During the 2014 college football season, Oregon senior inside linebackerDerrick Malone is writing a weekly journal for The Oregonian -- published each Monday -- a space where the two-year starter, Colton, Calif., native and advertising major will chronicle what life as a linebacker on one of the nation's top teams is like.

"If you can dream it, you can do it." -- Walt Disney



EUGENE -- Football is a sport that brings forth a roller coaster of emotions. Every day that you practice, have a meeting and especially play a game embeds a certain memory in your mind. As we were driving to the Rose Bowl this past Saturday to take on the UCLA Bruins, I closed my eyes momentarily and began to daydream. The daydream took me back to when I was 15 years old.



I'm from Southern California, so growing up, you were either an USC fan or you were rooting for UCLA. When I was younger, although I had a couple of guys from my hometown who played football for USC, I still wasn't a big fan because they were a complete powerhouse. They won championship after championship, and I'm the type of person who likes to root for the underdogs.



UCLA was USC's cross-town rival, and wasn't as good as they are now, which means that their fan base was inferior to USC's. My best friend's brother played running back for UCLA, and their family would always try to convert me into being a UCLA fan. I wasn't really a fan of the team, but his brother would always get us tickets to the games.



The first time that I ever went to the Rose Bowl Stadium was in 2007, UCLA vs. Oregon.



I was 15 and my heart started to race once Oregon ran out of the tunnel and the crowd started to boo them. For some odd reason, I could tell that something was different about the Ducks, I was captivated by the way they carried themselves, and the speed at which they played the game. Nov. 24, 2007, was the day that I fell in love with the University of Oregon.



There are two depictions from that day that remain clear in my mind, as if the game were just yesterday. I remember seeing Dennis Dixon walking out of the tunnel after halftime. He was injured, so he was only wearing sweats and his jersey. What I vividly remember about that day was the way that his last name sparkled with a hint of gold, as the sun hit the back of his jersey.



I was in disbelief because I didn't know that it was possible to have a jersey so stylish, innovative and sleek. However, later I would find out that that's what Oregon is all about.



My last perfect recollection of that sunny day in Pasadena, Calif., was the first time I laid eyes on their flawless cheerleaders. I was in awe; they were absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Remember, I was 15-year-old boy whose hormones were literally bouncing off the walls 24/7. I couldn't take my eyes off of them, and looking back at it now, I think it was kind of creepy. I'm glad I'm finally out of that stage. Well, kind of.



On Nov. 24, 2007, I knew that I wanted to play football for the University of Oregon. At the time it appeared to be just a mere unattainable dream. I'm blessed to say I'm currently, living and thriving in the dream.



"I'm living a dream that I don't want to wake up from." -- Cristiano Ronaldo

-- Derrick Malone | Follow Malone on Twitter at @poeticsoul__

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Malone recorded five tackles, including one tackle for loss, No. 9 Oregon's 42-30 victory at UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Oct. 11. The Ducks now face Washington on Saturday at 5 p.m.