Oregon alumni flocked together worldwide to support their Ducks
By April Miller, UO Alumni Association assistant director of marketing and communications and Kayla Choate, student communications associate
Across the world, UO alumni and friends came together to support Oregon football during the historic 2024 season. They traveled great distances to attend games, danced with the Duck at Mighty Oregon Tailgates, and chanted “Go Ducks!” in unison at watch parties. Here are a few stories of alumni with unwavering UO pride.
The 2024 football season was a momentous one for Oregon football and Ducks everywhere. Marked by the UO’s first year in the Big Ten Conference, a perfect 12-0 regular season, and a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal appearance, the season was filled with unforgettable moments, triumphs, and heartbreak—all experienced together as a Ducks community.
Throughout this electric season, Ducks fans have been seen throwing their “O” in airport terminals, flocking to away games in new-to-us cities, and high fiving strangers-turned-friends at regional watch parties. This camaraderie is about so much more than football. It’s about taking pride in our alma mater’s incredible traditions, building community, uplifting fellow Ducks, and seizing the opportunity to show the nation what makes Oregon so special.
We know the sampling of Ducks spotlighted here is just a fraction of our alumni base that came together to support Oregon football. If you too have a story of unwavering UO pride, please send it to us. We’d love to hear from you.
2
Number of years Oregon football has completed a perfect 12-0 regular season
17
Conference titles Oregon football has won
9
Rose Bowl appearances for Oregon
Birds of a feather flock together
The UO Alumni Association’s Ducks Fan Travel program is filled with tradition, Ducks energy, and endless fun. This season, alumni and avid fans came together to cheer on our Oregon football team, with many travelers journeying great distances to support the Ducks at Big Ten away games.
We embarked on four unforgettable trips: Madison, WI; Ann Arbor, MI; Indianapolis, IN; and Pasadena, CA. With a total of 386 travelers, these trips truly embodied what it means to be a dedicated Ducks fan. Each city offered a unique and unforgettable experience, allowing travelers to create lasting memories, share experiences with fellow UO alumni and friends, and make new friends.
Check out the posts below from the UOAA’s social media channels, which spotlight a few travelers who embody the unwavering spirit of being a Duck.
Traveler Spotlight: Randy Choy and Kim Kono
Randy Choy, BA ’86 (journalism), MS ’98 (public affairs), and Kim Kono participated in their first Ducks Fan Travel experience for the Rose Bowl on January 1 in Pasadena. The couple, who reside in Portland, said the Rose Parade and Mighty Oregon Tailgate were highlights of the trip.
Randy Choy and Kim Kono attended the Rose Parade for the first time on January 1, 2025. Choy described the experience as a bucket-list item and one of the highlights of their trip to Pasadena. Photo courtesy of Randy Choy
“My wife and I wanted to experience the camaraderie and team spirit by engaging with the UOAA Travel Program, staying with fellow Ducks in Santa Monica, and cheering the team on from the Mighty Oregon Tailgate to the game itself,” Choy said. “Although the game did not turn out the way all Ducks fans would have liked, we had a wonderful time and experience in Southern California during the New Year’s week.
Choy, a longtime Ducks fan and member of the UOAA Board of Directors, attended the Rose Bowl in 1995 when Oregon took on Penn State.
“This was the 30th anniversary of my first-ever Rose Bowl, and it felt like perfect timing for this game against a traditional Big Ten powerhouse,” Choy said. “We should all be proud of what Coach Dan Lanning, the other coaches and administrative staff, and the players accomplished this year. I’m already looking forward to an awesome 2025 season. Go Ducks!”
Tailgating, Mighty Oregon style
This fall, the UO Alumni Association hosted more than 4,000 people at Mighty Oregon Tailgates in Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA, the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The Mighty Oregon Tailgate is a storied UOAA tradition, bringing together UO alumni and friends ahead of select away games for many years. The 2024 season was a special continuation of this tradition, introducing new away game destinations and new opportunities to engage with alumni who live far from the West Coast.
Midwest Ducks show out in Indy
UO alumni living in the Midwest had greater access to cheer on the Ducks with fellow Ducks this season. Meet Cecelia Gibbons, BA ’24 (cinema studies, English), and Kelly Kottlowski, MArch ’23, who attended our tailgate at the Big Ten Championship.
Ducks are everywhere
With over 275,000 alumni living in 153 countries, Ducks fans are everywhere—and this historic football season has made that even more evident. This year, Ducks gathered across the globe to celebrate their team. Joining the Big Ten certainly posed challenges for some Ducks, especially with new East Coast game times. Nonetheless, Ducks came together early in the morning and late at night. With over 250 official watch parties in 27 regions, the green and yellow spirit was spread far and wide.
Chapter spotlight: Singapore Ducks
One of the most notable watch parties took place over 8,000 miles from Autzen Stadium—in Singapore. UO alumni and fans gathered at 3 a.m. local time on Sunday, October 13, 2024, to watch a thrilling game between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Like Ducks fans everywhere, they were shouting, cheering, and celebrating every moment.
While the 2024 season has come to an end, the fun is far from over
Though the Oregon Ducks’ football season ended with a heartbreaking loss at the Rose Bowl, we are grateful for the incredible memories made along the way and the community that was fostered among fellow Ducks.
The 2025 football season is sure to bring even more excitement, and the UOAA team is already hard at work planning travel offerings and Mighty Oregon Tailgates at select away games. Registration for those experiences will open later this year.
There’s no need to wait for football season to connect or reconnect with your UO community, though. The UOAA offers a variety of programming year-round—from regional chapter and affinity network events to reunions, opportunities for networking and professional development through the Duck Career Network, our Alumni Book Club, special rewards for our members, and more. Not sure where to start? Let us know what you’re most interested in, and we’ll help you get plugged into the UO alumni community!