Homecoming Gameday!
Followed by Gamenight. But that's just the way it is, as Oregon State playes its 6th of at least 8 (with 3 game times still to be set) evening or night games this season.
Happlly, its also Homecoming, and in more ways than just the usual game where alumni who con't come around very often are invited back to campus.
The Beavers have been on the road for the last 2 weeks, complete with long night or longer the next day drives for those who ventured out. More than that, its been 4 of the last 5 games for Oregon State (I'm counting the excursion to Portland as a road game; even if most of the people at Providence Park were Beaver boosters, it was still a road trip to a less-familiar venue) on the road. Going back to last season, and the LA Bowl and the outing to Autzen, The Beavers have played 6 of their last 8 games away from Reser.
And while OSU did play back to back home games right before that, the assorted challenges of the last couple of years, and the reality of November football. The game against the Darkness Devils was a particular cool and damp affair that was far from the most comfortable evening ever of OSU football! Even though the Beavers won.
Even happier, its the beginning of rare back to back home games on October Saturdays, which can be the most pleasant of any football season. Tonignt begins an 8 day stretch which will be the first time Oregon State has played back to back home games on consecutive October Saturdays since 2016.
That's not to bemoan (or revisit) the variety of issues that contributed to the dearth of premier football viewing, but those things did happen. This is also not meant to do OSU Marketing's job of promoting the rare occurance for them either.
The middle of October is always one of the best times of the football season, and today is even better than usual. In FBS, there are 6 ranked vs ranked games, 3 of which match teams that are 5-0 or better, and that has never happened in the poll era. Ever. Anywhere. There are more ranked vs ranked games in the FCS, including another border war #2 vs #1 game between the state schools in the Dakotas.
In Corvallis and Pullman, we know a think or two about border battles between state schools. And tonight's game is as critical as any of those big matchups as far as the season is going to shape up for the Beavers and Cougs, with both coming in 4-2, but both also 1-2 in conference, and a big banged up, halfway thru the season. The winner moves within 1 game of bowl eligibility. The loser will have more work to do.
It is all a good reminder to not take scheuling, and scheduling issues lightly. Fortunately, we have Happy Retro Benny on the helmets today. That alone makes this gameday a good gameday amongst gamedays. A reason for all Beaver Boosters to smile.
And to enjoy these next 2 Gamedays. Gamedays are always the best days, even under the most difficult of circumstances. But at home, with a forecast for spectacular fall weather, today will be the classic "Autumn Afternoon" of college football lore!
Grab a Beaver Dog, cue the Fight Song, and get ready to Cheer For The Beavers!
(And lets see if they can break that 8 game losing streak against the Cougs!)
Andy_Wooldtidge@yahoo.com
(Photos by Andy Wooldridge)