Oregon’s Football Uniforms No Longer a Joke

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Oregon Ducks football program must be feeling pretty gratified.

Since the 1995 Rose Bowl, the program and its athletic department have spent countless amounts of time and money making “ugly,” “embarrassing,” and “laughable” uniforms. At least that’s what outsiders spent the better part of their time writing and telling anyone willing to laugh with them. But more than 20 years since that Rose Bowl versus Penn State, the Ducks have parlayed that same “ugly,” “embarrassing,” and “laughable” garb into unprecedented success at their university and a level of success nearly every other athletic department in collegiate sport would give their left you-know-what for.

From lightning yellow, to diamond studs. Block lettering, to today’s (or yesterday’s based on Oregon’s rate of turnover) wings. And “storm troopers,” to “disco-ball helmets.” Oregon and their marketing machine have spent the last 2 decades making stars of a school previously doomed to supporting roles.

In the last 8 years, the football team has played for 2 national titles, the volleyball team made it to the national championship game, softball 3 of the last 4 College World Series’, and men’s golf has recently been ranked #1. In addition, men’s cross country won 2 national titles, track and field owns 7 indoor and 1 outdoor national championship, and the baseball team – which was resuscitated in 2009 – has been to the NCAA Tournament 5 of the last 6 years. Success by any standard, and a far cry from any visionary’s hopes for an athletic department treading water more than 20 years ago.

In addition to the aforementioned success on the playing field, such success has been matched financially. A recent study uncovered Oregon as the leading revenue-earning athletic department in the country amongst public universities, and one of just 24 self-sufficient institutions in the NCAA.

And those “ugly uniforms” deserve a significant portion of the credit.

There’s no such thing as bad publicity. Or so an adage has told us. But while a bit of a literal stretch, Oregon and their marketing department took that, coupled with research geared towards the wants and needs of the 18-year-old recruits they coveted to heart, when developing the groundbreaking strategy regarding their revolving unis. While the historically great programs in collegiate sport pointed to their tradition, Oregon turned their back on it and set their crosshairs on innovation as the vessel to take them to the Promised Land.

Now, years and generations of uniforms later, Oregon’s “laughable” attire is being replicated by seemingly everyone in the collegiate game. Every school has alternative uniforms, the “disco-ball/mirror” helmet can be seen by schools like Washington, Baylor, and Notre Dame to name a few, and even the most traditional powers have veered from the norm regarding what they wear on those cold Saturday’s in Fall. Oregon has changed the game and in the process, created a brand drawing interest from coast to coast.

Last year’s football recruiting class included kids from Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Hawaii, and of course California and Washington. Kids thousands of miles away, yet familiar with and openly rooting for the Ducks growing up. An unlikely scenario 20 years ago, but a common theme amongst kids in even the most uncommon areas of the country.

Thanks to the uniforms.

It didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen solely because, but Oregon’s uniform revolution kick-started a metamorphosis of previously ugly ducklings into a sports nation of flourishing fowl. The Ducks of today are not the Ducks of 20 years ago, and the punchline they were due to the innovative route they chose to take has become the road more travelled for everyone else trying to catch up. They’re winning at an unprecedented rate, generating revenue at an unprecedented level, and attracting attention from prospects from unprecedented regions of the country. It isn’t and accident and it isn’t a joke anymore.

It appears the Ducks are the ones laughing now.

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Related Slideshow: Oregon’s Most Devastating Sports Injuries

