Oregon Football’s 25 Greatest Teams

Brian Libby History

We live in an era of lists. Go to almost any website and you’ll find a top 10 of something. In a random search just now, within seconds I came across lists of the top snipers in history, a list chronicling examples of confusing etiquette in other countries, a list of Church of Satan facts that “may surprise you,” and …

Learning from Oregon’s Championship Fashion Fail

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

We don’t just love our school colors—we win in them When Oregon underwent a radical Nike-designed uniform change beginning with the 1999 season, the message was clear: what you wear says something important about you. The Ducks, save for the occasional Rose Bowl every few decades, had never been a traditional powerhouse. Why not claim the future with innovative, constantly changing …

A Title Remains Elusive, but Greatness is Already Ours

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In the wake of Oregon’s loss to Ohio State in the national championship game, it is perhaps inevitable that we stop and assess the state of Duck football: both how far we’ve come and what it takes to make that final step. One senses two disparate facts: that Oregon has cemented itself as one of the premier programs in college …

The Precipice of Immortality

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Four years ago, we as Oregon fans experienced both our proudest moment and our most heartbreaking: a national championship lost on the last play of the game. At the time, as much as we wanted our beloved Ducks to break through against Auburn and win the title, it was still hard to even believe the amazing heights to which the Ducks …

Cowboy Comments: Blown Out, but Undaunted

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Wyoming’s head coach and players praise Oregon but take inspiration from many successful moments against the Ducks Although the score line of Saturday’s game was a comfortable 48-14 win for Oregon, the Wyoming Cowboys can hold their heads high under their 10-gallon hats after consistently racking up yards against the Ducks throughout the game. Wyoming ran more plays than their …

Harrington’s new Scholarship funds Quarterbacks of Community

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Seventeen years ago this spring, Joey Harrington was a senior at Portland’s Central Catholic High School with a big future ahead of him: a legendary football career at Oregon that would make him the school’s first Heisman Trophy finalist, then seven years as an NFL quarterback and finally the broadcasting career he enjoys today.  And from the time he entered …

A Game to Build a Dream On

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It took a little time on Saturday night at the Moda Center for both the Ducks and their fans to come alive.  Make no mistake: the atmosphere was festive, with a crowd of yellow and (in Illinois’ case) orange-clad fans enjoying a back-and-forth game from wire to wire.  But by the final whistle, it was clearer than ever that this …

Monday Validation

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

from Video Call it a tale of three birds: the Eagle, the Ducks and eating crow.  Or maybe, just maybe, you can call it the ultimate validation of Oregon football on a grand scale. When Monday Night Football debuted on September 9, one could feel the eyes of the sports-watching nation focused resolutely on the game between Washington and Philadelphia. …

An Open Letter To Chip Kelly

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Dear Coach Kelly, By now most Duck fans seem resigned to the notion of the Fiesta Bowl being your last game as Oregon’s coach. In the media and at the proverbial water cooler, your visor has long been packed for the National Football League. And that’s a compliment to all that you’ve accomplished here: taking our Ducks to four straight …

Mourning One of Oregon’s Greatest Seasons

Brian Libby History

Although it may have been bested in 2010 with a perfect campaign, one-loss regular seasons at Oregon are the mark of something very special. In the 67 years since the end of World War II, only the 2001 and 2005 teams have done it. That makes the current season among Duck football’s best of the best. But I’ve got a …

The Impossible Dream: What Winning A National Championship Would Mean

Brian Libby History

In 1984, Brigham Young University won the Holiday Bowl. It wasn’t a marquee January bowl game, let alone any kind of championship – or so people thought. The game was held before the traditional marquee of New Year’s Day. Many in the college football world, myself included, felt an overwhelming amount of skepticism about BYU being voted champion a week …

John McKay, John Robinson, and the USC-Oregon coaching tree

Brian Libby History

In 1959, Oregon was only a year removed from its first Rose Bowl appearance in 39 years. Coach Len Casanova had, after three losing seasons to begin his tenure from 1951-54, built the Ducks into a consistent winner. Although the 1958 season had been a disappointment, with Casanova’s team going 4-6 in its conference-title defense, the team’s greatest victory that …