Conference realignments? Changing the playoff structure? An Elite League? Given the limited sporting news and live sports events during the COVID-19 sheltering slowdown, it’s surprising fans and sportswriters have not blown up discussions and ranted more scenarios involving these topics. Though realigning the conferences and reforming the playoff structure are separate issues, they are obviously linked. One affects the other, including …
“The pandemic has reminded us: We don’t need more sports in our lives — we need less“ I was doing some pandemic pondering after reading a Washington Post article by Norman Chad featuring the title above, and I began to wonder if he was right. Have we gotten out of hand with our ESPN/Oregon sports obsessions? Do we sports-binge too …
Chip Kelly arrived in Eugene as a virtual unknown from the University of New Hampshire. From 2007 to 2012, Kelly changed the landscape of college football with his blur offense, transforming Oregon into a national title contender in the process. Following a lull under Mark Helfrich and Willie Taggart, Mario Cristobal started restoring dreams of a “Natty” in 2018, inciting FishDuck’s …
This article was originally a forum post from over 13 years ago. I stumbled across it recently and thought you might have fun reading it, as I did, with the pleasant memory of our past beloved Ducks. Charles Fischer —————————————————— Have you ever watched a game at Autzen and noted an official with a down marker sprinting down the sideline to …
So who is the best football player in the country? Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence? Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields? Nope. At least not according to CBS Sports and Cover3 Podcast host Chip Patterson, who believes Oregon Ducks left tackle and Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell is the best NCAA D1 player. And he’s not wrong. As Mr. FishDuck pointed out …
Oregon football had a phenomenal season in 2019. The Ducks won a conference championship and Rose Bowl for the first time since the 2014-2015 season, they beat all of their rivals and even managed to get the Washington State monkey of their back. Despite their 12 wins and one of the greatest defenses in school history, many fans felt they …
Once I had a conference, I made it run, Made it run just fine. Once I had a conference and Keith Jackson called it a King. Brother, can you spare a dime? (To the tune of “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?”) In 1970, a USC team led by coach John McKay (an Oregon graduate) went into Tuscaloosa and played like …
In the last few days it feels like life is slowly but surely going back to normal. Restaurants and bars are modified but open, social gatherings in Oregon are now up to 25 people and yes, sports writers are back to making their “crazy-bold hot takes.” In particular, over the weekend CBS Sports senior writer Ben Kercheval made a list …
A curious trend has emerged in college football — one that’s as senseless as it is perplexing. Fans and analysts alike have become fixated on conference strength. It used to be blasphemous, but nowadays, many Oregon fans find themselves cheering on their fieriest rivals in out-of-conference or bowl games, hoping that they represent the Pac-12 well and improve its perception. …
Despite Oregon’s recent domination over our “rival” from the Jet City (14 wins in the last 16 meetings), the fact remains that the Huskies still lead the all-time series 60-47 (5 ties). Yes, I just barfed out my morning coffee as I typed that. The Ducks are down 13 games to the Huskies. Which may have some of you thinking, …
At least one of the luminaries in the college football brain trust opines that Oregon has the best incoming secondary for next season. This May 1st article by Anthony Treash of PFF contends that Oregon’s secondary is not only the best, but it’s not even close. His argument rests primarily upon a metric that compares how well an individual returning …
Could the Hatfield-Dowlin facility in Eugene make room for another prized trophy? Since its inception back in 1935, the Heisman Trophy has been won predominantly by running backs and quarterbacks and back in the early years, half-backs especially dominated the award. Could Oregon beat the odds with Penei Sewell? The ’70s and ’80s were in love with the ball carriers, and …
