year’s game too. Any win over UW is wonderful.
Our family will be in the west end zone at Husky Stadium on Saturday. I hope we absolutely blow them out and I think we can do it.
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You’re a brave man. After I go to Stanford this year, Husky Stadium is one of only two I have not visited. I’m thinking this or two years ago would have been the optimal time to try it out.
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