Founded in 1999 as the brainchild of former basketball coach Ernie Kent and the university’s sports marketing program, the discussion for creative ways to incorporate a more cohesively organized student section had begun. With a small sample size of the student body interested in taking action, the meetings began to grow tremendously. These passionate thirty students, including Oregon Ducks footba
ll legend and former Pit Crew President Joey Harrington, evolved into what we know the Pit Crew as today: the largest student group on campus. Their mission statement was simple: they wanted a unified body of students interested in making our old basketball arena, McArthur Court, one of the most feared in the country. Interested in equal opportunity and acting as a positive influence on the University of Oregon campus, the goal was to enhance the collegiate experience of the students attending sporting events. Firmly dedicated to enriching the lives of our student body, the Pit Crew continues to form a formidable social connection for all fans on campus. The atmosphere created has now become nationally recognized as one of the most prestigious in all of college sports, as Oregon fans have been named as the best fans in the country by sources including the likes of Kirk Herbstreit. With such passion at the forefront of the university, students feel at home and in place amidst their stay in the unique college town of Eugene, Oregon.