Pac-10 Games Begin/Season Info

I hope everyone is enjoying winter break and excited for the Pac-10 season to begin next Friday vs. USC at Mac Court! The game is scheduled to begin @ 1:00 although I would suggest being there by (at least) 11:30 if you want to sit near the floor.

A few other things:

1. This season, with help from NIKE, we will be awarding items to students who provide the 3 best ideas for each Pac-10 game. This includes chants, themes, songs, stunts, or anything else the Pit Crew can do for each game. Members supplying ideas we feel are the most unique will be rewarded with gear or gift certificates. Ideas should be submitted to pitcrew1@uoregon.edu, by 12:00 each Monday afternoon before the week’s games.

2. We are looking for 5-6 students who would like to become more involved with the Pit Crew by being in charge of a section. So far this season, and in the past few seasons, the two corner sections haven’t been consistently involved in the game and we need to improve. Mac Court isn’t as intimidating as it should be when every section isn’t loud! This is a great opportunity for students who: enjoy athletics, like interacting with other students, are friendly, and looking for something to help bolster their resume. Section leaders will also receive gear, along with other items for their help. If interested, please email pitcrew1@uoregon.edu with a short description of yourself including: year, major college interests, and why you are a good candidate to help?

3. At each game this year we will be selecting a Qdoba/Pit Crew Member of the Game. Each winner will receive a gift card for 5 free entree’s and one Pit Crew member this season will win free entrée’s for an entire year! There isn’t set criteria for how to be the Member of the Game, but you must be wearing a Pit Crew shirt (at least partial) to win and body paint is advised.

Coach Smith Speech from Monday

Unfortunately, Women's basketball coach Bev Smith wasn't provided a microphone at shirt distribution Monday. For student's who were unable to hear her, here's what she said:

They really need students to come to games and support the team. This Thursday (tomorrow) there will be free Pizza to all students who attend the game, which begins at 7:00. The team, which is undefeated at home this season, will be missing 3 starters and could really use a strong student presence!

During the Pac-10 season, students who attend games regularly will have the opportunity to win items like new computers, gift certificates, and free food.

Go out an support the womens team, they play hard and deserve to have a student section as well.

Next Pit Crew Leadership Meeting

Our next meeting will be Wednesday December 3rd, at 5:00 PM in the Fishbowl. We will be discussing how shirt distribution went, ideas for the Kansas State game, and starting to prepare for Pac-10 games. All students are invited to attend and share ideas to improve the group.

We will also have the remaining Pape Jam tickets on sale for $15 at the meeting. They can be used by anyone, are half off retail price, and the seats are on the floor behind a basket. Awesome seats in the same section as last year.

More clarification on shirt distribution

All students who are on the list to receive shirts should have received an email last week. I do not know what the cut-off was, although I believe it was Juniors who attended 2 games.

The event will begin at 3:30 and students must attend to receive their shirt. Coach Kent and Coach Smith will both talk about the season and what they would like to see from the Pit Crew. If you have any questions, post them in the comments section or the message board and I'll try to answer them.

Pit Crew Shirt Recipients Notified Today

Here's a copy of the email sent, this afternoon, to students who will be receiving Pit Crew shirts. If you do not receive a shirt, it doesn't mean you aren't a member of the Pit Crew. All students should be wearing yellow shirts to games, standing, and getting involved. That includes students who are in the corners and in the 100 level. Here's the email, with a number to contact if you have any questions:

You are now a member of the 2008-09 Pit Crew! In honor of your commitment to the Oregon Men's Basketball program through attendance at the first four games this year, you have been awarded a 2008-09 Pit Crew shirt! Pit Crew shirts will be distributed at an exclusive open basketball practice at which you will hear from both Head Coach Ernie Kent and Head Coach Bev Smith!

Where: Mac Court
When: Monday, December 1st @ 3:30pm
What to Bring: UO Student ID card (You will not be given your shirt without it!)

The Oregon Basketball program would like to thank you for your support during the month of November and hopes the enthusiasm will carry over into the Pac-10 season with the loudest arena in the country!

If you have any questions about the distribution process, please contact the Athletic Marketing Office at 541-346-5417.

Maui Invitational Watch Party Monday Night

The game will be shown in the Ben Linder Room and is open to all students. It's free and we'll have Mountain Dew AMP for everyone, in addition to EA Sports gear and games. Swing by sometime between 8-11 and watch the game, get questions about this season answered, and learn how to get more involved in planning for the Pit Crew if you're interested. Duck game starts at 9:00 but we'll have the new EA Sports NCAA Basketball game setup at 8:00 for students to play.

Also, we'll have Pape Jam tickets for sale at the event. They are $15 dollars apiece and can be used by anyone (doesn't have to be a student.) Game is December 13th at the Rose Garden in Portland.

Join the facebook group if you haven't already!

