The Civil War on Route 22

It's been going almost since the beginning of the year on my elementary route. There are boys AND girls who are Oregon State Beaver fans and boys AND girls who are Oregon Duck fans. It's not unusual for someone to scream out, "Raise your hand if you're a DUCK fan," which is responded to by another student yelling...and I do mean yelling...the same for the Beavs. Then they start with the cheers and jeers with the voice levels escalating all the while. Finally, the bus driver tells them to cool it.

Of course, they want to know who I'm routing for. At the beginning of the year I told I like both teams and in the Civil war game them whichever team has the best shot at the end of the year at the best bowl game and best national ranking.

This obviously brings us to this year's dilemma. With both teams able to make it into the Rose Bowl with a win, this means only one thing. Until that game is over, I will be playing the roll of a peacemaker on Route 22. The only thing that makes it worse is that the game isn't one week away, but a week and half away on Thursday night Dec. 3. Go Beaucks. I mean, Duvers.

Pencils = 28