First fall Saturday trip down to Baton Rouge. This is a favorite lyric from a song. I can identify with the love of the first fall trip back to a school, for a college football game. The trip for me, happens to be driving down to Corvallis, Oregon. The campus of Oregon State University to watch the Beavers play football. One of my most cherished accomplishments of life, to this point, has been earning my college degree. Something I wasn’t convinced, I would have the ability to achieve. It took some time to earn that college degree, but it happened. I wanted it to occur in a place I could be proud of, somewhere I could return to, and cheer on an athletic program. As, one of my great joys in life has been athletics. Because of a family lineage, leading to a love for Oregon State, I finished my degree by spending my final two years of college, in Corvallis. The two years has many lonely moments, as I was older when going down to Oregon State. My goal was to finish up my degree as soon as possible, leading me to really focus on my school work during my stay. Earning a college degree had been the unquestioned next step in life, following high school. I felt strongly about wanting to fulfill those values of a college education. While, also wanting to prove it could be done, even with a disability.
To accomplish the goal of earning a college degree, concepts needed to be considered, of which I was unaware. It took years of attempting to attend college in places similar to the people of my friend group. Attempts to achieve the goal by attending schools near to the place I was raised. There was nothing wrong with the idea and being an individual with a disability, the idea felt logical. The problem, which didn’t come into mind until years later, was the topography of the schools’ I was trying to attend. Most were built on hilly plots of land, like most of our cities in Western Washington. I was the stubborn person who wanted to be like everyone else, at least to the extent possible, even with my disability. Never placing into consideration, the walking I was having to do on these campuses was probably hindering my ability to succeed. Not only was it the hills to walk over, but the stairs to climb, and the large number of people, everywhere during my day. Until I found the courage to leave my place of comfort to find a city and college built on flat ground, it the middle of a valley, did I find success in academia. That place was Corvallis and Oregon State, which saw me find physical comfort, finishing my degree in no time, compared with the prior years of struggling questions about whether I could succeed.
The cool aspect of being driven, through questioning, to Corvallis has been the ability to return. For years now, the Beavers have played at the top level of college football. However, this football season marked the final year of the Pac-12 conference. The league basically dissolved over last summer in the midst of conference realignment. Leaving Oregon State and Washington State without a major conference to play in, moving forward. This was going to be an emotional season of football, before the games had even begun. I tried relishing each weekend trip for football, this year, a little more than in the past, knowing it was most likely the last of major college football, in Corvallis. The exciting piece was the success Oregon State football had been finding on the field, in recent years. Making the five to six hour trips even more exciting. I was blessed to watch some pretty exciting college football being played this fall. The Beavers beat a couple of teams ranked in the top-25 in Corvallis and they themselves spent the year ranked among those top-25 teams. The emotion finally took me over on the final trip to Oregon State for the football season. When a really good Washington Huskies team came into Corvallis for the final Pac-12 game in Reser Stadium. Both teams were ranked in the top 15 and the rain was going to pour.
I could feel the intensity during the festivities before the game began. The same celebrations I had watched time and time, again. For some reason, this time the electricity in the building carried more weight. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. Something was telling me, in no uncertain terms, I was watching the end of something special. Dressed with a rain poncho, in the middle of a downpour, everything felt mystical. I watched the game between the Beavers and Huskies like I have rarely taken in a contest. Every play had my undivided attention, with the rain pattering on the plastic, shielding me from the elements. It was almost impossible to interact with anyone. Being all bundled up, against the cold and the rain. The weather made it feel like I was almost watching the game in solitude. Every glance away from the field drew my eyes into the stadium lights. Where the sheets of rain were lit against the November night. I was thankful to be dressed so warmly. Minimizing the discomfort that would ultimately be felt from sitting in the rain. Unlike prior game, when the rain would soak Reser Stadium, there was no chance of leaving this game early. Hurrying away from the elements to watch the game in dry comfort, would not be part of the plan, on this night. Luckily, the game remained one of exciting swings, and the Beavers played right with the Huskies.
Mother nature showed some grace, as the game crept into the second half. The rain lightened in intensity, almost subsiding by the time we arrived at the fourth quarter. The easing of the rain didn’t help the discomfort, as the rain of the first half impacted everything it touched. However, the relenting allowed for me to hear myself think, and interact easier. The excitement picked up with the happenings on the field. The game having never gotten out of reach for Oregon State to win. The problem came down to missed opportunities early, that could have set a better tone, with mistakes that can’t be overcome against a good opponent. In the end, the Beavers lost their chance to gain another historic win in Corvallis. But, I didn’t walk away from the stadium that night feeling dejected. That game was one of the most amazing sporting experiences of my life, to this point. I left the stadium following the game with a sense of satisfaction. The Washington Huskies were going to continue their undefeated season into the following week. They would play one more game against their instate rival. Trying to complete an undefeated football season in the final year of the Pac-12 conference. While, Oregon State would play one more game, taking on the Ducks in Eugene.
As I’m finishing up this post at the end of December. An era of Oregon State football did come to a close when the game against Washington ended. The chills I was feeling to begin the football game, which led into a welling of tears in my eyes, made more sense after the following week. When the head football coach, who had brought the program up from the depth in which he found it, left for Michigan State. I had watched the final game of his tenure at the place he went to school, leaving for more money and better stability. He can’t be blamed for doing what is best for his family. But, there was a sadness when hearing the news of his departure. As with many things in life, when one era ends, another one sets to begin. It didn’t take the Beavs long to name their next head coach. He had spent the last two seasons coordinating the defense. The team will look a little different moving forward and the Pac-12 as we knew it to be has been lost. However, the last two seasons of Beaver football have formed a special spot inside myself. The Jonathan Smith era came to a close with a fun year of football games in Corvallis and I enjoyed every minute of watching his teams. The page will be turned, but the fun of a Saturday trip to Corvallis, will remain.
A Journey With Cerebral Palsy 