UO Athletics Tour Preview

University of Oregon

Athletics Tour

In college athletics the No. 1 is special. First in a race. First to win an award. First place at the end of the season. With the No. 1 as inspiration, this tour focuses on the many groundbreaking firsts by Black athletes at the University of Oregon. Some date back to 1927. Others happened as recently as 2020. Stride along this roughly 5K route to discover the moments when Black athletes made their mark in UO history.

Directions to the start

The route starts at the tower at Hayward Field, on the Southwest corner of Agate Street and 15th Avenue. Designed to look like an Olympic torch, it features the faces of iconic former athletes.

Before you get underway on the route, would you like to take a couple minutes to stretch?

Below are some sport-specific stretches that the athletes you're going to learn about used to get ready to compete.

Thanks to Denise Thomas, the founder of Healthy Moves, for providing these sport-specific stretches. Healthy Moves is a nonprofit organization bringing movement, fitness and fun to elementary students in Lane County.

Directions to next stop - Rec Fields & Tennis Courts

From the tower, head south along Agate Street and take a right turn at 18th Street. From there you'll head West alongside the UO rec fields, which was once where the Oregon soccer team played, and UO tennis courts.

Directions to next stop - Howe Field & The Jane

Continue past the UO tennis courts and turn right on University Street. On your right you’ll see Jane Sanders Stadium, where the UO softball team has played since 2016. It is built on the former site of Howe Field, which served as the UO baseball field before becoming home to the softball team.

Directions to next stop - McArthur Court

The next building North from Jane Sanders Stadium on University Street is old McArthur Court. First built in 1926, it was the home of many UO sports before Matthew Knight Arena replaced it in 2011.

Directions to next stop - Autzen Stadium

Continue North on University Street into the heart of the UO campus. Take a right on 13th Street and head East back toward Agate Street. Take a left turn on to Agate Street and cross Franklin Boulevard. Keep going North past the new Knight Campus, heading toward the river. Continue on the Ruth Bascom Path and cross over the Dave and Lynn Frohnmayer Bridge, often referred to as the Autzen footbridge. Stay North on the path through Alton Baker Park with your eye on the giant yellow O of Autzen Stadium. Cross Leo Harris Parkway to the South plaza of Autzen Stadium. The home of Oregon Ducks football opened in 1967. The football team played its home games at Hayward Field before moving to its new home on the other side of the Willamette River.

Directions to next stop - Papé Field

Continue along the Southeast edge of Autzen Stadium to Papé Field, where the Oregon soccer and lacrosse teams now compete.

A reflection from Yvette Alex-Assensoh, the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at the University of Oregon:

Black athletes have a storied history at the University of Oregon. In fact, when many think of Black life in Eugene, their first thought is the nationally renowned UO Athletics Program.

This makes it easy to take for granted the adversities these individuals have overcome to make their mark. Bobby Robinson and Charles Williams helped lead UO Football to its most successful record ever at the time in 1928 but were only allowed to move into Friendly Hall after their teammates petitioned the school to integrate the dorm. Even then, they could only enter through an entrance designated for them.

To this day, Black firsts are still making history at UO. Former UO Football coach Willie Taggert was the first Black person to helm the program in 2017. Sydney Lawrence and Rachel Williams were the first Black student athletes to play and start for the Oregon Lacrosse team in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

When we embrace love, authenticity, courage and empathy, we are able to look deeper than the successes on the field to recognize the full picture of what it means to be a Black student athlete at the UO. As you reflect on the stories of these student athletes, ask yourself, how can you utilize courage and empathy to ensure athletes from underrepresented backgrounds are able to be their full selves in the Eugene community? How can you authentically translate the university’s passion for athletic success into passion for fighting injustice and creating a thriving community for all?