What We Learned: Win Loss Records Always Lie

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Another week of college football behind us, and more of the unbeaten have fallen. New titans emerge as we dispose of last week’s heroes, wringing out Wildcat and Tiger hopes like rags soaked in day old dishwater. How does it feel, Arizona and Auburn? Yesterday’s news doesn’t generate clicks or the mighty consumer’s eyeballs, so be gone with you until …

From The Locker Rooms: Double Duty Addition

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Pasadena, Calif. —  Welcome to a sunny, special addition of FishDuck.com’s “From The Locker Room.” Due to UCLA players taking longer in their locker room postgame than a twelve year old daughter getting ready for school in the morning, the FishDuck reporter on site was able to gain insights from both the UCLA and Oregon perspectives. Obviously after this contest …

What We Learned: Comedy, Tragedy, and The Coliseum

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I ask you, college football fans around the country, “Are you not entertained?” Storied programs fell this first week of October like a game of bingo at a retirement home; painfully slow at first, then all at once as shouts rose across the empty space filled with stale air and quiet resignation. Success Breeds The Upset This day of overthrowing …

What We Learned: Mariota Doesn’t Deserve The Heisman

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In a recent episode of ABC’s Modern Family, Ed O’Neill’s character Jay Pritchett finds himself drawn to the town dog show. A man’s man, the family patriarch is peculiarly fascinated about entering his doted upon French bulldog into an arena where his prize could be recognized by all as the best dog on the block. Per usual with the show, …

What We Learned: The Marcus Formula

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Concept of Tempered Steel If you aren’t a huge science guy (I for one am not), you might mistake the process of tempering steel for hardening a metal. While increasing steel’s strength, tempering is actually all about softening a metal through the use of heat to make it more flexible. In season three of Oregon’s best quarterback in school …

What We Learned: 11 Newbs Critical to the Ducks’ Championship Run

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Through three glorious weeks of college football, teams across the country have had their depth tested. Look to the east and observe a USC defensive line run over by a mediocre Boston College team in a below-average ACC conference. Look to the south and see a backup quarterback carried off the field heroically on teammates’ shoulders after managing a shaky …

Three Predictions Kirk Herbstreit Wants Back

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It would be quite a mixed bag to be a nationally recognized TV analyst. Private flights, shocking paychecks, and tailored suits would often be overshadowed by ignorant twitter fights, unfair accusations of homer-ism, and those pesky “expert” picks gone wrong. It isn’t easy to have your opinions be so publically on the record, and you and I should be grateful …

Three Reasons To Be An Idyllic Duck Fan After Week One

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

1. You (likely) don’t live in South Carolina. After brutal beatdowns by a combined 48 points, both of South Carolina’s major universities are suffering from opening day hangovers that won’t be soon forgotten, even with copious consumption of bourbon and barbecue. If you also observed that poor Clemson fan the cameras repeatedly panned, with head in hands, play after disappointing …

4 Things Some Duck Fans Had Forgotten in 2013

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck 1. Oregon has the ability to win a close game (though not on the leg of their kicker) — For those questioning Oregon’s heart these past few weeks, a gritty performance by Josh Huff reminded fans that Oregon hasn’t completely lost its mojo.  The offensive line continues to lack depth and strength up front in spells against aggressive …

5 Reasons the Oregon Ducks Will Regroup and Win the Civil War

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

If you grew up playing the original Nintendo system, you might be familiar with an old arcade game called “Marble Madness.”  We’re talking about the first Nintendo – you know the one: a directional pad, the shiny red A and B buttons, Select, and Start button.  A sleek five-button controller — like God intended.  This game would mesmorize kids with elaborate mazes that …

Inside the Arizona Wildcat Locker Room

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

David Pyles The cool Saturday was clothed in dreary gray with uncharacteristically wet weather, and it only got drearier in Tuscan for the No. 5 Oregon Ducks.  Although most in press row wondered aloud if Arizona had publicized the contest at all when the game kicked off, thousands of empty seats were quickly filled as news spread that the Wildcats were putting …

Five Football Reflections From Epic Songwriters

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck 1. “The world is a vampire, sent to drain.” — Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins. My feelings this past weekend after the Oregon vs Stanford tilt on Thursday night are as close a Duck fan could get to having the life blood drained from its body.  I ate and slept less, couldn’t turn on the TV to watch but …