Ducks Honor "The Catch" With New Road Throwback Uniforms

Patrick Johnson was a Husky killer.

A blazing fast sprinter and one of Oregon's all-time greatest wide receivers, Johnson ran the 100 meters in 10.26, the third-fastest ever for the Ducks. In all the Redlands, California product hauled in 103 passes at UO, for 1722 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he saved his best work for the team in Purple from Seattle.

In 1995 he sped 89 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return in a 24-22 win, the Ducks first in Husky Stadium in 15 years. That win gave the Webfoots two in a row over the Dawgs, breaking a string of 5 in a row by UW and 11 of the last 13.

Two years later Johnson struck again. It was 3rd and 20 with 2:38 left to go in the 4th quarter. Quarterback Akili Smith dropped back with the blitz coming and heaved a pass to his fleet wideout, single-covered in the right corner of the end zone. Johnson laid out and held on, giving the Ducks a 31-28 victory over the #6 Huskies in the Emerald City.

Recalling the play, Jerry Allen told a member of the Oregon uniform design team, "When I saw that play, with Pat Johnson catching that, that's when I started to believe that University of Oregon football could be what I hoped it could be."

Johnson made 2nd team All-PAC-10 as a wide receiver, 2nd team All-American as a return specialist during his four years at UO. In 1998 he became a second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens and logged 7 years in the NFL.

Yesterday Oregon introduced new throwback white road uniforms with ochre pants to honor the teams of the '90s and Johnson's historic play.