How a Buckeye tree ended up at the University of Oregon

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — No. 2 Ohio State University is set to take on No. 3 University of Oregon on Saturday, with the stakes high as both football teams enter the game undefeated.

The roots of this historic sports rivalry go deep. In fact, there are Buckeye roots still in the ground at the University of Oregon.

According to the University of Oregon’s Athletics Archivist Lauren Goss, a Buckeye tree standing about 60 feet tall sits outside the school’s College of Business.

“It has some beautiful foliage right now, with that fall season,” Goss said. “It’s definitely dropping Buckeyes.”

Goss said the tree was planted there because of a bet between the Ohio and Oregon governors in the lead up to the 1958 Rose Bowl game.

“The Oregon governor Robert Holmes bet a Douglas fir tree, and the Ohio governor William O’Niell bet a Buckeye tree,” Goss said.

The two agreed that the loser would send their state tree to the winning state. In a close game, tied well into the second half, the Buckeyes took home the win.

“Oregon made good on their bet. We shipped off the Douglas Fir tree sapling,” Goss said. “It was like two to three feet tall.”

Goss said the Ohio governor at the time was so impressed with Oregon’s performance, he returned the favor.

“Actually, two trees showed up at the Oregon state capitol building,” Goss said.

A tulip tree was planted at the Oregon State Capitol.

“And then the Oregon governor, he went to the University of Oregon, and so he decided to honor his school, honor the football team for their performance, and send that Buckeye tree down here to the university campus,” Goss said.

That Buckeye tree remains standing in Oregon, the colorful fixture a reminder of the historic matchup and rivalry between both schools. The two, forever connected more than most.

“It’s common for governors to place friendly wagers on bowl games and national championships, but it’s usually involving food,” Goss said. “The fact that this involves trees I think is pretty unique.”

The Douglas Fir had to be removed from the Ohio governor’s residence a few years ago. But, according to a landscaper, the tree was milled into lumber which has been used for various projects around the mansion.

“Now we are in the same conference and it’s kind of just interesting to see that legacy and that history of this competition between these two schools,” Goss said.

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