Ducks + Conference Opener = Victory

Joey Holland FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Copyright-Andrew Shurtleff The Oregon Ducks have kicked off the 2013 campaign about as well as they possibly could have, obliterating their first three opponents by a combined margin of 184-27. In fact, that is one of the best starts in school history, nearly reaching the incredible start that the team experienced in 2010 when it defeated its first three opponents …

Where Oregon’s Win Over Nicholls Ranks Among the School’s Largest Margin of Victory

Joey Holland FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline The Oregon Ducks made a nice statement to kick off the 2013 season.  While all the news media and analysts were busy talking up Alabama, Ohio State, Stanford and Johnny Manziel, the Ducks were setting school records on their way to 66 points.  Oregon’s brand of football often results in big wins.  The Ducks’ uptempo attack allows them …

A Tribute to One of the Most Underrated Quarterbacks of the Modern Era

Joey Holland Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

Amazing Moments When the Oregon Ducks took the field on September 4, 2010, the offensive backfield looked significantly different from what fans had expected nine months prior when they filed out of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The loss to Ohio State had been a tough one, and there were numerous beloved players who moved on after the 2010 Rose …

Which Current Ducks Have A Shot at the Record Books?

Joey Holland Editorials

Kevin Cline  Offense.  Defense. Special teams.  While Oregon may not be Alabama or Ohio State in terms of tradition, prestige, or heritage, the Oregon football program has a rich history filled with star-studded teams and immense talent in all three phases of the game. Among the long list of former Oregon football players, a handful stand out atop the school’s record books, …

What it Takes to Get Back to the “Natty”: 2013 Ducks vs. 2010

Joey Holland FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In 2010, it took 12 wins, 6,986 yards of total offense, 37 takeaways, 49.6 points per game and 2,790 pushups for the Oregon Ducks to make it to the national championship game against Auburn. With August now upon us, it is hard not to draw comparisons between the 2013 squad and its nearly undefeated 2010 counterpart in anticipation of what …

Keep Our Ducks Safe: A Brief History of Oregon’s Football Helmets

Joey Holland History

Oregon football is turning change into a tradition of its own, a trend reflected on the most basic level of the program – the equipment.  One thing has become clear about the Ducks’ uniforms:  You either love ’em or you hate ’em.  As a Duck fan, I love ’em. There is perhaps nothing more polarizing about the Oregon football program …

History Shows Ducks Can Succeed Without Going to The Bulk Section

Joey Holland Editorials

Today, the college football landscape requires an exceptional amount of athleticism.  Bigger players are now faster and more specialized than they used to be, and size has become a true emphasis in the game. This is proven by the recent success of SEC teams that play host to physical freaks such as Alabama’s D.J. Fluker, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound run-blocker, or …

Oregon’s Underrated/Outstanding Defensive Backs

Joey Holland History

Before anything else, one word usually comes to mind when people hear about the Oregon Ducks, “Offense.” The Ducks have finished among the elite in the national standings over each of the past six years in terms of total offense, and have developed quite a reputation doing of it. However, that reputation also comes with some negatives.  Many argue that, …

Oregon vs. Michigan 2007: The True Dawn of the Chip Kelly Era

Joey Holland History

Football is an extremely complex game filled with trickery, mental toughness, and constant adjustments.  Coaches and players alike must be on their toes at all times, actively trying to remain one step ahead of their opponent. As Oregon fans know, perhaps no coach in recent history has done this as well as Chip Kelly, at least on the offensive side …

Recent History Shows Oregon is the New “Running Back U”

Joey Holland History

Nine 1,000-yard rushers, seven NFL backs, and a finish among the nation’s top-six in rushing over each of the past six seasons. That pretty much summarizes Oregon football’s ground attack since 1999, making it arguably the most prestigious factory of running backs over the past 15 seasons or so. Over the years, numerous schools have made a case to be …

Comparing Marcus Mariota to One of Oregon’s All-Time Greats

Joey Holland History

“Johnny Football” may have received the most media hype among an emerging class of elite freshman quarterbacks in 2012 (deservedly so), but Marcus Mariota is arguably the most complete of the batch. The Flyin’ Hawaiian gave the Ducks a seamless transition from Darron Thomas, who had departed early for the 2012 NFL draft.  Only the third quarterback in Oregon football …