LaMichael James recalls inhaling deeply when he entered the Rose Bowl field in 2012.
James told The Oregonian/OregonLive over the phone on Tuesday that the grass smells different when you enter the Rose Bowl. It nearly seems as though the history is odorous.
In his final game at Oregon, James would carry for 159 yards and a touchdown, helping the Ducks defeat Wisconsin 45-38 in an exciting contest that was the program’s first Rose Bowl triumph in the modern period.
This year, the legendary Ducks running back will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, solidifying his place in the annals of the Granddaddy of Them All. He and fellow inductees Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) and Reggie Bush (USC) will be honored on the field at the Rose Bowl game, where Oregon will face the winner of the No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee game, as well as at a ceremony on December 31 and the 136th Rose Parade the following day.
“To be honest, I was a little on the fence when I found out a few months ago,” James remarked. I wasn’t very interested in spending New Year’s Day in Los Angeles. I just wanted to relax. However, it’s a tremendous accomplishment, particularly to be included with someone like Reggie Bush, who I admired as a child. It’s unbelievable.
In 2023, James joined Bush in being inducted into the Oregon and collegiate football halls of fame following three thrilling seasons in Eugene and four in the NFL. James, 35, who owns and runs three Killer Burger locations in Oregon, claimed to have closely followed the Ducks’ unbeaten 2024 campaign.
James said he was thrilled to learn that No. 1 Oregon will be traveling to the Rose Bowl for its College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup.
“Obviously, I was hoping Oregon would defeat Penn State so they could advance to the Rose Bowl,” James remarked. And I thought, “Dude, Oregon is going to the Rose Bowl,” when the clock struck zero. I’m entering the Hall of Fame at Rose Bowl. This is the best thing you could have written.
This is a huge blessing for me. Since I haven’t attended a game this year, I’m also quite eager. I’m so delighted for Dan Lanning and Oregon. This weekend is going to be fantastic.
Now that Oregon has returned to the national spotlight, James is not just another well-known alumnus jumping on the bandwagon. He has seen every game this season and describes himself as a devoted fan, laughing as he acknowledges how engrossed he is.
“Watching Oregon is my life’s work,” James remarked, laughing. Just to watch Oregon, I’m very certain I’ve missed something with my kids this year. Just a big Lanning fan. They play the game correctly, and it’s clear that they get along well with one another. There isn’t any hype or filler. They simply complete the task. Their physical attributes include size, speed, strength, and discipline. All the qualities you look for in a winning squad.
The mid-1990s teams are credited by those involved in the Oregon football program with establishing the groundwork and motivating alumnus and mega-donor Phil Knight to begin funding football. Following a gradual rise in the 2000s, which included a victory over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl in 2002, James’ teams from 2009 to 2011 were crucial in launching the Ducks’ national debut and brand expansion.
The Ducks and James’ Rose Bowl triumph over the Badgers was preceded by defeats to Ohio State in the 2010 Rose Bowl and Auburn in the 2011 BCS national championship game. Players from his generation (and Marcus Mariota’s shortly after) raced quickly and in gaudy clothes, according to James, so that Lanning’s 2024 squad could finally approach and take a sledgehammer to the Big Ten.
“You don’t realize it’s bigger than just you when you’re in that moment,” James added. Those around you who laid that foundation are impacted when you succeed. Everyone is concerned—the state, the city, the university. Wearing the Oregon jersey is an honor, and it has significance. In particular, to those who established the groundwork. Phil Knight, coaches, players, and supporters. being in a position to complete it. This 2024 team has built on that foundation, and I’m really proud of it.
When James is honored on the field on January 1, he has been negotiating with Rose Bowl officials to wear an Oregon jacket rather than his Rose Bowl Hall of Fame jacket. He quipped that, despite the fact that it causes him to perspire, he intends to wear the Ducks jacket underneath the Hall of Fame one if everything else fails.
However, James claimed that both this team and his Oregon teams have demonstrated that clothing is irrelevant.
It was all about the uniforms when I visited Oregon, as I recall. According to James, everything had swag, they had a ton of different combinations, and they changed their uniforms every week. Chip Kelly advised us to focus more on our playing style and less on our clothes. It soon began to arrive. You had to admit that Oregon is excellent, even though it was fly and all that.
tangible. Being ostentatious, yet ultimately handling business behind the lines. And this year in particular, you see that in action. Marcus’s and my teams laid the groundwork. The person behind the uniforms is what matters.
Rose Bowl quarterfinal for the CFP
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Who:
No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-0) vs. No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 Tennessee
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When:
Wednesday, Jan. 1
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Time:
2 p.m. PT
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Where:
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
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TV channel:
ESPN
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Stream:
You canwatch this game live for FREE with Fubo
(free trial) or
by signing up for Sling
(cheapest streaming plans, $25 off your first month). If you already have cable, you can also watch this game live on
Watch ESPN
with your cable or satellite provider login information.
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Oregon Ducks football 2024 season schedule, scores
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–The Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference are covered by Ryan Clarke. Get the Ducks Roundup email or listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast.
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