I love Oregon football and I’m not ashamed to admit it. With all due respect to volleyball, cross country and soccer, the football team will garner most of my attention this fall — and for good reason. Chip Kelly has established the program as a perennial contender in the Pac-12 and the Ducks play one of the most exciting brands of football in the country. Every time I step into Autzen Stadium, my heart beats a little bit faster and my pride in the University shines a little bit brighter. The bright lights of ESPN and other media outlets have only helped to intensify the large ego most Oregon fans have adopted over the past three seasons.
That being said, football isn’t everything. While the term “Track Town” may bring to mind one of the most delicious pizzas joints in Eugene (yes, I’m writing this column on an empty stomach) it also pays homage to Oregon’s history as a nationally esteemed track and field program. In total, the Ducks have captured 17 NCAA titles and continue to field top-notch teams in the fall (cross country), winter (indoor track and field) and the spring (outdoor track and field) every year.@@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Ducks_track_and_field@@
Last Sunday, I’m sure most of your Facebook news feeds were cluttered with complaints — or boasts — about Oregon football tickets. (Isn’t it interesting how the ticketing system is a travesty when you whiff on a ticket, but a godsend when three hours online proves a successful endeavor?) Yet with a perennial doormat like Washington State coming to town, let’s be real: That ticket is good for approximately two and a half quarters of quality football at the most.
In November, I’m incredibly excited for Oregon to renew its rivalry with Washington. I’m also more than ready to square off with Stanford in a game that’s sure to provide a barometer for the Ducks (and the rest of the conference) going forward. But in the meantime, perhaps all of us should turn our attention to some other squads representing the University at the highest levels of competition.
This weekend, the Oregon cross country team will travel to Litchfield Park, Ariz. to participate in the Pac-12 Championships. The men’s team is ranked No. 23 in the nation, while the women are No. 11. But those statistics don’t capture the true essence of Oregon’s runners. The Ducks lay claim to multiple contenders for the 2012 Olympics, headlined by Matthew Centrowitz for the men and Jordan Hasay for the women. Oregon also boasts several underclassmen with outrageous talent (highlighted by Lukas Verzbicas and Parker Stinson) who promise to achieve great feats in the coming years.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4337&SPID=238&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205323069&DB_OEM_ID=500@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205088969@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204971312@@
The meet won’t be broadcast on national TV and the highlights won’t be available on SportsCenter. But if you consider yourself a true fan of Oregon athletics (as I do), you will make the effort to track down the results and familiarize yourself with a few names, at the least.
I realize that honoring track athletes during halftime of a football game may seem a bit forced. But how stupid would you feel if a college classmate won a gold medal in London and you weren’t even aware of their existence? I’m not asking that the student body mob Hayward Field or pack the local golf course where most cross country meets take place. All I’m saying is that excellence deserves recognition.
The Ducks’ track program attracts some of the top talent in the country and continues to produce professionals that represent the United States on a global stage. Unless you want to be left behind, please attempt to peel your eyes from Oregon football’s flashy uniforms, at least every once in a while. If you don’t, you may miss the blur that is Oregon track and field.