OMB vs. OSMB Flag Football Game

Next Tuesday, the 25th of November, our Marching band will take on Oregon State's marching band in a flag football game at Autzen Stadium. The game starts at 8:00 and admission is free. Prizes will be given away and the band would love to have as many students as possible come support them! They are 4-0 all-time vs. Oregon State and are looking to remain undefeated and make it 5 in a row.

Maui Invitational Watch Party

The Pit Crew will be hosting a Maui Invitational watch party on campus, open to all students, on November 24th. It's being sponsored by EA Sports and will begin at 8:00. in the Ben Linder room, downstairs at the EMU. We will have consoles set-up for students to demo the new NCAA Basketball video game, in addition to copies of the game to give away.

Additionally, we will provide free Mountain Dew AMP energy drinks for any student who attends and will have EA Sports gear to give away. See everyone there.

Who: All Pit Crew members and students
What: Maui Invitational Watch Party
Where: EMU Ben Linder Room
When: Starts at 8:00 PM, goes until the Ducks win!

AZ Game Football Recruits

We've heard there will be a total of 8 football recruits visiting this weekend. The following are who we've heard will be here:

LB - Boseko Lokombo
CB - Vachel Samuels
SAF - Terrence Brown
DL - Jackson Powell
OT - Michael Phillip
QB - Keith Price
OT - Charles Siddoway
WR- Bryce McNeal

GET YOUR SIGNS AND CHANTS READY EARLY! We heard all the visitors last weekend had a great time and the highlight of their trip was interacting with students. Lets do it again this weekend! There will also be a giveaway for students at the game so be sure to come early.

Meeting Reminder

Our second Pit Crew Leadership meeting of the year will be this evening, Monday November 10. We will be discussing cheer's/chant's for the season, ideas fo the next 2 home games, shirt distribution, website content and an opportunity to help set stuff up for the football game this weekend.

Meeting is at 6:00 in the EMU Fishbowl and all students are invited to attend.

Final FB Weekend Recruiting List/Track Visitor

Hey Everyone,

The following players will be making visits to the University this weekend. Like we've been saying all week: make signs, start chants, encourage the recruits to come up to the student section and take pictures! Lets make sure these guys realize how much we want them to be Ducks!

Jaz Reynolds
Bryce Brown
Montrell Conner
Boseko Lokombo
Craig Loston

Charles Siddoway (Unofficial)
Curtis White (Committed and Unofficial)
Get your stuff made this afternoon and if you have facebook, this event showed up yesterday.

Also Jordan Hasay, the teenage runner who broke the national high school record for 1500m at the Olympic Trials this summer, will be visiting this weekend. She would be a HUGE addition to the track team, so root for her as well! Thanks to the Oregon Rivals.com site for sharing the news.

Next Pit Crew Leadership Meeting

Our next Leadership meeting will be Monday November 10th, at 6:00 in the EMU Fishbowl. We will be discussing chants for games this year, clearing up shirt distribution rumors, and preparing for the first 2 games of the season.

All students are invited to attend. Please come prepared and with new ideas so we can be efficient. It doesn't have to be a chant, we encourage you to come share any kind of tradition you think would be a positive addition to the Pit Crew and/or Mac Court.

Football vs. Cal @ Hayward!

The ASUO has arranged a watch party for the Oregon vs. Cal football game this Saturday, to take place at Hayward field. The event will begin at 11:30 and last until the end of the football game. A food drive will also be taking place at the event and a donation of two cans will earn you a raffle ticket. Items to be raffled off include Duck Store gift cards, iPods, computers, and food certificates. The Pit Crew will also be giving away items at our table so look for the Pit Crew banner!

Food will also be provided to students, so come enjoy the game at Hayward Field this Saturday!

Revised Ticketing a "longshot" for this season

Over the past week, we've been trying to have the electronic ticketing system modified for basketball season. The proposal was to allow Pit Crew members, who attained a shirt and went through a traditions/chants orientation, to be placed in a separate classification. The new classification would allow them access to tickets before they became available to every student. As shirts were handed out, student ID's would be scanned and used to place students in the new group. It would only take a fraction of the tickets while making it easier for students, who were willing to sacrifice their time and get a shirt, to secure tickets to basketball games. Roughly half of the total ticket amount would remain for any student wanting to attend a basketball game.

The problem is the Pit Crew doesn't control shirt distribution and the ticketing contract was signed last year. The contracts can be modified, yet doing so in time for basketball season is unlikely. It's definitely something we are going to pursue for next season to reward students, who in the past have attended every game, who dislike the current system because they are unable to get tickets.

As for shirt distribution, the article in the Emerald yesterday wasn't entirely correct (although most of it was accurate.) The ticket office didn't make a mistake; rather, they were told to send out an email pre-maturely. The ticket office has been unfairly blamed by students, all year, when it's not their fault at all. The ticketing contract was drafted by the ACFC and approved by the ticket office. They are BOUND to follow the contract; however, are willing to modify it in the future to improve the system.

