University of Oregon

David and I have a buddy who works at the University of Oregon.  Twenty years ago (ugh, that sounds like a very long time ago, but really it wasn’t) we took a little road trip with Brent.  We raced out of town on the last day of school; David and Brent taught together at Van Horne.  We went white water rafting, watched Fourth of July fireworks over the water in Seattle, and explored the Oregon Coast.  Then we went to the University in Oregon where he had an interview…and he has worked in the intramural department at the university ever since!

It worked out beautifully that he was able to show us around the university after we went for lunch.  They have pretty amazing resources for the athletics department at U of O and their teams, the Ducks.  It just so happens that Phil Knight, found of Nike, is a graduate of that University.  He has been very generous with his donations to his alma mater.  They just finished a multi million training centre for the football players, and we had an inside peek at the brand new basketball centre, as well as the Autzen football stadium.  (Notice the cheerleaders practicing in the background!!)

Any US town that is a University town tends to have a different feel and focus.  We could tell that right away in Eugene.  Not really sure that we can deal with foreign student fees, but Sean sure got a good idea of what life could be like going to school in a place like this!!  University athletics in the States are on a whole other level than anything in Canada!

Interesting Fact - many of the scenes in Animal House were filmed in Eugene, and there are multiple connections to the Simpsons show as well - like the statue of Jebidiah Springfield.