When Gene Callan and other parents of Oregon women’s soccer players saw the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana-based universities such as Tulane, he couldn’t help but want to lend a hand in providing aid to those affected.
Rather than make donations, Callan and fellow parents have created their own relief effort, working in conjunction with their daughters on the soccer team in doing what he has termed “adopting” the Tulane soccer team.
Elected by fellow parents as the mediator between the two soccer teams, Callan is spearheading the relief effort, which will provide the Green Wave players with direct aid via personal contact.
“Oregon has a strong group of parents, and we know it’s hard to have a connection to what Tulane is going through,” Callan said. “We want to help in whatever way we can, but more importantly we want to make sure our donations are going straight to the team and that we’re giving them what they need.”
Oregon head coach Tara Erickson and the Ducks raised funds for Tulane last weekend at both their soccer game against South Dakota State at Pape Field and at the team’s official tailgate during Oregon’s football game against Southern California. Oregon fans backed Tulane by sporting the colors of the Green Wave, green and blue, and the Ducks donned their green warm-ups in support. Parents of the players, nicknamed the “Quacks,” handed out 1,500 green awareness ribbons to donators whose funds will be used to buy new supplies for Tulane. Callan helped organize the fund raiser, which brought in $1200.59. Oregon is also donating some of its old equipment.
“Equipment is what they need, and we are more than happy to donate,” Callan’s daughter Taylor said. “Anytime you can do something for another team that is going through what (Tulane is), you can’t help but feel proud of your program.” Gene Callan and Erickson feel that keeping in touch with the Tulane squad is imperative and have asked players such as Taylor to be pen pals with Tulane’s players over the Internet. Each Oregon player has been matched with a Green Wave player to write e-mails, offering solace throughout the season.
“Pen-palling with Tulane is going to help us make a strong connection with their players and staff,” Callan said.
Oregon players such as senior defender Katie Abrahamson have also expressed enthusiasm about e-mailing the relocated Green Wave.
“It is a great idea, and I hope it lifts Tulane’s spirits,” Abrahamson said. “We feel for them right now and hope we get a chance to play them sometime.”
Rumors are forming that Tulane and Oregon will pencil each other into their schedules for the next couple of the years. It will give the two teams a chance to place faces with the names they have been writing to.
Oregon’s branching support has touched Tulane head coach Betsy Anderson, whose team started its second search for a temporary home after Hurricane Rita touched down in Texas. The Green Wave moved to College Station, Texas, in the wake of Katrina to practice and attend fall classes at Texas A&M but has since departed to escape Rita. It is unknown whether Anderson and the Green Wave will return to College Station, where the team is currently scheduled to play home games, but Anderson is thankful for Oregon’s contributions to her team.
“We’re really appreciative of the support and generosity the Oregon women’s soccer team has shown,” Anderson said. “It is nice to know that programs throughout the nation are thinking of us during the situation.”
Earlier in the week, Erickson touched on the benefits of helping a team like Tulane and how the Eugene public has responded to Oregon’s relief effort.
“We are very happy with the turnout we had over the weekend,” Erickson said. “We have received numerous e-mails and letters from people around here who are proud of what we are doing, and we feel like we are making a difference. It’s nice helping a team like Tulane, which isn’t located in Oregon. They are way down in the south, and we may never get a chance to see them. We are glad to help in any way we can.”
Tulane will return to action Sept. 30 on the road in Tennessee to play its Conference USA opener against Memphis. Meanwhile, Oregon is preparing for the Brown and Gold Tournament in Laramie, Wyo. The Ducks play Nevada in the first round Friday and host Wyoming on Sunday.

[email protected]