Close enough to a major city when you need it, but far enough away to really enjoy the college town life. The college football has its own history as one of the best programs this century. Eugene, Oregon, ranks 14th on our Top 100 College Football Towns of America Countdown.
To celebrate 100 days until the start of the college football season, HERO Sports is counting down the Top 100 FBS College Football Towns in America. Each day, through Aug. 24, a new city will be revealed. We will analyze the city, the program, the good and bad of the city as well as the bottom line. If you got a problem, @me on Twitter.
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14. Eugene, Oregon — Oregon
[credit]The players believe in new head coach, Mario Cristobal, but will it show up on the field? (Photo: Oregon Universtiy Athletics )[/credit]
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The Program
It is hard to imagine with the success Oregon has had this century, but for the majority of the program's history, the Ducks, or Webfoots, as they were known up until 1978, were garbage. Oregon won five conference titles in its first 66 years of existence, and then took another 36 years to win its next. In fact, the Ducks finished higher than third in conference just three times during that span.
Things all changed under Mike Bellotti. The team had just one losing season during his time in Eugene. Oregon played in 12 bowl games in Bellotti's 14 years. When he took the athletic director position, passing the torch to Chip Kelly, the Ducks took it to an elite level. Kelly won the Pac-12 every year he was the coach.
Current head coach Mario Cristobal hopes to recapture that dominance. Recently the only thing that has looked familiar to the Kelly years in Eugene has been the bevy of uniform options that makes Oregon one of the finest-looking teams in college football. Quarterback and Heisman candidate Justin Herbert and running back Tony Brooks-James anchor an offense that averaged over 52 points with Herbert as the signal caller. If that firepower can continue in 2018, the Ducks could be playing in the College Football Playoff once again.
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The City
If you want to question Eugene's place among the great college campuses, know that when one of the finest college, nee, finest movies ever created needed to find the quintessential college atmosphere to make "Animal House," they chose Eugene.
For those that like to partake in a beverage for the qualified age, there are over 41 breweries in Eugene and the Willamette Valley. They enjoy the frosty cold one so much, they named their downtown drinking hub, the "Barmuda Triangle." That doesn't include the various wineries along the rolling landscape either. In 2013, Eugene was named the top U.S. city for hippies. There are hiking trails and waterfalls to occupy your time. Take an excursion up Spencer Butte and breathe in the fresh mountain air as you gaze over a city full of greenery, redbrick buildings and oddly shaped homes. If the outdoors aren't your thing, Eugene is TrackTown, USA and Nike's befit almost every foot in Eugene–unless they're Birkenstocks.
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The Good
After Mystery had shrouded the real Springfield that spawned the Simpsons' hometown, it was revealed that it was actually Springfield, Oregon, right outside of Eugene. Moe's Tavern is actually Max's Tavern. Unfortunately, no one has yet to unmask the identity of the person Otto Mann is based off, something we all would like to know.
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The Bad
Make sure you update your iPod or Android with plenty of upbeat music. It rains over half the year in Eugene. Unless walking through endless precipitation is your thing, bring lots of socks. Sunglasses optional.
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Bottom Line
The people of Eugene are one of a kind, and the city itself exemplifies that uniqueness. They like to stay active, and actively drink, two things that tend to define the classic college town. Unfortunately, the Ducks on the football team, have been just ordinary as of late, but Cristobal hopes to change that.
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NEXT: Top 100 College Football Towns in America: No. 15 Boone, North Carolina
NEXT: The Ultimate College Football Road Trip
