Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the mascot and sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific 10 (Pac-10) conference. Donald Duck was the mascot for a number of years, under an agreement with Disney. The Oregon Ducks are best known, sportswise, for their football team, which finished 12-1 in 2001 under head coach Mike Bellotti, who took over the program in 1995.
The evolution of the Duck
The University of Oregon mascot is a cartoon-like duck similar to Walt Disney's Donald Duck character, often referred to as "the duck", and may also be referred to as Donald or Puddles. The mascot wears a green and yellow costume, a green and yellow beanie cap with the word "Oregon" on it and originated from cartoons drawn of a white duck known as Puddles that frequented football games during the early 1900s. The cartoon duck became more similar to Donald Duck over time, and the University received permission from the Walt Disney company to use the likeness of the Donald Duck character as a symbol of the University. The mascot that appears in graphic art is more similar to Donald Duck than the actual mascot that appears at University functions, which has a rounder head and body than typical renditions of the Donald Duck character. A Nike-designed futuristic rubber-suit wearing duck, nicknamed "Duck Vader", "Mandrake", or "RoboDuck" by the student body, began appearing at athletic events in 2003. This mascot's public appearances were seriously diminished after it was found to be unpopular with students, football fans and others.
Oregon's relationship with Nike
UO track and field coach Bill Bowerman revolutionized the athletic shoe by pouring melted rubber into a waffle iron, creating a prototype rubber sole. Bowerman went on to co-found the Nike corporation with UO alumnus Phil Knight. Nike has maintained a close relationship with UO ever since, manufacturing all university logo clothing and uniforms for the football team, including research prototypes for high-tech "smart clothes", such as jerseys with cooling systems. Controversy surrounding Nike's labor practice precipitated protests in 2000 led by a group of students calling themselves The Human Rights Alliance. The protests included a 10 day tent city occupation of the lawns in front of Johnson Hall, the main administration building. Protesting students demanded and initially received independent oversight by the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) of Nike's overseas factories. The University of Oregon joined the WRC but was quickly admonished by Phil Knight in a scathing letter resulting in the rescindence of a US$30 million dollar contribution to renovate Autzen Stadium, and a pledge for no more future donations should the University continue its membership in the WRC. The University eventually terminated the relationship with the WRC within a year of joining, citing "legal complications." Phil Knight later reinstated the donation and increased the money to over US$50 million dollars. [1]
Venues
The Oregon Ducks basketball teams play at McArthur Court on the campus of the University of Oregon. The Ducks football team's home is Autzen Stadium, just north of the main campus. Track and field events are held at Hayward Field, on the campus adjacent to McArthur Court.
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