Comments on: Bigger Civil War, 2000 or 2009?

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:58:45 +0000

By the way, I still think that the 2000 game is the biggest in the rivalry. I base this on facts one and two. The average ranking was higher (6.5 in 2000 and 12 for this year) and a BCS game went to the winner.
Also, I would have added another criteria: Preseason expectations. I would say that going into the year, both OSU and Oregon were expected to be very good. Starting this year, only Oregon had that weight, and OSU was slated to finish in the middle of the PacTen, and be eligible for a mid-tier bowl. Heck, that was the consensus till just a few weeks ago…. until they beat Cal. And all along, Oregon has been slated for the Rose since the win over USC.
Just saying.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:51:45 +0000

I think the criteria for “Winner eligible for the Rose Bowl” is a push, since the winner of 1990 still went to a BCS game… OSU’s crushing win over Notre Lame in the Fiesta.
Also, while we’re at it, let’s just deposit of the notion that Oregon has not been back to a Rose Bowl since 1995. Yea. I get it, in 2001 the Rose Bowl was Nebraska v. Miami. Oregon still won the PacTen and went to the Fiesta Bowl and beat a good (better than ND, even) team in Colorado.
So, when you consider the time-honered and traditional fact that the PacTen Champion is *the* Rose Bowl (read: BCS) team, then Oregon is that team. Oregon has two outright championships since 1994, and has shared one in 2000.
We will make that three outright championships on December 3rd.

By: Nick, Off The Pond

Nick, Off The Pond — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:48:22 +0000

Good point. I agree with that. I forgot about Simonton. It was easy to go right to numero ocho cinco, but he wasn’t that big of a deal yet.

By: DW

DW — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:35:27 +0000

Based on NFL careers, Ochocinco was the star of the 2000 team. But no contest that the star of the OSU team was Ken Simonton.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:13:04 +0000

I think I’d have to give worst case scenario for losing time to 2009..
i would love to see oregon send OAC to vegas hah