Among the early morning shadows of an empty Autzen Stadium, there are Ducks that have worked all summer for their moment to shine this fall.
Oregon football players have been beating their feet up and down the bleachers at Autzen Stadium at 6:30 a.m. getting themselves prepared for a run at a Pacific-10 Conference title.
Their are no coaches to yell or fans to cheer. Just them.
Junior cornerback Justin Phinisee and sophomore running back Chris Vincent are two of the regulars in this player-organized workout routine.
“It shows a good element of our team that we can be pull guys together and be self-governed without the coaches setting something up,” Phinisee said.
Phinisee and Vincent said they believe the key to success at this
level and beyond is the extra work put in outside of eam practices.
“My body needs a lot of running and I just can’t do the stuff that coach puts out there for us and think that will be enough,” Phinisee said. “When I step out on the field I need to be a step above the rest.”
The players say that every year they try to do something that gets them prepared for the season. Last year they ran hills, particularly the one at 30th and Hilyard.
During workouts this year, they made their way to the swimming pool.
“We swam some laps and for everyone who doesn’t think that swimming is conditioning they need to come pool with us,” Phinisee said.
For some players, it was the first time using swimming as conditioning.
“We were pretty crazy out there and we had the lifeguards laughing at us but we had a good time,” Phinisee said.
Phinisee and Vincent said staying in good shape is key to keeping the team’s momentum rolling.
“The train is already moving as far as the team and we need to make sure we can hop on the train and not be behind the rest of the guys when
practices begin,” Phinisee said.
The two are eager to show what they have to the coaches, as both will fight for consistent playing time this coming season.
“Both of us are hungry and got a lot of playing time last year,” Phinisee said. “I don’t think either of us were satisfied with our individual performance because we know we can do a lot better.”
In addition to the early morning workouts, Vincent went back home to Philadelphia to work on his footwork with NBA players Aaron McKie and Malik Rose and with the St. Joseph University basketball team, including recent NBA first-round pick Jameer Nelson.
“We had a good time,” Vincent said. “We all wanted to improve and not just sit back. You would be surprised what some people do, they just chill all summer.”
Vincent’s work ethic developed after seeing high school teammate Larry Fitzgerald have a great football career at the University of Pittsburgh and sign a hefty contract in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.
“When I got into college I got comfortable because that’s what you wanted to do was play college football,” Vincent said. “Now that you’re in college you want to play in the NFL, but sometimes it takes awhile for it to dawn on you that your at this level. But when you’re a competitor, you start doing the extra stuff and working out to make it where you want to go.
“It’s really a sense of maturity waking up this early in the morning consistently. Some people just fall off the mat.”
Phinisee added, “We’ll get guys here for three days then they won’t show up again.”
“After four hard days of working out we’re thinking we got a winner and a week later they’re in bed sleeping.”
Phinisee and Vincent both dedicated themselves to achieving their goals and know that everybody doesn’t have the same kind of attitude.
“I called my friend this morning and he was tired and didn’t want to get up, but I know that won’t happen with Chris nor myself,” Phinisee said. “I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I know what needs to go down on the field next year so I’m going to bring my behind out here for these 6:30 workouts.”

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