Are you interested in the Ducks? Yes, No, Maybe?

to get to know Orry-gun better. (wait, does this mean I’m dating you? Eeeeeep!!)

We have played West Virginia and other out of conference teams, and I can already tell that if there is a fan base that we have to lose a National Championship too, it is Oregon. Loving the classy and fun exchanges between the two fan bases so far. It’s like how all the Heisman candidates become bro’s during the weekend, but unfortunately only one can take home the trophy.

Any cool / weird / sacred traditions of Oregon football that the common fan wouldn’t know?

And let me (sorry if you already know, I hate talking down to people this is just our number one question) tell you that our battle cry is War Eagle and we are the Tigers. Confusing, I know. But back in the day, a professor (get prepared for comments that will correct this version of the story) from the civil war era brought an eagle to our first football game against Georgia. The game was a 0-0 snoozer, and then the eagle started to soar around the stadium, and the professor began to yell “war eagle come down, war eagle come down.” And the fans were equally as bored, so they joined in on the chant. And as legend has it, War Eagle nose dived into the ground and fell to his death. We scored almost immediately after the passing of that beloved eagle. And “his spirit has lived with us ever since.” So there. War Eagle is the common greeting among fans who wear Auburn gear who don’t know each other. Please please please don’t say “but, the eagle.. and the tigers… what…? I don’t… why?” Please. We deal with it constantly with fans around the SEC who know the story and refuse to acknowledge it.

But yeah. Very stoked to get to know the Oregon fan base. Freshman year (I’m a junior now) I remember clearly talking to a roommate of mine, commenting on how for no good reason we just liked Oregon. Maybe it was the uniforms, maybe it was when your duck beat the piss out of Shasta, maybe it was how despite Auzten Stadium being a tick under (am I right with this, I don’t want to offend anyone) 60,000 seats it is still regarded as one of the loudest in the nation, but whatever the reason, I have always respected your program. Hopefully this game sparks a home and home down the road so I finally have an excuse to go the beauty of the state of Oregon that everyone seems to talk about.

35 more days. Let’s make it fun.

brings up the whole War Eagle thing…. It’s always what the hell does a tiger have to do with an eagle? I always shut them up with what does a roll tide have to do with an elephant?

Also I have always rooted for the ducks for some reason or another. Of course I will not partake in any of that now. :)

I look forward to meeting your fanbase… I will be staying at the Hilton by the airport from Saturday till Wednesday. I figured win or lose it will take forever to recover from the partying. :)

0. Are you the Tigers or War Eagles (sic)?
You didn’t ask this question and I’m shocked. Perhaps you are well cultured in college football and didn’t need to, but I’m sure others in the Duck Nation don’t know so I’ll be brief; We are the Tigers, who SAY War Eagle (no ‘s’), and we say it a lot. You’ll likely never hear us say Go Tigers. It’s a 100+ year old tradition with mysterious roots- the story above is one of many, but the most widely accepted. There is a wiki page on it. check it out.

1. I don’t care what Lou Holtz says, it’s pronounced Oar-gun. 4. It’s the University of Oregon, not Oregon University.
As you’ve probably heard, we got something in common here. It’s Aw-burn. Auburn also has several affectionate nicknames, The Village, The Plains, The Barn. Also of note, we are collectively The Auburn Family (not a ‘nation’)… Also, I’ll go ahead and hit on one of your other questions. It’s Auburn University, NOT The University of Auburn as Lou Holtz like to slobber. We are AU, not UA, that’s the school up north. Lastly, you won’t have to worry about too many southerners giving your state more than 2 syllables.

2. Speaking of Holtz, all ESPN and media guys for that matter are a bunch of idiots.
Frankly, Just Lou. Personally I think he’s a slobbering egotistical moron. He refuses to say the name of our school correctly (and I know he’s been corrected) and he gets into mad spitting rages as to how we are going to lose every game we are about to play. He truely hates us, and it’s gotten worse since Camgate. If you asked him before the SECCG we were going to lose by 14 to Carolina. I’m sure he’s picked you guys to win.

