Sorry it say it, but the smell of death lingered out from the football coach’s office last season at EOU.

A 1-10 season continually dumped fuel on the putrid fire.

What has Tim Camp brought to the program in the first half of his debut season at head coach — a lot of fresh air.

I’ll begin with a shocking statement: the University of Oregon football team still has a chance at this year’s national title.

I do not believe this, I have to have some credibility.

Following one of the worst Duck losses in the history of the program, I could not help but think of this humorously.

Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit should be in Imbler Friday. ESPN Classic needs to have cameras at the high school for this instant classic.

Head coach Rusty Eschler leads his undefeated Joseph team into powerhouse Imbler Friday.

Joseph realized it had a decent hand to start the 2008 football season — even if others didn’t.

After losing three seniors that saw time, the Eagles were loaded with returners.

Sure, the loss of a Division I linebacker — Ben Garnett — hurt.  

When I first heard that there was eight-man football, I wasn’t sure what to think. I grew up in Florida and the closest thing we had to that was flag football on a Sunday.

As I mentioned in my introductory column, I went to a high school with 2,700 students.

I spent the last two weekends in North Powder and Cove and experienced true small town athletics for the first time.

Potatoes, anybody?

Well you might want to think about it a little more seriously.

There may be something to the meat and potatoes diet. At least for high school kids that play football.

Over the last two seasons Eastern Oregon high school football teams are 1-9 against teams from Idaho. Our area teams have been outscored 391-158.

In a time when “going green” is the socially acceptable way to go, I plan on going purple.

Yes, despite living amongst the Duck and Beaver fans in Oregon, I remain a faithful Husky follower.

Sure, the Washington program has seen a slight decline in recent years. In that same time frame Oregon has been on the rise. But the catchphrase seems to be that the country needs change. And as Bob Dylan once sung, “Times they are a changing.”

I’m watching Oregon State play Stanford and I’m realizing a few things. One, college football season is the greatest time of the year.

The second conclusion I am coming to is that the Beavers can be cheered for by a University of Oregon fan. Not necessarily screaming, jumping up and down cheering, but a nod or grin when something good happens for them.

For 51 weeks of the year, Duck fans can sit back and watch the Beavers and not mind them winning a game. That 52nd week is when they play Oregon in the Civil War and they become a feisty younger brother

They’re here.

For the next week 4A/3A/2A/1A Oregon High School Shrine Game football players will make Eastern Oregon University their home away from home.

For three local players it wasn’t such a long journey — well to some degree. Ben Garnett, Joseph, Kaden Titus, Union, and Michael Stephens, Powder Valley, all made the 4 1/2 hour trip to Wilsonville.

It’s amazing to see how much generosity is welled up in this valley.

Year after year, sponsors and individuals give donations to ensure Union and Wallowa County athletes have a chance to compete at the state’s highest level.

With the Little League and Babe Ruth State Tournaments wrapping up this past weekend, coaches shared firsthand the gratitude for businesses and people willing to open their wallets.