My Worst Losses As An Oregon Fan

I've got the off-season college football blues.  It's all that's on my mind, but what to write about?  I love writing about the good moments in Duck history, and there are many, but what about the bad?  I must be runnin' out of ideas when I thought about this topic, but why not?  I decided to compile a top 10 list of the worst games that I'VE been apart of.

TOP 10 MOST UNFORGETTABLE LOSSES: 

10) 2002 LOSS TO ARIZONA STATE:
There were a few bad one's that year, starting with this one.  The Ducks blew a 21-0 second quarter lead only to lose to ASU 45-42, as #6 Oregon had their 11 game winning streak snapped at home.  


9) 2011 LOSS TO LSU:
In one of the most anticipated games of the early season, a top 5 showdown in Dallas Texas with national championship implications on the line.  The Ducks held their own into the second quarter, holding a 6-3 lead, but their offense never got into rythem, and killed themselves with several turnovers, as Oregon lost 42-27.


8) 2002 LOSS TO WAKE FOREST:
In a game in which more Husky fans showed up just to boo the Ducks, then actual Duck fans, the Ducks got blown out in the now defunct Seattle bowl to non-football powerhouse Wake Forest, 38-17.  A fitting end to a misrable season in which Oregon finished with their worst record since 1997 (7-6).


7) 2000 LOSS TO OREGON STATE IN CIVIL WAR:

It was the most meaningful civil war up until that time.  Both programs came in ranked in the top 10 at the same time, in the series' long history.  In addition, there were Rose Bowl and in state bragging rights at stake, all being nationally televised on ABC.  Now the Ducks have owned the beavers since the mid'70's, but many of those wins came when either just Oregon was good, or both programs were bad.  Had Oregon won, it would've been nice winning a civil war that actually meant so much, but it wasn't meant to be.  Joey Harrington threw 5 interceptions that day, and the Ducks lost to Chad Johnson's Beavers 23-13.

6) 2002 LOSS TO UW:

Husky players celebrating at midfield at Autzen stadium

After jumping out to a 14-0 lead over arch rival Washington, the dawgs scored 42 unanswered points to beat Oregon 42-14.  The loss was one of the worst for Oregon at home under Mike Bellotti.


5) 2003 LOSS TO WASHINGTON STATE:

How do you follow up beating #4 Michigan on national television, and appearing on the cover of SI a week later?  By suffering the programs worst loss ever to the cougs, 55-16, on a day that reached triple digit temperatures at Autzen stadium.

4) 2001 LOSS TO STANFORD:
A loss that eventually cost them a spot in the national championship, #6 Oregon blew TWO 14 point fourth quarter leads in a loss to Stanford, 49-42.  The loss snapped a 23 game home winning streak for the Ducks.


3) 2007 LOSS TO ARIZONA:
With #2 Oregon in perfect position to play for a national championship the Ducks lost 34-24 on a Thursday night game on ESPN.  But that's not all they lost.  In addition, they lost any hopes of playing for a national championship, and they lost Heisman front runner, quarterback Dennis Dixon, for the season.


2) 2004 LOSS TO INDIANA:
There was so much anticipation heading into the season I couldn't wait for the home opener, even though it was against Indiana.  I was so excited in fact, I went despite having the flu and spending the previous night throwing up.  I figured I'd see Oregon get an easy win.  It was Indiana after all.  The Ducks buried themselves with 9 turnovers on a rainy day and lost 30-24.  The game set the tone for a disappointing season, in which Oregon suffered their first losing season (5-6) since 1993.


1) 2011 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LOSS TO AUBURN:
NUFF SAID

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
Losses to Boise State(both times), Ohio State('10 Rose Bowl), Cal('07), WA('03), OSU('98), Colorado ('96 Cotton Bowl)


Now let me make it clear, because a friend (and former player from the '94 team) pointed this out to me when he saw this list, but I am not a recent Duck fan, or ignoring what the great classes prior to 2000 accomplished. 

The reason why so many losses since 2000 hurt me more, is because there's continually been more at stake for Oregon since then, as the program continues to get better and better.  With more at stake comes more pain after a loss.