Oregon Debuts 'Grateful Ducks' Uniforms vs. Wisconsin

Oregon will debut its 'Grateful Ducks' tie-dye uniforms Saturday against Wisconsin and has urged fans to stage a stadium-wide 'tie-dye out' to mark the school's long relationship with the Grateful Dead. The black uniforms feature green-and-yellow tie-dye numbers, a swirling tie-dye 'O' on the helmet, Grateful Dead–inspired patches and the band's dancing bears reimagined as dancing ducks. Nike collaborations include apparel drops, a leaked Grateful Ducks Air Max 90 and thermal-reactive cleats, and merchandise — including a jersey drop announced for Oct. 24 — will be timed around the game with local retail options for fans. The tribute draws on deep local history: the Grateful Dead played numerous Eugene shows, including 10 at Autzen between 1974 and 1994 and earlier campus dates going back to 1968. On the field, the game is a must-win to keep Oregon's Big Ten title and College Football Playoff hopes alive as Wisconsin enters in a prolonged slump, and Oregon staff and coach Dan Lanning have promoted the look as a cultural nod and branding/recruiting advantage.