Midwest Football Tour

I just returned from a fantastic mini-vacation: A four-day swing through Cincinnati and Ann Arbor to watch a couple of football games.


I was joined by my old University of Oregon roommate Jubil, my high school friend Jay, and my brother Justin. Jay and Justin flew in from Portland to Chicago, and the three of us drove to Cincinnati for the Oregon State vs. University of Cincinnati game. We then met up with Jubil in Ann Arbor for the Oregon vs. Michigan game.


Needless to say, the Ducks (Jubil and Jason) had a little more fun than the Beavers (Jay and Justin). The final scores:


Oregon 39, Michigan 7


Cincinnati 34, Oregon State 3


The two Beaver Believers compounded their misery by actively rooting for Michigan. The fools!


Ann Arbor was particularly fun, as 3,000+ Duck fans invaded this fair city in anticipation of Oregon's biggest game in years. Every restaurant and bar we visited was packed with Quacker Backers. I ran into lots of friends, both old (like, a guy I hadn't seen since college) and new (several Chicago Ducks were on hand). Not to mention the Ducks' thrashing of the Wolverines, which was far beyond my expectations and even my wildest dreams. Everyone expected a shootout, but only Oregon held up their end of the deal. It got to the point where I basically stopped cheering in the second half, out of respect for the Michigan fans all around us who were in agony.


On to the photos...


Cincinnati pictures, Thursday night:


Justin and Jay count their beer money

Justin and Jay at Nippert Stadium

Justin making friends with the Cincinnati Bearcat

Justin chatting up the Bearcat marching band

Justin and Jay put on their game faces

Justin expresses his displeasure with the officiating...or the OSU quarterback

Ann Arbor pictures, Friday night:

Jubil and Jay in a shuffleboard Civil War at Arbor Brewpub

Jason with Chicago buddies Nick and Brad at the Arbor Brewpub

The boys at the Michigan memoribilia store on Main Street

The boys enjoying beers at Ashley's Pub

The boys mingling with the Absolut Vodka spokesmodel at Scorekeepers

The boys getting ready for gameday at Scorekeepers

Ann Arbor pictures, Saturday:

Jay and Justin sporting their maize and blue

Jason poses with a clever Duck fan

Jubil keeping his distance from the traitors in our midst

The boys outside the Big House

The view from our seats

The glorious final score!

Can't wait to do it again next year, in West Lafayette (Oregon vs. Purdue)!