Dreams usually take a lifetime to achieve. It’s something we use to continue to push ourselves to constantly keep moving forward to reach our goals. But what happens when you reach that goal at 18? That’s where Tanner Smith found himself when he first dawned the green and yellow. Smith has not only continued to keep pushing for the betterment of himself, but also, for the betterment of the team. That drive has helped push Smith up the Duck baseball record books, something he’s dreamed about since he was a boy. 

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is Oregon baseball’s Tanner Smith…A Duck Born and Raised in SC

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Do it nice or do it twice. The mindset of a perfectionist can be a tortuously rewarding experience. Always giving it your best effort is something every athlete, whether amateur or professional, has been taught since they were in grade school. Having that mindset is tough in softball, when getting a hit less than half the time puts you in the record books. Allee Bunker has re-written the records during her time at Oregon, whether it be on the diamond or off. In the field of play, Bunker will finish off her Ducks career in the top 5 in hits, runs and RBIs. Those mind-blowing stats aren’t lost on Bunker, something she says she’ll cherish with her forever.

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is Ducks softball infielder Allee Bunker…Perfect Game.

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Adam Snyder is the definition of a grinder. Head down. Do your job. The rest will fall into place. Snyder wasn’t highly recruited out of high school. He wasn’t a top draft pick in the NFL. Even after being selected in the 3rd round of the NFL draft, he wasn’t sure if he belonged. But all that added fuel to the fire and drove Snyder to be the hardest worker in the room. After a stellar career as a Duck and a decade in the NFL, Snyder still has that edge to be the very best that he can be.

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is former offensive lineman Adam Snyder: Rising from the Trenches

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The sentiment when it comes to kickers in football is they have the easiest job in the world. Run on the field. Kick the ball. Run back to the sidelines. Mission accomplished. Rinse. Repeat. Camden Lewis wants you to know that’s there a tad more that goes into it. A soccer goalie in high school with the nickname “Cannon” because of his leg strength, Lewis tried out for the football team and fell in love with the game. But he also knew he’d have to work his tail off to get where he wanted to be. The effort would pay off as Lewis was offered a scholarship at Oregon. It hasn’t always been easy, but the kicker originally from Carolina has carved out a place in the history books for the Ducks. 

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is Oregon football’s kicker, Camden Lewis: Just for Kicks

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Professional athletes are creatures of habit. The same routine day in and day out helps them block out all the noise and focus on the job at hand…winning. Tyler Anderson is a self-described tinkerer, making change in his life a part of his routine. The 20th overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft, Anderson has continued to hone his craft and makes changes all for the better. Injuries would force Anderson to have to wait five years before making his big-league debut, but getting to the show hasn’t stopped him from tinkering. Coming off the best season of his career for the Dodgers, Anderson is ready to get back to work for the L.A. Angels this year. But not before stopping by to chat about his time as a Duck

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is former Ducks pitcher Tyler Anderson: Everything is Earned

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Trust the process. That phrase has become a part of pop culture verbiage in the last decade, thanks in large part to the Philadelphia 76ers. At the core of the phrase is to not worry about the dark times and difficult situations because brighter days are ahead. And what better way to describe Terra McGowan’s collegiate softball career. A star high schooler on the diamond and in the classroom, McGowan went to Arizona State to play ball for the Sun Devils. Culturally, ASU wasn’t the right fit for McGowan. Her mental health was too important. Eugene provided the perfect fit culturally. But the tough times continued as she had to sit out her freshman year after transferring…and then COVID…followed by an injury that cut short her junior year. But, after trusting the process, McGowan is flourishing as a senior for the Ducks…and enjoying every moment of it.

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast. And this is Oregon softball’s Terra McGowan: All Part of the Plan.

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Ernie Kent made a name for himself as a player who left everything he had on the court in the late 70s with the Kamikaze Kids. Sacrificing his body for his teammates would take a toll, as injuries would cut short any pro aspirations. That wasn’t the end of Kent’s basketball journey though. Not by a long shot. In part two of my chat with Ernie, we dive into his resume as a coach, which started with a trip across the globe and culminated with the realization of a dream job. 

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is part two of our conversation with Ernie Kent: Forging His Own Path

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Ernie Kent had never been west of the Mississippi River before heading to Eugene. An All-American in high school, Kent would arrive on campus not knowing much about the Ducks but could feel just how one-of-a-kind Eugene really was. Kent wanted to be apart of something special and he would find that in coach Dick Harter’s Ducks, or as their most commonly referred to, the Kamikaze Kids. In part one of my chat with Kent, we look back at his childhood growing up, getting to Eugene and what it was like playing for those special teams in the 1970s. 

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast and this is part one of our conversation with Ernie Kent: Becoming a Kamikaze Kid.

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Chance Gray and Grace VanSlooten of the Ducks women’s basketball team have been on each others radar since a very young age. Gray is a product Cincinnati, Ohio and VanSlotten is from 200 miles north, in Toldeo, Ohio. That relatively close proximity lead both young ladies to playing for the same AAU team in the Buckeye state. A friendship developed that impacted each on and off the court, and ultimately led them both to the 541.

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast…and this is Chance Gray and Grace VanSlooten: A Package Deal.

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Men’s basketball guard Rivaldo Soares is a product of the American dream. A first generation American with Cape Verdean descent, Soares father came to the States looking for a better life. Through hard work and determination, that dream was achieved in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, Rivaldo had a dream himself. To one day be a Duck. And with the lessons learned from his father…hard-work and determination…Soares has had his dreams come true.

This is the Mighty Oregon podcast, and this is Rivaldo Soares: The American Dream in Eugene

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