University of Oregon
athletic history

By Eric Anderson

The University of Oregon has been involved in athletic competition for over 100 years. A major theme over time has been growth in the number of opportunities for all social groups. Here is a short history of some of the events that have taken place.

Before 1900

In the early 1880s, University of Oregon athletics begin with a baseball game against Monmouth College. The Ducks lost, giving up 17 runs in the first inning.

Athletics was available for women, but competing was frowned upon. Women's athletics was run by clubs rather than the university.

The old athletic field was constructed west of Deady and Villard Halls. It included a track and all-purpose field and was where football games were held.

The first football game took place in 1884. Sources disagree on the exact score, but Oregon beat Albany College by a large margin.

1900-1919

The track at Hayward Field

Track was one of the university's top sports under legendary coach Bill Hayward. The team won nine conference crowns in 11 years. Perhaps the top athlete during this period was Dan Kelley, who became the university's first world-record holder in 1906. He set records in both the 100-yard dash and the 220-yard dash.

The Women's Athletic Association was formed in 1913. It included canoeing, tennis, golf, baseball, archery and walking. Track and field, basketball and field hockey were added later.

1920-1939

Robert Robinson and Charles Williams, the first documented two black athletes in UO history, play for the football team, beginning in 1928. Afterward the number of black athletes slowly rises, until it explodes in the second half of the century.

The tennis team tied the University of Texas 3-3 for the national title in 1929.

Oregon wins its only NCAA men's basketball title in 1939. Urgel Wintermute was named a first-team All-American and Robert Anet was named to the second team. John Dick achieved first-team honors a year later.

1940-1959

Most of the university's athletic competition is halted during World War II.

After World War II, the football team is successful, including a Pacific Coast Conference title. Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin achieves All-American honors in 1948.

1960-1979

The women's athletic program begins to approach its present form. Varsity athletics and competition are established fully in this time, replacing the club system. Congress passed Title IX in the early 1970s, a law which mandated that women receive the same athletic opportunities as men.

Autzen Stadium opened in 1967 at a cost of $2.5 million.

Prefontaine dies in a car wreck in 1975.

The Duck track team achieves national prominence, especially during the 1970s. Steve Prefontaine, perhaps the school's best known athlete, raced during this time for the team. Pre set several American long-distance records during his career and never lost a race over a mile in length in an Oregon uniform.

1980-Present

The track team continues its success into the early 1980s, but has been less successful of late

After struggling in the 1980s, the football team became a regional power in the early '90s, and recently has become a national power. The Ducks have won or shared two Pac-10 titles in this time, including one this year.

Autzen Stadium is currently being expanded from 41,700 seats to 53,800 seats at a projected cost of $80 million.

Go up