Duck fans love the Don Essig pregame declaration, but it often rains at Autzen Stadium.
Saturday for the "Wear Tie-Dye" game versus Wisconsin, forecasters expect a lot of it. The updated weather prediction calls for heavy rain and a forecast high of 53 degrees, overnight low of 40.
Winds will hit 15 miles an hour. That's too chilly for a tie-dyed tee shirt, no matter how much someone loves Jerry Garcia and "Box of Rain."
As if breezy winds and a downpour weren't enough, there's a strong possibility of a thunderstorm after 11 a.m.
Kickoff for 2-5 Wisconsin at 6-1, No. 6 Oregon is set for 4:00 p.m. PT on FS1, for those who'd rather be gratefully dry. The forecast puts a damper on hopes of a jubilant and colorful tribute, unless the entire fanbase chooses to invest in clear parkas.
The Ducks are 32.5-point favorites over the Badgers, who have dropped four straight in Big Ten play including shutout losses to Iowa 37-0 and Ohio State 37-0 in their last two starts. Quarterback Billy Edwards was injured in the season opener and both backups, sophomore Danny O'Neil and senior Hunter Simmons, have missed time.
It's uncertain who'll start at QB, but in all cases the Badger attack is a plodding, deliberate operation that runs the football 58 percent of the time while producing just 13.3 points a game, worst in the Big Ten.
The defense is better, ranking near the middle of the league despite a heavy burden. They allow 5.95 yards per play and 24.3 points a game, less than 100 yards a game on the ground, 3.5 per rush.
In his midweek press conference Dan Lanning credited Luke Fickell's defense for the challenge they present, another opportunity for Dante Moore to work on recognizing pressure before the snap, adjusting the protections.
"This is probably one of the best defenses when it comes to disguise," Lanning said. "They do a great job of stopping the run. They gameplan your runs really well. I think that's a big piece of it. They make sure they get the extra hat where necessary and they do a good job avoiding explosive plays."