Decade #1: Born and Raised a Duck.

1994-2000

Where do I even begin…

My first time in Autzen? I was three months old. In fact, the first outfit I ever had on was a green and white Oregon onesie the day I was born. Throughout my childhood, I was fortunate to go to many football games. My Dad, Step-Mom and I always tailgated 4-5 hours before the game (& sometimes for the entire weekend) with a wide array of family and friends. We played football, the adults drank some adult beverages, we watched other college football games on TV, and us kiddos got into all sorts of mischief. There was always a ton of delicious food, and it was my favorite place in the world. Once inside the stadium, the videographer at the time knew our season tickets well, and visited us almost every game! He loved to capture my eternal baby face and put it on the video board for all of Autzen Stadium to see. I absolutely loved that, and went crazy every time. It was rare to see me without my green and yellow paint, duck lips, and flashy green and gold necklaces hanging from my neck. These were simpler times. If someone stepped out, I always screamed “OUT OF BALANCE!” not knowing the proper term until middle school. It took me years to understand what the hell a safety meant. After all of these amazing childhood memories, I already knew that I wanted to go to school at UO. In many ways, Oregon Football shaped who I am today.

Decade #2: The Golden Years of Youth

2000-2010

Not much changed as I grew up. Elementary school and middle school flew by. Throughout my journey, I wore Duck shirts to school at least four times a week. After a big win or loss, it was always the first thing my friends and I talked about. Was I obsessed? You could say so. It was more than a hobby. It was a part of me. I live and breathe Oregon Football. As I got older, my understanding of football significantly increased. Pretty soon, I’m analyzing offensive schemes, figuring out the defensive playmakers, and understanding the intricacies of our team dynamic. It was fun. I remember the big wins, like kicking USC’s ass on Halloween Night; I remember big losses, like the time Dyer was down in the championship game; I remember injuries, like the gruesome one Dennis Dixon had against Arizona. We would have won the championship that year. After every win, we turned on Sportscenter and waited for them to cover our win. After losses, we did the same but in a very depressed and whiny state. I remember bad calls and off-field drama. I remember drunk fans and rushing the field. I remember sad trips back to Portland at midnight. This made my childhood significantly better.

Decade #3: Growing Up

2010-2020

Middle school ended. High School blew by. Not much changed. Sure, my family let me drink alcohol at the tailgates. Our season tickets were shuffled around. Winning became expected every weekend. Championships were within reach. Then, I got accepted to UO. The next chapter of my life began.

To Be Continued.