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==Backgrounder==
==Backgrounder==
[[File:Oregon Ducks logo.svg|right|thumb|''The "O" logo was designed by Nike'']]
[[File:Oregon Ducks logo.svg|right|thumb|''The "O" logo was designed by Nike'']]
Nike, Inc. was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. The firm was co-founded by [[Bill Bowerman]] and [[Phil Knight|Phillip Knight]]. Bowerman coached the famed [[Oregon Ducks track and field|"Men of Oregon"]] track program and Knight was coached by Bowerman in the 1950s.<ref name="Bowerman's life">{{cite web |last1=Brant |first1=John |title=The Solitary Genius Who Sparked a Global Revolution |url=https://oregonquarterly.uoregon.edu/solitary-genius-who-sparked-global-revolution |website=University of Oregon |publisher=Oregon Quarterly |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref>
Nike, Inc. was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. The firm was co-founded by [[Bill Bowerman]] and [[Phil Knight|Phillip Knight]]. Bowerman coached the famed [[Oregon Ducks track and field|"Men of Oregon"]] track program and Knight was coached by Bowerman in the 1950s.<ref name="Bowerman's life">{{cite web |last1=Brant |first1=John |title=The Solitary Genius Who Sparked a Global Revolution |url=https://oregonquarterly.uoregon.edu/solitary-genius-who-sparked-global-revolution |website=University of Oregon |publisher=Oregon Quarterly |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref> Knight subsequently graduated from UO in 1959 with a business degree.<ref name="Knight's B.B.A. degree">{{cite web |title=Eighty-Second Commencement |url=https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/13368/UOCAT_Jun_1959_Comm.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |website=scholarsbank.uoregon.edu |publisher=University of Oregon |access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>

{{Blockquote
|text=As I’ve said many times, my business life was born on Hayward Field.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constant Pursuit of Excellence |url=https://around.uoregon.edu/hayward |website=AroundtheO |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref>
|author=Phil Knight |title= |source= (2018)
}}


The school's "O" logo was designed by Nike in 1998 and sports facility projects on campus typically involve both Knight and Nike.<ref name='"O" logo designer documentary'>{{cite web |title=The man behind the O featured in new Netflix series |url=https://around.uoregon.edu/content/man-behind-o-featured-new-netflix-series |website=AroundtheO |date=February 10, 2017 |publisher=February 10, 2017 |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref name='"O" logo history'>{{cite web |last1=Moseley |first1=Rob |title=Oral History: The O Turns 20 |url=https://goducks.com/news/2019/8/15/general-oral-history-the-o-turns-20.aspx |website=GODUCKS.com |publisher=University of Oregon Athletics |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="University of Nike" /> The outside of the logo represents Autzen Stadium and the inside represents Hayward Field. These stadiums house the football and track programs respectively.
The school's "O" logo was designed by Nike in 1998 and sports facility projects on campus typically involve both Knight and Nike.<ref name='"O" logo designer documentary'>{{cite web |title=The man behind the O featured in new Netflix series |url=https://around.uoregon.edu/content/man-behind-o-featured-new-netflix-series |website=AroundtheO |date=February 10, 2017 |publisher=February 10, 2017 |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref name='"O" logo history'>{{cite web |last1=Moseley |first1=Rob |title=Oral History: The O Turns 20 |url=https://goducks.com/news/2019/8/15/general-oral-history-the-o-turns-20.aspx |website=GODUCKS.com |publisher=University of Oregon Athletics |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="University of Nike" /> The outside of the logo represents Autzen Stadium and the inside represents Hayward Field. These stadiums house the football and track programs respectively.

Revision as of 08:51, 18 May 2023


Ties between Nike, Inc. and the University of Oregon are ongoing and have existed for decades. The relationship is so close that the institution is often referred to as the "University of Nike".[1][2]

Backgrounder

The "O" logo was designed by Nike

Nike, Inc. was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. The firm was co-founded by Bill Bowerman and Phillip Knight. Bowerman coached the famed "Men of Oregon" track program and Knight was coached by Bowerman in the 1950s.[3] Knight subsequently graduated from UO in 1959 with a business degree.[4]

As I’ve said many times, my business life was born on Hayward Field.[5]

— Phil Knight, (2018)

The school's "O" logo was designed by Nike in 1998 and sports facility projects on campus typically involve both Knight and Nike.[6][7][1] The outside of the logo represents Autzen Stadium and the inside represents Hayward Field. These stadiums house the football and track programs respectively.

