Just Do It! (Phil Knight, Nike and UofO

Jan. 10 EUGENE, Ore. — Here's a tip: If you're cashing paychecks from the University of Oregon, treat Phil Knight with unabashed love; even genuflect at his Nikes if the occasion calls for it. Just don't tick him off or, heaven forbid, fall shy of grandiose designs for his beloved alma mater — lest you might end up following Martin Smith down Interstate 5.

Knight, who historically has been reluctant to discuss his philanthropy, declined to be interviewed for this story.

But over the last decade, the father of modern sports marketing, the guy whose push-the-envelope company sold us "Just do it!," "Air Jordan," "Bo Knows Bo" and "Livestrong" and oozed life into a cadre of sport icons, has evolved as godfather of Oregon Ducks athletics. The big bucks started flowing after Oregon played in the 1995 Rose Bowl, its first in 37 years. Ever since — according to Moos, the athletic director — Knight has been good for $60 million to $70 million that has found its way into facility upgrades.

Although none of Knight's money has gone directly into Oregon's daily operating budget, the university now ranks among only a handful Division I-A athletic departments that are self-sufficient in operating without any university support.

Yeah well the local Red Guard has printed enough to balance it out.

Didn't bother reading the ABC article linked above, so it may mention it, but the U of O's AD facilities, for the football team at least, are world class in terms of amenities and creature comforts. The local commun(ity activ)ists regularly bleat about the unfairness of the sports team having such fancy digs while the state budget shortchanges the academic end in terms of dollars available to put in represented employees & their union bosses' pockets.

It's as though Phil Knight's 60-some million in private contributions to athletics somehow take away from academics. Which it doesn't.

Of course Knight's contributions to sports aren't the half of it. On the U of O campus you will find academic facilities bearing his name and they carry that name because he paid for them. He is without a doubt, U of O's single largest donor.

I happen to work for the second largest donor. He and Knight have adjacent skyboxes at the newly upgraded Autzen Stadium (and why not, they paid for most of it). Being a U of O sports booster is almost a job duty at our company, and you would find our ranks well represented on game days at both Autzen Stadium and Mac Court. I think the boss would consider what he kicks into those programs worth every penny, for the morale boosting and camaraderie it generates. But just as Knight does, the boss kicks in to the academic side as well. And that's worth it too. Regardless of the backwards ideas that come from some of the academia at that university, it does turn out some good grads that make sensible and meaningful contributions to the region's economy, and what's good for the economy in general is usually good for our corporate group and the varied businesses in which we are engaged.

But the donations don't come without strings. We are talking about a couple guys who can bark an order to "get me the Governor" (or the President), and reasonably expect a return call.

It actually is a good article, perhaps because, as another poster suggested, it was written by a sports reporter.

Oregon really has come a long way since Autzen Stadium was opened. I remember people talking about the old facilities at Hayward Field, where players didn't even have a locker, just a peg or two on the wall.

Even after Autzen opened, I used to go to games and pay $2.50 for a ticket in the end zone. After the first half people would go sit almost anywhere in the stadium they wanted, and nobody cared. After all, from 1975 through 1988 25,000 people was considered a big crowd.

I bought season tickets in 1980 for around $100. The stadium was nearly full that year, for a season that finished at 6-3-2, I think it was, and everyone thought it was a great year.

This past season, I took my mother to the USC game, and there was yet another record standing-room only crowd. My mother is the one buying season tickets, lately. She has turned into a huge fan at 81 years of age.

I haven't decided yet if I'll join her for the Oklahoma game in Sept. or the UCLA game in Oct. The Okies will be a huge, huge game, but airline ticket prices from Maryland are cheaper in October, and UCLA is always good for a fun game.

The home games the last several years have been all very enjoyable, even the losses. The civil war game this past season was especially enjoyable, various folks from the company had about four motor coaches in the parking lot for the tailgate festivities and everybody had a good time before the game getting warmed up with good food and conversation (and maybe a beer or two) and we even let our Beaver fans join the party and we all had a great time. It was a good wrap up for the season even if it was a bit cold out that day (30-something IIRC) and sometimes hard to see in the fog.

Had to watch the Holiday Bowl on TV (though we did have a sizable contingent there). Oklahoma earned their win in that game on that last minute pick and the excitement that came along with it. But yeah, the rematch is going to be a biggie and I hope I can make it.

Been thinking about getting season tickets myself. I usually go on company tickets but I'm not quite high enough on the food chain to be assured spots at every game. It's probably too late to score anything good for the upcoming season but I plan on trying next year. 'Tis a lot of money but I do conduct business at the games and it pencils out for me.

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