Matt Carney's “Coming Home (Oregon)” is an iconic song played during the intermission between the first and second quarters of University of Oregon football games. This is a tradition that started when the Eugene native released her own song in 2015. It's also the song that Liv Ingamells touches down every time she lands at Eugene Airport. This is a ritual she started before her freshman year at UO in 2023. Since school holidays, she turns on the “Go Ducks” playlist and “Coming Home (Oregon)” is at the top of the queue.
Young Duck first heard this song on IntroDUCKtion. And now she'll hear this song live from the field at her stadium, Autzen, at her first spring game on April 27th.
Oregon football fans learned through social media on April 8 that Carney and his band would be “back” for a postgame concert in Autzen. In an Instagram post for the Goducks, head coach Dan Lanning said the folk-pop musician “received a favor” and he happily accepted the invitation.
“When I found out, I immediately texted my roommate,” said Ingamells, a California native. “Of course we love to sing 'Shout,' but there's something about his songs that touches the heart. Even though I've only known this song for less than a year, I feel like I've been singing this song forever. ”
For some Oregon students, this song has actually been playing on their family stereos and speakers since they were little.
“I grew up listening to Matt. Every time we traveled to Oregon to visit my grandmother, my mother would play this song for us,” said the third-year business major. Thatcher Downard said. “All my memories of coming to Oregon are encapsulated in this song, and it always reminds me of my family and my love for Oregon.”
Downard's mother, grandmother and two brothers, both Duck alumni and fellow juniors, will also be in Autzen on Saturday for an intrasquad scrimmage and an outdoor open-access show.
“After that day, I think my whole family will lose our voices from rooting for the Ducks and screaming the lyrics to Carney songs,” the Arkansas native said. He said the spring game is the closest thing to a college football scene in the South, with the streets crowded before the game and the weather sunny and in the '70s.
The prospect of being able to watch soccer with friends in Autzen on a sunny day is particularly appealing to UO senior Cameron Truong. “I love the atmosphere and the attire of the spring game. Everyone is there to have fun, and it's one of the few games where you don't have to dress up and wear jeans.”
Saturday's game will be Truong's last time sitting in style in either Section 7 or 8, the student-only seats at UO, but for many Oregon State football players, it will be Truong's last time in front of energetic Duck fans. This will be my first time showing off my skills.
So in addition to the traditional spring game festivities, many student fans also look forward to scouting the new additions to Oregon State's stacked roster.
“I watched Dillon Gabriel play a little bit last season at Oklahoma, so I'm interested to see how he does here at Oregon,” freshman Julien Rousseau-Tuan said. Gabriel will make his Duck debut in Eugene and take command behind the offensive line, while former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is in Detroit, Michigan for the final round of the NFL Draft.
In addition to the quarterback's projected rookie and jersey number, there are also some on campus and in the fan base, including wide receiver Evan Stewart, defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell, defensive back Aaron Flowers and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. There are also some notable transfers and early enrollees that have sparked debate.
“I would love to see Jabbar do the viral celebration of drawing the outline of a box and placing two thumbs up,” Rousseau-Tuan said, mimicking the move. Fans can see the team's newest stars and learn about some of their customized celebrations.
No matter the reason students attend the spring game, whether it's Carney, the weather, or a new roster, Duck football fans will be at Autzen Stadium as the team closes out spring with its annual spring game. “I'll be back.” When the gates opened at noon and chants of “Sko Ducks” rang out, the stadium said, “Oh, I left my heart in Oregon. Yeah, I left my heart in Oregon (Yeah).”