In recent years the university has embraced its ties to Nike.[2]

History

Steve Prefontaine, a UO distance runner, was believed to be the first athlete signed by Nike. He signed a $5000 contract in 1974.[8]

Knight is believed to have made his first contribution in the late-1980s.[9] By the year 2000 Knight contributed $50 million to the university.[10] As of 2023, Knight has contributed in excess of $1 billion towards the University of Oregon.[11] Knight has contributed significant personal funds towards building and maintaining the university's athletic apparatus.[2] Knight has donated completed buildings to the university's athletic program. Many of these buildings are regarded as extravagant or opulent. Nike designers often play a role in designing interior spaces.[12]

Knight allegedly contributed $40,000 towards UO president Dave Frohnmayer's annual salary in the 1990s.[13]

Bowerman contributed funds to the Bowerman Family Building, which used to be adjacent to Hayward Field. The facility was subsequently demolished.[14]

Renovated Hayward Field

Nike designs the University of Oregon football program's team attire.[15] New unique combinations are issued before every game day.[16][12]

More recently, the corporation donated $13.5 million towards the renovation and expansion of Hayward Field.[17]

Timeline

Controversial nature of relationship

Nike, Inc.'s ties are discussed at length in the book University of Nike by Joshua Hunt. Hunt alleges that this relationship became more pronounced due to state higher education disinvestment.[1]

Knight has advocated for the university's sports programs, especially football. Knight's building projects often do not involve university oversight or input.[18] Knight has also advocated for privatising the university and contributed to a Political Action Committee that advanced his wishes.[19] In the early 2010s, with the backing of Knight, the university attempted to breakaway from state higher-ed oversight and obtain $800 million up front from the state legislature.[20]

In the early 2000s Knight controversially withdrew a significant contribution towards renovating the university's football stadium. This was due to the university signing the Workers Rights Consortium.[10] Knight subsequentially made amends and made his contribution.[21] However, he went two decades without making a signifiant contribution to academics.[22][23]

But for me personally, there will be no further donations of any kind to the University of Oregon. At this time, this is not a situation that can be resolved. The bonds of trust, which allowed me to give at a high level, have been shredded.[10]

— Phil Knight, (2000)

In 2005, Knight allegedly attempted to strong-arm the university's then president, Dave Frohnmayer, into firing both the athletic director and track and field coach. According to reports, Knight threatened to withhold funds towards the construction of a new basketball arena. By 2007 both were gone. Knight allegedly wanted to install his personal friend pat Kilkenny as the new athletic director. At the time Kilkenny did not have experience managing a multimillion athletic program. Ultimately, Kilkenny became the new athletic director.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c Williams, John. "Tell Us 5 Things About Your Book: College Athletics and Its Corporate Sponsors". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Bishop, Greg (August 2, 2013). "Oregon Embraces 'University of Nike' Image". The New York Times. No. August 2, 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  3. ^ Brant, John. "The Solitary Genius Who Sparked a Global Revolution". University of Oregon. Oregon Quarterly. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Eighty-Second Commencement" (PDF). scholarsbank.uoregon.edu. University of Oregon. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Constant Pursuit of Excellence". AroundtheO. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ^ "The man behind the O featured in new Netflix series". AroundtheO. February 10, 2017. February 10, 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  7. ^ Moseley, Rob. "Oral History: The O Turns 20". GODUCKS.com. University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Steve Prefontaine (1951-1975)". Oregon Encyclopedia. The Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Knight Library Renovation and Expansion". UO Libraries. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Statement from Nike founder and CEO Philip H. Knight regarding the University of Oregon". The Daily Emerlad. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. ^ T. Nitzel, Michael. "Phil And Penny Knight Have Just Given A Second $500 Million Gift To The University Of Oregon". Forbes. Forbes. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b Peter, Josh. "Behind Oregon's (Phil) Knight in shining armor". USA Today. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Getien, Larry. "Think Nike's woke? Phil Knight's castration of the University of Oregon might change your mind". The New York Post. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Hayward Field History". Hayward Field Renovation. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  15. ^ Coaston, Jane (August 10, 2020). "The Big Ten and Pac-12 postponed the college football season. Here's how we got here". Vox. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  16. ^ Alger, Tyson. "Oregon Ducks add orange to their Nike uniform repertoire for Colorado game". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  17. ^ Germano, Sara. "Nike Pledges $13.5 Million to Help Renovate University of Oregon Track Facilities". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  18. ^ Graves, Bill. "University of Oregon will ask state to sidestep public process to build massive football project". The Oregonian. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  19. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel. "New Political Action Committee Will Focus on Higher Ed". Willamette Week. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  20. ^ Graves, Bill. "University of Oregon President Richard Lariviere asks legislators for $800 million in bond money". The Oregonian.
  21. ^ Withers, Bud. "Nike co-founder is spiritual godfather to the Ducks". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  22. ^ Rogoway, Mike. "Phil and Penny Knight's charitable contributions top $2 billion". The Oregonian. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  23. ^ Brettman, Allan. "Phil and Penny Knight, thanks to Nike fortune, have given more than $1 billion in philanthropy". The Oregonian. Retrieved 25 May 2022.

Further reading

  • Hunt, Joshua. (2018). University of Nike: How Corporate Cash Bought American Higher Education
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