EUGENE, Ore. — Three days and two university statements after his program’s name was muddied, Oregon coach Dana Altman stepped into the light.



Friday was Oregon’s media day in Eugene. And for much of the afternoon, Matthew Knight Arena was dark as the university’s video staff led players through various poses and moves seemingly for in-game promotions. In a sense, it felt like a typical early-season day for one of the Pac-12’s winningest programs this decade.



But when the lights popped back on, illuminating the arena, it became clear that this was no typical media day. Altman, Oregon’s ninth-year head coach, emerged from the tunnel and went on the offensive.



Not one to talk more than needed, Altman greeted the pack of gathered media, then said he wanted to make a statement, his first on the record since an attorney for a former Adidas executive claimed in U.S. District Court that Oregon had offered top...