The Oregon Ducks have done it. Undefeated 12-0 games and heading the National Championship January 10th, 2010 in Arizona, The Oregon football athletic program is being recognized nationally as a football team and brand. The connection the university has with Nike is an old tale everyone knows, but the ability and success this team has shown in representing the school with swag and confidence is remarkable.
My cousin and uncle called me the night after the last season game, raving about the jerseys they were wearing and how it was proud to wear the dusty old ‘O’ shirt I bought him 4 Christmas’s ago. They were impressed and intrigued to look up more about the team, picking out their favorite players and ordering jerseys online.
Of course the team’s success in a season helps greatly with how people view a team, but the way they carry themselves, and how they represent the school connects emotionally with people, guaranteeing a long-lasting relationship of support, keeping the momentum of success alive for the future.
I’ll explain more…
How can you resist watching the no. 2 team in the country, heading to the Championship. The players have done their job to win games and make a name for themselves in polls and standings. These results come from stats but they also come from people. Coaches polls as well as a national opinion polls say straight forward about how people feel about a particular brand. Oregon has remained that the top of these polls for a reason. They are a strong brand that people want to connect with.
Trust is something that every Oregon student football fan can say they have in this football team. There was no room to lose so it didn’t happen. The confidence the team gave to their fans meant everything in the world to them, and we will forever support them in memory.
Chip Kelly played a huge role in staying true to what he and the team believed. He wasn’t ever fake and always said what was right and what was wrong. It didn’t matter when the wins started to pile up and national attention zooming in on the team and coaches grew, he never changed the way he spoke, or what he spoke of. His dedication was to his players was what is most important.
Um have you seen our uniforms? Enough said.
Go Ducks!
Jessica Jean Things 