Oregon's annual Spring Football Game is scheduled for Saturday April 26, 1:00 p.m. PDT at Autzen Stadium.
Thursday morning the athletic department announced via social media that Duck legends Mike Bellotti and Rich Brooks will serve as guest coaches. Bucky Irving will be assisting Coach Brooks, while Christian Gonzalez, 2023 first round draft pick of the New England Patriots, will assist Bellotti.
Bellotti wore the headset as head coach at UO from 1995-2008, the winningest coach in school history with a record of 116-55, a No. 2 ranking in 2001. His teams won six bowl games and the PAC-12 Championship twice.
Legends return.
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) April 10, 2025
Excited to announce our guest coaches for the 2025 Spring Game!#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/02rtgkZ9dc
Coach Brooks brought Oregon out of the dark period known as "The Suffering," He led the Ducks to their first bowl in 26 years when his 1989 team won the Independence Bowl, 27-24 over Tulsa. His 1994 squad captured the conference championship and a Rose Bowl berth but lost 38-20 to Penn State.
Even so, the rise of the 1994 team signaled a change in Oregon football, shaken from mediocrity by the resilience and toughness of the Gang Green defense, matched by a plucky offensive group led by quarterback Danny O'Neil, tight end Josh Wilcox and wide receivers Pat Johnson and Cristin McLemore.
The two legendary head coaches have maintained a friendly rivalry over the years on the golf course. A small wager on their renewed football clash would be expected, For the teams, the winning squad gets steak and lobster. The losers dine on beans and weenies.
Current head coach Dan Lanning is committed to having a spring game, even though several schools have jettisoned the tradition over injury, scouting and portal poaching concerns. "As long as I'm here, we'll be having a spring game," he said after the team's first practice in March.
"I think it's the best way for us to get better. We're absolutely going to have a spring game and play football in the spring game. We just mentioned new faces, I think that's a great opportunity. Autzen is one of those places where we have a spring game and it's a gameday environment. So creating that environment for those players and the competition that exists in that and our fans and what they bring to that. I think it's a huge piece."
The ties to tradition and coaches and players of the past just adds spice to the annual contest. Admission is free, with fans encouraged to bring nonperishable food for Food for Lane County. In past seasons the event has pulled in attendance of over 40,000, with 72,537 pounds of food and $1,192.59 donated to the local food bank.
It's a chance for Oregon fans to get a fresh look at quarterbacks Dante Moore and Austin Novosad, sensational freshman wide receiver Dakorien Moore, running back Makhi Hughes, and new safety Dillon Thieneman, among many others.