Oregon Football
'95 was "The Original"... Inspired by a great season and the thrill that the
Cotton Bowl had selected the DUCKS over the UW Huskies as participants.
Back-2-Back! Rose Bowl then Cotton Bowl. (The 2000 version was "It's
Gotta Be The Shoes!" sang at the Wisconsin game...smile.
There was a minor Shoe controversy there that
ultimately ended up with the Badgers on a five year probation.)
I rounded up my brother and a couple friends
from the local Barbershop Society Chorus in Eugene (The Cascade
Chorus),wrote the words to the song, brought them over to rehearse at
my place one evening (Lead - Jerry Harrison, Tenor - Kevin Stephens,
Baritone - Randy Stewart, Bass - Reid Stewart)...and then POOF!. A
celebration was born.
Putting together the cover art for the cassette,
duplicating the multiple copies, and having
them distributed for sale at local retail stores in Eugene just added
to the fun....! It included a "Side B", "Is There Sometime We Can Get
Together?" (with Mel Knight singing Baritone), and was made available
through the courtesy of J.C. Penny, Meier & Frank, and KUGN Radio.
Go Ducks!
Okay...so the result in the Cotton Bowl was not the best. But it DID
provide inspiration for - perhaps - The U of O's most significant
donor, Phil Knight of Nike, to give the seed money for the
conference's FIRST indoor practice facility...and a launching pad
for what can be considered now one of the top athletic complexes in
the country!
PS...Thanks
for the support, Joe Giansante but I gotta say Russ Francis was right...I
made the mistake of slowing the tempo when I put the quartet together for this
initial version. (Although as the years pass and 1995 is further and further
in the rear view mirror, the sloooow version actually seems about right...) No
matter. It was fun regardless!
My second mistake was listening
to the NCAA and becoming overly cautious in
eliminating players' names to the song....At least
the tempo was brought back up to speed. That
original version's lyrics are posted here as
well.
PPS -- CLICK HERE for the
video of the rehearsal and a downloadable version of the intro and full song
for your phone [ if you feel the need...smile...]
The Schedule..
(9-3)
Date
Opponent
Location
Results
Sat, Sep 02
Utah
at Salt Lake City, Utah
27 - 20 (W)
Sat, Sep 09
Illinois
Eugene, Ore.
34 - 31 (W)
Sat, Sep 16
UCLA
at Los Angeles, Calif
38 - 31 (W)
Sat, Sep 23
Stanford
Eugene, Ore.
21 - 28 (L)
Sat, Oct 07
Pacific
Eugene, Ore.
45 - 7 (W)
Sat, Oct 14
California
at Berkeley, Calif.
52 - 30 (W)
Sat, Oct 21
Washington State
Eugene, Ore.
26 - 7 (W)
Sat, Oct 28
Arizona State
Eugene, Ore.
24 - 35 (L)
Sat, Nov 04
Washington
at Seattle, Wash.
24 - 22 (W)
Sat, Nov 11
Arizona
at Tucson, Ariz.
17 - 13 (W)
Sat, Nov 18
Oregon State
Eugene, Ore.
12 - 10 (W)
Rose Bowl
Mon, Jan 02
Penn
St
at Pasadena
38-20 (L)
The Lyrics......
The words that "made the cut"
The Original lyrics
Jerry Allen makes the call
Across the land on radio.
The game is heard for miles around
On weekends.
We hear the Ducks make many plays,
Exciting and much more.
Don't we all remember...
"You know who is gonna score!"
The Ducks flew into Utah - victory #1
Then a stop at Autzen - Illinois was done.
QB 2, the backup, remember USC.
Gang Green came through with
The winning TD!
The next team up - UCLA, they
Thought we couldn't beat 'em.
He tried to score - but ain't now way!
Gang Green was there to greet 'em.
The goal again a bowl game at the
End of the ride. Last year roses, this
Year cotton - side by side!
The Quarterback, he made the
Football dance and sing.
Ducks were breaking records -
Great
offensive scheme.
Number 6 and 14 on a touchdown spree;
Don't forget the O line got to eat for free!
The Wazzu game gave all a chance
To see Gang Green.
Yes, they scored
But no surprise we
know this team.
Still no respect from huskies - who Thought that
they would win.
Guess what there goes our track guy
Taking it all the way in!
Now Duck football's heard 'round the world
From
England to Japan.
We've gained respect -
And by the way that was the plan.
The story isn't over and you
Know what we mean....
It's just the beginning for
OREGON football
From way up North in lush and green Eugene;
WHAT A TEAM!
Jerry Allen makes the call
across the land on radio.
The game is heard for miles around
on weekends.
We hear the Ducks make many plays,
exciting and much more.
Don't we all remember...
"Kenny Wheaton's gonna score!"
The Ducks flew into Utah - victory #1
Then a stop at Autzen - Illinois was done.
Perry-Smith, the backup, like Graz at USC.
Jaiya came through with the winning TD!
The next team up - UCLA, Jabbar
was
there to meet 'em.
He tried to score - but ain't no way!
Gang Green was there to greet 'em.
The goal again a bowl game at the
End of the ride. Last year roses, this
Year cotton - side by side!
Grazziani made the football dance and sing.
Spence, Wilcox, and Rickets - great offensive scheme.
McLemore & Whittle on a touchdown spree;
Tasi, Reed, the O line got to eat for free!
The Wazzu game
gave all a chance
to see Gang Green. ;
Jensen scored but no surprise
We know this team.
Still no respect from huskies - who
Thought that they would win.
Guess what it's Patrick Johnson Taking it all the way in!
Now Duck football's
heard 'round the world
rom England to Japan.
We've gained respect -
And by the way that was the plan.
The story isn't over
and you
Know what we mean....
It's just the beginning for OREGON football from in Eugene,
WHAT A TEAM!
