This is GameDay’s quick Q&A with a person who works behind the scenes of Oregon football, either on or connected with the team. Larry Barker is in his second year working security at Oregon football practices after a nearly three-decade career in criminal justice in Eugene.
Oregon Daily Emerald: What’s it like keeping order out here?
Larry Barker: As the season started with the rankings, it seems like the number of people show up corresponding with the rankings in the papers. You’ve got people coming out from every different direction. You see people that are very knowledgeable about stuff, and you have people who have no clue who are absolutely clueless. Part of my job is you have people out here with bikes and dogs, and think this is a golf course maybe. It’s like herding bumblebees.
ODE: What did you do before this?
LB: I was in criminal justice, probation and parole in Eugene. Do you remember a movie called “Animal House”? When I got out of college I got a job working at the animal house. It was a halfway house for state prisoners coming down getting into the community, so the outside of animal house was where I worked.
ODE: How did you get this job?
LB: My daughter, she and Keri Bellotti (Mike Bellotti’s daughter) played on the same basketball team at Sheldon High School so I’ve known the Bellottis for many, many years, and my older daughter coached (offensive line coach Steve) Greatwood’s two daughters at the high school level, so I’ve known those guys and they knew I was coming up on a retirement situation.
ODE: You said you’ve been on quite a few road trips?
LB: My first road trips were in the late ’70s when Reggie Ogburn was the quarterback. I’ve gone all over the United States. I don’t get to fly with the team, I drive.
ODE: What’s the farthest trip?
LB: Starkville, Miss., to see the yellow highlighter uniforms unveiled there. But I’ve been to Lincoln, Neb., Michigan, Nevada, all these places. I’ve been to every single Pac-10 stadium, including the new Stanford stadium. And guess what stadium’s the best? Autzen.
ODE: If they win a Pac-10 title, do you get a ring?
LB: Oh shoot, that’s a good question! I don’t know the answer to that; I haven’t thought about that. I’ll find out. I would suspect not. I wouldn’t expect anything. I’m privileged to be out here doing this stuff. That’s what it’s all about.
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