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Dan Lanning explains the importance of honoring Phil Knight with new uniforms

Danby: Daniel Hager10 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
Dan-Lanning-explains-the-importance-of-honoring-Phil-Knight-with-new-uniforms
© David Banks-Imagn Images

Heading into its Week Four showdown against in-state rival Oregon State, Oregon unveiled its ‘Shoe Duck’ uniforms in honor of Nike co-founder Phil Knight this week. Knight, who graduated from Oregon and went on to co-found the iconic brand with former Oregon track and field coach Bill Bowerman, has donated millions of dollars to the University over the past 40 years.

During a media opportunity on Monday, head coach Dan Lanning was asked about the importance of honoring PK and his impact on the University and the sports landscape as a whole.

“Phil has done so much for this program and it’s very rare to be able to say something in support of them,” Lanning said. “Recognizing that relationship of a player and a coach and what they created, and then the jerseys are super impressive. There’s a lot of meaning throughout that. Ultimately, I think if anybody would have asked Phil in advance he’d say ‘no thanks.’

“But when we were able to present that to him, I think it meant a lot to him because of what it stood for. It’s not just about Phil, it’s about that partnership between him and coach (Bowerman) and how that grew into an unbelievable brand and created a lot of success for a lot of people. Obviously Oregon, but also a lot of people across the world.”

Oregon, while well-known for its high-level of play on the gridiron, has also been labeled as “jersey university.” This is thanks in part to Knight’s legacy, and they are planning on honoring him this weekend.

No. 6 Oregon has opened season with three blowout wins

The Ducks are off to a 3-0 start and currently sit at No. 6 in the AP Top 25 Poll Rankings. They have absolutely dominated their first three opponents to open the 2025 season, outscoring Montana State, Oklahoma State and Northwestern 162-30. They will now be pitted against Oregon State, who is not quite off to a great start.

In their second season as a member of the two-team Pac-12, the Beavers have struggled mightily. They are 0-3 with losses to California, Fresno State and No. 21 Texas Tech.

The game against Oregon State will serve as a final tune-up for Oregon, as it travels to No. 2 Penn State for a monster matchup on Sept. 27. The game will boast massive College Football Playoff implications along with likely determining one of the two spots in the Big Ten Championship Game.