W+K Portland launched a new spot for Nike, paying homage to the Oregon Ducks and the 1978 comedy Animal House (which was shot, in part, on the campus), entitled “Shout.”
The lengthy spot pays homage to the movie by recreating a pair of scenes from the movie, beginning with the school’s mascot getting his guitar smashed. It features a host of University of Oregon stars past and present and a musical performance by the seemingly ageless Otis Day and the Knights. Originally shot last January to be aired if the Ducks won the National Championship, the spot made its debut instead for last weekend’s match between the Ducks and the Michigan State Spartans.
The spot is something of a celebration of Nike’s roots, as both of its founders had ties to the University of Oregon: Phil Knight ran track at the school, was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was a sports reporter for the Oregon Daily Herald; Bill Bowerman coached track at the school for 24 years. Of course, most viewers will be unaware of the connection, but fans of the Ducks and Animal House should enjoy it nonetheless. Since being uploaded on Saturday, the video has racked up nearly 700,000 views on YouTube.