As a former member of the Oregon State University Beavers (one of three brothers who ended up as part of the OSU football family), Boice has experienced what is dubbed in sports circles as the Civil War, an annual clash with the University of Oregon Ducks.
His tales are fitting as the Rebels (2-5) head into the B.C Football Conference Rival Week, with the local club travelling north to face the Vancouver Island Raiders (4-3) 鈥� a team Westshore has never defeated in 22 tries.
Add to the fact the Raiders were originally from Victoria 鈥� skipping town back in 2004 鈥� and there is no need to add fuel to this annual fire. But it never hurts to fan the flames for today鈥檚 2 p.m. kickoff at Caledonia Park.
鈥淢an, when you grow up in Oregon they don鈥檛 refer to it as which team do you root for, it鈥檚 which team do you hate. That鈥檚 just the way it is. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 that way here with the Rebels and Raiders, but it鈥檚 heating up,鈥� said Boice. 鈥淚 think they really want to beat us and I know we really, really, really want to beat them.鈥�
It hasn鈥檛 happened, but that bubble has to burst at some point, say the Rebels, who would love for it to be today, especially after a disappointing 23-21 loss back in Week 2 in which a potential late, game-winning 15-yard field goal was blocked.
鈥淚t鈥檚 coming and they know it,鈥� said Boice. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 this week 鈥� the ball is going to have to bounce our way a little bit. I think it will be another close game and an entertaining game to watch.
鈥淚 think we can be in the game. I think we can win the game, whether we do it this weekend or not, I don鈥檛 know, but eventually we鈥檙e going to and they know it,鈥� added Boice, who calls his career at OSU window dressing as a scout-team quarterback.
His brothers, Brandon (a team captain in two Civil Wars) and Ty, were All-Pac 10 players at OSU and dad, Court Boice, was an outstanding high school player, 鈥渂ut he became a dad and got an early start,鈥� J.C. Boice said with a chuckle.
The laughing stops for game time today, however, as the Rebels will attempt to win on a field (Caledonia Park) that doesn鈥檛 surrender losses easily.
POINT AFTER: The Rebels are asking their fans to travel up Island and attend a pre-game tailgate party, starting at 11 a.m. in the lacrosse box south of Caledonia Park field. They are asked to wear Rebels鈥� colours and march, in a sea of red, to the game.
