{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/ducks_rushmore.png","caption":"

Head Oregon women's basketball coach Kelly Graves said that Sabrina Ionescu "certainly" belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of Oregon athletics and it got us thinking.

Who should be on it?

Let's break it down.

"},{"index":3,"title":"Sabrina Ionescu","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/usatsi_14161050.jpg","caption":"

First up in the media gallery is Sabrina Ionescu, the woman that inspired this article herself.

You’re probably well aware of her many accolades as a student-athlete at Oregon but here’s a quick rundown:

All-time leader in triple-doubles for a college basketball player regardless of gender
Only player ever to record 2000 points 1000 rebounds and 1000 assists in a collegiate basketball career
Two-time Wooden Award Winner - Most Oustanding Player
Three-time Nancy Lieberman Winner - National Point Guard of the Year
Three-time Pac-12 Player of the Year
Nasmith Player of the Year
Two-time Wade Trophy Winner - National Player of the Year
First overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft

And there's more but you get the idea.

Sabrina's No. 20 will be in the rafters sooner than later at the house that she built: Matthew Knight Arena.

"},{"index":5,"title":"Marcus Mariota","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/uw_2014.jpg","caption":"

The next most obvious choice has to be the other GOAT of Oregon athletics, Marcus Mariota.

As the only winner of the Heisman Trophy in program history, he's the best player in Oregon football history by default.

In three years as the starter for Oregon, Mariota won a Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, and took the program to its second-ever National Championship where the Ducks fell short 42-20 to the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, the Ducks trailed just 21-20 in the third quarter before the talent disparity between the two teams was too much for Mariota and Oregon to overcome.

He owns the Pac-12 records for career touchdowns (135), single-season total offense (5,224), single-season total touchdowns (58), freshman passing touchdowns (32) and passes attempted without an interception (353).

Additionally, he owns the Oregon program records for career total offensive yards (13,089), career passing yards (10,801), career passing touchdowns (105), single-season passing yards (4,454), single-season passing touchdowns (42), and single-game passing touchdowns (6 at Cal in 2012).

He would go on to be the highest-drafted Ducks player ever at second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans.

"},{"index":7,"title":"Steve Prefontaine ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/im12880_native_1600.jpeg","caption":"

Next, it has to be Steve Prefontaine who's one of, if not the, most iconic athletes to come out of the University of Oregon.

Pre attended Oregon from 1970-73 and trained under legendary track and field head coach Bill Bowerman where he set every American record for each distance from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters while preparing for the 1976 Olympics. While running as a Duck, Pre never lost a race longer than one mile and won 120/153 total races ran during his four-year career. His popularity has been credited for one of the driving forces of the 1970s "running boom."

However, in 1975 Pre suffered a fatal car accident in Eugene leaving him dead at the scene but his legend lives on throughout all of the track and field community. Pre's Rock still stands where his death occurred and runners frequently leave behind memorabilia to honor his memory to this day.

Now, the university hosts the annual Prefontaine Classic each year since 1975 in honor of him.

"},{"index":9,"title":"Edward Cheserek","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/bn-hi413_track0_p_20150310135812.jpg","caption":"

The last spot on the Mt. Rushmore is the only one up to debate in my eyes with many deserving candidates but in the end, it came down to two men, with the slight edge going to Edward Cheserek.

While he ran track for Oregon from 2013-2017, Cheserek was a 21-time All-American, 17-time NCAA Champion (14 Track, 3 Cross Country) winning the NCAA Outdoors 5,000 Meters Championship twice (2015, 2016), the NCAA Outdoors 10,000 Meters Championship three times )2014, 2015, 2016), the NCAA Indoor 3,000 Meters Championship three times (2014, 2016, 2017), the NCAA Indoor Distance Medley Relay Championship twice (2015, 2016), and the NCAA Indoor Mile Championship (2015).

The Ducks won National Titles in Outdoor Championships in 2015 and 2017 and Indoor Championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 with Cheserek running.

"},{"index":11,"title":"Honorable Mention: Phil Knight","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/usatsi_13324831.jpg","caption":"

Phil Knight would be the first choice if the Mt. Rushmore was extended to five people.

While he's made a larger impact on Oregon athletics than nearly any of the people chosen, he was kept off the list because although he was once a student-athlete at Oregon, his major contributions to the programs came after he graduated and founded Nike.

Even the now-iconic Oregon "O" logo was a result of Phil Knight wanting to use Nike to rebrand Oregon athletics and win a national championship in every sport, as detailed in The Uniform Craze That Revolutionized College Football, an NBC Sports NW podumentary on the Sports Uncovered podcast feed.

Without Phil Knight, Oregon is not only the national brand it is today but the university it is today.

"},{"index":13,"title":"Honarable Mention: Penei Sewell","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/usatsi_13864857.jpg","caption":"

While he wasn't in serious consideration for the list having only played two seasons, it wouldn't be too surprising for Sewell to make a case by the end of next season.

He became the first sophomore in college football to win the Outland Trophy this past season, an award given to the nation's best lineman. How good was his performance? PFF said he's the highest-graded offensive lineman they've ever seen and he even received a Heisman vote last year.

