This is when it’s truly fun watching college football, when the team you’re rooting for loses, but you are still happy with the outcome.
So it was today as I watched Oregon State University come from way back to defeat the University of Oregon in a thriller in Corvallis.
The Beavers were down 31-10 late in the third quarter. Then they stormed back. The Ducks coughed the ball up a couple of times down the stretch; OSU took advantage. They were back in the game.
Why am I not sad? Well, I grew up in Oregon, but didn’t attend either school. Instead, I stayed home in Portland and attended Portland State University, with its downtown Portland campus and a football program that did not compete at the Division I level against the Ducks and Beavers.
My loyalty has been with the Ducks in recent years as they have ascended to near-elite status among football powers. They play the biggest of the big football schools: Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Tennessee … and so on. They’ve done well.
Now, though, come the Beavers. Their win today was their ninth win in 12 games, matching the Ducks’ record.
Yes, today has been a good day of college football.
