Looking at the Throwbacks

With the Ducks on their off week prepping for the HUGE clash in Seattle October 14, I thought it would be a good time to look at the rather ambiguous release of their fan-favorite throwbacks this last week. 

They did not announce a game they would wear this set for. (update: they wore for WSU Oct. 21) This year's UW-UO Oct. 14 game is in Seattle—and honestly 2024 would be more appropriate timing due to the 1994 and 2014 history and the UW game being home next year.

Here's hoping they wear them again for Civil War! It will be the last of that matchup for the foreseeable future. 

But I bet the main reason for this announcement is for merchandise sales! AND presumably wear it again next year?? Most fans would support making this an annual tradition much like Utah does with their throwbacks.

As most of you uni-freaks know, these are based on their  uniforms of the 1980s-1990s.  (most of the pundits this week have said these pay tribute to 1984, but to me that feels off, since 1994 was the most iconic and much better year.) I was a student at UO from 1992-1997 so I have seen these uniforms in Autzen stadium!

The last time they wore a version of these was in 2014 for the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Kenny Wheaton  "The Pick" which is the seminal play/game for pretty much the entire Duck-universe. It catapulted the Ducks to the Rose Bowl that season and began what has become a modern history of winning and CFB-leading uniform indulgence.

2023 throwback

This appears to be a pretty faithful reimagining of 2014 and 1994, but to me the green looks more like their current brighter apple green, but the yellow is warmer than current yellow and more true to history. 

FUNNY NOTE: Something I didn't realize until I went to draw it for this blog is: the sleeve version of  "Duck Thru the O" lacks a front foot, while the standard logo version has both feet and tail:

2014 throwback

20th Anniversary of 1994's "The Pick" game against Washington. Worn vs Washington in a big victory in Marcus Mariota's final year. The green on these jerseys is bluer/darker than the current "apple green." More of a "kelly green"

2009 throwback

This set is not exactly the same as the two most recent, since it pays tribute to the 1996-98 years. No stripes and the UO logo is bolder and less defined.

1996-1998 original version

Stripes go out of style on helmet and pants! Akili Smith was the QB.

1984-1994 version

Personified by the 1994 Rose Bowl year and Danny O'Neal and Kenny Wheaton. The green was pretty dark compared to either of the2014 and 2023 throwbacks. Some years the pants had stripes and some years not.

Kenny Wheaton's gunna score!!!!

I'd pay to see Dan Lanning come out in this classic Rich Brooks sweater! I'm dating myself, but I was at this game in college, so I can't make too many disparaging remarks since this is old but not ancient!