Sewell is the consensus best non-quarterback prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft and could become the first Oregon player to be selected first overall if a team not needing a QB gets the top selection.

"},{"index":15,"title":"Honorable Mention: Payton Pritchard","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/usatsi_14143228.jpg","caption":"

Pritchard is arguably the best player in Oregon men's basketball history.

As a freshman, he started on the program's first Final Four team since 1939. If Chris Boucher doesn't tear his ACL in the Pac-12 Tournament, the Ducks likely win the National Championship that season.

As a junior, he led the Ducks to a Sweet 16 appearance as a 12-seed after winning 10 straight games before losing to eventual National Champion Virginia 53-49.

Then he saved the best for last. He returned to Eugene for his senior season and was one of the nation's best players. He averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds while leading the Ducks to a Pac-12 Championship.

Those performances led to Pritchard being the program's first consensus All-American, winning the Bob Cousy Award which recognizes the best point guard in the country, winning the Lute Olsen National Player of the Year Award, and being a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year.

If the coronavirus doesn't cancel the NCAA Tournament, Oregon would have been dangerous because Pritchard would have been the best player on the floor in nearly any matchup.

"},{"index":17,"title":"Honorable Mention: Dana Altman","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/usatsi_14143247.jpg","caption":"

Entering his eleventh season as head coach of the Oregon Ducks, Dana Altman is easily the best head coach in program history.

All-time program leader in wins
Three-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2013, 2016, 2019)
Three-time Pac-12 Regular-Season Champions (2016, 2017, 2020)
Three-time Pac-12 Tournament Champions (2013, 2016, 2019)
Four Sweet 16 appearances (2013, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Two Elite 8 appearances (2016, 2017)
One Final Four (2017)
One healthy Chris Boucher ACL away from a National Championship

If he can bring home a National Championship before retiring, he may get onto the mountain.

"},{"index":19,"title":"Honorable Mention: Chip Kelly","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/2012_storm_trooper_usc.jpg","caption":"

Oregon football was never better than when Chip Kelly was running the program.

While only head coach from 2009-2012, the Ducks went to a BCS Bowl Game each of his four seasons in Eugene, winning two of them: 2012 Rose Bowl and 2013 Fiesta Bowl.

He won the Pac-12 three times in four seasons and coached the program's only undefeated regular-season in 2010 before falling to Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers 22-19 in the program's first National Championship appearance.

"},{"index":21,"title":"Honorable Mention: Joey Harrington","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/2001_oregon_away.jpg","caption":"

Joey Harrington was instrumental in the rise of Oregon football.

Or should we say, Joey Heisman?

Harrington was a three-year starter for the Ducks from 1999-2001 climaxing in arguably the best Oregon Ducks team of all time in his senior season.

The 2001 Oregon Ducks went 11-1 and had it not been for the BCS algorithm would have been playing in the program's first national championship that season. Instead, they played the No. 3 Colorado Buffaloes in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl where Harrington threw for 350 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-16 victory.

He then would get selected third overall in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

"},{"index":23,"title":"Honorable Mention: Mike Bellotti","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/bellottifinal.jpg","caption":"

Before Chip Kelly, there was Mike Bellotti, Oregon football's head coach from 1995-2008 winning 2 Pac-10 Championships in 2000 and 2001.

However, the 2007 team was ranked second in the nation and well on its way to a national championship before Dennis Dixon tore his ACL.

By the time he retired and transitioned the program into the hands of Chip Kelly, Bellotti was the all-time winningest coach in Oregon football history.

Oregon football isn't the national brand it is today if Bellotti doesn't coach the program up or have a conversation with Phil Knight following the Fiesta Bowl loss to Colorado in 1995 that changed Oregon, and college football, forever, as detailed in The Uniform Craze That Revolutionized College Football, an NBC Sports NW podumentary on the Sports Uncovered podcast feed.

"},{"index":25,"title":"Honorable Mention: Bill Bowerman","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/bowerman_with_oregon_track_athlete_circa_1969_native_1600.jpg","caption":"

There's no Tracktown USA without Bill Bowerman.

The legendary track and field coach trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American-record holders, 22 NCAA Champions and four NCAA Championship teams. He served as head coach from 1948-1973.

Oh, and he co-founded Nike which has also left quite the mark on Oregon athletics.

"},{"index":27,"title":"Honorable Mention: Ashton Eaton","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/northwest/2020/06/16/usatsi_9610895.jpg","caption":"

Another one of the all-time Oregon athletes and arguably the best one after his career in Eugene was complete.

While at Oregon, Eaton was a five-time NCAA Champion: NCAA Men's Outdoor Decathlon (2008, 2009, 2010) Heptathlon (2009, 2010), won the 2010 Bowerman Award and was an eight-time All-American.

After graduating, however, he would become a two-time Olympic gold medalist at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games in the decathlon. Eaton also set the world record for the Heptathlon at the 2012 Indoor Championships (6645).

"}]}

Who should be on the Mt. Rushmore of Oregon Athletics?