“I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I’ve still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you.” – HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey (although it could be any guy pleading with his wife …
2019 Oregon Football: The Year of NO EXCUSES
I have never been so torn going into my annual “prediction” article, and now I know how some football recruits must feel on the day they decide; do they follow their head or their heart? I’ve explained my lack of confidence in the offensive staff, yet coaches do improve as players do … and at this time of year hope springs …
One-and-Done Players: Good for Oregon Basketball?
The simple answer: Yes, if done the right way. And Dana Altman looks to be getting on the right path. The one-and-done phenomenon started in 2006, when the NBA made a rule stating that in order for a player to be eligible for an NBA draft, they must be at least 19 years old and/or one year removed from high …
A Greybeard’s Expectations for Oregon Football 2019
Mario Cristobal has convinced me that he has chops. However, the exact size of those chops is still an open question. Ugly Duckling wrote a great piece recently that focused on how absolutely critical it is to the long term success of winning programs to have proper roster management. That got me to thinking not only about roster management, but …
A Letter To Duck Fans: Will You Ever Be Happy?
Dear Disgruntled Duck Fan, What will it take for you to be happy? Day in and day out, you complain about the team you say you love. And you know what? I’m sick and tired of it. It seems nothing our football team does is good enough for you. Other teams’ fans are at least happy about something with their …
Avoiding Duck Dismay in the Desert
The Oregon Ducks struggled on the road in the 2018-2019 season. Their only two wins away from home came against a sluggish Cal team, ranked 24th in the AP Poll at the time, and in-state rival Oregon State — hardly wins to get excited about. This year, the Ducks have notable road games in difficult environments such as Jerry’s World, …
Should Cristobal Have RIPPED OFF the Coaching Band-Aid?
This is it; this is the year for Oregon football. We all know it, as how often do you have a first round draft pick like Justin Herbert return for a senior year? Or a Troy Dye on defense returning for his senior year? Or having 17 of 22 starters return with such depth on the defensive line? We all know …
Is Oregon Football Really “Back”?
What a difference a year makes. At this time in 2018, Oregon football was in flux. The Ducks were introducing their third head coach in as many years, the program was still wiping egg off its face from the Willie Taggart debacle, and the team was coming off of a decidedly average 7-6 season. Just a year later, there are …
Charles Fischer, The Man: A Toast to FishDuck
We all know Charles Fischer, aka The FishDuck, host and moderator of FishDuck.com, chieftain of chatboard chivalry, dean of Duckfan diplomacy. But from what humble beginnings arose this Charles Fischer, The FishDuck? And more importantly, who is Charles Fischer, the Man? Charles started FishDuck.com in 2011 out of pure fandom. He recognized the power of social media, the appeal of …
Are the Playoffs and Realignment HURTING College Football?
Calling the current college football landscape “unfair” would be the understatement of the year. Things weren’t always this way, as conferences used to be aligned according to the regions of the country, with sensible, and most importantly, balanced schedules. Conference champions weren’t determined in revenue-driven championship games. They were simply awarded to the team that had the best record at …
Three Games Oregon MUST WIN in 2019
Just over two weeks remain until the Oregon Ducks open their season in a program-defining showdown against the Auburn Tigers. That game will be a strong indicator of what to expect from the Ducks in 2019. But it’s not the only tough matchup on their schedule. In advance of such a critical season opener, it feels like a good time …
Oregon vs. Auburn Is Around the Corner. Who Has the Edge?
At long last, the time is coming. All offseason, the Oregon-Auburn matchup has been analyzed, dissected and prodded like a lab experiment. We’ve had a full offseason to talk it over, hash it out, voice our thoughts, read all the articles, get others’ opinions and get the national consensus. Now it’s time to decide. Who do you think will win …












