Despite all of Oregon's recent success, I still get the occasional "we used to whip up on Oregon every year." It's no secret that prior to 1994, the only thing Oregon was known for was their track program, and some movie called "Animal House."
1994 was a significant year in Oregon football. It was the year they decided to take this football thing serious, and turn the program into a national powerhouse.
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| Oregon in the 1994 Rose Bowl |
Replacing him was offensive coordinator Mike Bellotti, who had the vision of building upon the success Brooks started.
The 1995 season brought Oregon's second straight 9-win season and New Year's Day bowl game. This time it was the Cotton Bowl, and another loss, but the program was still gaining attention. In particular, from a very important graduate.
Nike founder Phil Knight wanted to help Oregon sustain their success and continue to build upon it.
His vision was to make Oregon into a national powerhouse as well.
The result has been one of the greatest rises in college sports history.
The 2000 season brought Oregon their first 10-win season in program history following a 35-30 win over Texas in the Holiday bowl.
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| Oregon vs. Texas from the 2000 Holiday Bowl |
By now Oregon was recognized as a legitimate player on the West coast. Elite players were slowly starting to trickle in to Eugene.
Meanwhile, Phil Knight was at work behind the scenes donating money to the program to improve the facilities, and also by working with players, allowing them to be part of the uniform design.
Nike's partnership with Oregon appealed to elite recruits like former five star recruit (WR) Cameron Colvin, who chose Oregon over programs like Michigan and USC.
"Nike is the elite in sports apparel and having the ability to work with them and give feedback, while also helping with uniform design is a big deal to a teenage kid," Colvin said.
2005 brought another 10-win season and more uniform changes. On Nov.19, Oregon played Oregon state in their rivalry known as the civil war, and the Ducks debuted some uniforms that had never been seen before.
Shocking and cutting edge to some, disgusting to others, it got people talking about Oregon football.
The players seemed to like them...they went on to crush the beavers in that game, 56-14.
In 2007 Oregon introduced Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, who instilled a flashy new spread offense to match the uniforms.
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| Oregon QB Dennis Dixon scoring on a fake statue and liberty play vs. Mich |
Oregon climbed as high as #2 in both polls and were in the drivers seat to play for a national championship, until QB Dennis Dixon tore his ACL and was lost for the season.
The season could have been so much more for Oregon, but they finished with a 9-4 record and a Sun bowl victory over South Florida, 56-21.
2008 was another 10-win season for Oregon, and was also Mike Bellotti's last as head coach. In 15 years Bellotti went 171-55. Replacing him was offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
All Kelly did was take Oregon to even greater heights.
In 2009, Kelly led the Ducks to a 10-3 record and a birth in the Rose bowl against Ohio State. Even though Oregon lost (26-17), recruits were taking notice across the nation about this Oregon offense, and wanting to play in it.
2010 was a year of many firsts for Oregon: their first 12-win season, first time to ever start a season 12-0, first time being ranked #1 in the nation, and first ever appearance in a national championship game.
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| If it wasn't for the refs blowing this call (his wrist was down) Oregon may have a national championship by now |
A heartbreaking 22-19 loss to Auburn it was, but Oregon was still riding high. They had become the "it program" with the "it coach."
The following year was another 12-win season and another trip to the Rose bowl. This time Oregon won, defeating Wisconsin 45-38. In 2012 Oregon earned their third straight 12-win season and a Fiesta bowl victory over Kansas State.
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| Kenjon Barner (24) and Oregon ran away from Kansas State in the Fiesta bowl |
Now Mark Helfrich takes over as head coach, who previously served as Oregon's offensive coordinator (see a pattern going on here?) If history is any indication, Helfrich is gonna continue to sustain the success left by his predecessors.
Since 1994 Oregon has risen to the top of the college football world. What was once viewed at as a team that everybody whoops up on, became the bully's on the block.
This has been made possible thanks to coaches dedicated to building on the success, and one very rich alum, with the vision of making Oregon into a football power.
The talent is there, Nike, the facilities, and the commitment. In other words, don't expect Oregon to fall off anytime soon.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS:
- 1994 - Oregon goes 9-4 and plays in their first Rose bowl since 1958
- 1995 - Oregon goes 9-3 and was the year Nike founder Phil Knight got involved
- 2000 - Oregon's first 10-win season
- 2001 - Oregon wins 11 games and finishes #2 in the nation after crushing Colorado in the Fiesta bowl
- 2003 - Oregon gets a marquee win at Autzen over Michigan
- 2005 - Oregon gets another 10-win season and debuts a cutting edge new uniform that gets the people talking
- 2007 - Oregon clobbers Michigan 39-7 and spent the majority of the season in contention for the national championship. At this point Oregon became a national player.
- 2008 - Oregon gets a 10-win season and Mike Bellotti steps down as head coach
- 2009 - In Chip Kelly's first year as head coach, he leads Oregon to a 10-3 record and appearance in the Rose bowl
- 2010 - Oregon starts the season 12-0 and plays Auburn for the national championship
- 2011 - Oregon wins 12 games again and defeats Wisconsin in the Rose bowl 45-38
- 2012 - Oregon's third straight 12 win season is capped with a 35-17 win over Kansas State in the Fiesta bowl
