Over the past few decades, the Oregon Ducks have broken out several “special edition” jerseys, often to honor someone or something, or in the case of the “Stomp Out Cancer” series, to support a notable cause. For the Week 4 game against the Oregon State Beavers, they will do so once again, but this time, the person they’re honoring is the man who made all of this possible in the first place.
Uncle Phil Knight, it’s time to give you and Penny your flowers.
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On Sunday morning, in a special release, the Ducks unveiled their new “Shoe Duck” uniforms, which are meant to honor Knight, an Oregon alum and the co-founder of Nike. Knight is among the most critical figures in Oregon Ducks history, having donated over a billion dollars to the university and propelling the football program into national contention with the help of his contributions.
With these uniforms, the Ducks are saying thank you.
The uniforms feature black jerseys with wings on the shoulders, but they’re much more than that. Patches on each shoulder honor Knight and his upbringing, symbolizing the partnership between him and Bill Bowerman that created Nike.
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The helmets are also special, fitted with what looks like a finish and gold-speckled wings on the sides. The Oregon ‘O’ on the back of the crown is gold as well. The pants and socks are black as well, and the cleats are gold.
Over the weekend, Oregon teased the new uniforms a couple of times, initially with a video of Dan Lanning reading an excerpt from Knight’s “Shoe Dog,” which described the meeting between Knight and Bill Bowerman at the Jacqua Ranch, back when the agreement to create Nike, or Blue Ribbon Sports, was made.
The back collar has a special message on the inside, reading “There is no finish line,” something that Knight has maintained as a mantra at Nike for decades. When it comes to special edition uniforms, these are as good as it gets. Here’s a closer look:
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Oregon Ducks ‘Shoe Dog’ Uniforms
The Oregon Ducks “Shoe Duck” uniforms to honor Nike co-founder Phil Knight.
The Oregon Ducks “Shoe Duck” uniforms to honor Nike co-founder Phil Knight.
The Oregon Ducks “Shoe Duck” uniforms to honor Nike co-founder Phil Knight.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks reveal Phil Knight-themed uniforms for Oregon State game
