DUCKS MAKE MEMORABLE EAST-WEST CONNECTION ON TRIP TO TOKYO
Coach Lanning, Oregon Football Players Visit Japan for Inaugural Tokyo Oregon Football Showcase
Oregon’s football team is accustomed to flying east to take on its Big Ten rivals, but this offseason a select contingent of coaches and players flew to the Far East for a gathering of a completely different kind: the first-ever Tokyo Oregon Football Showcase. Presented by Flight Club, the multifaceted experience was mostly about football, partly about footwear—and all about goodwill.
“The Tokyo Oregon Football Showcase continues our legacy of creating innovative programs for student-athletes that are unmatched in the industry,” said Division Street CEO Rosemary St. Clair. “This event demonstrates how sport transcends borders and creates lasting cultural connections.”
Despite being the first of its kind, the event was built on a tradition of the state of Oregon and the city of Tokyo connecting through football that dates back to the mid-eighties and continues to this day at the high school level.
The inaugural Showcase focused on introducing the excitement of 7-on-7 American football to Japanese players, who have played American football for more than 100 years and whose flag football teams rank among the world’s best.
During the event at The American School in Japan (ASIJ), Oregon Football standouts Dante Moore, Dakorien Moore, Jamari Johnson, Jeremiah McClellan, Evan Stewart, Jordon Davison, and Dierre Hill Jr. worked with youth and demonstrated fundamental skills, core concepts and techniques, while Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning led a coaches clinic covering basic route combinations, offensive concepts, and broader tactical strategies.
“The opportunity to represent the University of Oregon in Tokyo was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Lanning said. “Football has taken all of us to incredible places, and it was special to connect with players and coaches who love this game as much as we do...and to be part of something that’s much bigger than one trip.”