Here is GoLocalPDX's list of Oregon's most devastating injuries that have occured within the past 10 years. Prev Next Greg Oden Sept. 2007 — Micro fracture surgery on right knee Dec. 2009 — Fractured left patella Nov. 2010 — Micro fracture surgery on left knee Dec. 2011 — Arthroscopic surgery on right knee Unfortunately, Trail Blazer fans everywhere already know how drafting Greg Oden over Kevin Durant worked out for their team. After being be the #1 selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Oden was never able to play a full season due to ongoing knee injuries. The team eventually waived him in March of 2012. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Dennis Dixon Nov. 2007 — Torn left ACL During the 2007 season Dixon had the Oregon Ducks as the #2 team in the country. That was until he suffered a torn ACL against Arizona State and attempted to play on it the following week against Arizona. After Dixon went down for the season the Ducks lost their remaining two regular season games. Fortunately, they were able to end their season on a high note with a victory over South Florida in the 2007 Sun Bowl. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Brandon Roy Sept. 2008 — Cartilage removed from left knee April 2010 — Meniscus tear in right knee Jan. 2011 — Arthroscopic surgery on both knees Brandon Roy is perhaps one of the most beloved Trail Blazers in the history of the franchise. After being drafted in 2006, and leading the team out of the "Jail-Blazer" era, he had to make the tough decision to retire at the young age of 28. His degenerative knees prevented Rip City from seeing their superstar ever play to his full potential. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Jacquizz Rodgers Nov. 2008 — Grade II separation of the acromioclavicular joint During the second to last game in 2008 Jacquizz Rodgers suffered a separated shoulder that ended his season. Unfortunately, this meant that he wasn't able to play in the Civil War, which was perhaps the biggest game of the year for the Beavers. If the Beavers had been able to defeat the Ducks they would've been able to book their tickets to play in the Rose Bowl. Instead, they went to the Sun Bowl where they defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next James Rodgers Oct. 2009 — Torn left ACL After participating in only 4 games during the 2009 season Rodgers went down with a torn ACL while playing against #9 Arizona. This couldn't have come at a worse time for Rodgers considering he was expected to have a breakout season. Rodgers, who was a senior at the time, was able to end his career at Oregon State as the career leader in all-purpose yards. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Joel Pryzbilla Dec. 2009 — Ruptured right patella tendon and dislocated patella In December of 2009 the Trail Blazers' backup center, Joel Pryzbilla, was lost for the season with a ruptured and dislocated patella. This was a huge blow to the Trailblazers' frontcourt because they had already lost Oden for the season a few weeks before. Pryzbilla was also the team's defensive anchor who provided an inside presence. "The Vanilla Gorilla" was sorely missed for the rest of the year. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropepd) Prev Next LaMichael James Oct. 2011 — Dislocated right elbow The 2011 season couldn't have started any better for LaMichael James. After the first game James became Oregon's career rushing leader, surpassing Derek Loville. During the second game he rushed for over 200 yards against Missouri State. Unfortunately, James' year was slowed by a dislocated elbow suffered against Cal. Luckily for Duck fans he was able to return to end the season. Photo via Facebook (image cropped) Prev Next Nate Costa Nov. 2010 —Torn Right ACL After suffering a multitude of knee injuries throughout his career at Oregon Costa was forced to officially retire from football after tearing his ACL for the third time in agame against Washington. Although Costa's career was hobbled by injuries many of his teammates looked to him as their leader. Oregon's coaching staff referred to Costa as the "heart and soul" of the 2010 team that won the Rose Bowl. Photo via Addictedtoquack (image cropped) Prev Next Sean Mannion Oct. 2012 — Torn Left Meniscus During the beginning of the 2012-2013 season, Sean Mannion was enjoying one of his best as a Beaver. Unfortunately, he tore his left meniscus against Washington State that resulted in him missing around half the season. With Mannion leading the way the Beavers had the Pac-12's fourth rated offense, averaging 459.5 yeards per game. With Mannion sidelined Cody Vaz became the starting quarterback Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Marcus Mariota Oct. 2013 — Partial MCL Tear Marcus Mariota is widely regarded as one of the greatest Oregon Duck quarterbacks to ever play at Autzen. Unfortunately a knee injury hobbled his sophomore season. After Mariota suffered a partial MCL tear against UCLA he conintued to play the remainder of the season. With Mariota's knee not allowing him to be as mobile as he was accustomed to teams were able to take advantage. In the weeks following the injury the Ducks suffered losses to Stanford and Arizona. Duck fans everywhere would like to know what that season woud've loked like if Mariota had stayed healthy. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next CJ McCollum Oct. 2013 — Broken fifth Metatarsal In Left Foot After being taken 10th overall during the 2013 NBA Draft the shooting guard out of Lehigh wasn't able to start his career the way many had hoped. After breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot the rookie wasn't able to take the court until January of 2014. Before the injury McCollum was in consideration for playing time behind Lillard. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Alex Morgan Oct. 2013 — Stress reaction in talus bone During the 2013 season Morgan suffered an injury that doctors misdiagnosed as a mildly sprained ankle. After a few additional tests were performed it turned out that Morgan had suffered a far more serious injury. She actually suffered a stress reaction in the talus bone that put her immediate future with Team USA in question. After rehabbing for 7 months Morgan was able to make a full recovery. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Bralon Addison April 2014 — Torn left ACL After exceeding expectations as a freshman and sophomore at the University of Oregon Addison was expecting big things from his junior year. Unfortunately, Addison suffered a torn ACL during last year's spring practice that kept him sidelined the entire year. Without Addison in the lineup the receiving core never lived up to their full potential. If he had been able to play this season the National Championship may have wielded a different outcome. Photo via Facebook (image cropped) Prev Next Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Dec. 2014 — Torn ACL In preparation for the first ever college football playoffs Ekpre-Olomu ended up tearing his ACL during a routine practice. This was a huge blow to the Ducks considering Ekpre-Olomu was one of the team's better defenders. He was also one of the best corners in the country who many analysists expected to be selected as high as the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev Next Wesley Matthews March 2015 — Torn left achilles Just 2 months before Matthews suffered a torn achilles he had become the Trailblazers' all-time leader in 3-point field goals made. It looked as though the Trailblazers were poised to make a deep playoff run. Things took a drastic turn when Matthews was lost for the season. With the team in a 0-2 hole against the Memphis Grizzlies it doesn't look as though they will be making it to the second round of the playoffs this year. Photo via Wikipedia (image cropped) Prev

Greg Oden

Greg Oden

Dennis Dixon

Dennis Dixon

Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy

Jacquizz Rodgers

Jacquizz Rodgers

James Rodgers

James Rodgers

Joel Pryzbilla

Joel Pryzbilla

LaMichael James

LaMichael James

Nate Costa

Nate Costa

Sean Mannion

Sean Mannion

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota

CJ McCollum

CJ McCollum

Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan

Bralon Addison

Bralon Addison

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

Wesley Matthews Next

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