Oregon to celebrate Lewis and Clark history with ‘Pioneer’ uniforms

Oregon will break out new uniforms on Saturday against Washington State, and this time, it isn’t just about different colors. The uniform’s grey base was inspired by the achromatic look of a vintage map, with black numbering laid overtop. Lewis is seen looking through a telescope, with the Oregon Duck pointing west in front of the them.

“We have many discussions with the Oregon athletes, equipment staff and coaches”, Todd Van Horne, creative director for Nike Football said in a statement. Sewn inside the jersey’s collar is the phrase “Salute The State”.

The jerseys actually feature what Nike calls a “sublimated, tonal pattern of the Oregon Trail traversed by explorers”.

Fans can buy special-edition jerseys, shirts and other apparel at Duck Store locations and nike.com starting Monday. Because Oregon is the darling of nearby juggernaut Nike, the Ducks football team gets new uniforms roughly once per game.

This maverick heritage is similarly embodied by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who introduced Oregon to the east in 1805, as a part of the Corps of Discovery commissioned by Thomas Jefferson.

The back of the helmet has a 33-star flag as Oregon was the 33rd state accepted into the union in 1859.

Oregon is a state rich in history dating back to the days of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805. To highlight Oregon, the map covers northeastern and southern Oregon, as well as Eugene and Mount Hood.