Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out: The Greatest Blunders of 2013

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It was a long, long time ago that I first saw a team totally snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Unfortunately, the team doing it was our own beloved Oregon Ducks. As I say, it was long ago, so I may be mistaken on a detail or two. Anyway,  the way I remember it, the Ducks were down …

Superman — Not a Cartoon — Still Airs on Saturday Morning

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Following the big win against Michigan State last week, much of the ink spilled focused on Oregon’s suddenly clear path to the College Football Playoff. The Ducks had defeated their best opponent they would face in the regular season, and by the transitive property of college football, will win all games thereafter. Of course, Saturday showed why making such assumptions after the …

What We Learned: 11 Newbs Critical to the Ducks’ Championship Run

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Through three glorious weeks of college football, teams across the country have had their depth tested. Look to the east and observe a USC defensive line run over by a mediocre Boston College team in a below-average ACC conference. Look to the south and see a backup quarterback carried off the field heroically on teammates’ shoulders after managing a shaky …

Cowboy Comments: Blown Out, but Undaunted

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Wyoming’s head coach and players praise Oregon but take inspiration from many successful moments against the Ducks Although the score line of Saturday’s game was a comfortable 48-14 win for Oregon, the Wyoming Cowboys can hold their heads high under their 10-gallon hats after consistently racking up yards against the Ducks throughout the game. Wyoming ran more plays than their …

College Football Nation: Hokies Poked and Boston College Runs over USC

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What a day of upsets this weekend of college football gave us. All up and down the east coast David was slaying Goliath. As fans, we live for the upsets. To be able to see a true underdog emerge victorious is why we love sports. So much action to cover from all over the country today, so lets get into it. …

So … About This Defense …

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I was at the Oregon Club meeting 20 years ago in 1994 when Nick Aliotti christened the name of the “Gangrene” defense, and I recall the howls at the name. I remember thinking that “Gang-Green” was clever and fits us so well … but alas that was not the right spelling. I have been asked to consider a short (if …

Superstition and How It Works for the Good of the Ducks

Alex Towne FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

And so it begins. A brand new season of college football is upon us, and with it a brand new assortment of superstitions. (Cue all the eerie music from the Sci-Fi channel.) Growing up in an all-University of Oregon household, I learned to love the Ducks from a young age. I also learned the countless routines and superstitions my dad performed …

Collegiate Programs Can Learn From the NFL’s Ray Rice Situation

Will Denner FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Note: This article contains graphic information regarding domestic violence. Read at your own discretion. An already nasty situation grew worse on Monday when new video surfaced of now former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his wife Janay in an Atlantic City casino elevator. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to see the video, you know how disturbing Rice’s actions …

Chip Kelly Update: Like Father, Like Son

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Let’s call the Oregon Ducks’ football program the ‘father’ and the Philadelphia Eagles’ version the ‘son’. (Yes, Chip Kelly is the parent of both, but don’t overthink this metaphor into something creepy.) With all due respect for South Dakota State, both teams had their first real test this past weekend, and the family resemblance was striking. Both teams were favored but …

Top 5 Reasons Why Your Oregon Ducks Will (or Won’t) Be National Champions This Season

Riley Bushnell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

National Champions! It’s the label that everyone associated with the University of Oregon football has long been waiting to use. It narrowly escaped their grasp in 2011 (thanks a lot, Michael Dyer), and also recently with the Bowl Championship Series system fiasco in 2001 … but this year it’s looking like it could all come together. We all were watching Saturday …

Why Oh Why-O-Ming?

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Because the Pleasant Hill Billies didn’t have an open spot on their schedule, your Oregon Ducks host Wyoming in a non-conference clash sure to cause ripples all the way to the Moshofsky Center. It is the first time that Oregon and Wyoming have met, and the game promises to be fraught with excitement. But FishDuck.com/italicsarecool believes that Oregon fans always hunger for …

Opponent Analysis: Cowboys Up Next

Rory Davidson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

OK, so maybe this game isn’t quite the magnitude of the game last week’s. That game registered as a 9.0 on the Richter Scale, while this one will probably measure more like a 3.0. This doesn’t change anything, though. Just as with South Dakota, Oregon can’t have a hangover from last week or look ahead to next week, when they …