Today, Oregon has its Ducks in a row

Apparently something big is happening today, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Let's head to Facebook and see what my friends are saying.

"For the first time in seven years I'm thinking of rooting for the Ducks."

"Big day today ... LET'S GO DUCKS!!!"

"Ducks by two scores at least."

"Ducks will run wild on the blue turf."

"I love the Ducks!"

"It's about time; I've been having withdrawls. Go Ducks!"

"DUCKS."

Oh.

Yes, The Oregon Ducks take the field today to open the college football season, when they take on Boise State on the Smurf Turf. And right now, as the hours tick away before the game, the hype is reaching a fever pitch.

Radio stations have been talking Ducks all week. The Oregonian put out a special College football preview section today that rivals the one they make for the Blazers. Fans across the state are pumped for the game, to see how well Oregon plays on the national stage, to see if the Ducks can get revenge on the Broncos after the loss at Autzen, and to finally see Oregon football take the field again.

The suspense is terrible ... I hope it'll last.

College football in the state of Oregon has always drawn fans to one side or the other. You're either with the Ducks or the Beavers (and no, Portland State, you aren't in the picture. But isn't it adorable that you have a football team just like a real school!). Because of this division, rooting for both teams is strictly not allowed, and no Duck or Beaver fan would be caught dead rooting for their in-state rival.

But today, with this Oregon matchup, you're starting to sense something different. Although no Oregon State fan will ever admit it, they're feeling a little excited inside for tonight's Ducks game, too.

It's because the excitement for this game tonight is sweeping across the entire state. A college football team from the state of Oregon is headlining the start of college football season by playing on national TV. People across the country, looking for their college football fix on opening night, will tune in and watch the Oregon Ducks play. This is big, and Beavers fans are getting wrapped up in it, too.

Sports teams in the state of Oregon have always suffered from Small-State Syndrome. It's not a big market, and therefore fans feel like their teams don't get the credit they deserve when things are going well. The USCs and Notre Dames of the college football world will always get the attention and publicity, while teams like the Ducks and Beavers, even if they are at the top of the PAC-10 and beating those big-time programs, don't get that same level of nationwide notoriety. Beavers and Ducks hate each other, but they both feel like they get the short end of the stick because of their location in "Orah-Gone."

So to see one of the state of Oregon's teams headline college football opening night is something that electrifies the entire state, from Portland to Eugene to Medford, and yes, even to Corvallis. A team from Oregon will have the eyes of viewers from across the country on them tonight, which means the entire state of Oregon is gaining attention as well. The state is excited to see one of its teams in prime position to flourish on the national stage.

Naturally, Beavers fans won't ever admit this, and I don't blame them. But inside, part of them understands that tonight isn't about school rivalry. There will be time for that tomorrow and in the coming months. Tonight, though, is about the state of Oregon being at the forefront of the college football world. The Ducks carry the support of the entire state with them into Boise tonight.

The rivalries will always remain, as they should, but when one team from Oregon gets the national spotlight, they find support from all over the state, even in the hearts of their rivals. The same thing happened last season when Oregon State defeated USC - even Duck fans couldn't help but smile that a power program was taken down by a team from Oregon.

A win is expected for the Ducks, and therefore won't give any more national cred to the U of O program, but a dominant showing in a win gets the name "Oregon" into the minds of college football fans across the country tomorrow. If that happens, you can't help but think of the other programs in the state, too.

There will be bigger matchups, and better games this season. Tonight, the excitement felt around the state isn't for the matchup against a team from the WAC, it's for the return of college football, with a team from Oregon leading the charge.

Tomorrow, Oregon and Oregon State can go back to hating each other. But tonight, as Oregon takes the field and rings in a new year of college football, deep down inside, we're all Ducks.