The Era of the Oregon Transfer Running Back

FishDuck Staff History

As programs look to fill their rosters with new recruits, every year inevitably teams ponder whether or not to consider adding transfers to their ranks.  Some come from junior colleges, some from other schools.  Sometimes it is due to academics, or disciplinary reasons, or the opportunity for playing time that makes student-athletes pursue alternate choices in their education and football …

Ducks Blow Out Arizona

FishDuck Staff FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Exactly a decade ago to date, Oregon traveled to Tucson, Arizona to take on the Arizona Wildcats.  Holding an advantage record 14-9 overall against Arizona, Oregon was only 5-8 in Tucson; many (including ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit) were predicting an upset by Arizona.  Oregon would go on to prove Herbstreit dead wrong. On a warm Arizona Desert evening, the Ducks came …

FishWrap Friday Preview: Oregon vs. Cal (Part 2: Personnel)

Josh Schlichter FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Cal’s defense did a number on the Oregon offense last year, and we already covered how Cal did that here, so now it’s time to see if Cal will do that again. Everything starts and ends with Cal’s ability to win the battle along the line, and by extension, stopping LaMichael James. I say that because stopping the run forces Oregon …

Battles for Touchdowns vs Battles for Freedom

FishDuck Staff FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Call Chip Kelly The Granite Fox. Like Rommel before him he has a gift for commanding men, for onslaughts and misdirections, for stratagems that bedevil and mesmerize a superior force. Rommel took 3-star men and materials and extended a war until he ran out of gasoline and had to haul tanks to the front on rail and by horse and …

Ten Year Fiesta Bowl Season Anniversary: Triumph over Utah State

FishDuck Staff History

It was Saturday, September 29, 2001.  Slightly over ten years ago to date, Oregon traveled to Logan, Utah to conclude its non-conference portion of their season in only their third-ever match against the Utah State Aggies.  Oregon came in as the highest ranked visitor to ever play in the history of Romney Stadium, and the Aggies were ready to prove …

Ducks need to find middle ground with media, public

FishDuck Staff FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Simply put, it was ritual. The sports writer sat and watched the college football game or practice. Took notes. Watched some more. Gulped some coffee. Chatted up the guy next to him. Took a trip down the hallway. Composed the first few graphs of the story. Observed some more. Wrote down a few questions for afterwards. Then hurried off to …

Loss of Clay a Challenge for the Oregon Defense

FishDuck Staff Editorials

Every defense needs an enforcer. Michael Clay was emerging as that guy for the Oregon Ducks. Through two games he had 21 tackles, tied for the most in the conference. The Ducks have played two more since without him, and he’s still fourth on the team in total stops, just behind Stuckey, Boyett and Pleasant, just ahead of Kiko Alonso. …

Uniforms: Anticipating the Next Generation

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Every three years since the first major redesign of Oregon’s uniforms for the 1999 season, the Ducks have changed their look after three years. On that schedule, the current look—with its signature gladiatorial-style Duck feathers on the shoulder—is in its third and, presumably, final year. Assuming a change is coming next year, what might Nike’s next version of the uniforms …

The Fish Report: QB Runs Answered & A New Play!

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Fish Reports

Why would Darron Thomas take off running in this game while not before? This is a question we tackled last week, but the answers became even more evident against Arizona. We have examples of THREE positions on the defense being Zone Read in the this game while being introduced to a new play utilizing the strengths of a true freshman …

Refuse to lose: How Oregon won the first Regular Season overtime game in college football history

FishDuck Staff History

Overtime rules had existed for decades in professional football, but the collegiate game was slow to come around to extending games beyond regulation.  Ties weren’t commonplace, but they did happen.  Oregon had in fact played in the final 0-0 tie, the 1983 Civil War game vs. Oregon State, a game so bad it was coined “The Toilet Bowl.” In 1996 …