Duck Universe - Flashback

Flashback

Written by Jerry Thompson

Thursday, 11 October 2007

Cristin McLemore’s name can be found throughout the UO receiving records for single game, season, and career. He stands No. 4 all-time for receptions in a career (162) and No. 5 in receiving yards with 2498.

McLemore is tied with Keenan Howry for the lead in touchdown receptions in a career (24). In the 1995 Rose Bowl game McLemore had 10 catches for 90 yards including a 17-yard TD reception from Danny O’Neil in the third quarter.

Why Oregon?

McLemore was a star option quarterback for Marina High School in Huntington Beach, but most colleges wanted him to play cornerback. “Cal’s Steve Mariucci and Nick Aliotti were sitting outside of my house on signing day and Aliotti won the deal,” Cristin related with a chuckle. UO head coach Rich Brooks was willing to give McLemore a shot as a wide receiver.

Duck Highlights:

“The whole ’95 Rose Bowl experience was the highlight,” McLemore said. “I’ve never had such a bonding experience with a group of guys. I still love and respect so many of them.” Cristin rattled off these names: Danny O’Niel, Rich Ruhl , Ricky Whittle, Jeremy Asher, and Cory Murphy. “I was so lucky to be a part of that with those men.”

In the Rose Bowl game, McLemore made a very memorable leaping catch in the corner of the end zone against a Penn State defender. “The funniest part of that catch was the day before walked around the field filming and I stopped in the corner of the end zone and I told coach Don Pellum, ‘this is where I am going to score tomorrow,’ and the next day that’s exactly where I scored.”

McLemore will also always be remembered for the clutch catches against Oregon State on the Ducks’ winning drive that he made with a cast on his hand.

After Ducks:

McLemore played in ’96 and ‘97 year with Indianapolis, in ‘98 with Oakland, and then in the CFL with the B.C. Lions. In ‘99 and 2000 he came back to UO and graduated with a degree in sociology with a minor in substance abuse prevention.

Cristin is currently living in Beaverton and working for Comcast in sales after working for five years with Blue Chip Sports. McLemore worked with high school athletes and says he still enjoys working with kids. His brother, Brandon works for Nike and lives near Cristin. “I’m very proud of him,” Cristin said. “I’m happy and blessed he’s my brother.”

McLemore says he and many athletes discover “after the crowd stops cheering,” they go through some difficult times. He mentioned that he and coach Brooks were often at odds when he was a Duck. “As a grown man I see now what coach Brooks was trying to impress upon me. I appreciate him so much more now than when I was a young man…things like being accountable and responsible… life skills that are more important than catching a football.”

“Being successful now is a blessing from the Lord,” Cristin said. “I’m in the stage of life where I’m in the giving back mode.”

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