At first blush, the comparison might seem odd. What do a football coach and a general/politician/dictator separated by over two thousand years have in common? How could a man who singlehandedly destroyed the republic of Rome have anything in common with a modern-day football coach? The answers might surprise you. Football is a form of simulated combat, so the metaphor …
FLYOVER COUNTRY: Losing The Right Way
In these times of economic uncertainty and political discord, when one cannot even go shopping at a suburban mall or take in a movie without feeling the need to go armed, it is reassuring to know there is one constant to life in Oregon besides the rain — that the typical beavis fan is a loser. Not only are they …
Meet Your New Ducks: A Home Run In Football AND Basketball!
One of Chip Kelly’s underappreciated qualities is his ability to get the most out of his players and maximize their potential. This has been evident throughout his whole tenure at the University of Oregon. Look at what he did with former QB Daryle Hawkins, or DB Kenjon Barner, or TE Dion Jordan (now a 1st round NFL prospect at DE). …
An Open Letter to a Favorite Uncle
Dear Mr. Knight, I’ve long considered writing this letter to you. Whenever I speak of our wonderful university, your name is as unavoidable as the sight of Pioneer Father as I stroll through campus. I remember two times when I was a student at the University of Oregon, attending a football game, you walked past me and I wanted so …
Recruiting Recap: Transfer Possibilities Fuel Surprise Recruiting Trip?
Football Recruiting Commitments Oregon addressed a position of concern when newly offered linebacker Joe Walker (2-Star/Wilmington, CA) chose to pledge his commitment to head coach Chip Kelly & Co. Walker, a 6-3, 230 lb. west coast junior college standout, is Oregon’s second commit in the 2013 linebacker corps. “I just thought the coaches were honest. I like the players, and …
Will The Chip Kelly Offense Revolutionize British Football?
The English South Division of the British American Football League (BAFL) is a “Smash Mouth” division if ever there was one. From the 5-on-5 Youth (ages 14-16) teams — using two back sets — to the unbalanced lines and two tight end formations of the Senior game (19+), this division likes to hit you in the mouth and run the …
Bowl Games To Watch: A Duck Perspective
Hey there fans! Like watching football that matters? Have a really comfortable couch? You’re primed to make a run through all the big college football bowl games this year. But since there are a lot of teams you don’t care about, here are the top-10 bowl games to key in on, so you don’t completely isolate yourself from your friends …
Chip Kelly’s Strangest Play (EVER)
My friends, we have now gone through TWO football seasons together, studying and learning with gusto the fine points of the Chip Kelly spread offense and many of the new emerging concepts and tendencies. There are some amazing plays and strategies from this last season that I could not discuss each week due to space/time limits, but I plan to …
In the Bowldrums: Film Breakdown, um, Breakdown
Well, Duck fans, we’re smack dab in the middle of the bittersweet period known I like to call the “Bowldrums.” Sure, we’ve got a great matchup ahead of us, but as Tom Petty once said, “The waiting is the hardest part.” So here we are: waiting for January 3. What are our coaches and players doing? In short: studying film. …
Now THIS is Mayhem: Dion Jordan
A Special Interview from our friends at Mighty Oregon By Dusty Ritter Deceptive speed from the edge coupled with a wingspan that allows him to effectively reach the opposing quarterback in a variety of ways, and gritty determination all describe what Dion Jordan brings to the Oregon football program. Jordan, #96, 6’7″ 245 lb. defensive end from Chandler, Arizona, is …
Ducks Clean Up Play in Blowout Win
Going into Saturday’s game against hapless Idaho State, Coach Dana Altman was concerned that his young Oregon team was making far too many mistakes in winning seven of its first eight games. Leading the Pac-12 in turnovers (17.3 pg) isn’t a desirable stat, but with a week between games and a re-focused attention on improving giving the ball up, the …
Notes From Around the College Football Nation: Johnny Heisman, Coaching Carousel, and Bowl Games
That’s it, the regular season has come to an end. If you’re a Notre Dame fan, you’re stoked at how the whole season unfolded. If you’re an Oregon or Kansas State fan, well, there is always next year. What a way to close the season out with an exciting Army-Navy game, and in the evening we had the Heisman Trophy …
