Tailgaters setup near Autzen Stadium on Thanksgiving ahead of Beavers game
EUGENE, Ore -- It's all about food, family, and football! Early tailgaters had a good time this Thanksgiving as they got ready for the Ducks and Beavers to battle it out on Friday.
Set up just outside Autzen Stadium, come rain or shine the fans will be there. The tailgaters already had some tents set up with football games going on in the background on their recently installed TVs. People had no problem showing off their love and pride for the Ducks.
RVs were filled with Duck gear and imagery. Everything from duck flags to table cloths were on display. Many of these tailgaters such as Richard Dunkin have been doing this for years and love the atmosphere events like these bring.
He said, "Well we're having Thanksgiving dinner here today, and we're going to hang out and have a couple of Bloody Marys, and some tahties and get ready for the game tomorrow."
Dunkin and his family came all the way from Gervis to be apart of the tailgate. It's a special event for him and his family being that they've been ardent Duck fans for all their life.
Fans also expect the area to be packed Friday evening for the game. Dunkin is not giving the Beavers much of a chance against the hometown team.
"It's going to be probably 42 to 12... Ducks baby!" he said.
As excited as the Duck fans are it's also a bittersweet moment. This is a game that has been on everyone's calendar for decades. Duck fans, like Randy Sattell, said this rivalry is a beautiful tradition that invokes many emotions and at times can even split families over which team they are loyal to.
He said, "It's the conclusion of a season every year. No different here in Oregon or even in Washington. I think it's an important game for both teams, regardless of the season or what the outcome is, I think that game kind of says it all for both teams."
The Ducks and the Beavers first matched up on November 3, 1894, and for 129 years they have gone back and forth with each other.