Can't you smell Husky Hate? No really, can't you?

They're coming. Like stink bugs riding a spring wind. The Washington Huskies are coming to Autzen. And with them they will bring legions of obnoxious fans in their purple travel trailers.

Starting today, they'll be driving down I-5.  Just stick your nose in the air, you can smell them. Putrid. Fresh vomit on a stale urine stain. Maggots on road kill in the hot sun. 

"It's the smell. I feel saturated by it. I can taste they're stink.
And everytime I do I somehow feel I've been infected by it.
It's repulsive."--Agent Smith on the Huskies, OK actually it was
on humans in general. But probably specifically the Huskies.

Oregon has beaten the Dawgs eight consecutive times. But unfortunately it doesn't keep them away. Once a year, we walk out on our lawns and find their steaming fresh feces packed into the grooves of our Nikes. And our noses don't lie. They're back for more.

To make matters worse they beat a ranked Stanford team and you could hear their barking all the way down here. They acted like they were back in the hunt for the Rose Bowl.

That win gave them a #23 ranking. And a ranked dawg is just that. Rank. They're barking so loud now. Just read these Dawg Pound blog comments from Husky fans:

Something that is quite impressive about Oregon is how they are willing and able to rotate so many guys. Brock Huard noted in the Oregon/WSU game that 22-24 guys get regular snaps on defense for Oregon (and obviously more in blowout games); that not only keeps the players fresh, it helps ensure that when key players graduate, the guys left behind aren’t lacking in experience and are better prepared to take their place. They are also better prepared to withstand injuries.

OK that wasn't so bad. But look at these others:  

This is another good D the Dawgs will face. The positive is that we have faced some good ones so far this year. SDSU was known for their disguised blitzes and looks, LSU had pro-quality players on the D, Stanford had one of the strongest lines in the PAC. Oregon provides an attacking defense that won’t be afraid to give up big plays. They know that the offense will be able to pick them up if they do. When you are not afraid of making a mistake, you become very dangerous. With the patchwork O-Line and Price not looking as good as last year, this is a tough matchup.


but i think you VASTLY underrate oregons secondary. ifo and t-mitch i.m.h.o. are the 2 best corners in the pack, and will both be playing on sundays when their careers at oregon are over. I dont think washington has much of an edge (if any) in that category

Well, I guess eight years of losing is a long time to keep up their end of a one sided rivalry. You think about it, that's two full generations of freshmen-to-senior students having never seen a Husky victory over Oregon. And all indications are tomorrow could be the worst loss for them yet.

A more candid than usual Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian said in his article Forget Washington's defense, what's up with the offense:

But none of that [improved defense] will matter if UW can't move the football. Teams with bad offenses only fuel Oregon's engine by giving the Ducks the ball a few extra times and in better field position. That raises the degree of difficulty for the defense and leads to fatigue followed by 21-straight points by Oregon and the ballgame is over.

The storyline Saturday is not Washington's defense versus Oregon's offense. Instead, it's whether or not a poor UW offense can find any success against a dominant Oregon defense.

So the game itself doesn't lend much to "Hate Husky" week. Even the Huskies know they're in for their ninth consecutive beating. All they can fight for is that it won't be their worst -- a nice thought for Duck fans.

Perhaps we can look at Washington's coaching personnel to return the rival bile taste into our mouths. We do have traitors in our midst in Peter Sirmon and Justin Wilcox -- former excellent Ducks who are now heading up Washington's defense.

Here is a scathing article from the Ken Goe -- Ex-Duck Justin Wilcox a difference maker for the Washington Defense. . . . . OK, actually it's a rather nice story about his great time at Oregon and successful career as an assistant coach all over the country, plus how his name is on a list for Cal should Jeff Tedford not remain after this year.

But at least there is no love lost between Wilcox and the staff at Oregon . . .

Justin Wilcox: Fierce enemy or
fine young man?

Oregonian article: Oregon's Nick Aliotti remains close with 'younger brother' Justin Wilcox, his UW counterpart

Excerpt: "Nothing ever surprises me about Justin," UO defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti said.

Aliotti and Wilcox remain close. They talk weekly, and Wilcox said that Aliotti was one of his biggest influences in becoming a coach.

"He's like a younger brother, I guess," Aliotti said, adding: "I really care about that guy. I like that guy. Now, I don't like him this Saturday, and I haven't liked him much this week. But deep down, it's all about good people. ...

"I have a lot of respect and I care a lot about Justin and his career and him on and off the field."

(SIGH) C'mon people. Where's the hate? Can't we all just NOT get along?
Help me out, Agent Smith . . . .

"Honestly, I'm just hoping for a good
fair game where nobody gets hurt."

. . . . Life is tough for a Husky Hater these days.

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