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Fans brace for Civil War game Photo by Jim Craven Fitz Brewer shows his honorary UO letter. First time in 35 years that UO and OSU meet with winning records By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Excited Oregon and Oregon State football fans flocked to the Southern Oregon Civil War Luncheon Wednesday in Medford to celebrate banner seasons by their teams. The Beavers and Ducks are both bowl-bound with identical 7-3 records entering Saturday's Civil War game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. Game time is 3:38 p.m. The last time the two schools met and both had a winning record was 1964, when the Ducks were 7-1-1 and the Beavers 7-2. Oregon State won 7-6 to go to the Rose Bowl. Leading the Oregon contingent of fans at the luncheon was the man known as "Super Duck." When Medford's Fitz Brewer speaks, Duck fans listen. They know that deep, raspy voice belongs to the No. 1 Duck in Southern Oregon, if not the entire state. Brewer, a former Oregon football player, 1953 graduate of the school, and loyal Duck donor and fan, led a large force of Duck fans attending the luncheon. "It's a great time of the year to be a Duck or Beaver," said Brewer, who admits he's still sick to his stomach over Oregon's double-overtime loss to Oregon State last year. The Ducks get their chance for revenge Saturday against the Beavers. "Darn right, I'm nervous," said Brewer, who acknowledges he couldn't take another Beaver victory over his Ducks Saturday. "I know it could happen," said Brewer. "But I don't think it will." Medford's Andy Maurer, former Duck All-American who played in two Super Bowl games (1974 for the Minnesota Vikings and 1977 for the Denver Broncos) wore all black. That included a black Beaver hat with the number 87 stitched on it in orange. That's the number of his son, Marty Maurer, a former Cascade Christian High of Jacksonville player and starting tight end for OSU. "I'm all black and orange," said Maurer, referring to OSU's colors. "I won't have any trouble walking into Autzen Stadium, where I played, and cheering for Oregon State." Andy says Marty Maurer grew up in Southern Oregon a Duck fan. But when he wasn't offered a scholarship to play for Oregon after graduating from Cascade Christian in 1996, he signed a letter of intent with Oregon State. "When Oregon didn't take him, I said `nuts to them."' said Andy. "Marty's team beat Oregon last year, and I think they will do it again Saturday. If they do, I'll say nuts to them again." Marty Maurer's uncle, Dick Maurer, a former OSU player who scored the game-winning touchdown in the 1973 Civil War game at Autzen Stadium, says his nephew has lost all fondness for the Ducks. "Marty wouldn't stop in Eugene for a coke," said Dick Maurer. "He'd go to Cottage Grove to stay out of Eugene." Wednesday's luncheon was attended by Oregon Athletic Director Bill Moos and OSU Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart. Both directors spoke to the overflow crowd, and head football coaches Dennis Erickson of Oregon State and Mike Bellotti of Oregon talked about the game by speaker phones. "All Beavers should know you made this Civil War more important with the kind of season you've had," said Moos. "For the first time in a long time, the Beavers and Ducks are two of the best teams in the Pac-10 and the winner has a chance to have the best overall record (8-3) in the Pac-10." "We're taking small, workmanlike steps in building the program at Oregon State," said Barnhart. "I'm proud." If Oregon defeats Oregon State, and Washington loses to Washington State and Stanford falls to California Saturday, the Ducks would go to the Rose Bowl for the second time in five years. "It's a little bit of a long shot but it could happen," said Jim Bartko, former Southern Oregon Duck Club director in Medford who now works for the Duck Athletic Fund in Eugene. Greg Byrne, another former Medford resident and past director of the Southern Oregon Duck Club, is now associate athletic director at OSU. "I'm glad to be a Beaver," said the son of former Oregon Athletic Director Bill Byrne. "We're a program that is building fast. I like being part of that for the future." Dick Morgan of Medford, a long-time Ducks fan, said he feels uneasy about the '99 Civil War. `You bet I'm worried," he said. "The Beavers are good, and I'm happy for them. "But I don't want them to be good this week," said Morgan. "If we can just find a way to win, I'll be happy." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.