Oregon vs. Oregon State rivalry: Why is series no longer called the Civil War?

Once called the “Oregon Classic” or the “State Championship Game” in its early days, one of the oldest college football rivalries has been played between the Oregon and Oregon State football teams since 1894.

The Ducks lead the all-time series 68-49-10, and on Saturday at Reser Stadium in Corvallis they’ll be looking for another win after defeating the Beavers last season in Eugene, 31-7.

From 1929 to 2020, the rivalry was commonly referred to as the “Civil War,” but that name was discontinued in a mutual agreement by both universities.

Why Oregon vs. Oregon State is no longer called the Civil War

With athletes, alumni, boosters and others questioning the use of the name, the usage of the “Civil War” name was discontinued in 2020 following a wave of name changes across the country sparked by the George Floyd protests.

On June 26, 2020, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University mutually agreed to no longer refer to the rivalry as the Civil War, following “mutual discussions as well as conversations with university officials and input from current and former student-athletes from both schools.”

Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens said that former Duck quarterback Dennis Dixon was a “catalyst for change” in the decision and raised the question to school officials.

“We must all recognize the power of words and the symbolism associated with the Civil War,” Mullens said in a statement in 2020. “This mutual decision is in the best interests of both schools, and I would like to thank (OSU athletic director) Scott Barnes for his diligence as we worked through this process. We look forward to our continued and fierce in-state rivalry with Oregon State in all sports.”

The game still hasn’t found a replacement name and has been referred to as the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry.

Then-OSU President Ed Ray said in a statement:…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-vs-oregon-state-rivalry-103049402.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-14 10:30:49

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