Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks Release New ShoeDuck Uniform, Emotional Tribute Honoring Phil Knight, Nike

Celebrating the years of collaboration and innovation, the Oregon Ducks will play their rivalry series against the Oregon State Beavers in a new gold and black uniform inspired by Nike CEO and Oregon booster Phil Knight.
Ally Osborne|
The Oregon Ducks honor Phil Knight and sportswear company Nike with custom black and gold uniforms for their rivalry series.
The Oregon Ducks honor Phil Knight and sportswear company Nike with custom black and gold uniforms for their rivalry series. | @oregonfootball on "X" (formerly Twitter)

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Born from a legacy of innovation, creativity, and collaboration: the Oregon Ducks honor American billionare businessman, and philanthropist who has donated millions to his alma mater, Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with a special black and gold "Shoe Duck" uniform design for their rivalry series against the Oregon State Beavers.

Posted to the teams' social media pages Sunday morning, senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher wears the black based uniform, as he poses in front of the fireplace at Jaqua Ranch, the site where former Oregon Duck track coach Bill Bowerman made a handshake deal with Knight, who was then one of his student athletes, to be the first ever investor in Nike.

Knight's autobiography, "Shoe Dog" sits on the table during the video announcing the uniform (likely why the uniform is called the "Shoe Duck") while Boettcher talks about the uniform with Van Horne Designs' Todd Vann Horne, part one of the two part team behind the uniforms' creation. Van Horne was a designer at Nike for over 30 years with a unique connection to the brand.

Bryce Boettcher poses in the "ShoeDuck" uniform in front of the Jaqua Ranch fireplace.
Bryce Boettcher poses in the "ShoeDuck" uniform in front of the Jaqua Ranch fireplace. | @oregonfootball

What Boettcher said About Knight's Impact on Oregon

"My family, and hundreds and thousands of fans, have been impacted by what he's done in Oregon. So it's a thank you from the entire city of Eugene, and the entire state of Oregon," Boettcher said when discussing the uniform and Knight's impact.

The Details and Designs of "Shoe Duck"

The special uniform has several callings to the relationship of Knight, Nike, and Oregon. Speaking of the handshake deal, a patch with both Knight and Bowerman's hands and signatures adorn the left shoulder. Nike's original company name and logo sit in grey behind the handshake: Blue Ribbon Sports.

"I describe it as the handshake heard round the world," said Van Horne.

A patch of Mt. Hood and Mt. Fuji sits on the right shoulder, commemorating Knight's inspiration from Japanese culture and the first Nike shoes being manufactured in Japan.

Between the mountains is the phrase "Men Agitat Molem" which translates to "Mind Moves Mountains." Duck wings sit behind Mt. Hood, while tiger stripes sit behind Mt. Fuji.

Oregon Football's Shoe Duck uniform honoring Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman.
Oregon Football's Shoe Duck uniform honoring Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. | @oregonfootbal

On the white marble motif helmet, sits two different wings on either side. Both an antiqued gold, they represent the past (and the Greek goddess of victory, Nike) and present of Nike's wing designs. The marble and gold also makes its way into the numbers on each jersey.

A gold bar sits on the back of the helmet, representing Bowerman's service in World War Two.

The gloves sports the original patent number for Nike's first shoe design, featuring the waffle tread soles that put the brand on the map as the ideal shoe for track and field athletes.

The former Nike logo also finds itself throughout the design.

Showing the Shoe Dog the "Shoe Duck"

In the video announcing the uniform, Boettcher, Van Horne, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning present the uniform to Knight at Hayward Field in June.

"Phil, I don't think we can ever put into words how much you, and our relationship you had a long time ago with your coach, have done for sport and done for football," Lanning said.

"Dan Lanning is serious, boy," Knight replied with a chuckle.

Lanning went on to explain that the football program sought to commemorate Bowerman and Knight's bond.

"The best way we felt to do that is to bring that coach player relationship right here today," Lanning said as he motioned to Boettcher.

