Oregon gets personal with Hawaii, then takes care of business
Oregon gets personal with Hawaii, then takes care of business
Colorado wasn’t the only team that took things personal this weekend.
EUGENE — For the record, Colorado wasn’t the only team that took things personal this weekend.
You could see it here long before No. 13 Oregon’s kickoff against the Rainbow Warriors. Children flown up from Hawaii by various Oregon-related charities waited in leis for the elevators to get to Autzen Stadium’s suite level. Marcus Mariota welcomed Hawaii fans over the video board with a recorded message celebrating UH’s first trip to Eugene in nearly 30 years. A moment of silence to honor the victims of the fires on Maui that ravaged the town of Lahaina preceded the national anthem. And when the captains met at midfield, there was a ceremonial exchanging of Ti leaves.
On this September evening, it was even a Hawaii-like 85 degrees with sun and a slight breeze. Yes, Saturday was about as personal as it gets between opponents separated by an ocean. But unlike its next opponent, which took things “personal” against Colorado State and then needed double overtime to dispatch a winless Mountain West opponent, Oregon then went to work.
And with these Ducks, business is business. So Aloha, Hawaii, in both senses of the meaning. Because as happy as the Ducks were to have you here, they were just as happy to send you back across the Pacific with a 55-10 loss.