What makes the ‘Walk to Autzen’ so special

By Miles Dwyer

EUGENE, Ore. — The Willamette River is rushing, leaves are falling from the trees, and not a soul on the Frohnmayer Bride (often known as the Autzen Footbridge) is headed south. Kickoff in the Oregon Ducks Friday night game against the Michigan State Spartans isn’t for another two hours, but based on the walking crowd’s pace, excitement, and average level of intoxication, you’d guess the game was starting five minutes. 

This is the walk to Autzen Stadium, the home of Oregon Ducks football. A mass of people begin their journey by heading north on Agate Street, across the Willamette River, and finally, the stream of fans that seems to never end takes a trek through the trees of Alton Baker Park. After a few minutes spent wandering through the forest, a massive Oregon “O” on the stadium’s facade emerges between tree leaves. 

The sounds, sights, and density of people create a lot of stimulation, but for many, the controlled chaos creates true beauty.

“It’s beautiful,” said Linda T. (she declined to provide her full last name), a longtime Ducks fan, while walking along the path to Autzen on Friday. “Absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking. The Willamette is awesome. The colors, the music, the fun, the crowd. The energy here is amazing.”

Oregon is entering its first season in the Big Ten, an athletic conference known for the long-standing traditions held by many of its member schools, especially in football. Oregon, along with the other West Coast schools which were added to the Big Ten in 2024, have been seen by many as outsiders, but rich tradition, like the ‘Walk to Autzen,’ could help Oregon football garner respect in its new conference.

“I have always thought that — and increasingly — this is one of the most iconic progressions into a football stadium in the country,” said Jim McGuigan, an Oregon alum who has attended countless Oregon football games.

For students at UO, the walk to Autzen isn’t an exercise in getting from Point A to Point B. Instead, the buildup to the game becomes as important, enjoyable, and memorable as the game itself.

“I think that’s like half the experience," said Connor Jaffe, a UO student who became a fan of Oregon football after enrolling at the university. “Just getting there, and leaving too, so I love it. I love crossing over the river. That’s one of my favorite parts. Another is the people that are performing on the side. It just kind of adds to the vibe.”