Civil War series part 2

In the first part of the series we looked at Civil War from the sidelines, today we look at it from the stands through the eyes of two characters and two dedicated ladies who love their schools. 

I catch up with “The Orange One” and “Ducknut,” both characters are known diehard fans who are popular on social media and often outspoken about the feelings they have for Oregon State and Oregon respectively.

You’ll meet Tammi Creel and Brooke Rosebrook, both passionate fans.  I wanted to talk to the ladies because I believe they’d offer a different opinion than that heard on sports talk radio or around the watercooler at the office.   

Question 1.  What does Civil War mean to your school?

TOO: “Dee Andros aka The Great Pumpkin (RIP) liked to say the Civil War was for the right to live in the state of Oregon. I would like to say today that each Civil War is a chance to beat the evil empire aka the University of Nike paid for by Phil Knight.”

DN: “It means state bragging rights and your team is # 1 for the year.”

Question 2.  What are some of your tailgate/pregame rituals?

DN: “My pre-game rituals out playing Ducknut enjoying fans of both Oregon & Oregon State, having great time eating having beverages until kickoff.”

TOO: “For Civil War, we like serving orange & black and green & yellow cheese curds from Oregon State’s on campus creamery, Beaver Classic. And we serve Jell-O shots made with the school colors (sorry no chrome colored Jell-O shots). This year with an early Civil War, we will have donuts that have the hashtag #FTd written in icing on the menu too."
Question 3. Do you openly accept fans of the other team at your tailgate?

TOO: “Yes & we buy them a beverage. It may be the Civil War, but we are civil to the duck fans.”

DN: “I like have fun as poke fun at one another teams tailgating. I’m a fan that enjoys state of Oregon teams until civil then all bets are off.”

Question 4. How do you deal with family members who are fans of the other team during Civil War week?

DN: “I deal with friends and family same way they dish it out expect it back 10-fold. Let's have a great civil war week and game with no injuries."

TOO: “Most are chill. The ones that I am closest to I truly hate trash talking with because the friendship means more than the game.”

Now let’s hear from the ladies.  How will they compare to the answers the characters offered?

Question 1. What does Civil War mean to your school?

BR: “Civil War is bragging rights for the entire year. If you win you have a blissful year. Lose and the year is full of ridicule and negative comments from every beaver fan that suddenly crawls out of the shadows.”

TC: “First off, there’s nothing civil about the civil war. To an avid beaver fan, it means holding bragging rights for a year.”

Question 2. What are some of your tailgate/pregame rituals?

TC: “Some of our tailgate rituals include making a menu based on the team we’re playing (ex: when playing ASU, we make tacos, when playing U of O we have roasted duck, etc.), Jell-O shots, and watching the beavers walk to valley.”

BR: “Pregame starts the Monday before the game. A week of only wearing Oregon clothes.  Watching the good past civil wars. Tailgates are the same as every game, but more intense. Even fans that don’t know much about the game or the teams insert themselves into this game. We make the round of our friends tailgates to prepare for our role in the game. Playing the fight song and Yelling “O” at every beaver we see.”

Question 3. Do you openly accept fans of the other team at your tailgate?

BR: “No. We are a Duck tailgate. We will be nice to them, but also make sure they know they are in our house. And if a Duck invited them to the tailgate they are welcome but not without a little harassment.”

TC: “Yes, our tailgate openly accepts Oregon fans...unless they give us reason not to.”

Question 4. How do you deal with family members who are fans of the other team during Civil War week?

TC: “We typically talk crap to Oregon fans during the week of civil war.”

BR: “Don’t have many family members who are Beavers, but the few that I have are not family until the game is over.  It’s all about the Ducks and only Duck fans are allowed in my house the week before the game.”

 Brooke was quoted in a 1987 Corvallis Gazette-Times article by Roy Gault, saying “Kick the Beavers’ butts.”  Here is a picture of the article.

While the ladies are more opinionated when it comes to the opposite fans, its apparent that the love and pride they have for both schools is equally matched.  When the teams kickoff tomorrow, there will be no question about who they will be cheering for.  I know the fans from both sides will cheer loud and proud at Reser Stadium.