Though the uniforms have changed, no longer bearing his fighting countenance bursting through the block "O" logo, Donald Duck remains as one of the most recognizable and lovable mascots on the collegiate sports scene. The University of Oregon's first live mascot had surfaced in the 1920s. Puddles and his various offspring were part of the Duck sports scene until the early 1940s when repeated complaints from the Humane Society finally sucked the fun out of bringing a live duck to games. Puddles' memory was preserved in 1947 when Oregon's first athletic director struck a handshake arrangement with Walt Disney. The unique deal stood for 20 years, until the cartoonist's death in 1966. That's when both parties realized no formal contract existed granting the University the right to Donald's image. Disney representatives agreed to negotiate the first written contract in 1973 for the athletic department's continued use of Donald. |