Won the Day

With 9:13 left in the 3^rd Quarter, the sellout crowd in Autzen Stadium rose to its feet to cheer on the Oregon defense. Which of the following events gave the crowd cause to stand and yell?

a. The game was close.

b. Washington was about to score.

c. It was 3^rd or 4^th and short.

d. All of the above.

e. None of the above.

Answer: e.

Oregon led Washington 38-7, and Washington had the ball 1^st and 10 from their own 46. Not only was the crowd standing and yelling, they were screaming as if Washington was about to score the mythical 40-point touchdown to win the game. Regardless of the time or circumstances, the Oregon faithful showed the most consistent energy out of any crowd we have seen.

So that leads to the question, why? Why did Oregon have the most engaged crowd? How did they create the stadium energy that opponents who come into Autzen Stadium dread?

It all starts with the team.

Yes, the recent team performance, high paced offense, pure speed, and athleticism play a major role in the crowd’s enthusiasm. But it’s more than that.

The fans feel like they know the team. They feel connected to the team. They feel like they’re a part of the team. They are not just spectators; they are living and breathing with every tackle, every breakaway dash down the field, and every touchdown.

Starting pregame, 35 minutes before kickoff, when the team took the field for warm-ups, “Joker and the Thief” blared over the loudspeakers and the fans clapped in sync with the team to create a hyped atmosphere. This pregame team-fan interaction elevated the crowd’s level of interest from start to finish. Finally, before the team made its entrance, led by The Duck on a motorcycle, an intro video was played to add even more energy to the stadium.

Throughout the game, they used the video board to further showcase the team and players, both current and former. When Washington scored a touchdown, at first the energy subsided, but by the end of the media timeout you never would have guessed this crowd knew how to be quiet. To uplift the crowd, they showed a highlight video of great moments in Oregon football and the fans cheered as if it was happening live.

Throughout the game, the video board made PA announcements and on-field recognitions come to life. During a media timeout, the women’s track team took the field accompanied with a highlight film of last year’s accomplishments. The crowd cheered as the video ended and as each runner was introduced with a live shot on screen. Highlight videos promoting “Matt Knight Madness” and the Oregon Duck volleyball team also gave the crowd reason to cheer and to show even more support for their Ducks.

And, as if the fans in Eugene needed another reason to shout, between the 3^rd and 4^th quarters, video from “Animal House” (filmed on campus) came on, and the whole stadium stood up and sang along to “Shout.” The Ducks capped off the emotional high of the crowd with a touchdown on the very next play, sending Autzen Stadium into a frenzy. No one cared that the game had been well in hand since the first half.

The energy in Autzen Stadium, from pregame events until the final whistle, made gameday in Eugene truly unique. The University of Oregon may not have the tradition of Ohio State, or Notre Dame, but they have a distinct identity that shapes their gameday experience. High energy on the field, in the stands, and on the video board undoubtedly helped the Oregon Ducks “Win the Day.”