Personally I like Mark May and Kirk Herbstriet. Since the SEC has a deal with CBS, we get CBS guys Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, and Tim Brando of whom I have mixed opinion of. Speaking of Non-ESPN sports guys. If you have Sirius XM, tune into XM143 (Rivals Radio) at 1-4 pm PT. Paul Feinbaum’s radio show out of B’ham. Everyone hates him and loves him, and his show is 100% entertaining.

3. We only drink good beer.
Having been to the Pacific northwest I can humbly say that we do not hold a candle to your selection of delicious microbrew. We are mostly unclutured bud light zombies with an ocasional Pabst thrown in. I like Sam Adams, and Jack straight on the rocks.

Question 4, see question 1. 5, and 6- I agree

7. That being said, Nike is better than Under Armour, period.
This made me chuckle… I have no intentions of buying either anytime soon. Poor genetics have made New Balance shoes my one and only option, and anything made by either company is vastly overpriced. That said, I got a Nike 3-1 ski- jacket as a gift, which kicks butt, and I plan to wear it until it falls apart. However, you have to laugh at UA coming up and making a product niche and catching Nike completely unawares.

I’m a life long Auburn fan, and have waited for this momment my whole life. I, like others in our beloved Auburn Family held the stiff upper lip to the snubs in 1982, 1988, 1993, and 2004, but it all comes down to this. You will find out that we have the most pasion for our team you’ll ever see, but are the most cordial, and polite fans you’ll meet. Even your most obnoxious fans will likely only get a ‘War Eagle’ and a smile. However, if you want to talk football with any of us, be prepared for someone who surprisingly knows just as much about the game, and even the Oregon program and players as you do. We don’t talk smack, but like our team we aren’t push overs- just as UGA fans. We say Waaaaar Eagle- Hey! at kick off, and will sing, “It’s Great to be an Auburn Tiger” at the games end- win or lose. I really hope we schedule a home and home some time in the future.

Dude, in response to your article title, I was interested. Voted in your little survey. Was reading your first point and connected with the mis-pronunciation thing – hey, my last name is a bit different but I think people should learn how to say it correctly!

Guess we can get a bit too sensitive over petty stuff like that, huh?

Then I lost all interest in anything you had to say after I read “Don’t worry you can laugh at all those Bama retards…”

Are you serious? Retards? Are you a parent? If one of your kids had a developmental delay that caused him or her to learn, move, respond, etc. at a slower pace, would you choose to use that word? Sorry, I can handle someone botching my name up, but using the word “retard” in conversation, writing, etc. – well, I just can’t let that go – it’s insulting and entirely inappropriate and unprofessional.

This is something I’m rightfully sensitive about – you see, I have a daughter that was born with some significant delays. She would have been aborted by many parents. She is 16. She learns at a slower pace, moves at a slower pace, talks differently, has some medical challenges that many kids don’t…and is a joy! Life is different for us and, yes, harder and more challenging – that’s ok. She is a blessing.

I have a colleague that just came by my office to apologize for using the word “retarded” in a meeting yesterday. He realized how insensitive he was to have said what he said. He manned up and did the right thing: asked me to forgive him. Done.

Then I start reading your post.

Please understand – I’m a big boy and can handle that crap – but I just can’t pass on this. You need to man up. No need to apologize – just consider your words more wisely.

I have read plenty of blogs about many topics (most about Auburn football) but I’ve never commented on one. Until now. I actually had to sign up to add these remarks.

I’m looking forward to the SEC vs. PAC10, Auburn vs. Oregon National Championship. Should be a good one. It will be elevated play for sure! Hopefully your can elevate your level of play.

I comment here as a 68 year old Oregonian, U. of O graduate (1973) and, more importantly, as a Duck Fan(atic): I don’t know if it is the wax in your ears, the micro in your belly and brain, but y’all have really disappointed me with your diction lessons. Once and for all time, it is pronounced Orgun! There is no i, ah, or e between the r and the g sound. Now say it once more real fast: orgun (As in “I ain’t got a knife orgun”). Apologies to y’all at AU for all this confusion.