To Quack or Not to Quack: Leaving Early For the NFL

Charles Glenn FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Great football players inevitably face a choice between leaving school early for the NFL draft or completing their education.  It’s a personal decision for each individual and most Duck fans support whichever direction the player goes, but the 2014 roster comes as a surprise to some of us.  Some Ducks, such as DeAnthony Thomas (DAT), should have stayed.  Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, …

The Heisman: Just Say NO!

Mike Merrell Editorials

With the 2013 football season behind us, the hype for the 2014 Heisman has begun, with Marcus Mariota at or near the top of the list.  My reaction is simple: Just say NO! It’s not that Mariota doesn’t deserve consideration for the Heisman.  Quite the contrary, it’s the Heisman that doesn’t deserve consideration from Mariota, or any of the other …

A Wave of Change Engulfs the Football Program

Don Gilman FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Another football season has come and gone.  Overall, it was another successful run for the Ducks, even if they did not meet their ultimate goals.  Another 11-win season.  Another win in a bowl game.  Another top-ten ranking to wrap up the year. Mark Helfrich proved that he can handle the pressure of running a major college program, Marcus Mariota continued …

The Ballad of the Green Brigade

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  Fighting Ducks against the sky These are men who jump so high Men who mean just what they say The brave men of the Green Brigade Trained to live on Husky meat Washington they’re sure to beat Men who fight by day and night Listen not, to Herbie’s hype Put silver wings on my son’s chest Make him one …

Four Ways the Oregon Ducks Have Changed After Chip

Josh White FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Leading up to the kickoff against Nicholls State, Duck fans were anxious to see what Oregon would look like under new coach Mark Helfrich.  Chip Kelly had led the program to previously unprecedented heights, and had done so using a unique and distinctive approach.  His trademark spread option attack put up staggering stats, and routinely churned out over 300 yards …

Mariota’s 2013 Season Was the Best in School History, So Where’s the National Love?

Joey Holland Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

Kevin Cline Marcus Mariota has completed arguably the finest regular season ever put together by an Oregon quarterback, or any offensive player for that matter.  With 39 total touchdowns and 3,994 yards of total offense, the Flyin’ Hawaiian has cemented himself among the college football elite. Since Mariota was named the starter in Eugene at the beginning of the 2012 …

How to Spend the Days Until the Alamo Bowl

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline For die-hard football fans, the calendar is broken up into two sections, football season and the off-season. The off-season is primarily spent wishing for the runaway train of football season, where once the season starts, die-hard fans jump on and bid adieu to their friends and family until the winter.  Only the absence of footballs at season’s end …

Top 5 Games of the 2013 season

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Steve Francis With the 2013 football season officially behind us, I thought that I would take this time to reflect back over the season at some of the great games.  These games could be great as a whole, or it could be one performance that made the game great.  The following are my top 5 games of the year: 5. …

4 Things Some Duck Fans Had Forgotten in 2013

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck 1. Oregon has the ability to win a close game (though not on the leg of their kicker) — For those questioning Oregon’s heart these past few weeks, a gritty performance by Josh Huff reminded fans that Oregon hasn’t completely lost its mojo.  The offensive line continues to lack depth and strength up front in spells against aggressive …

An Emotional Civil War Victory Marks the Beginning of an Era

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline In five years, the previous decade of Oregon football may end up being remembered as two separate eras: before and after the Arizona game of 2013. Some would say that opening sentence is nonsense, arguing that the latter era began once Mark Helfrich became the head coach.  I would respond by suggesting that for the first time this year, the …

10 Amazing Facts About the No. 5 Ducks

Josh White FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline This week, there is plenty to get excited about. With a win last Saturday, this Oregon football team heads to Tucson with a 9-1 record for the season, and has a chance to become just the 9th team in school history to win 10 games.  Thanks to Stanford’s loss last weekend to USC, the Ducks have also reasserted control of its respective …