As for shirt distribution, I was not involved in the discussion to approve the system laid out in that email, do not agree with the means to distribute shirts laid out in the plan and am working for a better solution. I'm against letting computers decide who gets a Pit Crew shirt, when in the past students have been able to control their own destiny. Furthermore, distributing them mid-season and on December 7th (day before Final's week starts) doesn't work for most students. I believe we'll be able develop an appropriate solution to distribute this years shirts; but, I can't promise it.

Take care,

Daniel Cogan
Pit Crew President 07-09

Oregon Hyperdunks

The NIKE Oregon Hyperdunks will be released at the new Eugene NIKE store this Saturday at 10:00 AM. They will retail for $125 and the store received roughly 36 pairs. Unfortunately, Pit Crew members will not be able to get in the store early to purchase the shoes, but at least you will have access to them. Picture's of the shoes can be found a few posts below.

Pit Crew Shirt Distribution Not Yet Finalized

Hey Everyone,

There was an email sent out by the University of Oregon ticket office, regarding shirt distribution, that was incorrect. The method of distribution has not been finalized and the plan laid out in that email is not endorsed by the Pit Crew. We didn't agree to it, nor did we have input in the decision process.

We are actively working with the ASUO to provide a better solution to online ticketing for basketball season. We realize the system is not working as anticipated and there are problems with how tickets are being allocated for Football. With roughly 1/3 as many basketball tickets made available to students, we are working on a better way to allocate tickets to Pit Crew members. A final plan will be released next week and we anticipate it being a significantly better system than what everyone has dealt with during football.

I do not believe online ticketing is a bad way to give out tickets but, adjustments must be made to improve the allocation process. I'm confident we can introduce a better system for ticketing, as well as shirt distribution, and will keep students updated accordingly. Sorry for the confusion!

Take care,
Daniel Cogan
Pit Crew President 07-09

Watch Party for Football vs. Cal

The University will be holding a watch party at Hayward Field for the football game vs. California on November 1st. The cheerleaders, in addition to other athletes will be there handing out free items to students who attend. Additionally, there will be a can food drive to benefit a local organization and any student who brings at least 2 cans of food will get entered into a raffle for prizes. Prizes will include: iPods, shirts, gift cards, textbooks, and even a computer. More information will be coming soon, but put this on your calendar now as it's sure to be a great event.

Admission is free for all University students and the Pit Crew will be giving away items as well. Also, the date for this years shirt distribution will be announced at the watch party. The game begins at 12:30 and there will be food for students at a concession area inside Hayward.

First 08-09 Pit Crew Meeting

Our first Pit Crew meeting of the year will be Sunday October 19th, at 6:00 in the EMU Fishbowl. We'll go over plans for the year, shirt distribution, new campus initiatives, and talk about opportunities coming up for members to get more involved.

All students are welcome to come and contribute. It's a good opportunity for students, especially younger students, to get involved with an influential group on campus. If you have any questions, feel free to check the message board to see if it's already been answered or email the group. We can be reached at pitcrew1@uoregon.edu.

Go Ducks,
Daniel Cogan
Pit Crew President 07-09

One More Football Visitor

One more football recruit will be visiting Oregon this weekend. Anthony Leon, a Safety from College of the Sequoias in Vasalia, CA will be making the trip to Eugene for tomorrow night's game. Leon, originally from Florida, signed with Florida State out of high school but was forced to leave the school last year.

At 6'3'' 230, he's been compared to Sean Taylor for years (they were cousins and went to the same school) and many of his past coaches have said he'll also play in the NFL eventually. He has an official scholarship offer, will be on campus this weekend, and at the game tomorrow night.

He could likely start immediately next year, at any of the three linebacker positions or Safety.

Homecoming Info/Weekend Football Recruits

There will be a homecoming parade and pep rally at the Protest Pit, on the corner of 13th and University by the EMU, at 5:30 Friday afternoon. Afterward, the #7 ranked Oregon Volleyball team will be playing at Mac Court. Admission is free and should be packed with students!

For the football game Saturday night, for those who secured tickets, ALL STUDENTS are encouraged to wear YELLOW.

Also, there will be 7 football recruits on official visits this weekend. There may be one more added later this week, so check back on Friday to get the full list. Make signs, start chants, make these guys feel welcome at the game! Travis Hawkins, in particular, is coming all the way from Maryland to visit so lets make sure to leave an impression. There may be one or two more guys added, but here's the current list:

Jeremiah Sirles (Official)
Alex Logan (Official)
Travis Hawkins (Official)
Everett Benyard (Official)
Avery Patterson (Official and already committed)
Myles Wade (Official and already committed)
Anthony Anderson (Official and already committed)
Charles Siddoway (Unofficial)
Taylor Hart (Unofficial)
Curtis White (Unofficial)