If you are building the Mount Rushmore of Oregon Ducks football players, you had better save a place for LaMichael James (b. Oct 22, 1989). The speedy back from Texarkana, Texas carried plenty of strength on his five-foot, nine-inch frame and helped start the Chip Kelly era with a bang. James three seasons in Eugene..Read More
(September 7, 1945 – June 8, 2022) A giant on the football field for the Oregon State Beavers, Rockne Freitas has also been a giant in education in his home state of Hawaii. He was destined for the gridiron from birth. His father, John Freitas, named him after Notre Dame coaching legend Knute Rockne. He..Read More
(born Jun. 10, 1951) Among the players to come from an Oregon college, Dan Fouts ranks as one of the most well known for his transition to the professional ranks, both statistically and for his position within the national media. Born in 1951, Fouts grew up in San Francisco, Calif., as the son of radio..Read More
(Apr. 3, 1953 – Oct. 1, 2023) Russ Francis, a multi-sport Pleasant Hill High School graduate, became a star tight-end down the road at the University of Oregon. At Oregon in 1974, Francis was named First Team All-Pac 8 and honorable mention All-American while ranking third in the conference with 31 catches (495 yards). Francis..Read More
Jack Crabtree (b. Nov. 19, 1935) is one of the least well-known quarterbacks from the University of Oregon, but led the team to one of its famed accomplishments – the 1958 Rose Bowl, where the Ducks nearly pulled off a huge upset. Crabtree grew up in Southern California and moved to Eugene from San Bernardino..Read More
(Aug. 3, 1956 – Nov. 13, 2013) With his eleven-year career in the NFL, Todd Christensen established himself as one of the most prolific tight ends in league history. At 6-3, 230 pounds, he was known as a sure-handed receiver with the ability to get open and make catches in heavy traffic. The Oregon Native..Read More
Don Durdan (Sep. 21, 1920 – Jun. 28, 1971) remains one of Oregon State’s most versatile and inspiring athletes, having played football, basketball and baseball despite usually being the shortest player on his team. Durdan grew up in Eureka, Calif., and was a member of the Eureka High “Wonder Team” that did not allow a..Read More
Joe Francis (Apr. 21, 1936 – Apr. 15, 2013) ran and passed Oregon State to the 1957 Rose Bowl and then played professionally in both the NFL and CFL. Francis grew up in Hawaii and was recruited to Corvallis by coach Kip Taylor. He remained at the school after Tommy Prothro became coach in 1955…Read More
Ross Carter (Mar. 10, 1914 – Jun. 19, 2002) earned a reputation as a fearsome lineman and masters athlete and was eventually voted into an athletic hall of fame four times. Born in Missouri, he grew up in Oregon and graduated from Lakeview High School. He attended Southern Oregon University and played football in 1932..Read More
(Dec. 13, 1909 – Jul. 1, 1968) George Christensen carried the University of Oregon’s name into the National Football League during the early years of the league as a lineman before becoming a successful businessman. Born in Pendleton in 1909, Christensen played at Oregon from 1928-30 and was a Pacific Coast Conference all-star as a..Read More