A family divided: Ellis clan must split loyalty between Beavers, Ducks

By Cambria Roth

Around the first weekend in December, the state of Oregon divides right down the 50-yard line when it comes to college football.

There are families full of devoted Oregon State University Beaver fans.

There are families of steadfast University of Oregon Duck fans.

And occasionally, that great divide runs right through the middle of a family.  Just ask the Ellis family. Six kids, two parents, and a batch of mixed loyalties. It makes for a fun rivalry.

However, what makes this rivalry a little more intense is that dad, Timothy Ellis, played offensive tackle for University of Oregon (1979-82) and his son, Burke Ellis, is now an offensive line right guard for Oregon State.

“I was recruited to walk-on at Oregon my senior year and it was cool because I had gone to those games my entire life,” Burke said. “About a month later, I began talking to OSU and I came to Corvallis, met the (offensive line) coach and talked to the guys. Within a few hours I decided I really liked the family-friendly atmosphere more.”

Burke walked-on with Oregon State and was red-shirted his freshman year. This year, as a junior, he is starting for the Beavers.

Burke was not the only sibling to choose to go with the orange and black. His older brother, Beau Ellis, 27, was the first to attend and graduate from Oregon State. Brother Blaine, 25, and sister Brogan, 20, support Burke and are Oregon State fans.

Brock, 26, played rugby at University of Oregon and Blake, 24, has also remained loyal to his UO roots.
“My brother, Brock went to Oregon and still flicks stuff about the Beavers, here and there, but at the end of the day, they all come around and support me,” Burke said.

Family support might be earnest, but it’s not easy. It took dad Timothy four years to buy a Beaver hat and wear it to a game.

“I wore black clothes for the longest time, but they didn’t have any Beaver logo on them,” Tim said. “I have been a Duck fan for 31 years so there is a allegiance and camaraderie there, and it’s a whole different culture and way of doing things at OSU.”

Tim attended University of Oregon with a full-ride scholarship and still keeps in touch with some of his old teammates today.

“They are all rooting for Burke, one because he is my son and two, because it’s the next generation of D1 football and that’s a heck of an accomplishment right there for anyone,”  Tim said.

The proud dad admits there was some initial disappointment when Burke chose to go against his Oregon legacy, but Tim knows Burke chose well based on where he felt most comfortable. The last four years, Burke’s Oregon State teammates have become part of the Ellis family.

“It’s unique to see these insanely devoted Beaver fans go completely rabid if you even speak of the Ducks, whereas if you go to Duck games, everyone cheers if the Beavers are winning. It’s not that way in Corvallis at all,” Tim said.

Merrily Ellis, Burke’s mom, is a graduate of University of Oregon. She supports both Oregon teams. She has decorated  her classroom at Mount Angel Middle School with a Beaver flag and a Duck flag.

“I love my kid more than I love the Ducks. I’ll root for the Beavers while he is there and when he is done, I’ll go back to supporting the Ducks,” Merrily said. “I have always supported both schools and the Pac-10 and I think everyone should support their state team.”

The Ellis family continues to be season-ticket holders for Oregon football and now Oregon State football and they travel to each Beaver game. Merrily even sewed a sweatshirt supporting both her husband and her son. She bought black and green sweatshirts, cut them in half and sewed them vertically together. Then she took her new green and black look to a print shop.

The sweatshirt reads, ‘A woman divided’ across the top. On the black side in orange lettering is ‘Son #74’ and on the green side ‘Husband #77’ in yellow.

The Ellis family is close-knit and each enjoys the good-natured rivalry.

“The boys all love to say they made Burke tough enough to play and love to harass him,” Merrily said. “I don’t care where they go to college, but only that they go, and Burke is playing Division I, Pac-10 football and it is awesome.”

Both Merrily and Tim, despite which team they root for at any given moment, make it a priority for family to come first.

“What Burke has done is huge, and those are the kinds of kids OSU looks for, undersized but with great frames, speed, and intelligence, and then they pack the pounds on them,” Tim said. “It is always family first and team second.”