CORVALLIS – Voices cracked and red eyes welled.
Hugs were exchanged at a furious pace and at least one dance circle broke out as Oregon State players and coaches sang their fight song to a roaring student section.
It had been 694 days since OSU captured a Pac-12 game – 12 consecutive losses – and the emotion unleashed after the walk-off win showed a release from every minute of anguish. The raucous scene Saturday following a 47-44 overtime victory over Cal was one the Beavers could have only dreamt about for nearly two years.
All indications heading into the matchup were that the game could be the site of a record-setting evening.