For years, Oklahoma State had the second-richest owner in college football in oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens. Pickens was OSU’s version of Phil Knight. He donated over $652 million to his alma mater until his death at the age of 91 in 2019. Unfortunately, for Cowboys athletics, Pickens died before the NIL era begun. The pre-NIL era was a simpler

Is Oregon the Next Oklahoma State?

Great thoughts to ponder, Darren, but especially for our younger ones.

I already lived this once, as I watched, losing Oregon Duck teams as a teenager in the 80s, (including the infamous toilet bowl of 1983)

Often times sporting a mullet.😜

Whatever happens with the Ducks, personally, I am never going back!😁

Excellent point to discuss. I’ve wondered about this as well.

I had to look up how old Phil Knight is; he’s 87.

Hoping Oregon makes this national championship happen sooner than later. Oregon doesn’t have the massive student body / alumni numbers to keep up with the likes of Mich. / tosu / Penn St. once the piggy bank runs dry.

Also would be nice to confirm if Phil Knight has things set up for Oregon after he’s gone, or if the rumors are a coping mechanism for a scenario us fans don’t want to face.

Oregon was just fine before PK came along...

🤣

1 hour ago, Krsmqn said:

Oregon was just fine before PK came along...

🤣

Agree to disagree.

1 hour ago, Krsmqn said:

Oregon was just fine before PK came along...

Who said sarcasm is dead. I can clearly see your tongue sticking out the side of your mouth.

Darren, not a thought I want to ponder. So, I will go with the conventional thought that IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

And if it does, then I hope Phil lives to 113, that way when I'm gone at 101 . . .

1) I won't live to see it.

2) I will have seen at least one Natty.

3) I will have seen us overtake ewe dub in our series with them.

Interesting topic. I’m sure OBD have had many internal discussions on it probably with PK himself. I don’t know what the answer is but since the Ducks have been leaders in innovation for the last couple decades, I’d bet it’s a good one.

I suppose that there could be a doomsday scenario ahead when PK leaves this earthly orb, but it would make no sense for his estate to not fund the U of O in all the capacities that it has in the past. Once you reach $35B in net worth I would imagine that legacy means more than anything else. I can't imagine that PK doesn't have an army of suits that will keep that legacy on track.

Some back of the napkin math:

PK net worth is $35-37B

PK Nike stock value is ~$23B (20% of Nike market cap of $115B)

PK other assets ~$12-15B

He just dropped a $2B donation to OHSU Knight Cancer Institute (granted, it is a promise and not endowed all at once) without budging Nike stock. That funding source was from Phil and Penny Knight's personal wealth. Add up all the UO athletic facilities he has funded, PK Park, MK Arena, Hatfield-Bowling Complex, Hayward Field, etc and you still fall well short of the OHSU gift.

All this is to say that PK has pledged 'unlimited' support for OBD's NIL and I don't think that changes once he is gone. That support is independent of Nike's market value. The rest of the college sports world may deride Oregon's good fortune sugar daddy, but better us than them. Looking at you, Cowpoke Gundy.🤠

The rumor from inside sources around two years ago was that after both Phil and Penny are gone...UO Athletics gets 8 billion. What about funding after Phil and before the loss of Penny? Unknown.

And all of this is rumor/conjecture and might be wishful thinking. But there is no doubt that with enough left in a Knight Endowment...the interest could pay for everything, and maybe NIL for Olympic sports as well?