Pretend you could change one moment in any of the Oregon Sports … what would it be? I know some Oregon Baseball fans that would have the pop ball caught instead of missed against Kent State that would have been the final out and a trip to the College World Series. For others–there are basketball moments that come down to a single moment or play such as Jordan Bell not blocking out on a foul shot rebound that cost Oregon a one-point loss in the Final Four against North Carolina.
The one that I rue often is the play shown in the photo at the top of the article, of De’Anthony Thomas missing the block that could have allowed Marcus Mariota to score and change the direction of that game against Stanford in 2012. If the Ducks had won, then a date with Notre Dame in the National Championship would have been next and most likely Oregon’s first football ‘Natty, with a future beyond which we can only dream of.
Yet is we look closer at that photo–it is clear that DAT was eyeing a Cardinal to block to his left that also had angle on Marcus, and perhaps the tackle would have been made to prevent the touchdown anyway? Yet in that game we also had the phantom touchdown counted (below) when the Stanford tight-end clearly had a shoulder on the end line! The frustration did not end as Oregon did the futility hat-trick in that game as a third error, the potential tying field goal, boinked off the crossbar.
Zach Ertz was bobbling the ball and was on top of Ifo, and when his shoulder came to rest, it was as you see above!
What would yours be?
I have had this “what-if” conversation with a number of FishDuck.com writers, and devoted Oregon fans and fellow Greybeards across the country and quite a few examples come up. There are some moments that noted writer Brian Libby pointed out in the two National Championship games that he would like to change, or alter the call of the referee. Was Dyer’s knee down in 2010? Was that actually a fumble by Cam Newton that was called an incomplete pass?
If Barner had sprinted to the pylon as the play was designed and blocked…
For me, it was the 4th and Goal where an Outside play was wonderfully blocked and Kenjon Barner decided to take it inside (Orange line and arrow above) and meet Nick Fairley before the goal line. What a game killer!
What are those moments to you?
Go back as far as you like and do include all Oregon sports within this; we have come so far and so many times in all sports that it makes you wonder about future impact on the university in this different dimension.
That National Championship after the 2012 season would have been so much easier than the path to ‘Natty now!
“Oh how we love to ponder about Our Beloved Ducks!”
Charles Fischer (FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
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…