How Oregon's Infamous Football Uniforms Went From Classic To Crazy
In the 1920s, Oregon players wore light-colored leather helmets, possibly white.
![How Oregon's Infamous Football Uniforms Went From Classic To Crazy](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-45864066%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1406903%2Fin-the-1920s-oregon-players-wore-light-colored-leather-helmets-possibly-white-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Nothing is more classic than the Oregon uniforms worn in the 1958 Rose Bowl, featuring yellow helmets with numbers on the side and white jerseys with shoulder stripes.
![Nothing is more classic than the Oregon uniforms worn in the 1958 Rose Bowl, featuring yellow helmets with numbers on the side and white jerseys with shoulder stripes.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864067,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1005573/nothing-is-more-classic-than-the-oregon-uniforms-worn-in-the-1958-rose-bowl-featuring-yellow-helmets-with-numbers-on-the-side-and-white-jerseys-with-shoulder-stripes-.jpg)
In the early 1970s, the Ducks (dark jerseys) were wearing a simple yellow helmet without logos or numbers.
![In the early 1970s, the Ducks (dark jerseys) were wearing a simple yellow helmet without logos or numbers.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864068,width-700,height-525,imgsize-87990/in-the-early-1970s-the-ducks-dark-jerseys-were-wearing-a-simple-yellow-helmet-without-logos-or-numbers-.jpg)
In the mid-1980s, Bill Musgrave, now the quarterbacks coach for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, modeled a gorgeous and classic football uniform with a "UO" on the side of the helmet and a standard jersey/pants combo.
![In the mid-1980s, Bill Musgrave, now the quarterbacks coach for the NFL](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864071,width-700,height-525,imgsize-637840/pants-combo-.jpg)
By the mid-1990s, the craziest things about the Oregon uniforms were Donald Duck on the sleeves (used with Disney's permission) ...
![By the mid-1990s, the craziest things about the Oregon uniforms were Donald Duck on the sleeves (used with Disney](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864074,width-700,height-525,imgsize-2813580/by-the-mid-1990s-the-craziest-things-about-the-oregon-uniforms-were-donald-duck-on-the-sleeves-used-with-disneys-permission-.jpg)
SOURCE: OregonLive.com
... and the merit decals on the helmets. It was after Oregon reached the Rose Bowl in 1995 that Nike CEO Phil Knight got involved.
![... and the merit decals on the helmets. It was after Oregon reached the Rose Bowl in 1995 that Nike CEO Phil Knight got involved.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864075,width-700,height-525,imgsize-843262/-and-the-merit-decals-on-the-helmets-it-was-after-oregon-reached-the-rose-bowl-in-1995-that-nike-ceo-phil-knight-got-involved-.jpg)
Knight, who ran track at Oregon, began donating money and was asked to come up with uniforms that would help Oregon recruit better athletes.
![Knight, who ran track at Oregon, began donating money and was asked to come up with uniforms that would help Oregon recruit better athletes.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864076,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1096481/knight-who-ran-track-at-oregon-began-donating-money-and-was-asked-to-come-up-with-uniforms-that-would-help-oregon-recruit-better-athletes-.jpg)
The first "space age" uniforms debuted in 1999 with bright yellow, black, and a gigantic "O" on the helmet.
![The first "space age" uniforms debuted in 1999 with bright yellow, black, and a gigantic "O" on the helmet.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864077,width-700,height-525,imgsize-158789/the-first-space-age-uniforms-debuted-in-1999-with-bright-yellow-black-and-a-gigantic-o-on-the-helmet-.jpg)
SOURCE: USAToday.com
Those uniforms remained relatively unchanged for several years.
![Those uniforms remained relatively unchanged for several years.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864078,width-700,height-525,imgsize-173048/those-uniforms-remained-relatively-unchanged-for-several-years-.jpg)
And the white version was actually pretty simple and boring by today's standards.
![And the white version was actually pretty simple and boring by today](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864079,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1270414/and-the-white-version-was-actually-pretty-simple-and-boring-by-todays-standards-.jpg)
Then, in the mid-2000s, things started to shake up. At first, the basic template stayed the same, but patterns and wordmarks were added to the shoulders, and the amount of neon yellow grew.
![Then, in the mid-2000s, things started to shake up. At first, the basic template stayed the same, but patterns and wordmarks were added to the shoulders, and the amount of neon yellow grew.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864080,width-700,height-525,imgsize-756542/then-in-the-mid-2000s-things-started-to-shake-up-at-first-the-basic-template-stayed-the-same-but-patterns-and-wordmarks-were-added-to-the-shoulders-and-the-amount-of-neon-yellow-grew-.jpg)
In 2006, some tire-tread patterns were added to the shoulders and pants. But again, the basic template still looked the same.
![In 2006, some tire-tread patterns were added to the shoulders and pants. But again, the basic template still looked the same.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864081,width-700,height-525,imgsize-535881/in-2006-some-tire-tread-patterns-were-added-to-the-shoulders-and-pants-but-again-the-basic-template-still-looked-the-same-.jpg)
But then they unveiled a mostly yellow uniform, and things began to change again.
![But then they unveiled a mostly yellow uniform, and things began to change again.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864082,width-700,height-525,imgsize-168790/but-then-they-unveiled-a-mostly-yellow-uniform-and-things-began-to-change-again-.jpg)
The uniforms really changed at the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl, when Oregon unveiled gold helmets with a faint flame patten (difficult to see in the photo below).
