The University of Oregon’s eighth appearance in the Rose Bowl is one for the history books. The student-athletes earned a nail-biting victory over the University of Wisconsin Badgers. The UO was also represented by more than the football team. A flock of fans, alumni, students, faculty, fundraisers, and admissions experts took part in a host of Rose Bowl activities that shined a spotlight on UO academics and what it means to be a Duck.
The UO’s rich history with the granddaddy of them all and strong connection to Southern California made the Rose Bowl a special opportunity to connect with alumni and students alike at admissions events, service projects and pregame celebrations.
The UO is a top out-of-state choice for California students, and more than 10 percent of the student body hails from the southern half of the state. The region is also home to more than 10,000 alumni, making it the largest network outside of Oregon.
And, while the Ducks and Badgers competed on the field, the two universities have more in common than just success on the gridiron. Both schools are the public flagship universities of their respective states and world-class research universities.
UO and UW faculty collaborate on life-changing science, support programs to boost students in STEM fields, and will team up to serve the community while in Pasadena.
The University of Oregon’s trip to Rose Bowl was something special. You can relive all the moments right here.
Did You Know?
Wisconsin might be the largest producer of cheese in the United States, but Oregon is home to the World's Best Cheese. Rogue Creamery's Rogue River Blue cheese was just named the best in the world at the 2019 World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy.
Excellence in Research
The University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin have more in common than just success on the gridiron. A pair of recent research collaborations highlight the scholarship of faculty members from both institutions – with a nautical twist.
Ducks in Hollywood
The silver screen and your TV screen alike are filled with Ducks, from Sam Elliott, former UO hurdler and star of The Ranch and A Star is Born, to Daniel Wu, BARC ’97 (architecture), star of Into the Badlands, Warcraft, and Tomb Raider.
Some of the Ducks who are making waves in Hollywood
Back in 1917, when the Ducks played in the third-ever Rose Bowl, things were a lot different. For starters, they weren’t the Ducks. And it wasn’t the Rose Bowl.
But thanks to the team that stunned Penn in 1917, the Webfoots’ performance finally brought national attention to the football played on the West Coast.
Historical photos courtesy of UO Libraries
Did You Know?
Prior to the composition of “Mighty Oregon” by Oregon Marching Band director Albert Perfect and journalism student DeWitt Gilbert in 1916, the Oregon Marching Band had “borrowed” “On Wisconsin” as UO’s fight song. And without “Mighty Oregon,” how would we have ever learned to Throw the O?
We Still Love Our Ducks
Ten years ago this fall, the Ducks were poised to take on Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, behind first-year coach Chip Kelly, Jeremiah Masoli, LaMichael James, and LeGarrette Blount.
Back when student-produced viral videos could still surprise, then UO seniors Michael Bishop BA ’10 (magazine); Jamie Slade, BA ’10 (advertising); and Brian McAndrew, BS’10 (electronic media production), collectively known as Supwitchugirl, professed their love for Oregon football in a music video—“I Love My Ducks (I Smell Roses).”
The trio initially took heat from the university for unauthorized use of The Duck mascot.
“We put it on YouTube just for fun,” McAndrew said. “Honestly, things didn’t take off until the university asked us to take it down.”
UO officials and the group quickly made nice, leading to a live performance at the Rose Bowl pep rally at Santa Monica Pier.
The next year, the group premiered “I Love My Ducks (Return of the Quack)” on The Dan Patrick Show. The sequel featured Duck legend Joey Harrington, and later that year the group performed live for an estimated crowd of 30,000 at a Phoenix-area pep rally before the national title game against Auburn.
Millions of YouTube views later, McAndrew oversees multimedia and video work for a health food company. Slade is a senior producer for a major advertising agency. And Bishop is a Portland-based freelance copywriter, who works for major brands.
Now, the Twittersphere is alive and well in 2019 with @supwitchugirl hinting at an unlikely come back, perhaps involving rapper Big Boi, who’s son Cross Patton is a freshman running back for the Ducks.
Stay tuned.