Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Go Ducks!

We are right smack dab in the middle of my favorite sports season: Football! This season has taken on an exciting new twist. Shannon and I decided to swap allegiences: her Oregon Ducks for my Chicago Bears. It makes perfect sense as undergrad left me with no real interest in college sports (UMBC's bookstore proudly sold a t-shirt reading 'UMBC Football: Undefeated') and Portland has no NFL team. It's been pretty exciting to watch Oregon rise from unranked to #5 in the nation with Dennis Dixon slowly getting some Heisman buzz. And who can forget the Mascot fight??


I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I currently like college football better than the pros. I like that in the NFL, every game means something. A team can't go on a 10 game losing streak and expect their coach to last much more than a week into the offseason. But it's even more intense in college. Michigan came into the season ranked #5 and lost its first game and was immediately removed from BCS championship consideration. Imagine an NFL team ruled out from the Superbowl after week one. Further, though the players may not be as good, they play waaay harder. In the NFL, if you go for the extra yard and take another hit, it could be the end of your career. T.O. gave us 25 million reasons why that's a bad idea. But in college, you still have to earn your way to those reasons. Lastly, the fact that there is no playoffs adds some intrigue to it all. So much of the fun of sports fanaticism is arguing why your team is #1. With no clear criteria the analysis is so much more fun.

... or maybe it's just that the Bears are awful this year and the Seahawks ain't much better.

I may have O.D. the weekend of Oct. 20th with flag football, fantasy football, going to the University of Oregon vs. University of Washington game, and going to the Rams vs. Seahawks game. But, I've recovered just fine. I'm heading to the Arizona St. vs. Oregon game this weekend. Go Ducks!

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/MrSharps/20071021Football