The Harrington Family Foundation

EUGENE -- It wasn't long after hearing Joey Harrington's plan to endow three academic scholarships that University of Oregon president Dave Frohnmayer's mind drifted back in time.

Specifically, it was an editorial in the Aug. 8, 2001, edition of the New York Times that came to mind, written in response to a 10-story billboard of Harrington that had been unfurled in Manhattan.

"It is hard to believe there was no more constructive way for the University of Oregon to spend $250,000," the Times wrote.

Monday, with Autzen Stadium's playing field out the window to his left, Frohnmayer said what the Times didn't understand was something Oregonians understand particularly well.

"Recycling," Frohnmayer said.

That billboard, paid for with money that critics said should have been used for academics, now will raise money for just that.

Along with Frohnmayer and athletic director Bill Moos, Harrington on Monday laid out the plan that eventually will endow three scholarships in the school's Lundquist College of Business, from which Harrington graduated.

That 10-story billboard will be cut up, its pieces displayed neatly in three sizes and put on sale. Harrington said he hopes to raise a minimum of $250,000. The memorabilia can be purchased from the foundations new Web site, www.joeyharrington3.com.

"I'm hopeful we can raise a half-million," he said.

The money, which will go first to the Harrington Family Foundation, then will be used to endow three scholarships, one for a graduate school student, one for a junior applying to the business school and one for an incoming freshman with an interest in business.

How soon the scholarships are available will be determined by how fast the money is raised. Harrington said he hoped it would be by the 2003-04 school year.

"I don't ever want to lose touch with this university," Harrington said.

And he made sure Monday to point out the people who helped when he was there. The first two slices of billboard, neatly framed and presented, were given to Oregon coach Mike Bellotti and Nike chairman Phil Knight.

Both had swatches of billboard cut into the familiar Nike swoosh, and both pieces came from the logos on the giant shoes.

Next, Randall Pape, president and CEO of Pape Group, made the first purchase, handing Harrington a check for an undisclosed amount.

"It seems like just yesterday we took the bold move of putting the likeness of Joey up," Moos said.

It was June 2001. Although Oregon administrators insisted that the money was donated specifically for the billboard, the school became the focal point of the national athletics vs. academics debate. Without question, however, the move worked. Newspapers from the Boston Globe to the Washington Post to the New York Times sent reporters to Eugene. Harrington made the cover of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine.

When the Ducks went 11-1, finished No. 2 in the country, and Harrington was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and the third overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, the billboard looked to be worth every penny.

Two years later, Autzen Stadium has been expanded to 54,000. Monday morning, Harrington strolled with Knight through the new weight room, and looked at the new football locker room under construction.

"It seems like so many things have changed in the two years I've been gone," Harrington said. "Walking out of that tunnel, I still get that same feeling, the same butterflies."

Or something similar to the feelings he says he has when he thinks of next week's charity concert. Harrington said about 600 tickets remain for the June 26 benefit at the Crystal Ballroom featuring Jason Mraz and members of Blues Traveler.

Money raised from that will benefit Portland Shriners Hospital for Children. Harrington has said he hopes to raise $30,000.

But Monday was about a well-publicized billboard.

"A moment ago it belonged to the University of Oregon," Moos said to Harrington. "Now I present it to you."

To which Harrington said thanks, and immediately put it up for sale.