Oregon will wear a special Nike jersey for its Sept. 9 home game against Nebraska that was "designed and inspired by pediatric cancer patients at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland," according to Ryan Thorburn of the Eugene REGISTER-GUARD. Three young cancer patients "collaborated with designers from Nike" on the uniform, which is "primarily white, with color fades and camouflage patterns." It will feature a "yellow cancer ribbon in place of the second O in 'Oregon,' and a logo featuring the Duck stomping out cancer" (
Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 8/25). USA TODAY's Kevin Spain noted the gloves "will have the word overcome on the knuckles," as will the "back of the helmets" (
USATODAY.com, 8/24).
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL? ESPN.com's Jake Trotter wrote under the header, "Can Oregon Be Cool Again?" UO at one point was the "coolest brand in college football" with the backing of Nike and Phil Knight, and the "Oregon cool caught the eyes of blue-chip recruits." UO's initial idea after meeting with Nike in '96 was to "change the uniforms every three years." However, one player suggested that Nike and UO introduce "new looks for every Saturday night." Fresno State AD Jim Bartko, a former UO Assistant AD, said, "That's what we sold to recruits. Come to Oregon, and you're going to play fast, and you're going to win, and you're going to have some of the greatest minds at Nike help design the look that you want." Nike Football Creative Dir Todd Van Horne said that more than 90% of his clients "invoke Oregon while discussing uniforms or branding," including NFL and national teams. Trotter noted while UO "became the beacon of hope for nontraditional powers everywhere" after playing in two national championship games in the past decade also "provided the blueprint." Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said, "We had discussions and said, 'OK, can we be the Oregon of the Midwest?'" OSU, with the support of donor Boone Pickens, built a new stadium and "began changing their uniforms weekly." Bartko noted that while "becoming cool is the easy part," staying that way "is far more difficult" (
ESPN.com, 8/24).
