The game without a name is back. Don’t believe me?

You must not have have heard, Washington is 3-4.

It’s time to rally the heroes of yesteryear. Someone call Steve Emtman. Send Don James a text. Twitter Napoleon Kaufman and Facebook Billy Joe Hobert. The legends of Montlake must know…the Huskies are back!

Scoff at 3-4 all you want, this is the new era of purple reign where moral victories get equal billing to bowl game triumphs. They almost beat LSU!

Epic home wins make a season. They beat USC!

Three wins indicates a resurgence. They can beat Oregon!

There’s only one problem with this comeback tour. On Saturday, one team is significantly better than the other and it ain’t the ones wearing the emasculating color.

We’re being told it’s a rivalry game in which anything can happen and that’s true. It’s been said that Washington is a much different team at home. Also factual. Some have noted this version of Husky football plays hard and always has a chance to win. It’s no lie.

FOTB's on fire. Two in a row.

The only problem I’m ultimately having with embracing this inevitable upset is the simple, tiny, irrelevant fact that Oregon’s football team is a lot better than Washington’s.

Watch the first half of the season and call me a liar. The Huskies are at the bottom of the conference in most offensive and defensive categories. They don’t defend the run well and Oregon just so happens to be really good at that. There’s no better crowd killer than a dominant running game.

The Huskies are fairly one dimensional on offense and against a good defense like Oregon’s, that’s not going to get it done. The Ducks have made a killing in games where they shut down the opposing running game and teed off on the quarterback.

Don’t get me wrong, here. This is going to be a close game. If LSU, USC and Arizona struggled at Husky Stadium, there’s no reason to suspect the Ducks will have it easy. Jake Locker has become a legitimate threat and if there’s a quarterback that can survive an anemic running game, he’s it. You also can’t discredit the desire the Huskies play with. Any team that competes as hard as they do is going to have a chance to win.

But none of it’s enough, not when the Ducks are this much better. On Saturday, a rivalry will be reborn, but Oregon’s dominance will continue.

Who knew YouTube could write blog posts? My video version of this rivalry is decidedly one-sided so you won’t find anything remotely Husky-centric. Then again, YouTube is a modern invention and, considering Oregon’s won 10 of the last 14, Washington’s better days would probably be hard to find in the digital realm.

Labeled as “The Catch” in 1997, Patrick Johnson’s diving catch in the end zone gave Oregon back to back road wins in the series for the first time since 1935. This is a cool version that takes off of the NBA’s 2009 playoff theme (YouTube Credit: jtlight, I believe, of AddictedToQuack.com).

I’m a bit young for this one, but I’ve been conditioned over the years to know this 17-14 win in 1988 was due to Terry Obee’s late touchdown (YouTube Credit: jtlight again).

Oregon’s win over #6 Washington in 2000 lacked that defining play the others possess, but it deserves to stand up there as one of the biggest wins for Oregon over the course of the rivalry (YouTube Credit: keeerrrttt1, which is a user that apparently has a sticky keyboard).

Just for good measure, a smattering of plays from 2008 to serve as a reminder that this is the greatest period of Duck domination in the rivalry’s history even if it’s lacked any serious intrigue (YouTube Credit: duckuniverse).

This is kind of lazy. I did this same post before last year’s Husky game. But seeing as how nothing has changed with the team’s results, why should my content? Special thanks to jhowell.net for having an unmatched database of information that allows me to check data all the way back to 1916.

• Last losing season prior to the current run: 1976
• Last consecutive losing seasons: 1973-74
• Years it took to achieve 5 total losing seasons before 2004-08: 36 (1968-2003)
• Since 1916, percentage of overall losing seasons the 2004-08 run has accounted for: 20.83%
• Previous long for consecutive losing seasons: 3, 1947-49
• Number of teams not named Oregon State to ever go an entire Pac-10 season (since 1978) without a conference win: 3 – Washington State in 1998, Cal in 2001 and Washington in 2004 and 2008
• Number of teams not named Oregon State to do it twice: 1 – Washington, 2004 and 2008
  Note: Oregon State is an entirely different story with 7 such seasons.
  
• Number of Pac-10 teams since the conference was expanded in 1978 to go an entire season without a win: 2 – Oregon State in 1980 and Washington in 2008.
  
• Until 2003 and 2008 when no Huskies were selected, last season that Washington didn’t have a player drafted to the NFL: 1960
• Last time Washington lost 5 consecutive games to Oregon: Never. The most was 4 straight from 1928-31.
• Last time Washington lost 6 consecutive games to Oregon: 2004-October 24, 2009 (call me clairvoyant)
• Chance my future kid will ever know the Huskies were any good: 2.54%
• Chance my grandpa knows the Huskies were good: 100%
  
• Number of times Kenny Wheaton’s interception in 1994 has been played on jumbotrons, laptops, desktops, ringtones, radio and television: 6,263,817,485 (It took exhaustive research, but this is an exact number)
• Ratio of obnoxious Husky fans to pleasant ones from 1977-2003: 234,089/.002
• Ratio of obnoxious Husky fans to pleasant ones from 2003-present: There’s a faint pulse on this number that doesn’t quite register, but it’s getting close to exploding again.
  
