Who Will Be Josh Huff’s Heir Apparent on My Desktop?

Casey Fluegge FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I should stop typing right now and just post a pictorial of Josh Huff’s Oregon football career.  With nary another word, it might win me a Pulitzer in the sports writing category — if there is such an honor.  Put it this way, no Oregon player from 2010 through 2013 graced my …

Can You FORGIVE Mark Helfrich?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

We, as loyal and dedicated Oregon fans, are all still going through a mental transition from Chip Kelly to Mark Helfrich, and for most of us it has been difficult and even illuminating our true nature of being an Oregon fan, learning about ourselves within this conversion.  Never has Oregon had such a charismatic and successful coach who went on to storm …

College Football Nation: Wildcat Union and Chip Kelly Surprises Us All

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Things just got taken up a notch as football players attending Northwestern University were approved to move forward with their efforts to unionize.  I am glad we have had some amazing basketball to get my mind off that mess going on.  Besides the usual arrests and the Northwestern union being approved (pending appeal from the University administration), it has been a …

The Almost Tragic History of Oregon State Sports

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Now that there are only a couple of months left in which to humiliate Oregon State during the 2013/14 school year, I thought this would be a good time to see how the hapless Beavs got here.  I decided to try and look back to a time when there were respectable athletic endeavors occurring in the little hamlet of Corvallis. …

Chip Kelly Update: To DeSean or Not to DeSean?

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

That is the question. At Oregon, Chip Kelly made it clear that he does not consider team stars untouchable if they don’t fit within the culture.  He dismissed Jeremiah Masoli (his starting quarterback) and Cliff Harris (All-American cornerback and returner) from the team outright, and suspended running backs LeGarrette Blount and LaMichael James, each of whom was the team’s biggest …

Danny Mattingly: The Next Big Hitter

Alex Legarza FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What does it take to be a dominant linebacker?  Strength, agility, competitiveness and leadership, all of these qualities in combination set the great apart from the journeyman.  Additionally, strong linebackers help set the tempo on that side of the ball and become the “glue” of the defense. Oregon redshirt freshman Danny Mattingly is an exciting linebacker ready to contribute this …

Dominant Ducks Fly South For the Season: A Look into Basketball’s Outstanding Year

Kerry Merrill FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As a proud Duck, I think I speak for everyone when I say that Oregon’s men’s basketball team had one heck of a season this year.  From the first game against Georgetown all the way to the NCAA playoffs, the Ducks have proven to many that they are a force to be reckoned with.  The Ducks, along with Head Coach Dana …

Recruiting Update: “Vile Lyle” Picks Oregon

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Basketball Recruiting Commitments Amid swirling rumors, heavily-touted point guard JaQuan Lyle (5-Star/Huntington, WV/Rivals150) made his college decision public last Wednesday naming Oregon as his future destination.  One of the last nationally-ranked five stars to commit, Lyle left no doubt at the press conference mic. “Next year, I’m going to attend the University of Oregon …” Lyle, standing 6-foot-5 and tipping …

Oregon Conference Update: The Ducks Have Sprung into Spring

Bryan Holt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The weather in Eugene has been remarkably pristine for this early in the spring and the Oregon Ducks are taking full advantage of its presence.  It seems these blue skies have provided the Ducks with just the right amount of vitamin D to succeed. It has sparked momentum in both the baseball and softball teams, who sit in the top-10 of their respective …

This Season’s Over, but Here’s Three Reasons to Be Excited About The Next One

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the 2013-14 Oregon men’s basketball season concluding on Saturday evening, there are two ways that the scope of the season could be viewed.  One approach is to hang one’s head at the missed opportunity; disappointed at seeing a second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance (which would have been a first in the program’s history) slip away following the evaporation of …

Defense: The Missing Ingredient For a Spot in the Sweet Sixteen

FishDuck Staff FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Many have heard the adage “Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships” but is that the truth?  Though some question the validity of the statement, the Oregon Ducks have proven that for them, defense has been a crucial part in their 2013-14 late-season success. The Ducks showcased both heart and skill in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament proving …

College Football Nation: Washington Goes Both Ways and March Madness

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As spring ball is about to start, the nation still has its eyes turned toward March Madness.  It has been the most exciting two days the tournament has seen in years.  Not a single perfect bracket is left.  Watching the underdog win and move on is always exciting.  I am really pulling for a “Cinderella” team to win it all. The …