On the field, there will be the Oregon cheerleaders. In the stands, there will be the sounds of the Oregon Marching Band firing up the Duck faithful. And just about everywhere in between, there will be the Duck mascot.
But the setting will be Hillsboro Stadium near Portland, as opposed to Autzen Stadium, which is undergoing an expansion and renovation.
That’s just fine with the Oregon football team, as the Ducks conclude their spring season at 1 p.m. Saturday with the annual Spring Game, in which the team splits into two, playing green against white.
“It’s a change leaving Eugene and going to play somewhere else, so that’ll be fun and exciting,” wide receiver Jason Willis said. “I think just by us traveling somewhere as a team for the first time, it will get everybody fired up to play in a game-like atmosphere with the crowd and everything else.”
The Ducks began spring workouts April 2, practicing three times a week as well as participating in three scrimmages. All the work culminates with Saturday’s game, which is Oregon’s final time in pads until fall workouts begin in mid-August.
Much is expected of Oregon after its 10-2 season and the return of eight offensive starters, including first-team Playboy all-American quarterback Joey Harrington and tailback Maurice Morris. Not to mention the addition of sophomore transfer tailback Onterrio Smith from Tennessee.
But as Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti is well aware, the Ducks must retool their defense and special teams, and those will be the areas that he will key in on during Saturday’s game.
“We have a lot of holes to fill, and the defense and the special teams are a question mark,” Bellotti said. “But we’ll rebound.”
The Ducks completed practice Thursday after a productive week in which Bellotti said the team went through “things not for public inspection.”
Oregon begins its season Sept. 1 at home against Wisconsin, but there are still many positions, mostly reserve spots, that will not be decided until then.
“The spring time is when everybody comes out and competes for positions, so you’re going to see a lot of competitive fire out there in that game,” Smith said. “And there’s a lot of good things going on that the fans should be excited about.”
One person certainly excited about the Ducks is Hillsboro mayor Tom Hughes. Saturday will be the first time in three years that the Spring Game has not been played at Autzen, but the city of Hillsboro is excited about creating a mini-Autzen-like atmosphere.
“We are happy to welcome Coach Bellotti and the rest of the Ducks’ team to Hillsboro Stadium,” Hughes said. “It makes me proud as a life-long Duck fan to know the road to the National Championship is going to begin in Hillsboro.”
Note: Hillsboro Stadium is located southwest of Portland off Highway 26 about 15 miles west of Interstate 5. Tickets for Saturday’s game cost $7 and the gates open at 11 a.m.