Part 1 of 2: It was the evening of January 1, 2002. Oregon had just made history, completing a dream-come-true 11-1 record by winning the 2002 Fiesta Bowl in impressive fashion, knocking off heavily favored Colorado 38-16. Prior to the game, all media attention went the direction of Colorado. Many believed that Colorado belonged in the national title game more …
A look back at Oregon’s facilities: the secret to UO’s success?
Ask anybody in the country today their impression of University of Oregon athletics, and three words will immediately be uttered: uniforms, Nike, facilities. Oregon’s facilities now are the envy of the country, even many pro teams don’t have the plush amenities that Oregon athletes appreciate today. It didn’t happen overnight though, and over the years of the University of Oregon’s …
Conclusion: Oregon’s 2001 postseason decade anniversary
Tempe, Arizona: Tuesday, January 1, 2002; A day Oregon fans would long remember. Their beloved Ducks were completing a very special year with an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, the Pac-10 Championship site. Oregon’s four Senior Captains Wes Mallard, Steve Smith, Justin Peelle, and Joey Harrington took midfield to greet and shake hands with Colorado’s captains. Colorado won the coin …
Oregon’s integral role in the history of the Grandaddy of them all
On New Years Day in 1890 the first Rose Parade was held in downtown Pasadena, CA; devised as a way to entice people from the east coast to purchase real estate in Southern California, an effort to convince those with deep pockets to escape the cold winter weather for sunny Southern California. “In New York, people are buried in snow, …
The 19 Greatest Seasons in Duck Football History (with a 20th slot reserved for this year)
Win or lose the Rose Bowl on January 2, this year’s Oregon squad has already earned a special distinction: one of the 20 greatest seasons in the history of a team that has been playing football since 1894. After all, this year’s regular season produced only the Ducks’ fifth outright conference title (along with 1994, 2001, 2009 and 2010) and …
Oregon’s 2001 Postseason: Part 2
Just a little over ten years ago at this time, the final NCAA BCS rankings were released. At 11-0, The Miami Hurricanes were the only undefeated team and earned the undisputed #1 ranking in each poll. The Oregon Ducks were one of only four one-loss teams at 10-1, and had done everything right other than their difficult, heartbreaking loss at …
Revisiting the Wisconsin series: 2000-2001
The upcoming Rose Bowl pitting Big-10 champion Wisconsin vs. Pac-12 champion Oregon is not the first time the two teams have met. A decade ago the Badgers and Ducks played in a home-and-home grudge match that was as bitterly fought of a series as had occurred in recent memory. With the Rose Bowl looming and the recent series tied 1-1, …
LaMichael James: Greatest Duck Ever?
He has yet to even finish his career at Oregon. There is still a Rose Bowl game remaining and, though unlikely given his NFL prospects, the potential of a senior season. Yet as LaMichael James wraps up his third year of play for the Ducks—which happens to also be the greatest three-year stretch in team history—it may be time to …
Oregon’s 2001 Postseason: Part 1
On December 1, 2001; the celebration was on in the pouring rain at Autzen Stadium. Hundreds of fans swarmed the field despite the harsh weather conditions, knowing their beloved Ducks had won the undisputed Pac-10 Championship and were bowl bound. Many had brought Tostitos Chips to celebrate the berth of the Fiesta Bowl, but all true fans had hoped for …
The Oklahoma series: Part 1 – Bad Play (2004) & Bad Luck (2005)
It wasn’t the first time Oregon and Oklahoma had played. Four times previously the Ducks and Sooners had faced off, every time they had trounced Oregon. It wasn’t pretty how lopsided the series had been. 1958 – Oklahoma 6 Oregon 0 1966 – Oklahoma 17 Oregon 0 1972 – Oklahoma 68 Oregon 3 1975 – Oklahoma 62 Oregon 7 (Oklahoma …
The Oklahoma series: Part 2 – Bad Calls (2006)
Both Oklahoma and Oregon were undefeated heading into the final chapter of their trilogy of games, with Oklahoma dreaming of a national championship shot, but it hadn’t been without a close call. Opening the season playing at UAB, Oklahoma had been the beneficiary of a horrendous referee call on a muffed punt, where the Oklahoma return man was incorrectly ruled down on an obvious fumble that would have set up UAB for the potentially game-tying score late in the 4th quarter. Instead Oklahoma retained possession and ran out the clock, winning 24-17. In the aftermath of the events that would transpire between Oklahoma and Oregon, this gift from the referees was conveniently forgotten by all Oklahoma fans and made their whining highly hypocritical.
2010 vs 2011: (some) Oregon Stats Through 13 Games
On Friday night in Autzen Stadium, The Oregon Ducks claimed a third straight conference championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl Game for the 2nd time in 3 years. The last two seasons led by Darron Thomas, LaMichael James, and Kenjon Barner have been among the most successful and productive in school history. This season, with the addition of the Pac-12 Championship …
