Laura Smit Emerald
A mysterious metal figure that many believe represents Bill Bowerman, the legendary coach who died on Christmas Eve 1999, has
been on the back row of the east grandstand at Hayward Field for a year. An anonymous person placed the statue in the east stands.
Community shows support
■A statute has been put
up in tribute to track and field
coach Bill Bowerman
By Hank Hager
Oregon Daily Emerald
The man who has been compared
to legendary coaches John Wooden,
Vince Lombardi and Paul “Bear”
Bryant has returned, in a way, to pre
side over the field where he was once
king. The likeness of Bill Bowerman,
who led his troops at Hayward Field
for 24 years, seems to be back on the
home turf.
A mysterious shape that many be
lieve symbolizes Bowerman has ap
peared in the east grandstand of one
of track and field’s most historic fa
cilities.
Bowerman, the men’s track and
field head coach from 1949 to 1972,
passed away on Christmas Eve
1999. Almost a year later, a metal
figure made its way to the back row
of the east grandstand at the stadi
um. Fitted by woodscrews and
washers, the silhouette lies between
the “E” and the “G” on the “ORE
GON” sign.
Women’s head track and field
coach Tom Heinonen said whoever
placed the figure spent a lot of time
on it.
Heinonen said although the sil
houette reminds him more of a “skin
ny young guy in a T-shirt” than it does
Bowerman, to think that his spirit
may be overlooking the field is com
forting.
Bob Beals, director of facilities,
events and operations for the Ath
letic Department, said the figure
appeared because someone from
the Eugene community placed it
there. Who might have done so is
still unknown, he said.
“No one has stepped forward and
said I have put it there,’” he said.
The silhouette is in place because
the community is in support of the
program, said Geoff Thurner, assis
tant director of media services for
the Athletic Department.
“It’s there because of the love of
the community of the sport,” he
said.
Thurner said the east grandstand is
currently undergoing a re-condition
ing of the pillars below the stands, and
anyone interested in the figure will
have to look at it through a chain-link
fence.
He said the Athletic Department
has no plans to remove the silhouette
because it does not harm the grand
stand. He added that the department
understands it was affixed there be
cause the community respects the
program, and will allow the figure to
remain.
Assistant men’s track and field
coach Tony Veney said the figure is
a nice tribute to the famous coach.
“It just shows respect for a man
who brought a lot to the communi
ty,” he said.
Veney said he met Bowerman in
1971 when he was being recruited
by the program. Although he at
tended UCLA instead of Oregon,
Bowerman impressed Veney with
his demeanor.
“He was just really dedicated to
his sport and his athletes,” he said.
Born in 1911 in Fossil, Ore., Bow
erman lived in Seattle and Portland
before attending the University in
1929. After four years of playing
only football and basketball, he de
cided to run the 440-yard dash and
switched to running track. In 1934,
Bowerman graduated with a degree
in business administration.
Fourteen years later, Bowerman re
turned to the University and took
over the men’s head track and field
coaching position. Bowerman would
remain at the post until 1972, when
he retired.
“He was the guy that elevated
track at Oregon to a national world
class level,” Heinonen said.
Heinonen said even though Bow
erman was solely a men’s coach, he
revolutionized the women’s side of
the sport. He said Bowerman helped
bring jogging to the U.S., which is the
basis for the women’s sport.
He added Bowerman was a
prominent figure, but not the easi
est to get along with.
“Bowerman was revered, but at
the same time he was tough and
hard to get along with,” he said. “He
worked hard to get his way. ”
During his tenure at the University,
Bowerman provided Phil Knight
with the inspiration for Nike. Bower
man’s experiment with a waffle iron
and rubber materials created the first
waffle-soled running shoe, which led
to his partnership with Knight and
the creation of Nike.
While coaching at the University,
Bowerman helped produce 31
Olympic athletes as well as 51 All
Americans. His teams won four
NCAA titles and finished in the top
10 during 16 of the 24 years he
coached.
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