I know, the lack of Oregon sports since the end of March has been tough and at times-depressing. We all understand why, and agree with the cancellations last spring and the deferrals of fall sports until more about the disease and testing was known. But boy, for die-hard fans like those in this community … it has been brutal at times. We can only discuss the past so much, and we need our current fix of Our Beloved Ducks.
The news of having a football season and both men’s and women’s basketball seasons beginning in November got me to pondering about an unusual occurrence coming up due to the COVID crisis and the impact upon Oregon sports. It could be the Duck-Fan equivalent of a rare eclipse almost never seen, but cherished when actually viewed. I am referring some incredible weekends coming up in December, (just two months away) when we have Ducks Sports Overload taking place as it never has.
As you know, the football season begins November 7th and continues into December for a couple of weeks, while the basketball teams begin November 25th and jumps right into a conference schedule. Basketball schedules are not available yet, but when you consider two womens conference games in a weekend and two mens basketball conference games along with a football game? We might have five games from these winning programs in a single weekend? Whoa baby!
Would that much Oregon sports at once be the therapeutic needed to overcome such withdrawal we have all felt?
Taylor Chavez returns to drive for more points for Oregon.
We already know about the questions surrounding the football team that add to the drama and entertainment, but the basketball teams have a ton of questions to answers in a short time. Dana Altman has some key experienced players returning in the back-court such as Will Richardson to direct the offense, but the Oregon staff cleaned up on transfers coming to Eugene at all positions. The challenge is the absence of the non-conference games that are important to develop the line-ups and the team chemistry, as Altman teams mature late in the season for the tournament.
Kelly Graves has killed it on the recruiting trail with freshmen and transfers, and perhaps he needs even more time/games than the men to determine the best group of players for this upcoming season? It is possible that both teams could have very mediocre records at the end of the season, yet evolved into Sweet Sixteen or even Elite Eight teams when you consider the rosters of talent assembled by these outstanding coaches.
The entertainment factor of both basketball teams is through the roof in a weekend, and you add a football game to it?
Unbelievable.
The anticipation of waiting for a football season now became even better as we consider a bit of Christmas coming early to Oregon sports fans in December. I cannot hardly wait, can you?
“Oh how we love to ponder Our Beloved Ducks!”
Charles Fischer (FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
That incredibly cool top photo of Popo Aumavae about to make a crucial sack is from Tom Corno
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Charles Fischer has been an intense fan of the Ducks, a season ticket holder at Autzen Stadium for 38 years and has written reports on football boards for over 26 years. Known as “FishDuck” on those boards, he is acknowledged for providing intense detail in his scrimmage reports, and in his Xs and Os play analyses. He is single, has a daughter Christine, and resides in Eugene Oregon where he was a Financial Advisor for 36 years.
He now focuses full-time on Charitable Planned Giving Workshops for churches and non-profit organizations in addition to managing his two Oregon Football Websites, of FishDuck.com and the Our Beloved Ducks forum. He is a busy man!
He does not profess to be a coach or analyst, but simply a “hack” that enjoys sharing what he has learned and invites others to correct or add to this body of Oregon Football! See More…