The James Madison Dukes and their fans now find themselves in the big time of college football, snagging the final spot in the College Football Playoff as the No. 12 seed to set up a road matchup against the No. 5 Oregon Ducks.
The teams will meet Dec. 20 at Autzen Stadium, with a trip to the CFP quarterfinals on the line. Oregon is a 21.5-point favorite in the first meeting between the Ducks and the Dukes, who only three years ago moved up to college football’s top tier, the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Many fans of James Madison, a public university located about 125 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., have never visited Eugene. So one fan took to Reddit this week to ask for tips about what to see, eat and do while in town for the game.
And the Reddit community of Ducks fans came through in a big way. Redditors threw out a bevy of options, from restaurants to hikes to scenic drives and more. Here’s a sampling.
The Oregon coast …
… was a popular suggestion, as were waterfalls and lakes both near and far.
“Drive to the coast and up to yachats and stop at Sea Lion Caves and lighthouse, thors well and devils churn,” user Springtucky wrote. “You could also go somewhere in the mountains. Maybe Salt Creek Falls.”
“I’m partial to Silver Falls,” wrote DuckFanSouth. “It’s a bit further out, but worth it.”
“Clear Lake, Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls!” iguanapinata wrote. “Less than 90 mins from campus, and a mossy, forested wonderland. You can walk from one falls the other. Then drive 5 mins to clear lake resort. Welcome to Oregon! Enjoy your time here.”
“Yes, a drive out to the coast would be worth a day (especially if good weather), and Spencer’s Butte offers a short but fairly challenging hike if you’re up for that,” Scrotox81 posted. “If you want to head inland, check out the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail. Enjoy your stay!”
Other outdoor options …
… in Eugene were mentioned as well.
“If you like cycling and depending on weather, there is an excellent trail network along the (Willamette) river,” DaddyRobotPNW wrote. “Check out Alton baker park, the bridge, stop for lunch somewhere.”
“There’s some solid disc golf courses locally if you play!” Amcgarry157 posted. “I’d recommend Dexter or Camp Serene. Both are about 20 minutes outside of town.”
Oregon weather …
Redditors made sure to mention the challenges that the Oregon weather could pose and reminded JMU fans to stay safe.
“I do want to note that the weather may make some of the hiking trails more treacherous than normal,” jdolbeer wrote. “Please bring a buddy or 3 and make sure external people know where you’re hiking and when you are going/plan to come back.”
Restaurants …
And there were plenty of restaurant recommendations. User Duck_Bil even suggested a game-day itinerary.
“Prince Puckler’s ice cream is a must!” Duck_Bil wrote. “You could park near Pucklers, check out Hayward Field, do the walk across the bridge, randomly join a tailgate or hit the Moshofsky Center pre-game for indoor tailgating, and then post-game walk back across the footage, eat at McMenamins and end with Prince Pucklers. A pretty perfect game day.”
Redditor Systemic_Chaos agreed about the walk to Autzen.
“Most importantly, have a blast! It’s a great gameday atmosphere, and definitely walk from the campus area to Autzen, because it’s a great time.”
More tips …
There were also some practical tips.
“Find a hardware store for some advanced ear protection, its gonna be loud!!” wrote DaYettiman22.
And there was a reminder about one certainty at Autzen.
“Everyone has offered very helpful advice on sights to see, so I’ll cover the weather,” Sure_Hovercraft_9766 posted. “Don’t bother packing a raincoat because it never rains in Autzen!”
Finally, The-Great-Darbino summed it up succinctly:
“Have a good time and welcome to Oregon, but, Go Ducks!”
