In commemoration of 4/20 this past Saturday, today we take four big-time hits, man:
Kenny at ASU
We tend to pull for former Ducks whether they are players or coaches. With that, and the fact that I have had many fun (i.e. effing crazy) nights on Mill Street in Tempe, I am pulling for Kenny Dillingham to succeed at Arizona State.
In my mind the reformed Big 12 is the Mountain West on steroids. With the exit of Texas and Oklahoma, the conference is void of bluebloods. Ironically, the strongest program, Utah, and recent championship runner-up, TCU, were both Mountain West teams less than 15 years ago.
Dillingham is a young and hungry up-and-comer in the coaching ranks and is building a winning culture at ASU (the perennial “sleeping giant”). Without a dominant program, the Big 12 is going to be a league of parody where the 2023, 3-9 Sun Devils have a puncher’s chance to win the conference.
New Court
The Ducks had no choice after losing 5-star recruit and generational talent Keoni Thompson as reported on April Fools’ Day (emphasis on “fools”) that he chose the Huskies after the Oregon basketball court set off his rare form of vertigo as he was nearly hospitalized.
It would also reason that the Ducks would like to update the look as they prepare to enter the Big 10 conference.
Husky DNA
If you were not aware, new Washington coach Jedd Fisch has tapped into the genetic pool of NFL coaching greats for coordinators on both sides of the ball.
Coming with Fisch from Tucson as offensive coordinator is Pete Carroll’s son Brennan Carroll. On the defensive side of the ball, Fisch has the newly-hired Steve Belichick, son of Bill Belichick.
As Oregon fans, we can only hope that the DNA bloodlines pass on as unsuccessfully as Don to David Shula, Lebron to Bronny James, and legendary boxing great Joe Frazier to his son Marvis.
As seen here:
The Don Monson Legacy Comes Full Circle
Tucked away up here in eastern Washington, there is more father-son talk as former Oregon Ducks basketball coach Don Monson’s (1983-1992) son Dan Monson is the new coach of the Eastern Washington Eagles.
Life has come full circle for the Monson family. Don started his coaching career here in the Spokane area at Cheney High School. Cheney is a small town located just outside of Spokane.
After nearly 20 years of great high school success, Don was poached away in the 70s to serve as an assistant coach at Michigan State under legendary coach, friend, and eastern Washingtonian Judd Heathcote. At Michigan State, Monson played a major role in recruiting Magic Johnson before being hired back to the region in 1978 by the Idaho Vandals. After having great success (two NCAA appearances) as the head coach of the Vandals (1978-1983), Don was hired by the Ducks.
Dan, of course, was the coach that kickstarted it all at Gonzaga. He led the Bulldogs and to their magical Elite Eight season in 1999 before heading to Minnesota–opening the door for Creswell native and Oregon graduate Mark Few — with lackluster results and then coaching Long Beach State for the past 17 years.
Darren Perkins
Spokane, WA
Top photo credit: Joe Jackson Jr.
Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.