As we approach Saturday let us take into account that Halloween has been a historically bad day for Eugene. Riots in the early 2000’s and late 90’s on Halloween night have been a catastrophe–just wait until you mix in a night game at Autzen coupled with the emotional high/low of the potential outcomes. The Commentator is no stranger to the riots. A former unnamed staffer is on the front cover of a late-90’s Daily Emerald ripping up a stop sign. It’s fun for the whole family.

It doesn’t help that, according to today’s front page article in the Emerald, the Bias Response Team was called when a student organized a “blackout Autzen” facebook group. Reactionists and non-sports fans alike came together to question the student’s motivation for the event and its “racial implications”.

Apparently some kids at Oregon State came to a “blackout” at Reeser in 2007 with afros, gold chains and blackface paint. Aside for some racists in Corvallis, I don’t think many sports fans think about a “blackout” in racial terms (As a sports fan myself, and as I am sure many of you are, I don’t associate “blackout” with racial implications. I think more of Louisville getting it handed to them by Rutgers in 2007). Did the Bias Response Team have a problem with “Lightining Strikes” in 2003 for the Michigan game too?

All ridiculous, overuse of the word “racist” aside, the important thing to think about on Halloween night is unity. Dressing in the same color is a great way to enjoy comraderie with your fellow Duck fan Saturday night. Hey, you may even find someone to set a car on fire with once you’ve left the game.

Oh, and don’t forget the punch.

Mix equal parts grain alcohol and “blue drink” for your very own “Riot Punch”.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 10:43 by D and is filed under Blowing Stuff Up, Booze, Campus, City, Crime, Eugene, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.