People often label Oregon the University of Nike. This nickname is extremely appropriate. The innovative retail giant has invested millions into Oregon Football alone. It's support put the program on the map. A position that gave it a much needed national spotlight. Now the program is in trouble and it's future is looking bleak. Will Nike invest even more resources to revive the dying program ?
The Nike UO fund is beginning to resemble the American debt. As the age old expression goes, you can't buy a championship. But you can try. Oregon has reached the championship game twice since the Nike era began. That was then and this is now. The Ducks are absolutely terrible. It's bowl game or bust for the once prosperous program. With the future
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If Nike wants to maintain it's $86.2 billion dollar net worth it needs to be smart. The company can't afford to make bad investments. Investing millions if not billions more into the University of Oregon could be a terrible move. A decision that the company may regret for years to come. Phil Knight's decision to permanently step down, makes the decision even more difficult. Knight not Nike has so far been responsible for the private financial donations. However Nike has donated numerous other things; including giving the football program custom uniforms.
According to Forbes Nike Co Founder and former chairman Phil Knight still has $26.7 billion laying around. He can't spend it all on stop-motion films. Meaning that he will still have a couple of billion to invest in Oregon Football. Money isn't the programs only problem but it's a major one. College Football programs don't win on their own. They win with money and talent. Right now Oregon is lacking both.
Top football programs such as Ohio State or Utah have a simple recruiting philosophy. Find the best talent capable of fitting our style . This none cookie cutter approach is ideal. It allows the program to bake a new batch extremely fast. The Chip Kelly method is much different. Once you run out of product it takes a long time to create new ones. If Nike chefs won't bake in the kitchen; Oregon football will be in