To the fans and players of both programs, it's a huge game. To them, winning the annual game can make or break an entire season.
Former Duck great Rashad Bauman on the game, "this Oregon-Washington rivalry is something real special." Adding, "there's just a different friction when we go play with the huskies. It's just different."
Husky fans can be seen wearing shirts that say, "beat Oregon. Nothing else matters."
The conflict is marked by many heated exchanges between opposing coaches, players, and fans. Over the years, the border battle has been symbolized by a college town dressed in green, a white uniform, a wooden hook, dog biscuits, a trick play, and a purple and gold bridge.
So when did all this hostility begin?
The rivalry started in 1900. The Ducks owned the early years, accusing Washington of being too scared to play them on an annual basis.
Many people note 1948 as the beginning of the hostilities. That was the year Oregon and Cal tied for the best record in what was then known as the PCC (Pacific Coast Conference).
Like today, the winner of the PCC would go on to play in the Rose Bowl. The tie breaker format was set up so that, the ten conference teams would vote on who goes. Six of the teams were in the northwest, only four were in California. It was assumed Oregon would go, but Washington talked the University of Montana (then a member of the PCC) into voting for Cal. Something Oregon fans would never forget.
In 1962, Larry Hill, of Oregon, was tackled by Washington fans who rushed on to the field while he was trying to catch the game winning touchdown.
The biggest point turn around in NCAA history came in 1973 to 1974, when Oregon beat Washington 58-0 in '73, Washington beat Oregon the following year, 66-0.
Probably the most significant play in Oregon history occurred against Washington in 1994. Known as "the pick," with Washington threatening to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, Kenny Wheaton intercepted Damon Huard's pass, returning it 97 yards for the game sealing touchdown.
The win propelled the Ducks to the Rose Bowl, and forever changed the fortune's of the program. Since that time, Oregon has gone 12-4 vs. the huskies.
In 1995, then Washington head coach Jim Lambright, lobbied for the huskies to play in the Cotton Bowl over Oregon, which prompted Seattle Post Intelligencer columnist Bud Withers to write that Lambright's actions, "invited at least another half-century worth of bile from Oregon fans."
The rivalry was given a boost when former Colorado Buffaloes head coach Rick Neuheisal was hired at Washington in 1999. Duck fans, who refer to him as "the weasel" hated him for calling a fake punt in the 1996 Cotton Bowl, with his buffaloes leading 38-6 in the fourth quarter.
Oregon fans were accused of turning Neuheisal in for recruiting violations during the dead period. Oregon also got into some trouble for showing some derogatory video on DuckVision of Neuheisal in front of Washington and Oregon recruits.
There was the stompin on the "O" at mid field following a husky victory at Autzen in 2002. The following year, former Oregon player Keith Lewis promised a Duck victory, and said Oregon would stomp on the Washington "W" after they won. That lead to a fight during the game, and to add insult to injury, Washington won the game in blowout fashion.
Since that moment, Oregon has owned Washington, winning seven in a row all by an average margin of victory of 24 points. Both are records in the series history.
Oregon has also won two straight in Seattle, including their most recent visit in 2009, 43-19.
There's a lot of hype surrounding this year's meeting because, for the first time in a while, Washington is actually good. The Ducks will definitely have to earn it. It's the last game in Husky Stadium before the renovation, and the Ducks would love nothing more than to be known as the last team to win at Husky Stadium as we know it.
A Ducks win would also set up a HUGE showdown with conference and national implications the following week against Stanford.
SO DUCK FANS, ARE YOU READY? IT'S BATTLE TIME!
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