The picture above speaks for itself: Win the Pac-12, go to the Rose Bowl. Dominate enough games and you have a shot at the Natty. In Chip Kelly’s years, this was a foregone conclusion. In Mark Helfrich’s, not as much. Now Mario Cristobal is launching his effort to propel Oregon like a Phoenix from the ashes of the Empire formally known as “Fast Hard Finish.” Last season, …
Often, coaches explain that winning “all three phases” of the game is the key to victory. For the Ducks next year, there is reasonable hype around Justin Herbert’s offense and Troy Dye’s defense. But, what about special teams? For optimistic expectations to be fulfilled in 2019, the Ducks need to win with special teams — an important one of three phases of …
Over the years, several things have intrigued me about sports, but one of the most intriguing aspects is how well they function as a slice of life. We see the whole gamut of emotions and behavior, don’t we? ABC’s Wide World of Sports captured it so iconically years ago with “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” being …
It’s time to check in on our friends from the South. Surely, the SEC hasn’t been dominating your news feeds or been fawned over by ESPN enough this offseason, right? So, I thought it fitting to put together a little something to give some much needed love and attention to the most underappreciated conference in the land. The following is …
Let’s pause a moment to consider the irrelevant, shall we? Among things that are not in the least bit relevant: the price of pet rocks up for re-sale on eBay, being accepted for admission at USC, the backup QB battle at Oregon State, Steve Spurrier’s coaching record in the AAF (RIP), the doings of the “Kardashian Krew,” “Chip Kelly’s Guide …
Early returns on 2020 recruiting are promising for Oregon. The Ducks have secured five commits thus far, with three four-stars and two three-stars. Two of the four-star recruits have committed within the past week. Remember that it is still April, and that under previous regimes the Ducks would enter the season with roughly five commitments. Where Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich filled their …
Coach Dana Altman filled a big piece of the Ducks’ roster on Saturday. Eric Williams Jr., a 6’6″ shooting guard/wing is transferring immediately to Oregon from Duquesne. The left-handed Williams averaged 14 points and over seven rebounds per game for the Dukes. A Michigan native, he once scored 50 in a high school game and led his team to the state …
It is always interesting how something “sits” with you after the immediacy of an event passes and you have a day to let it all sink in. I am referring to the 2019 Oregon Spring Game, and my overall reaction is one of being-surprised-at-being-surprised. I had questions to be answered, but frankly expected “more of the same” of what I …
I’m getting shivers thinking about seeing some new Oregon football; how about you? This is a game thread where we discuss our thoughts before the Spring Game, and also give our reactions to it after the game is over. I will let this set of comments run through Sunday as I did during the football season, so when you get …
I was sitting at my local Starbucks Sunday morning, attempting to get jacked up by acquiring that perfect coffee buzz while blasting some early Motley Crue through my headphones (yeah, I watched their biopic Netflix movie “The Dirt” on Saturday night), but for the first time in God knows how long, I couldn’t think of anything to write. At least …
With signing period starting tomorrow, Sabrina Ionescu’s impending return was great news for the Oregon Duck program. Louis King’s announcement on Twitter that he’s hiring an agent was not. The men have two or three spots they can fill, and the women still have one. King has clearly been told by someone that his stock could rise at the NBA …
When the Ducks hired Andy Avalos as defensive coordinator, there was suddenly an opening for a STUD. Linebacker, that is. The STUD position in Avalos’s scheme is a hybrid edge defender/outside linebacker, a guy who can rush the passer, stuff a run block or turn and run with a tight end up the seam. Avalos’s STUDs at Boise State measured …