Editor’s Note:
Andrew Bauhs of College Football Tour is a college football superfan. He is on a journey to attend a game at all 134 FBS stadiums. He desires to have an immersive experience so he can tell the stories of the traditions, rivalries, mascots, bands, and fans that make each venue unique.
During the 2024 football season, Andrew will share his adventures through descriptions of the gameday experience, complemented by photos and videos. The stadium reviews will provide insight into what makes gameday special at each location.
Earlier this season, he visited Oregon and Autzen Stadium, marking his 112th stadium on the quest for 134.
Herds of green and yellow clad fans cross the bridge over the Willamette River in Eugene and follow the winding path towards Autzen Stadium. Over the years, this journey has become a rite of passage for Oregon fans, and it’s a community-building aspect of gameday. Enthusiasm builds with each step towards Autzen as cheers of “Go Ducks!” are exchanged among the faithful.
The sound of “Mighty Oregon” brightens the atmosphere as the football team is welcomed by the spirit squad and a stretched out pathway of fans during the pregame teamwalk. Like most universities, this pregame tradition sparks thrills while enabling fans with an opportunity to connect with their beloved team.
The teamwalk is where sightings of The Duck are likely to be encountered. The Duck nickname naturally progressed out of the Webfooters. This moniker originated when Oregon was known as “The Webfoot State” in the early 20th century. The Duck’s likeness had contractual ties to Donald Duck from Disney up until 2010, when the University of Oregon and Disney parted ways. While there are still some resemblances to its history with Disney, The Duck is uniquely Oregon and one of college football’s most famous mascots. Fans especially await The Duck’s entrance to the stadium on a custom Harley along with its post touchdown pushups.
Autzen Stadium is deafening. While smaller in stature compared to its collegiate brethren, the home of The Ducks is an imbalanced, yet continuous bowl that brings fans close and encapsulates sound. Intimate in nature, its 54,000+ capacity is widely known as one of the loudest collective bunches in the sport. Autzen is a house of intimidation.
Most notably, the stadium reaches peak levels during the traditional singing of “Shout” between the third and fourth quarters. The Otis Day classic rocks the stands as fans collectively throw their arms into the air and wildly scream the lyrics. No group reveres this song like the folks in Eugene. It hits with both a calculated and untamed approach that cannot be matched.
Eugene, Oregon is a classic college town offering everything from bars and restaurants to scenery and outdoor activities. The tremendous fanbase adds color and excitement that powers the pageantry of gameday. Simply put, Oregon is a college football fan’s dream.
TCU Horned Frogs On SI (aka KillerFrogs) has featured several of Andrew’s adventures. View those stories here:
Follow my travels as I go coast-to-coast and places in between this season. You can follow me at:
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