Universities of Oregon
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University of Oregon Ducks
The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, it graduated its first class two years later. The University of Oregon now has over 20,000 enrolled students and is a world class teaching and research university.
University of Oregon's first nickname was "Webfoots," coined by longtime Oregonian sports editor L. H. Gregory. The name originated from a group of fishermen from the coast of Massachusetts whose descendants settled in Oregon's Willamette Valley. When the University of Oregon was founded in 1876, Webfoots was the natural choice for the school's nickname.
Sports reporters later shortened the nickname to "Ducks", and by the 1930s a small white duck named "Puddles" was brought to sports events. Beginning in 1940, cartoon drawings of Puddles in student publications began to resemble Donald Duck. Walt Disney questioned the resemblance in 1947. Capitalizing on his friendship with a Disney cartoonist, Oregon Athletic Director Leo Harris met Disney in Los Angeles and reached an informal handshake agreement that granted the University of Oregon permission to use Donald as its sports mascot. The only record of that agreement was a photo showing Harris, Disney, and two others crouched around a live white duck. Relying on the photo as evidence of Disney's wishes, the University in 1990 negotiated formal permission from Disney Enterprises to use the likeness of the Donald Duck character as a symbol for (and restricted to) Oregon sports.
Casanova Center
2727 Leo Harris Pkwy
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 346-4481
QUICK FACTS
Location: Eugene, OR 97401
Founded/Enrollment: 1876/20,394
Colors: Green & Yellow
President: Dave Frohnmayer
Faculty Rep: James O'Fallon
Athletic Director: Bill Moos
Associate Athletic Director (SWA): Renee Baumgartner
Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State University traces its roots back to 1856, when Corvallis Academy, the area's first community school for primary and preparatory education, was founded. In 1858 the school's name was changed to Corvallis College and it was formally incorporated. The school offered its first college-level curriculum in 1865, under the administration of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Since 1945, Benny Beaver has been OSU's official athletic mascot, appearing in logo form as a lovable, docile Beaver with an almost cartoon-like appearance. In 2001, the Office of University Advancement announced that the new, "angry" Beaver logo, which appeared as a part of an effort to give OSU football a new face lift and a more aggressive image, has now replaced the former Benny likeness and will be the mascot image used to represent OSU in all official athletic and academic activities.
105 Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, OR 97331-4105
(541) 737-2547
QUICK FACTS
Location: Corvallis, OR 97331
Founded/Enrollment: 1868/19,000
Colors: Orange & Black
President: Dr. Edward Ray
Faculty Rep: Dr. Kelvin Koong
Athletic Director: Bob De Carolis
Associate Athletic Director (SWA): Marianne Vydra
