Oregon Ducks Football: The Cougar Conundrum

Darren Perkins Editorials

Oregon’s lost to Washington State has brought Oregon Duck fans clarity on exactly where the program stands: Improving, but not there yet. The loss to the Cougars exposed, among other things, the Ducks lack of depth at receiver and lack of defensive play-makers. Most importantly, it showed the lack of experience Oregon has at bouncing back after an emotional victory …

Ducks Can’t Catch Cougars; Stanford Looms Ahead

Coach Ken Woody Coach's Opinion

Oregon, behind backup quarterback Braxton Burmeister, hung with the Washington State Cougars for three quarters but subsequently went down, 33-10, a score that might have been 49-10 if it weren’t for stellar play by the Duck defense. Burmeister wasn’t given much of a game plan by coach Willie Taggart, but that may not have mattered based on the poor play …

Ducks’ Season Becomes One Big “What Might Have Been”

Darren Perkins Editorials

Protect the quarterback. It’s Football 101. It’s football gospel. If football had ten commandments it would be etched into one of two stone tablets, just like the original Ten Commandments. But apparently protecting the quarterback in Eugene has gone the way of that mysterious 3rd tablet, as illustrated by the classic Mel Brooks movie The History of the World:   …

Predicting Every Game: Ducks Go 10-2 Plus Win the Alamo Bowl

Darren Perkins Editorials

Sure, the Ducks should be better in 2017. But 10 wins? No way. Yes, Willie Taggart has brought the enthusiasm, the recruiting magic, the superb coaching staff and the Harbaugh moxie (Jim took Michigan from 5-7 to 10-3 in his first season). He may well be the next “it” coach. But it sounds as if the overly optimistic author of …

There Are Bright Spots Moving Forward

Caleb Couturie Editorials

I won’t lie, it was hard. I stood nine rows back on the 20-yard line, surrounded by my fellow students and friends, watching the Ducks let opportunity after opportunity slip out of their grasps. We were wet and cold, but simultaneously numb to all other feelings but that of overflowing anticipation for the next snap. Would this be the down the …