As an astute Oregon fan, you know the story. Willie Taggart was hired as the new coach at the end of the 2016 season, and he brought a staff to Eugene that included current head coach Mario Cristobal as the offensive line coach, co-offensive coordinator and run-game coordinator. Taggart left to coach at his dream school, Florida State, and Cristobal …
Oh come on … the title is not so far-fetched! Haven’t all of us fans of Our Beloved Ducks thought about this at one time or another? There are so many positive and negative facets to consider, and I am interested in your thoughts. Where would Oregon Football be if Chip Kelly had decided to pass on the NFL? If …
A weakness? Mr. FishDuck, don’t you know that Mario Cristobal and his staff are killing it on the recruiting trail? Yes, I am very aware, but it seems that the recruiting at Running Back has declined since the staffs of Rich Brooks–Mike Bellotti–Chip Kelly–Mark Helfrich left and were replaced by Taggart-Cristobal. In fact, we have the opposite problem at recruiting from …
For all who have recently toured the renovated Hayward Field, such as the Oregon Track and Field athletes, “wow” has been the most common reaction. Even Olympic Decathlon winner Ashton Eaton was brought to tears, as the memories of historic Hayward Field flooded back to him. He marveled at the majesty of this incredible new look for Oregon’s premier sports …
Johnny Johnson III flashed greatness in his very first game as a Duck with a diving catch against Nebraska. He then faded from the spotlight, contributing 299 receiving yards in 2017 and 215 yards in 2018. Oregon came into 2019 needing a receiver to step up, and Johnson did not disappoint as he led the team in receiving yards, receiving …
Finally, Pac-12 football is set to get underway in November. During a time in which the College Football season’s outlook was uncertain, the Conference announced a modified 2020 season, and the fans cannot wait to see their teams take the field. Meanwhile, a spirited quarterback battle brewing could have offensive implications not immediately apparent to most Oregon fans… Projected to …
College football is getting less competitive. The playoff’s goal was to expand the number of teams that could compete for the national championship every year by widening the field from two to four. Not much of a playoff, and it seems even less so with a cast of four usual suspects: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. These four teams …
In preparation for writing this last winter, before COVID was a household word, I felt the need to take the same walk that hundreds of thousands of Duck fans have made before: the walk across the Willamette. I began my stroll in the early morning on a Thursday, a strange contrast to my past endeavors on the bridge. It was …
Before a Stanford game years back, a large flock of Ducks met at PK Park for the annual football letter-winner’s tailgater. One of the more prominent O-Ducks in attendance was Reuben Droughns, one of Oregon’s greatest running backs. Droughns had four games where he rushed for over 200 yards: 202 vs. Michigan State (1998), 207 vs. Arizona (’99), 214 vs. …
If Chip Kelly were the Julius Caesar of football, or more importantly of Oregon football, then that would make Mario Cristobal Caesar Augustus. If you are not already aware of the magnificent FishDuck Repository, you should take a look at it. It has some great articles concerning the Men of Oregon, and today we are going to look at one …
Among the most pivotal points that propelled Oregon past USC the past decade was the 2012 matchup in Los Angeles. The Trojans went into the season ranked No. 1 under current Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. The Ducks stormed L.A. in their all-white “Stormtrooper” kits and put a “65” on the L.A. Coliseum scoreboard. In the seven seasons since, …
Despite the growing concern over COVID-19 across America, the PAC-12 Conference will begin on November 6th, 2020. While that is a late start, it is not without the same questions and anticipation that would occur with a start two months earlier. Can Oregon overcome the virus risks and defeat the conference foes to win the Pac-12 title? Some talented teams …