Pac-12 Update: The Climb Begins

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It wasn’t as wild a weekend of college football as the previous week, but this past Saturday provided plenty of its own excitement. Playoff Contenders Mississippi State Bulldogs In a turn of events that few saw coming, Mississippi State is now the top rated football team in the country. They have certainly earned it, as they have now defeated a …

Oregon defeats UCLA with the Bair-Down Strategy

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Fish Reports

Oregon’s running game against the Bruins was aided by a most unlikely player–Stetzon Bair, who recently moved over to the offensive line from the defense! It is amazing how much better a coach Steve Greatwood became this week with the return of Jake Fisher, the improvement of Matt Pierson and Tyrell Crosby and the emergence of “transfer” Stetzon Bair on …

How 2014 is like 2007, and How It Isn’t

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Imagine if the 2007 season never ended. That was the obvious connection following week six. Not just among the college football landscape because of tumult among the nation’s top teams, but within the dynamic of Oregon’s own team. Just as in 2007, Oregon started the season looking like one of the best teams in the nation, jumping out to a 4-0 …

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out: Damnation, Redemption and Hope

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Since the previous week featured so much condemnation and in-fighting among Duck fans, a win over a ranked UCLA team was just what the doctor ordered to settle down some heated feelings. It appears that it isn’t just Duck fans who have trouble getting along when their team is losing. UCLA coach Jim Mora blessed us with quite a show …

What We Learned: Win Loss Records Always Lie

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Another week of college football behind us, and more of the unbeaten have fallen. New titans emerge as we dispose of last week’s heroes, wringing out Wildcat and Tiger hopes like rags soaked in day old dishwater. How does it feel, Arizona and Auburn? Yesterday’s news doesn’t generate clicks or the mighty consumer’s eyeballs, so be gone with you until …

College Football Nation: #HailState and a Shootout in Waco

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Everytime you think the season could not get any crazier, another week of games is played and proves us wrong! After this season started the defenses  have become non-existence, new teams are stepping up as contenders each week, and the drama with Jameis Winston never ends. With that in mind, lets get into some thoughts this past week of college …

From The Locker Rooms: Double Duty Addition

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Pasadena, Calif. —  Welcome to a sunny, special addition of FishDuck.com’s “From The Locker Room.” Due to UCLA players taking longer in their locker room postgame than a twelve year old daughter getting ready for school in the morning, the FishDuck reporter on site was able to gain insights from both the UCLA and Oregon perspectives. Obviously after this contest …

Civility is REQUIRED at FishDuck!

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Announcements

My Objective for the “Our Beloved Ducks Forum”: I want everyone to share their thoughts on a topic and to present their facts researched, or their opinions and/or rationale laid out. I want all opinions safely expressed regardless of where you are on the wide spectrum of ideas as everyone is protected at this site from the Trolls and the …

Parallels Run Deep Between Oregon and UCLA

Will Denner FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Oregon and UCLA were considered the favorites in their respective PAC-12 divisions going into the 2014 season. Now, a little over a month into the season, the loser of the Saturday contest between the two teams may have to kiss college football playoff aspirations goodbye. As far as the similarities go between these two teams, though, that is just the …

Somebody Call the Doctor!

Riley Bushnell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Injuries are always key in winning. The average viewer might have thought Rich Rodriguez just always has the right game plan against Oregon after beating them for two straight seasons; however, nature sometimes plays a role. In the game against Arizona, we saw a battered Oregon offensive line. Credit to some of the backups, as they played their hearts out. …

Chip Kelly Update: The Eagles Suck. Also, Best in NFL

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

This is the most confusing football team ever. The offense is completely misfiring. Nick Foles led the league in long throws (over 20 yards) last year; in 2014, he’s 4 for 31, with three interceptions. Sunday was his personal low point in a miserable season; scrambling for a first down, he fumbled away the ball untouched as he rolled forward …