While Oregon's fortunes turned dramatically with Wheaton's interception, that ensuing run of success was not the only era of Ducks football worth considering. In fact, looking back to the 1950s and 1960s, fans fondly remember coach Len Casanova, who revived a moribund program and tutored future NFL stars such as Dave Wilcox and Mel Renfro. And, of course, Rich Brooks--even though his record was later surpassed by Mike Bellotti--enjoyed several successful seasons during his tenure, which began in 1977.

In What It Means to Be a Duck, fans can relive the up-and-downs of the past six decades and celebrate the traditions of Oregon football through the firsthand memories of the men who toiled on the turf at Hayward Field and Autzen Stadium. Author Rob Moseley tracked down some of the greatest names in Ducks history and asked them to share their fondest memories of playing in Eugene. The Oregon greats profiled include Jack Patera, the first coach of the Seattle Seahawks; Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and television analyst Dan Fouts; receiver Bobby Moore, who gained famed in the NFL as Ahmad Rashad; Pro Football Hall of Fame lineman Gary Zimmerman; and current NFL quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Joey Harrington.

While not every Oregon player enjoyed football success in the professional ranks, all learned important lessons from their experiences playing for the Ducks. Always something of an underdog compared to better-known national powerhouses, Oregon instilled in its players a spirit of hard work that has served many of them well in their postcollegiate careers. The former players' stories will remind readers of the value of persevering in the face of challenges and working as a team to achieve goals, themes that truly speak to what it means to be a Duck.