The Surprising Rise of Oregon Basketball in 1944-1945!

Jim Maloney History

Entering the 1944-1945 basketball season, the Webfoots—as the Ducks were then known—were expected to field an inexperienced team that would dwell in the cellar of the Pacific Coast Conference’s Northern Division. Late 1944 was a momentous time. Not only was World War II raging in Europe and Asia, but here in the United States we had a presidential election pending. Locally, …

Cotton – The Webfoots’ Consolation Prize

Jim Maloney History

Immediately following the conclusion of the Pacific Coast Conference games on November 21, 1948, the Conference’s faculty representatives convened by telegraph to cast their votes for the P.C.C.’s representative in the 1949 Rose Bowl game.  While the vote was 6 to 4 to send California to the Rose Bowl, the Conference never released the actual vote.  It is certain the …

The Stretch Run for the Roses

Jim Maloney History

Coming off its decisive victory over Washington State, Oregon was ranked 14th in the country with five wins and one loss. The remainder of the regular season schedule included a final home game against the St. Mary’s Gaels, and three consecutive road games against the Washington Huskies, UCLA Bruins, and Oregon State Beavers. Oregon had played an annual Thanksgiving Day …