Bear Down: Preventing Another “Wildcat Upset” and Prediction

Riley Bushnell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I predicted the scenario that happened in Pullman, on Saturday. Others were insistent that the Ducks would blow out the Cougars. But after turning on the television, the Cougs were up by seven. In my last article I mentioned that the mid-level pass defense wasn’t effective against Michigan State, so it’s only natural to think that in a game against …

Stars Look to Bounce Back in College Fantasy Football

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

To get this out of the way now … I have lost my place as No. 1. It was a great run while it lasted, but for now I have been banished to (I hate to even speak it out loud) fifth place. I didn’t have a bad week necessarily; I finished with 178 points, which was actually my third-highest scoring …

Opponent Analysis: Preventing the Wildcats’ Big Play

Rory Davidson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Thursday is known as “upset day” in the Pac-12. Be wary of Thursdays! Oregon State shocking No. 1 USC comes to mind. So does Washington surprising No. 8 Stanford in 2012. And, of course, there was Stanford’s takedown of the Ducks last year (sorry for reopening that wound). But these are just a few of the upsets that have occurred on …

FishDuck’s Compendium of Knowledge About Arizona

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Back to the 2014 conference schedule for our Oregon Ducks as they take on the Arizona Wildcats Thursday at 7:30 p.m. PDT. FishDuck.com, your travel and entertainment partner for more than 100 years, wants to welcome the Arizona fans to Autzen Stadium. We have nothing but the highest level of respect for Arizonans, and their ability to withstand hardship. Arizona became a state …

How Royce Freeman Saved Marcus Mariota: Oregon Spread Offense Pass Protection

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Fish Reports

I know you’re shaking your head at my title; “Charles is shameless in how he tries to get hits.” There is truth in the shameless part, but there is also truth in how Royce Freeman made a huge play to help his teammates score a touchdown AND protect his quarterback, Marcus Mariota, from serious injury. Coach Tony Hoolulu in Hawaii …

Pac-12 Conference Update: Sit Back and Relax

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Another college football weekend in is the books, and although there was a lack of big time ranked teams going against one another, the weekend provided some real drama. Oregon Ducks The Oregon Ducks were idle this week, and retained their No. 2 ranking in the AP poll. They now prepare for the University of Arizona Wildcats in a “pay-back” game on …

Hroniss Grasu Eager to Quiet the Doubters

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

If you’re a Duck fan, you know that feeling — that of complete and utter hopelessness watching your team blow its playoff and title chances in a Week 4 matchup against lower-tier Pac-12 North foe Washington State. Then you shared the feeling after the game, where you let out a deep sigh of relief and thanked the heavens your Ducks were heading …

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out: College Football Playoff

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It would be kind to say that a four-team playoff is an improvement over the BCS Championship that it replaced. But what we have isn’t quite the same as trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It’s more like trying to fit five square pegs plus a few splinters into four round holes. What could go wrong? …

Ruining the Season: An Arizona Specialty

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“Bear Down.” It is the official motto of the University of Arizona, a slogan based on a Gipper-ish legend of a former player’s message to his team. Lying in his hospital bed in 1926, starting quarterback John “Button” Salmon told coach Pop McKale (yes, that McKale) on his final hospital visit to Salmon, “…Tell the team to bear down.” The motto …

Practice Makes Perfect: A Sunday report from Cameron Hunt.

Ashley Young FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Sunday, September 28, 2014: Morning Practice Report. Cameron Hunt had his head held high after this morning’s practice. On the way to the locker room, he had time to give us an insight of today’s practice in this special sports news report. “You can see it throughout the practice… You practice like you play. If you have a great week …

What We Learned: Mariota Doesn’t Deserve The Heisman

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In a recent episode of ABC’s Modern Family, Ed O’Neill’s character Jay Pritchett finds himself drawn to the town dog show. A man’s man, the family patriarch is peculiarly fascinated about entering his doted upon French bulldog into an arena where his prize could be recognized by all as the best dog on the block. Per usual with the show, …

College Football Nation: UCLA Got Game and Michigan Feeling Blue

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the playoffs in place, every team is going to do its best to impress the voters. As each week goes by, most of the top teams are playing well below what we all expect of them. FSU has now survived a scare from Clemson and North Carolina State. Oregon barely beat a struggling Washington State team. Alabama got all …