In preparation for writing this last winter, before COVID was a household word, I felt the need to take the same walk that hundreds of thousands of Duck fans have made before: the walk across the Willamette. I began my stroll in the early morning on a Thursday, a strange contrast to my past endeavors on the bridge. It was …
It was mid-autumn in Eugene, 2002, and a cold breeze blew up through the bleachers from the Willamette River, sending chills through Duck football fans packed into the newly expanded and upgraded Autzen Stadium. It was only halftime and the score was 38 Oregon, 7 Stanford. Oregon had just come off two back-to-back losses, one from USC and the other …
In 2018, defensive back recruits Elijah Blades and Jeremiah Criddell made the decision to decommit from the Ducks. This left the Ducks in dire need of a solid defensive back. Oregon had already received verbal commitments from two other defensive backs, Trikweze Bridges and Mykael Wright, but something was still missing from the roster. Then, in January of 2019, DB …
The Ducks have had some fantastic running backs in the past. Players like LaMichael James, Derek Loville, and Jonathan Stewart have all cemented themselves as stars in Oregon’s football history. However, the Ducks have also historically had some difficulty dealing with depth for the running back spot, and that hasn’t changed. Currently on the roster, we have CJ Verdell, Travis …
West Coast football runs strong in the Millen family. Former NFL quarterback Hugh Millen played for the University of Washington, even leading the Huskies to a victory at the 1985 Orange Bowl before continuing his career professionally. Millen’s second son Clay Millen recently committed to Arizona. And Cale Millen, Hugh’s eldest son, signed with the Ducks in December of 2018. …
In 2018, the NCAA proposed that redshirted players could participate in up to four games in a season without burning up a year of collegiate athletic eligibility. This was a fantastic rule change in the eyes of many coaches, as it allowed for more flexibility on rosters, as well as for players, who could test playing at another level of …
In 2010, the Ducks led the league in scoring, made top five in the majority of offensive categories, and qualified for a national championship. A fully fledged offensive force took the field, nimbly dancing around defenders and tearing apart formations. However, in recent years the Ducks have transitioned to a much more physical and aggressive play style, relying on larger …
For many players, spending a redshirt season largely on the sideline can be very daunting. Especially for many of the bigger name recruits, it could very well be their first time ever not starting. However, the players that make the most of their time spent on the bench are the ones who form the foundational backbone of a team. Trikweze …
Standing at 6’5, weighing in at 255 pounds, Treven Ma’ae comes from Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was the 2nd overall ranked player in Nevada by ESPN, and 44nd nationally for defensive ends. Ma’ae was picked up in August of 2018, adding to an already ripe recruiting class. Ma’ae chose the Ducks over Air Force, Arizona State, Army, Boise State, …
The 2019 recruiting process was a bit of a whirlwind when it came to cornerbacks. After the sudden de-commitment of Marques Caldwell and Elijah Blades, the second reserve slot was left open. Sure, Mykael Wright, who went on to have a fantastic first season, had Ducks fans feeling somewhat confident about the future of the cornerback position, but there was …
Upon the final season of many of our favorite Ducks, it’s easy to forget that the future is bright with potential. With a multitude of stellar recruits and redshirt freshmen, the 2020 football season which I’m sure we are all praying will happen should be an exciting one indeed. Kristian Williams is a 6-3, 290-pound defensive tackle from Memphis, Tennessee. …
Strange times are upon us. None of us knew this was coming. Tom Brady has left the New England Patriots. In all seriousness, I bid a forlorn farewell two weeks ago to the University of Oregon campus for the time being, with no thought as to how serious the circumstances would devolve to due to COVID-19. I never would have …