"Really what this jersey represents is a thank you from all of us on the team. And you know, honestly, the state of Oregon," Boettcher said as he showed Knight the uniform. Boettcher shared it was his idea as a member of the uniform committee to have the uniform debut against Oregon's in-state rivals.

"Thank you," Knight said to Boettcher. "You've done pretty well for a baseball player."

Oregon's 2025 Color Schedule:

Sept. 20 vs. Oregon State - Wear Black

Sept. 27 at Penn State - Wear Green

Oct. 11 vs. Indiana - Wear Yellow

Oct. 18 at Rutgers - Wear Green

Oct. 25 vs. Wisconsin - Wear Tie-Dye or Green

Nov. 8 at Iowa - Wear Green

Nov. 14 vs. Minnesota - Wear Green

Nov. 22 vs. USC - Wear Black 

Nov. 29 at Washington - Wear Green

Interestingly enough, this is the first time in over ten years the Oregon Ducks have not had a white-themed game, and the first time the Ducks host a game not based on their traditional colors (green, white, black, yellow) like the tie dye game since a 2019 "pink out" in honor of breast cancer survivors.

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The Knights Give Landmark Gift to Oregon Hospital

In August, Phil and Penny Knight donated $2 billion to the Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute, the largest single donation to a university in U.S. history. The donation was announced in part through a video featuring Oregon coach Dan Lanning.

"Cancer is the biggest fight in the history of the world. We will win. It will be hard. We're built for it. We care," Lanning said in part during the promotional video.

The video ends with the saying "Give Cancer Hell" a hallmark of Knight's mission for the institute.

"What an unbelievable gift! More evidence of how Phil and Penny are complete GAMECHANGERS!" Lanning said in a post on "X" (formerly Twitter) about the donation.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix greets Phil Knight after defeating the Liberty Flames to win the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm St
Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix greets Phil Knight after defeating the Liberty Flames to win the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 1, 2024. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon's Rivals Respect the Uniform Game

Breaking headlines this week, USC Trojan safety Bishop Fitzgerald gave the Ducks props as one of the teams he's excited to play this season, specifically mentioning Oregon's uniform game.

"Playing at Oregon. Every kid dreams of Oregon, their jerseys, the stadium, all of that," Fitzgerald said.

Phil Knight looks around the newly expanded Autzen Stadium during a visit to the last scrimmage before the 2002 season.
Phil Knight looks around the newly expanded Autzen Stadium during a visit to the last scrimmage before the 2002 season. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Big Ten Conference teams agree, Oregon's uniforms are No. 1

At the Big Ten media days in Las Vegas, @strictlyfootball on TikTok interviewed several athletes from around the conference about their favorite uniforms, and one team stood out from the rest: Oregon.

"You've got to go with Oregon. You've got to go with Oregon," said Wisconsin cornerback Ricardo Hallman.

"I think just because, coming up as a kid you always saw Oregon. Know what I'm saying? The whole colorway. So I'll go with Oregon," said Maryland offensive lineman Isaiah Wright.

"All the jerseys in the Big Ten are great but imma have to go with Oregon," said Rutgers linebacker Dariel Djabome.

Looking Ahead to the Rivalry

The Ducks kicks off against the Beavers at 12p.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Autzen Stadium.

Published | Modified
Ally Osborne
ALLY OSBORNE

A reporter for Oregon Ducks on SI, Ally Osborne is a born and raised Oregonian. She graduated from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications in 2021 after interning for the Oregon Sports Network with experience working on live sporting broadcasts for ESPN, FOX Sports, the PAC 12 Network, and Runnerspace. Osborne continued her career in Bend, Oregon as a broadcast reporter in 2021 for Central Oregon Daily News while writing for Oregon Ducks on SI. Since then, Osborne is entering her third season reporting for the publication and is frequently the on-site reporter for home games at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. She is currently the host of lifestyle shows "Everyday Northwest" and "Tower Talk Live" for KOIN 6 News in Portland, Oregon. Osborne also works as a sports reporter for KOIN 6's "Game On" sports department. In her free time, Osborne is an avid graphic designer, making art commissions for athletes across her home state. Osborne's designs have even become tattoos for a few Duck athletes.

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