The enduring Oregon Duck has been unmasked.
Shortly earlier than the season opener towards Montana State on Saturday, Oregon's mascot took a tumble in the course of the pregame run onto the sector, shedding his head within the course of.
After getting again up, the mascot sprinted to the tunnel headless in embarrassing vogue, with a staffer chasing after it with the pinnacle.
The mascot — who's informally named Puddles — was first debuted by Oregon within the Nineteen Forties, and has misplaced its head a variety of instances over time, most lately throughout a standoff with Deion Sanders and Colorado again in 2023.
Earlier than the sport towards the Buffaloes in September 2023, the mascot arrived dressed like Sanders, sporting a white hat and sun shades.
Issues went awry, nevertheless, when the mascot tried to interrupt a clock that had the phrase “Prime” on its facet with a bat, and popped his head off on the third swing.
In related vogue to Saturday's miscue, Puddles sprinted off the sector as soon as shedding his head.
No. 7 Oregon wound up blowing out Montana State, 59-13, with quarterback Dante Moore main the best way for the Geese with 213 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Though it was assumed that Moore — who performed behind Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel final season — was going to take the reins for Oregon this 12 months, head coach Dan Lanning didn't publicly title a starter previous to Saturday's sport.
Earlier this month, Lanning informed reporters that Moore would assist out Oregon down the street after studying from Gabriel.
“These guys have discovered from nice quarterbacks which have accomplished it at a very, actually excessive stage,” Lanning said of his quarterbacks at the time. “For [Moore] to have that chance, present maturity, develop in his management, I believe it's going to create nice alternatives for our workforce.”
Moore has additionally acknowledged the stress he might be underneath following Gabriel, who was drafted by the Browns this 12 months, and Bo Nix, who's getting into his second season with the Broncos.
“Like Coach Lanning at all times says, stress is a privilege. I really feel the entire offense, we're proficient, we're able to compete. A number of us have chips on our shoulders. I do know rattling nicely I'm hungry for positive,” Moore mentioned.
