Five Reasons To Attend the Oregon Spring Game

The Ducks take the field for the final time this Spring on Saturday. Spring ball for Oregon dates back to March with the Ducks taking time off in between for Spring break. Which also allowed for a few other signees to join the resumption of Spring ball in April.

This is the latest Spring game I can recall. It’s also one of the last Power 5 Spring games in the country this year.

But the gamble appears to be paying off for the Ducks. Although you’ll be competing with the NFL draft, to a degree, that doesn’t seem to be a major deterrent.

Here are the five reasons I suggest going to the Oregon Spring game this weekend if your schedule allows.

1. Family Fun, Value and a Good Cause —- I have kids just like many of you. And today’s world, well let’s just say it now, it’s expensive. Food, movies, gas, you name it, it adds up quick. But the Spring game, that’s fun you can afford. The best part is, the nominal cost it includes, is for a good cause. Bring in canned foods for a donation. It’s not required but encouraged. We all have a couple cans of cream-style corn your anxious to get rid of. Now’s your chance. Take them to the game, take the whole family and have yourself an absolute blast together. Going to a real game can be stressful. Missing big plays for bathroom breaks, long lines, crowds. The Spring game is perfect for taking kids and just enjoying the sound of a whistle and some cheers from fellow Duck fans.
2. The Weather — THE SUN IS COMING! I know, it feels like we’ve been living in Seattle for the last 6 months, but the SUN IS FINALLY COMING. My phone says 85 Friday and 80 Saturday. Which is nearly the ideal temperature to watch a game. Throw on the sunscreen if you need it, hydrate up and get out there for some good old fashioned vitamin D and inhale some pollen. But seriously, what a perfect day for some football.
3. Activities Galore — This new staff under Dan Lanning has done some great work making an event out of the day. And not just the Spring game alone. There will be inflatables and other fun games. There are roughly 8 food trucks expected in the PK Plaza area including donuts, elephant ears and shaved ice. Yum. A postgame ‘fan fest’ will take place in the HDC plaza with several food trucks moving there. And if that’s not your cup of tea, go watch the baseball team take on ASU at 3 PM in neighboring PK park.
4. Watch Your Ducks — It’s like Spring training for your favorite baseball team. It’s not a real game, but the players are there. And with the slew of new faces at Oregon, this is your first chance to get a glimpse of the future. Of course it’s dangerous to have too many big takeaways from the game, but it’s still fun to get a taste of this year’s squad. There’s never a bad day to watch the Ducks and best of all, see No. 1, it’s really cheap entertainment.
5. Check Out the Recruits — This is shaping up to be the biggest list of recruits I’ve ever seen at Oregon. At any time, for any event. It’s insane. If you haven’t taken a look, here are the top ten recruits expected to visit this weekend. And one of the absolute best things for the staff is filling the stadium and showing these recruits how special an afternoon in Autzen can be. Typically recruits enjoy some fan interaction but also be respectful if that’s something you chose to do.

Bonus Reason: Tailgaiting, Seeing Old Friends and the Military — I love me some pre-gaming. It might be my favorite past time. And Autzen is one of the best places to do so. Which leads to seeing your old ‘Duck Game’ friends. If you’re a regular you probably have some tailgate friends you only see on gamedays. Here is your ‘half-way’ break giving you a chance to see them. Lastly, there will be a ton of tributes to the military this Saturday. Including flyovers, jersey exchanges and much more. One of my favorite parts that has been incorporated in the Spring games is the respect given to our service men and women.