The REALITY of Oregon Returning to Elite Team Status

Amanda Brenner Analysis

There isn’t a single college football team in history that has had great seasons year in and year out. Although I have run into several fans who seem to think their team has always been great and can do no wrong (I’m looking at you, Bama and OSU fans), it simply isn’t true. Every elite team goes through cycles of …

College Football 2015: A Mess of a Season

Mike Merrell Editorials

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out The czars who run college football must be ecstatic! With just a week to go in the regular college football season, the landscape is a complete mess. For the post-season lineup, there’s all sorts of room for drama, unfairness, passing out of unjust rewards, snubbing, hypocrisy — pretty much everything that we’re supposed to like about college …

Oregon So Close to Being 10-1 … or 4-6

Aaron Lewis Editorials

Through their five-game win streak, including their most recent convincing 48-28 win over USC, the Ducks have looked very much like the Ducks of the last few years — Duck teams that relied on almost unstoppable offenses and opportunistic defenses to dominate the Pac-12. Unfortunately for the Ducks, they they did not look like this through the first six games. As we fans …

How to Stop the Talented Trojans

Rory Davidson Analysis

Ok, so I’m just going to keep doubting the Ducks. That’ll mean that they keep winning … right? No, in all honesty, this is why I love and hate college football! It’s so maddening that the Ducks are playing as well as they are now. This means that they clearly should not be 7-3 whatever the reason: injuries, bad play …

Season’s First Quarter Reveals Hypocrisy, Lies and Hope

Mike Merrell Editorials

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out It’s incredible and yet it’s still surprising. Beating Georgia State, 61-28, using a generous helping of second, third and fourth stringers just wasn’t enough blood for too many fans. What seems to be forgotten is that September 19 is still fairly early in the season. We’re still only half way to the selection committee’s first way-too-early declaration …

Unreasonable, Unrealistic? Or are Duck Fans’ Expectations the New Normal?

David Miller FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When did it happen? When was it that we stopped hoping to win and started expecting to win? Was it the pick in ’94? Nah, too early. Was it our #2 ranking after 2001? Nope, but we’re getting closer. Expecting wins is a more recent trend, but it’s not unreasonable. Unless you’ve been living in a hole for the past …

Athlon’s Preseason Final Four Prediction Escapes

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Ordinarily, when a reputable football news source publishes bowl projections or preseason rankings, you’d say the predictions were “released.” This past week, Athlon Sports published its preseason Top-25 and final four lists, and there’s no way these things were released, not even with a locked-on ankle bracelet. Athlon tabbed Ohio State, Auburn, Alabama and Baylor as its preseason …

Duckling Profile: Austin Maloata Developing as Role Expands

Forrest Welk FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

While Duck fans know Oregon football for its high-powered, speed-kills offense, they also know the Ducks have a nagging need to get bigger and faster on defense. Enter Austin Maloata, a true sophomore defensive lineman looking to move up the depth chart this season. While he didn’t play much his freshman season, Duck fans should look out for his intimidating 300-pound frame, topped with …

Selective Memory Loss Targets College Football

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Memory loss is something we all suffer from time to time. It can be everything from entertaining to life-threatening, but for most of us it’s usually just embarrassing — the times we can’t quite put the name with the face fast enough — or frustrating — Now what did I come into this room for? But when …

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. …

College Football Nation: Mariota’s Heisman Moment and Trojans Fight On

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  What a great weekend of college football with so many Top-25 match ups. The PAC-12 was on center stage this weekend with key matchups for the country to watch and enjoy. While the PAC-12 was celebrating its success, the B1G will be looking on to next week after a couple of humiliating losses. All of these great matchups are something fans should …