Oregon's superb video department rolled out installment one of their in-house, "Hard Knocks" style video series, "That Team Out West" leading out with a 33-minute documentary film entitled, "Preparation." Oregon fans were awestruck. The rest of the Big Ten reacted with outrage and derision.
Senior Associate Director Scott Anderson displays a deft eye in telling the story of how the team takes its place, bonds together and defines the challenge of the first season in the Big Ten. Anderson and his team capture candid and intimate moments, vulnerability and courage. They show the coaches and players in retreat settings and summer workouts, then the first meetings and practices and fall camp.
It's a story of resolve, sacrifice and brotherhood. It's inspiring, marvelous storytelling.
"Preparation" captures the moment when Dan Lanning addressed the team the day before the start of fall practice. "What's it going to say about us? What it's going to say about 'That Team Out West?' We should be a pain in the ass to the teams we play. When they play The Team Out West, they should be a little bit nervous. For us to do that, what do we have to do about it first? PRACTICE. Fall camp starts tomorrow. Your chance to set the tone. What's it going to look like. What will they say at the end of this dot, dot, dot?"
"That Team Out West" was first an internal message within the program, a challenge to the group to identify themselves as the hunter and embrace the pressure of great expectations. In the world of social media, however, the conversation quickly devolved into derision and sneer. People were triggered. They lashed out, some hatefully, some with distortions and self-justifications.
bellevuehusky
@bellevuehusky
That team out west would be UW or USC. Actually go win something first. And enjoy Eugene haha.
David Withers
@DAVEWITHERS1963 ·
Can’t beat Washington btw
ronnie
@Ronaldhow ·
Insanely good cinematography. The shots of sisters and cannon beach were fire. The Team Out West has a nice ring to it… Especially when combined with the sounds of other fanbases crying about it
That's just a sample. The byplay and slander went out for 195 replies and 385,00 views. In truth, it doesn't matter how others define you or your purpose. What has power is the story we tell ourselves, and how we choose to prepare for the crucial moments of that story.
Over the last 16 seasons the Ducks have won 153 games and 6 conference championships. They enter the 2024 season as the third-ranked team in the nation and the second favorite to win the Big Ten in their first season in the conference.
They are the team out west, the one squad of the four new members that's prepared to win now and compete at the highest level. USC's accomplishments are a distant memory. UCLA lies in disarray. Washington had its brush with destiny and fell short. This season they are fielding a team with a patchwork offensive line, one that ranks 134th in the FBS in returning production, with a new quarterback, a new offensive and defensive coordinator, a new coach.
In the series, Oregon has won 15 of the last 20 games. The Dawgs have had a moment, a Covid bubble roster loaded with 5th- and 6th-year seniors, but that moment is over. Only two of 24 starters return from that team including specialists. The cycle has spun to a new place.
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