Ohio State fan owns bar in Eugene, Oregon and embraces Ohio State pride amidst Ducks fandom
EUGENE, Oregon (WCMH) — Buckeye fans are hoping for a win in the Rose Bowl and some will be watching the Ohio State Buckeyes in the hometown of the opponent, the Oregon Ducks.
“Go Buckeyes!," Troy Potter said enthusiastically during an interview with NBC4.
He is in a bit of a tricky spot, but it doesn't stop him from showing his Ohio State pride. He lives in Eugene, the same city as the University of Oregon. He also owns a business there and most of his customers are big Oregon fans. He has Ohio State and Oregon memorabilia in his office but there is no question who he is rooting for in the Rose Bowl.
“It’s my Buckeyes, I’ve been rooting for them since I was in diapers, so I’m going to continue to root for the Buckeyes whenever they face the ducks," he said.
Potter grew up in the Buckeye State and has several family members who graduated from Ohio State. He's owned the Bier Sten in Eugene for eight years. It's just a few blocks from the University of Oregon's campus and a bit more than a mile from the football stadium.
“99% of my customers are duck fans and we have a lot of friendly banter on the daily basis about the ducks and the Buckeyes," he said. "I get a lot of raised eyebrows when I walk around in my Buckeye gear. I wore a Buckeye shirt yesterday and I went to this big grocery store, and everyone was like who, what are you doing, I'm like hey man I'm a Buckeye fan."
When the Buckeyes played in Oregon earlier this season, his bar and restaurant hosted hundreds of Ohio State alumni and fans. After Ohio State lost by 1, he said he heard it from Duck fans for about two weeks. He is ready for a rematch.
“There’s a really cool energy, electricity almost shooting through Eugene right now and it's just really exciting to be a part of it and being the I wouldn't say the only Buckeye fan in Eugene but one of the very few, but it's just really exciting and can't wait for kickoff," he said.
Dan Lanning, Oregon's head coach, was in the Bier Stein earlier this season. At the time, Potter was wearing Ohio State apparel.
"He looked at me and he put his head down for a second and he goes hey sorry about that, that last game you know, and we cracked a joke about it, I said no it's okay it was a very exciting game and everything like that," Potter said.