![The uniforms really changed at the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl, when Oregon unveiled gold helmets with a faint flame patten (difficult to see in the photo below).](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864083,width-700,height-525,imgsize-142331/the-uniforms-really-changed-at-the-2006-las-vegas-bowl-when-oregon-unveiled-gold-helmets-with-a-faint-flame-patten-difficult-to-see-in-the-photo-below-.jpg)
In 2009, wings were added to the jerseys, but more importantly, the school colors of green and yellow became optional.
![In 2009, wings were added to the jerseys, but more importantly, the school colors of green and yellow became optional.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864084,width-700,height-525,imgsize-307122/in-2009-wings-were-added-to-the-jerseys-but-more-importantly-the-school-colors-of-green-and-yellow-became-optional-.jpg)
In 2010, things started to get wacky as Oregon really got in touch with its inner gray.
![In 2010, things started to get wacky as Oregon really got in touch with its inner gray.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864085,width-700,height-525,imgsize-431118/in-2010-things-started-to-get-wacky-as-oregon-really-got-in-touch-with-its-inner-gray-.jpg)
And there were the mostly black uniforms.
![And there were the mostly black uniforms.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864086,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1360851/and-there-were-the-mostly-black-uniforms-.jpg)
And these uniforms, which were worn in the program's most recent BCS Championship game ...
![And these uniforms, which were worn in the program](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864088,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1898629/and-these-uniforms-which-were-worn-in-the-programs-most-recent-bcs-championship-game-.jpg)
... with these socks.
![... with these socks.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864090,width-700,height-525,imgsize-643182/-with-these-socks-.jpg)
And that was when it became "anything goes." Here is what Oregon wore to open the 2011 season.
![And that was when it became "anything goes." Here is what Oregon wore to open the 2011 season.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864091,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1089299/and-that-was-when-it-became-anything-goes-here-is-what-oregon-wore-to-open-the-2011-season-.jpg)
In the 2012 Rose Bowl, Oregon released the chrome helmet, which was very shiny.
![In the 2012 Rose Bowl, Oregon released the chrome helmet, which was very shiny.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864092,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1362757/in-the-2012-rose-bowl-oregon-released-the-chrome-helmet-which-was-very-shiny-.jpg)
At this point, it is hard to even keep track of all the uniforms as they change every week.
![At this point, it is hard to even keep track of all the uniforms as they change every week.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864093,width-700,height-525,imgsize-448293/at-this-point-it-is-hard-to-even-keep-track-of-all-the-uniforms-as-they-change-every-week-.jpg)
School colors? What school colors?
![School colors? What school colors?](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864094,width-700,height-525,imgsize-535106/school-colors-what-school-colors.jpg)
And even when Oregon wears colors, they are often just a loose interpretation. The wackier, the better. Just ask Marcus Mariota.
![And even when Oregon wears colors, they are often just a loose interpretation. The wackier, the better. Just ask Marcus Mariota.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864095,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1403661/and-even-when-oregon-wears-colors-they-are-often-just-a-loose-interpretation-the-wackier-the-better-just-ask-marcus-mariota-.jpg)
And when it comes to breast-cancer awareness, you know Oregon isn't just going to add a pink towel or some pink gloves.
![And when it comes to breast-cancer awareness, you know Oregon isn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864096,width-700,height-525,imgsize-54786/and-when-it-comes-to-breast-cancer-awareness-you-know-oregon-isnt-just-going-to-add-a-pink-towel-or-some-pink-gloves-.jpg)
In addition to Nike's uniform deal with the school, it is estimated that Knight has donated more than $300 million to the University of Oregon.
![In addition to Nike](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864097,width-700,height-525,imgsize-818000/in-addition-to-nikes-uniform-deal-with-the-school-it-is-estimated-that-knight-has-donated-more-than-300-million-to-the-university-of-oregon-.jpg)
Coach Mark Helfrich was recently asked where Knight would sit at games, responding "wherever he wants."
![Coach Mark Helfrich was recently asked where Knight would sit at games, responding "wherever he wants."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864098,width-700,height-525,imgsize-807070/coach-mark-helfrich-was-recently-asked-where-knight-would-sit-at-games-responding-wherever-he-wants-.jpg)
SOURCE: USAToday.com, The Dan Patrick Radio Show
In the recent college football playoff semifinal game, Oregon went all apple green for the first time.
![In the recent college football playoff semifinal game, Oregon went all apple green for the first time.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864099,width-700,height-525,imgsize-2501425/in-the-recent-college-football-playoff-semifinal-game-oregon-went-all-apple-green-for-the-first-time-.jpg)
In this year's championship game, Oregon will actually tone it down with this white-and-gray uniform. Of course, the school colors are nowhere to be found.
![In this year](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864113,width-700,height-525,imgsize-30028/in-this-years-championship-game-oregon-will-actually-tone-it-down-with-this-white-and-gray-uniform-of-course-the-school-colors-are-nowhere-to-be-found-.jpg)
Now check out the how wacky Michigan's new coach can be.
![Now check out the how wacky Michigan](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45864114,width-700,height-525,imgsize-204514/now-check-out-the-how-wacky-michigans-new-coach-can-be-.jpg)
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