Yesterday the Oregon State Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks played in the 114th annual Civil War game. This is the big state rivalry game which fans and alums look forward to each year, capping a football season that, more often than not over the decades, may not have been particularly noteworthy. There have certainly been years when a trip to the Rose Bowl for one team or the other has been on the line, but even in those “off” years, the week leading up to the game is always filled with anticipation and (mostly) good-natured put-downs of the opponent and its school. This year is exceptional, however. Both teams started off strong, but the Beavers faltered with key injuries and inconsistent play. The Ducks, on the other hand, arrived at this week’s contest with an unbeaten record and the BCS championship bowl game in their sights. A win for the Beavers would provide them with some bowl eligibility and regaining the previously worn title of “Giant Killers.” Most OSU boosters (my husband among them), though, would, in their heart of hearts, likely have to admit that they doubted this Beaver team could beat this Duck team. And if their Beavs couldn’t win, the next-best thing is to have an Oregon team play in the national championship game, something all Oregonians could be proud of. Well, as you may already know, Oregon beat OSU 37–20. (The Beavers did score first and kept it interesting until the end of the third quarter.) Now the entire state can proudly root for its team when it faces Auburn in the BCS championship bowl game in Glendale, Ariz., on January 10. You can be sure there will be caravans of cars and plane-loads of folks heading south come early January, and hotels will be bursting at the seams with green-and-gold-clad fans. Go Ducks! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor