GAME #8: BLEND IN | STAND OUT II

UTAH @ OREGON STATE

10.12.19

UTAH - 52

OREGON STATE - 7

THIRD OFFICIAL GAME OF YEAR 1, #8 OVERALL. I CAN'T REALLY EXPRESS HOW HAPPY I AM WITH THIS WHOLE TRIP, THIS HALF OF IT ESPECIALLY. CORVALLIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN EVERY WAY. WE STAYED IN PORTLAND THE FIRST NIGHT AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TRAVELLING SINCE 430AM EASTERN. WE GET INTO CORVALLIS AROUND 1 AND GO STRAIGHT TO LUNCH. MET SOME GREAT PEOPLE AT THE PLACE I WILL RECOMMEND LATER IN THIS POST. PRETTY COOL HOW WE'RE ALL CONNECTED IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. TWO BROTHERS, ONE THAT WENT TO UCSD AND ONE THAT LIVES CURRENTLY IN ORANGE COUNTY. CHILDREN OF CURRENT OSU PROFESSORS, I BELIEVE. TINY LITTLE BIG WORLD WE LIVE IN.

OREGON STATE'S CAMPUS IS BREATHTAKING. THE WHOLE AREA IS, REALLY. WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE THIS REGION A RECURRING THING. WE DEFERRED THE OFFICIAL PICTURES AND GEAR SHOPPING TO THE NEXT DAY, SO THE BIG TEAM STORE NEXT TO THE STADIUM WASN'T OPEN. IT'S GIANT, SO I ASSUME YOU CAN FIND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THERE. WE HAD TO OPT FOR WALMART.

THE STADIUM IS REALLY NICE, THOUGH SOMEWHAT SPARSELY POPULATED. OSU FOOTBALL HASN'T BEEN UP TO PAR FOR A WHILE, SO THAT'S NOT REALLY THAT SURPRISING. HOPEFULLY THEY TURN IT AROUND. I DON'T LIKE SEEING CONFERENCE TEAMS GET BEAT DOWN LIKE THAT. REALLY NICE FACILITY.

HERE'S WHY THIS IS OUR NEW #1 SCHOOL. WE'RE WALKING THROUGH THE TAILGATES NEXT TO THE STADIUM AND I SEE A DOG JUST LIKE ONE OF MINE (FAT COWPRINT KING CHARLES CAVALIER - "BEEFNECK"), SO I ASK TO PET HIM. THEN WE GET THE QUESTIONS. MIND YOU, ROB (SENTIENT LEMON) IS AT HIS DIRECT RIVAL SCHOOL. HERE'S WHY WE LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH - HE GOT MORE HUGS AND 'GO DUCKS' HERE THAN IN EUGENE LAST YEAR. SOME OUT LOUD, SOME WHISPERED. COUPLE HOSTILES ONCE OSU WAS DOWN BY 52, BUT THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED. A COUPLE THAT WAS AT THAT TAILGATE - HER A DUCK, HIM A UTE WITH A MASTER'S FROM OSU OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT - GAVE US THEIR EXTRA PASSES TO THE STADIUM CLUB! FREE FOOD, FULL BAR. BEAUTIFUL SPACE BEHIND THE BOX SEATS. ONE GUY CAME UP TO ROB AND THANKED HIM FOR HAVING THE BALLS TO BE THERE, AND FOR NOT BEING A DICK. APPARENTLY THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE WATCHED THE FIRST HALF FROM THEIR BOX WITH THE LSU GAME ON THE LITTLE TV. SURREAL EXPERIENCE AND I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. THEY SHARE IT WITH A FORMER LINEMAN. HE AND HIS DAUGHTER ARE ALSO VERY LOVELY PEOPLE. WE GOT CORDIALLY BOOTED AT HALFTIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ACTUAL TICKETS FOR THE BOXES, BUT THAT WAS FINE. WE DID OUR WALK AND TOOK OFF ONCE THE HOSTILITY STARTED TO RISE.

GAME TIP - GET FREE PASSES TO THE BOX SEATS! HA! WE WALKED AROUND AND THE STADIUM IS VERY NICE. WE ATE UP TOP, AND I GOT PRETTY DRUNK UP THERE, SO THE REST IS A LITTLE FUZZY. WE GOT THE STAFF TO TAKE A FIELD LEVEL PHOTO FOR US, SO THAT WAS COOL. THE HOT DOGS ARE PROBABLY GOOD.

TRAVEL TIP - FALL IN OREGON IS SPECTACULAR. IT'S AN EASY DRIVE FROM PORTLAND. THE SCENERY ALONE IS A REASON TO GO. WE FLEW OUT AT 9PM, SO WE WENT AND GRABBED LUNCH IN NEWPORT, OR. I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH! AMAZING LITTLE HOUR DRIVE TO THE WATER.

WHAT TO EAT - CORVALLIS - WE WENT TO SKY HIGH BREWING TWICE. THE PHILLY IS INCREDIBLE! I GOT A TSHIRT. GO SEE EM!

WHAT TO EAT - NEWPORT - HANDS DOWN GEORGIE'S. I FEEL I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT DESPITE ONLY HAVING BEEN ONLY TO GEORGIE'S. EXCELLENT BARTENDER NAMED JORDAN. SHE'S IN THE PICTURES. TELL HER I SENT YOU! REALLY NICE BRIDGE THERE, TOO.

UP NEXT - USC!