OREGON, USA — For brothers Neil and Mike Marshall, Oregon State University is more than their alma mater — it’s a part of their family. The brothers are two of seven siblings who all graduated from OSU. That legacy started with their oldest brother, Greg Marshall, who graduated from OSU in 1978 and was a defensive lineman for the Beavers.
“[Greg] was a very good football player, and he was lucky enough to get a scholarship to Oregon State,” said Neil, who is 60.
Neil and Mike watched Greg and the Beavers take on the University of Oregon Ducks for the first time in 1974. It was their first rivalry game between the schools, which fans used to call "the civil war."
“We have not missed a [rivalry] game since,” said Mike, who is 58. “It's my favorite event of the year, plain and simple.”
Friday will mark the brothers' 50th consecutive year attending the rivalry game. That includes 2020, when fans weren't allowed in the stadium because of COVID. The Marshalls went to Corvallis anyway, and watched the game on TV in the parking lot.
“We were literally the only people in Corvallis doing it,” said Mike. "Socially distanced, of course. We just had to keep the streak alive, so we did it, and honestly, it's the most fun I've ever had at a civil war.”
For the Marshalls, the tradition is less about hating the Ducks and more about loving the rivalry.
“People get all fired up, but on that day, we are combatants and friends,” said Neil.
Take the 1982 rivalry game. Neil's buddy, Darrell Ahl — an Oregon Duck — drove up from Eugene to Corvallis to surprise Neil with a pair of black shoes with orange laces. Ahl had the same pair only threaded with green laces, and Neil had admired them.
“They were Converse,” recalled Neil. “I still have them. I've worn them to every civil war game since then!”
“His feet pay the price every game,” added Mike. “But he's still wearing them.”
Neil will wear the storied shoes on Friday, in what might be the very last rivalry game. This year, the University of Oregon left the Pacific-12 Conference to join the Big Ten Conference.
“It's sad,” said Mike. “Very sad.”
As of yet, the two teams are not scheduled to play each other next season.
“It might be the last one for a lot of people,” said Neil. “But one way or another, it's getting close to being the last one for me."
Two years ago, doctors diagnosed Neil with an aggressive form of brain cancer. At the time, they gave him just months to live, but he’s beaten the odds.
“Two years ago," said Mike, "When we came out of the [rivalry] game in Eugene, and we weren't sure what the future held, one of our friends turned to Neil and said, ‘Well, I guess you're just going to have to be around another year or two, 'cause you can't end on that game!' And sure enough, last year was one of the best games ever.”
That game was at home in Corvallis, and OSU beat Oregon 38 to 34, knocking the Ducks out of the Pac-12 championship game.
The Marshall brothers aren't concerned with what the final score will be on Friday. And they’re not worried about what happens next year, or the year after that. Being together and being brothers for their 50th Rivalry Game? For them, that's the win.
“Just enjoy this one,” said Neil. “We have this one. Let's enjoy it.”
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