I started watching Oregon sports in the fall of 1996, my first year of five years of college, but I was a casual fan for the first couple years. I didn't "get it" until Saturday, October 17, 1998 at UCLA in football and Thursday, March 2, 2000 at home against Arizona State in basketball. What you don't know about those games I couldn't possibly explain to you. Suffice to say that on those days I finally understood Jim McKay's famous words: the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the human drama of athletic competition.

In my time as a Duck I've stayed home for such greats as Michigan State, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Michigan, and Oklahoma, and I've trekked to Berkeley, Moraga, Palo Alto, Fresno, Tempe, Madison, and Ann Arbor, and in each case I've made a lot of friends (and admittedly a few enemies at Cal and Fresno - worst fans ever). In that time, I've regularly lost my voice, suffered highs, headaches and heartaches, offered my fair share of expletives and praises, and felt my blood boil and turn green.

My best memories include cheering my ass off in the QUAKING Pit against #3 AZ in 2000, with Joey on one side and jTeubs on the other (with my high-fiving hand swollen and stinging), ESPN Gameday last fall with my old man in his first Autzen experience (don't worry, he was already deaf), two minutes of PANDEMONIUM against OU, the shocked faces at the Big House and the Fiesta Bowl, (not watching, but FEELING) Freddie and AB completely taking over games, my family's first game at the Pit vs. #1 UCLA in 2007, the irreverant downpour adding to the delirium of Howry's epic punt return (I know, I know...it never rains at Autzen), and charging down State Street in Mad-town, DRUNK AS FCUK, and having a blast with the nicest, coolest, and most fun non-Oregon fans I've ever met.