Duck Family Day is a new feature we share every Saturday, where Oregon fans share their stories of being Oregon fans! Email charles@fishduck.com to share your experiences and what it means to be a Duck fan. Austin Willholft was a writer and now the Director of Social Media for FishDuck.com and is extremely passionate about our beloved Ducks, the same as you. Contact us …
End of an Era
Three years, nine months, and 18 days ago I was asked to submit a column for a new website called FishDuck.com. In the 197 weeks since, I contributed 197 pieces to the site. Wednesday morning I received a call from The Big Fish himself telling me this will be the last regularly scheduled edition, at least for now wink, wink, …
What Makes a Track Fan Different?
As a lifelong fan of both collegiate and pro sports, I’ve found that the rules of fan conduct vary more at a track meet than perhaps any other sport. I grew up learning to bait opposing players and, at eleven years old, had the “honor” of getting flipped off by Bob Ferry, then a journeyman NBA forward, when I suggested …
The Numbers Can Lie
With the conclusion of the NBA and NHL Finals, baseball has taken center stage, meaning that football is right around the corner. Bringing with it many questions, hopes and fears for Oregon fans. Is the Pac-12 the best division in college football? Can a team without a definitive quarterback take them to another National Title game? Will Oregon put up …
FishDuck Recruiting: 2015 ShrineDog Awards — Part II
Here I am again with the second installment of the ShrineDog Awards for the football recruiting class of 2015. Part One took us to the University of Texas with PJ Locke, who flipped from Oregon. Part Two takes us to the state of Tennessee where the Grand Ole Opry takes a backseat to no one. The common tie between the first …
Recruiting Strategy: “Nike The Opening” Camp Headlines Big Weekend for Ducks
June is in full swing. Graduation time is upon us, and so is the beginning of summer and summer sports camps. In fact, the Nike The Opening regionals just wrapped up in Eugene over the past weekend, and with the camp in the Ducks’ backyard, the event was an excellent opportunity for Oregon to make headway on the recruiting trail. …
Oregon’s Tradition is Their Innovation
With the 2015-16 season quickly approaching, there has been a lot of talk about which team is the best “bet” to win the National Championship next year. After a trip to the Rose Bowl and National Championship last year, it seemed that the Ducks were on their way to a new level of recognition among college football fans. However, Vegas and …
Recruiting Update: From Big Red to Don Thunder Green
Football Recruiting News The Eugene Regional brought a degree of validation and a few surprises along the recruiting trail as it wrapped up late this past Sunday. Island-based runner Vavae Malepeai (3-Star/Mililani, HI) confirmed his intention to become a Duck following a long recruiting rapport with Eugene. A tabbed running back at the prep level, Malepeai bears the athleticism to …
Is the New NCAA Scheduling Format hurting the Athletes?
Having attended track meets since the early ’60s, I’m not much of a fan of change in my favorite sport. However with the steep decline of the fan base over the past three or four decades, it has became apparent that something needed to be done to bring younger fans into the fold. The old dual meets were a great …
2015 Wide Receiver Corps — The Deepest in Ducks’ History
We don’t yet know who will be throwing passes for the Ducks come fall, whether it be Vernon Adams, Jr. or Jeff Lockie, or even someone else, but we do know who will be catching them. The University of Oregon has never been known for its talented wide outs, but this year could change that. This is the first in …
Oregon’s “Unfair” Advantage in Track & Field
Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Texas A&M track coach Pat Henry thinks that Oregon has an unfair advantage at the NCAA Track & Field Championships, according to a Saturday article by Oregonlive’s Andrew Greif. Henry, it seems, thinks that the home field advantage works to Oregon’s favor — and he’s right. But Henry misses the boat when he jumps from “advantage” to …
Oregon’s Steps to Football Excellence
Make no mistake, Oregon football has been making great strides. In the past 20 years, Oregon’s football program has risen from an unsurprising loser to a perpetual championship contender and truly one of the nation’s elite programs. All of this has been accomplished with three different head coaches and the inevitable change in personnel as players graduate from college — …