College Playoff Update: Wait and See

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

There was no movement at the top of the polls, but that doesn’t mean there was a shortage of drama. The playoff picture underwent some serious changes as teams saw their playoff dreams dashed while others now find themselves in control of their own destinies. Mississippi State Bulldogs The top ranked team in the nation didn’t have too much of …

Pac-12 Update: The Climb Begins

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It wasn’t as wild a weekend of college football as the previous week, but this past Saturday provided plenty of its own excitement. Playoff Contenders Mississippi State Bulldogs In a turn of events that few saw coming, Mississippi State is now the top rated football team in the country. They have certainly earned it, as they have now defeated a …

Pac-12 Conference Update: Sit Back and Relax

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Another college football weekend in is the books, and although there was a lack of big time ranked teams going against one another, the weekend provided some real drama. Oregon Ducks The Oregon Ducks were idle this week, and retained their No. 2 ranking in the AP poll. They now prepare for the University of Arizona Wildcats in a “pay-back” game on …

Pac-12 and Beyond: Ducks Roll; USC Disappoints; Final Four in Flux?

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Oregon Avoids a Letdown as Conference Play Nears After defeating a Top-10 opponent in Michigan State the previous week, it was only human nature for the Ducks to have a more difficult time “waking up” to face off with the Wyoming Cowboys. Throw in an 11 a.m. kickoff time, the students being very late for kickoff, and no College GameDay, it’s no surprise the …

Playoff & Pac-12 Update: The Wait is Over

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It’s finally – finally! — football season! As the first weekend of college football wraps up, don’t expect any major changes when it comes to rankings, especially at the top. However, expect one major theme to be consistent with all top programs, there are still kinks to work out, and there is still work to do. Florida State Let’s start with the …

Most Valuable Coaches (Not Named Helfrich)

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  Football is the ultimate team sport. There are 11 players on the field at once, all doing their part in a collective effort to either move the ball up the field, or get the ball back from the other team. For every quarter of football that is played, countless hours are spent by the coaching staff, as they prepare …

Who “Won” the Summer?

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As a college football season, this is the worst time of the year. We haven’t had football in months, and our patience has run thin in anticipation. Spring games are fun and all, yet they are like giving a sip of water to someone who hasn’t had a drink in days: It’s just not enough. The only news that has …

The Past Is the Past: How Chip Kelly Comparisons Are Useless

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

For Oregon football fans, the past season has been a unique time. For starters, in the last season of the BCS era, Oregon’s incredible four-year streak of playing in BCS bowls was snapped. It was also the first year for new head coach Mark Helfrich. While he had the best debut season ever for an Oregon coach, some fans still …

Now or Never: How Next Season Will Decide the Fate of Certain Ducks

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When a new class of freshmen arrives to a football program, it’s always a mixed bag. Players of all positions gather from different high schools or junior colleges, states and backgrounds, to come together as teammates. Some are prized recruits coming in from premier high school programs; some are lesser-known players that the coaches hope are diamonds in the rough. …

From U.S. Soccer to the Ducks, It’s a Small World After All

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Americans are coming down with a severe case of World Cup Fever over the past week — and it has to do with team spirit. With the United States winning its first match against Ghana and playing Portugal to a draw, the national team has (so far) beaten the odds in the “Group of Death” and given the U.S. a …

And the 2014 Forget-Me-Not Award Goes to — Byron Marshall

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Over the past decade, Oregon fans have been blessed with stellar running backs carrying the ball for the Ducks. From Jonathan Stewart to LaMichael James to De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon has had success running the ball with different types of backs. This past month’s NFL draft was the third straight draft with an Oregon running back being drafted. This upcoming season …