• Number of times I’ve now used this blog post: 2

Wow, that really was lazy. I didn’t even bother to change the jokes. Hey, give me a break, I have a real job, people!

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.

I watched the Washington game (duh). I was like just about everyone else. More Jeremiah Masoli, more Chris Harper. Roper? Eh, moving on.

But wait. Let’s think about this with a little more thought. Why are we all so sure Roper isn’t the guy?

He played well enough as a 5th string fill-in to get Oregon a Civil War win. He tied a Sun Bowl record for touchdown passes. He even ran for a score against OSU. One quarter into his start against Washington, the Ducks were up a quick 14 points. He was 7-11 passing. Yeah, he had a bad pick, but you try functioning with a concussion. He has unquestioned athleticism as a track and basketball star in high school. So what’s the problem?

It basically boils down to this: Dennis Dixon.

The former Heisman front-runner changed the way Duck fans view the quarterback position. You have to have escapability. You have to not just win, but electrify crowds from the 50 yard line of Autzen Stadium to people in the east still learning to say Or-eh-gun.

Unfortunately for Roper, when the infirmary filled up with quarterbacks in front of him, he became just another guy that couldn’t keep the magic of 2007 alive. He looked too much like Brady Leaf (tall and white). He couldn’t run the option with the same flare and effectiveness.

Masoli and Harper (and even Costa before his injury) are fresh faces. They had nothing to do with last season’s collapse. Therefore, they automatically are a better option going forward. After all, the next man up is always a fan’s best friend.

When I honestly look at what Roper’s done and put my biases aside, I can’t escape that fact that the sophomore has been pretty damn good. Perhaps Masoli does become the guy – and I’d be happy to see it – but I’m not ready to make that coronation.

Washington, I’ve had it with you. This is the third consecutive year I’ve had to write this post lamenting the demise of this interstate rivalry. I’ve asked for you to get better. I’ve openly stated that I think you’re more fun when you win. You’re not going to find a lot of Duck fans willing to say that about you. I care, Washington. I really do, but all you do is continue to play really bad football. I don’t feel like you want my hate anymore. It’s like you’ve forsaken my need to loathe.

At the beginning of this decade, you could call our game something of a big deal.

It had a guaranteed slot on ABC. Now, it’s slated for the dazzling telecast of Fox Sports in stunning low definition.  National media would call it one of the biggest rivalry games in the country. Did you know the game was played for more than a Northwest Championship trophy? Whoa, settle down, I’m not kidding. There was one year where you were #6 in the country when we played. Number 6! We beat you.

Now, I go onto your official website and you don’t even list your previous season’s results. Since when do the Huskies not care about tradition? All I wanted to know is if you have 6 wins since you reached that #6 ranking. Turns out you do, although it’s been five years since you last won more than three Pac-10 games in a season. Ouch.

I feel so indifferent these days. It’s like playing Stanford. It’s one of those weeks where you just kind of want to get your win and move on to something bigger. I’m excited to watch a game, but it just doesn’t feel all that special. I’ve even had to shelve my gameday routine. No more urine bag catapults. No more picking random fights with people wearing purple. No more swearing at 80 year old grandmas with the UDub across her chest. All that’s behind me. I’m not asking you to win on Saturday. I’m not even asking you to be competitive. A blowout would be fine.

Just promise me you’ll try and have a winning season, come back in 2009 and make me care again. Besides, I’m running out of room on your t-shirt. Even Photoshop has its limits. Good luck to you Huskies. Good luck.

As Oregon prepares for its first game of the season against Washington, I think it’s necessary that we put the Huskies plight into historical perspective. They enter 2008 seeking (yeah, I said seeking) their 5th consecutive losing season and sixth consecutive non-winning season. Even Stanford is saying, “at least we’re not the Huskies.” How bad is it? See for yourself. Special thanks to jhowell.net for having an unmatched database of information. I’m assuming it’s all accurate and since this is a blog, “assuming” is all that matters.

• Last losing season prior to the current run: 1976
• Last consecutive losing seasons: 1973-74
• Years it took to achieve 4 losing seasons before 2004-07: 35
• Since 1916, percentage of overall losing seasons the 2004-07 run has accounted for: 17.39%
• Previous long for consecutive losing seasons: 3, 1947-49
• Number of teams not named Oregon State to ever go an entire Pac-10 season (since 1978) without a conference win: 3 – Washington State in 1998, Cal in 2001 and Washington in 2004
  Note: Oregon State is an entirely different story with 7 such seasons. I finally understand why grown men cried in 1999 when they went 7-6.
• Until 2003 when no Huskies were selected, last season that Washington didn’t have a player drafted to the NFL: 1960
• Last time Washington lost 4 consecutive games to Oregon: 1928-31.
• Last time Washington lost 5 consecutive games to Oregon: 2004-August 31, 2008 (call me clairvoyant)
• Number of times Kenny Wheaton’s interception in 1994 has been played on jumbotrons, laptops, desktops, ringtones, radio and television: 6,263,817,485 (It took exhaustive research, but this is an exact number)
• Ratio of obnoxious Husky fans to pleasant ones from 1977-2002: 234,089/.002
• Ratio of obnoxious Husky fans to pleasant ones from 2003-present: Has anyone seen a Husky fan recently?