Sound a horn: ‘Mighty Oregon’ fight song is 100 years old

Twitter Facebook

For 100 years the notes of “Mighty Oregon” have filled stadiums across the country. They have been trumpeted through enough brass to build a battleship. They have been played in front of Disneyland’s Main Street Train Station and have even wafted down the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

And after a century of service to UO fans everywhere, it’s time to give a little love back. In recognition of the centennial of the UO fight song, the Oregon Legislature has proclaimed that Thursday, March 10, is officially "Mighty Oregon" Day.

State Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Reps. Val Hoyle, D-West Eugene-Junction City, and Caddy McKeown, D-Coos Bay, were chief sponsors of the bill. Oregon alumnus and former ASUO President Greg Leo, a 1974 graduate, championed the bill in the Legislature.  

The UO wants everyone to join in the centenary celebration. That’s why Oregon Athletic Bands has released an album of “Mighty Oregon” versions, available now as a CD or digital download. And the university is inviting all Ducks to take to social media to celebrate the UO fight song in their own ways.

Tag a new cover version of "Mighty Oregon" with #MightyOregon100 on Twitter or Instagram by March 25. One lucky entry will win four tickets to the Ducks’ football season opener Sept. 3 at Autzen Stadium. The second place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate from The Duck Store, and third place wins three copies of the Mighty Oregon CD.

Here's the deal:

  • Upload an entry to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook or another video hosting platform by 5 p.m. March 25.
  • Post a link to your video on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #MightyOregon100
  • Entries must be three minutes or less in length.
  • Videos can include vocals or be purely instrumental.
  • Review the complete rules on the School of Music and Dance website.
     

KNOW YOUR O

You know all the "Mighty Oregon" lyrics — right? But did you know that a UO journalism student wrote them? Or that former band director Steven Paul invented “Throwing the O” (that ubiquitous UO gesture popularized by Joey Harrington) as a way to tell the band to play "Mighty Oregon" over the din of Autzen Stadium? What about the big green button in the Eugene Duck Store that, when pushed, will make the fight song play immediately throughout the store?