The Oregon Ducks won the Rose Bowl tonight. It was a thriller against Wisconsin. The Pac 12 representative beat the Big 10 rep in a game decided by a single point.
I am an Oregon native who did not attend the University of Oregon, but who has rooted for the Ducks since the beginning of time.
There is one aspect of this victory I find particularly poignant. It involves the quarterback for the Ducks, a young man named Justin Herbert.
College football programs spend a lot of effort and money recruiting athletes from all over the country. Oregon is no different. Check out the roster and you see student-athletes from every state.
Herbert grew up in Eugene, where the university is located. He talked often about watching the Ducks play football at Autzen Stadium. His dream was to play for the Ducks.
I mention that because it carries a significant meaning for me that a homegrown young man would choose to stay home to play college football while, I should add, completing his studies and earning his degree. As I understand it, Justin Herbert is an academic all-American in addition to being a stellar athlete.
I am not trying to lionize this young man; he’s going to make a lot of money playing pro football. I only want to point out the joy I had tonight in watching a fellow native Oregonian lead his hometown team to an impressive college football victory over an excellent opponent.
As they say in Eugene … “go Ducks!”
As a native of Madison and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, I was hoping for a different outcome. But it was a good game and Oregon is an excellent team. And Justin Herbert won the award (I think it’s called the Campbell Award) which is basically the academic version of the Heisman Trophy. Impressive young man!
Both teams played with a ton of grit. It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but I am proud of the Ducks. You are rightfully proud of the Badgers, too.