Ranking the Ducks Past Decade of Uniform Combinations: Building a Brand

If you're a fan of the Ducks, then chances are that you're a fan of new and innovative uniform combinations. It's 'Rankings Week' here at Duck Maven, and we continue our deep dive into Oregon's jersey combinations by looking at the early years, and how they set up Oregon as a National Brand.

Zachary Neel | Sep 25, 2019

Ranking the Ducks Past Decade of Uniform Combinations: Building a Brand /

As the team goes on the mend during their bye week, we want to take the chance to look outside of the box and dive deeper into what got the Oregon program to the level it's at today. We start by ranking what put the Ducks on the map — their flashy uniform combinations. Check back in on Friday to see the next installment.

If you're a fan of Oregon football, chances are that you're a fan of uniform combinations. Sometimes they're flashy, sometimes they're safe, but always they are touted as the newest and sleekest designs, gifted to the school by Uncle Phil and the Nike Corporation.

While Oregon's peak era of uniform combinations came in the early years of this decade, none of it would have been made possible had they not garnered some attention in the late 2000s. Let's take a look at some of the ways Oregon made a name for themselves at the turn of the decade, and why they caught so many eyes in the first place while building a brand.

No. 7 | Bucking the National Trend (2008)

Oregon's obsession with uniforms was in its infancy in 2008, but this season would lay the groundwork for what's to come. The tire tread on shoulder pads and knees was considered flashy at the time, and their implementation of white helmets was a welcomed surprise. If you look to see where Oregon started to buck the trend and look different on the field, it all starts here.

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No. 6 | Introducing Carbon Fiber (2010)

2010 is a year in which the Ducks were finding their way. They introduced a new Carbon-Fiber helmet, that matched nicely with their grey accent colors, but at times it was too muting to the jerseys as a whole. There were very few risks taken, but very few failures at the same time. Although the year ended with a trip to the BCS National Championship Game, the 'electric yellow' implementation soon became cursed because of the outcome.

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No.5 | The Rise of the Shoulder Wing (2009)

Though it ranks at No. 5, this was quite possibly my favorite year of Oregon football uniforms, due only to the introduction of the Shoulder Wings, and the group of players that were wearing them. Think back to this year; TJ Ward, Cliff Harris, Jeff Maehl, Walter Thurmond III, LeGarrette Blount, Eddie Pleasant, and LaMichael James. Need me to keep going? John Boyett, Boseko Lokombo, Kenjon Barner, Spencer Paysinger, Kiko Alonso, Casey Matthews, Lavasier Tuinei, Dion Jordon, Ed Dixson.

If you made me pick a favorite out of that group of players, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. When you think of Oregon, you think of swagger. When you think of teams with swagger, the 2009 Oregon Ducks take the cake.