Canzano: Indiana throws wrench in Oregon Ducks' season
Oregon loses to Indiana, 30-20... what now?
EUGENE — The elevator operator at Autzen Stadium received a series of text message alerts regarding Phil Knight’s arrival before Oregon’s game against Indiana on Saturday.
Knight and his party were in a car on Country Club Road.
Then, they were in the stadium parking lot.
Then, Knight was being ushered up the ramp, riding shotgun in a golf cart.
“They are headed your way now,” the text message read.
I don’t know what you did on Saturday afternoon, but I watched Knight, 87, spill out of the front seat of that golf cart and use a cane to steady himself. Then, I rode the press box stadium elevator up three floors alongside him.
Indiana humbled Oregon, 30-20, on Saturday. The Hoosiers won the line of scrimmage on offense, bullied the Ducks on defense, made more plays, and danced off with the key to the Big Ten Conference penthouse.
Knight was in Eugene to see it. His best buddy, Ken O’Neil, was by his side. As the elevator doors closed behind us, Knight positioned himself in the right-back corner and shook my hand. Then, it fell quiet for a beat before ‘Shoe Dog’ broke the silence with a verbal jab.
“I’m still waiting for the retraction on your Penn State pick,” Knight said.