They say if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. And, over the last several football seasons, that appears to be concisely the goal of the University of Washington. Since the “glorious” (see: NCAA rules violations riddled) Don James era, the long time formidable team from the largest Northwest metropolis has gone from powerhouse to punching bag. However, in 2013, will …
Who will lead the 2013 Oregon Ducks in tackles?
The huge question on defense is, who will be the leading tackler in the fall? From 2009 thru 2011, the final Oregon defensive statistics listed John Boyett as one of the top two tacklers on the team alongside Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger. The next season after the BCS Title game, Michael Clay, DeWitt Stuckey and Kiko Alonso stepped in for Matthews and Paysinger to rack …
Searching Old Ducks For A New TAZR
Recently, I had a conversation regarding which former Ducks would excel in the current version of the Ducks offensive attack. It surprised me initially at just how quickly we could rattle off a handful of names and began discussing why each would or wouldn’t be a good fit. Deciding to write a few of these down, the list began as an attempt to identify which former Ducks …
2013 Oregon Football ‘All-Dark Alley Team’
Recently, I’ve been reading up on Duck foes for the upcoming football season. Oregon has what looks like a challenging and intriguing schedule laid out for their 2013 season. They face Tennessee at Autzen stadium, and go on the road to Virginia, Washington and Stanford. There is also a schedule-capping 117th Civil War game, where the Ducks will look to extend their …
Measuring Up: Ducks vs. the SEC and other BCS powers
As the 2013 off-season grinds along, it’s high-time to take a look at how the Ducks spring roster stacks up against 24 other programs in the country. After all, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl champion Oregon Ducks were among the very largest in the country a season ago, but has that changed? For reference, this list is assembled using roster data from ESPN.com, …
Your Greatest “Oregon” Ducks
About a year ago, I wrote a post attempting to list the greatest “Oregon” Ducks of all-time - University of Oregon athletes, regardless of sport, who were either natives of the state of Oregon, or at had least moved here at a young age and thus “grew up” in Oregon. I originally planned to do a “top 10”, but early in the research it …
Oregon Unknowns: Ducks the odds-on favorite to advance in the Sweet Sixteen
When Oregon and Louisville tip it off tonight at 4:15 on CBS, the Ducks are matched up against arguably the hottest team in the country. But you should also know that this “Return of the Firs” team has been bending their knees and breaking all kinds of records this year. Also, Oregon has some distinct historical and statistical advantages in this game. …
Oregon Unknowns: Ducks still feeling the Byrne
A new Friday series are the OREGON UNKNOWNS, where we look at interesting aspects about our beloved Ducks that few fans know about. Some are amusing facts or stories from the inside, while others are the humorous incidents that we fans rarely hear about. Emerging out of a dark era in Duck athletics, the University of Oregon needed to find …
Oregon Unknowns: Success On The Field Rips The Roof Off Autzen Stadium
Prior to when the current 89 game sellout streak began at Autzen during the 1999 season, tickets to most Duck football games came easily for those that wanted them. Didn’t have season tickets? No problem; you could often walk up to the ticket booth and purchase seats up until kickoff. That is, if you made it past the “informal secondary ticket market” – …
Oregon Unknowns: Teaching Life Lessons from the Comfort of Your Car
Our new Friday series is the OREGON UNKNOWNS, where we look at interesting stories or facts about our beloved Ducks that few casual fans know about! Former Oregon running back Allan Amundson (#34, 1999-2002) started his career on the field quickly for the Ducks as a true freshman. He showed a rare burst of speed with a reported elite-level 4.2 second 40 yd. dash …
The Trouble With Kickers, Balls, And A Bucks
If you’ve ever wondered what kickers really do in practice, you’re not alone. In the off-season, kickers find themselves with plenty of time on their hands, maybe too much time, and when that happens the mind begins to wander. A lot goes into special teams play; it requires endless repetition to master the precise timing and technique necessary to be proficient. With …
Oregon Unknowns: Ducks Win The Northwest Championship
This continues a new Friday series: the OREGON UNKNOWNS, where we look at interesting aspects about our beloved Ducks that few fans know about. In the 1980 season, Oregon notched victories against each of the other three Northwest schools: Oregon State, Washington, and Washington State. The Northwest sweep stood out in particular that season, marking the first time the Ducks …