Oregon Greats Return to Serve as Spring Game's Honorary Coaches
Two of the greatest University of Oregon football players of all time will return to serve as honorary coaches when the Ducks host their annual Spring Game next Saturday, May 1, according to head coach Chip Kelly.
Former Oregon greats and hall-of-fame inductees Dan Fouts and Ahmad Rashad are among the approximately 100 former players indicating their return for next weekend’s activities, which will include a traditional Friday golf outing.
The Spring Game presented by Bi-Mart, will take place the next day from 2-4 p.m. in Autzen Stadium.
The football program’s final spring intrasquad scrimmage will feature two evenly-matched teams facing one another, with the Oregon coaches expected to take part in the player dispersal draft this week.
The game will telecast live nationally on ESPN2, with the telecast crew expected to include Chris Fowler, Craig James, Wendi Nix and Ed Cunningham. The game also is anticipated to be viewed by military troops overseas.
Rashad, who was a three-time all Pacific-8 Conference standout from 1969-71 as a wide receiver and running back and 1971 first-team All-American, was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. The fourth pick in the 1972 NFL Draft (St. Louis) was a four-time Pro Bowl honoree and 1977 Super Bowl participant before culminating a 10-year NFL career in 1982.
Fouts became Oregon's first quarterback to eclipse 2,000 passing yards in a single season before earning first-team all Pac-8 Conference honors in 1972. Drafted in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft by San Diego, he proceeded to enjoy a legendary 14-year professional career with the Chargers before enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Included among his numerous honors was his selection as the 1982 NFL MVP.
The Spring Game also will serve to recognize and offer support for the country’s armed forces serving over-seas. The “Support Our Troops and Families” tribute will include representation from branches of the nation’s armed services, the Oregon National Guard, the Coast Guard, the American Red Cross and various veterans’ organizations.
The majority of the pre-game and halftime festivities will include participation from the armed services, includ-ing a joint service color guard and ceremonies to honor the men and women from the state and their families, who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Former Oregon greats and hall-of-fame inductees Dan Fouts and Ahmad Rashad are among the approximately 100 former players indicating their return for next weekend’s activities, which will include a traditional Friday golf outing.
The Spring Game presented by Bi-Mart, will take place the next day from 2-4 p.m. in Autzen Stadium.
The football program’s final spring intrasquad scrimmage will feature two evenly-matched teams facing one another, with the Oregon coaches expected to take part in the player dispersal draft this week.
The game will telecast live nationally on ESPN2, with the telecast crew expected to include Chris Fowler, Craig James, Wendi Nix and Ed Cunningham. The game also is anticipated to be viewed by military troops overseas.
Rashad, who was a three-time all Pacific-8 Conference standout from 1969-71 as a wide receiver and running back and 1971 first-team All-American, was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. The fourth pick in the 1972 NFL Draft (St. Louis) was a four-time Pro Bowl honoree and 1977 Super Bowl participant before culminating a 10-year NFL career in 1982.
Fouts became Oregon's first quarterback to eclipse 2,000 passing yards in a single season before earning first-team all Pac-8 Conference honors in 1972. Drafted in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft by San Diego, he proceeded to enjoy a legendary 14-year professional career with the Chargers before enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Included among his numerous honors was his selection as the 1982 NFL MVP.
The Spring Game also will serve to recognize and offer support for the country’s armed forces serving over-seas. The “Support Our Troops and Families” tribute will include representation from branches of the nation’s armed services, the Oregon National Guard, the Coast Guard, the American Red Cross and various veterans’ organizations.
The majority of the pre-game and halftime festivities will include participation from the armed services, includ-ing a joint service color guard and ceremonies to honor the men and women from the state and their families, who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
-- GoDucks.com --
