Recruiting Update: “Abominable Snowman” Set to Visit Oregon

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting Visits Fueled by Heisman-frontrunner Marcus Mariota, the Ducks rolled over hapless Wyoming, 48-14, in Autzen Stadium. In attendance was longtime Oregon-connected linebacker Mike Tafua (3-Star/Honolulu, HI) and per our friends at DuckTerritory, may be poised to flip a previously held commitment to BYU in favor of the Ducks. Standing 6-foot-3, 225 lbs., Tafua is the hard-nosed, sideline-to-sideline defender …

Pac-12 and Beyond: Ducks Roll; USC Disappoints; Final Four in Flux?

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Oregon Avoids a Letdown as Conference Play Nears After defeating a Top-10 opponent in Michigan State the previous week, it was only human nature for the Ducks to have a more difficult time “waking up” to face off with the Wyoming Cowboys. Throw in an 11 a.m. kickoff time, the students being very late for kickoff, and no College GameDay, it’s no surprise the …

Byron Marshall Loves Oregon’s New Slot-Sweep Read

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis

How fun is it to see a new variation of a foundation play of the Oregon offense! The Sweep Read is one of those plays of the Oregon offense that has been unchanged since FishDuck.com introduced the play to football fans more than three years ago. Now we are beginning to see new wrinkles that Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich is adding to …

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out: The Greatest Blunders of 2013

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It was a long, long time ago that I first saw a team totally snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Unfortunately, the team doing it was our own beloved Oregon Ducks. As I say, it was long ago, so I may be mistaken on a detail or two. Anyway,  the way I remember it, the Ducks were down …

Superman — Not a Cartoon — Still Airs on Saturday Morning

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Following the big win against Michigan State last week, much of the ink spilled focused on Oregon’s suddenly clear path to the College Football Playoff. The Ducks had defeated their best opponent they would face in the regular season, and by the transitive property of college football, will win all games thereafter. Of course, Saturday showed why making such assumptions after the …

What We Learned: 11 Newbs Critical to the Ducks’ Championship Run

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Through three glorious weeks of college football, teams across the country have had their depth tested. Look to the east and observe a USC defensive line run over by a mediocre Boston College team in a below-average ACC conference. Look to the south and see a backup quarterback carried off the field heroically on teammates’ shoulders after managing a shaky …

Cowboy Comments: Blown Out, but Undaunted

Brian Libby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Wyoming’s head coach and players praise Oregon but take inspiration from many successful moments against the Ducks Although the score line of Saturday’s game was a comfortable 48-14 win for Oregon, the Wyoming Cowboys can hold their heads high under their 10-gallon hats after consistently racking up yards against the Ducks throughout the game. Wyoming ran more plays than their …

College Football Nation: Hokies Poked and Boston College Runs over USC

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What a day of upsets this weekend of college football gave us. All up and down the east coast David was slaying Goliath. As fans, we live for the upsets. To be able to see a true underdog emerge victorious is why we love sports. So much action to cover from all over the country today, so lets get into it. …

So … About This Defense …

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I was at the Oregon Club meeting 20 years ago in 1994 when Nick Aliotti christened the name of the “Gangrene” defense, and I recall the howls at the name. I remember thinking that “Gang-Green” was clever and fits us so well … but alas that was not the right spelling. I have been asked to consider a short (if …

Superstition and How It Works for the Good of the Ducks

Alex Towne FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

And so it begins. A brand new season of college football is upon us, and with it a brand new assortment of superstitions. (Cue all the eerie music from the Sci-Fi channel.) Growing up in an all-University of Oregon household, I learned to love the Ducks from a young age. I also learned the countless routines and superstitions my dad performed …

Collegiate Programs Can Learn From the NFL’s Ray Rice Situation

Will Denner FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Note: This article contains graphic information regarding domestic violence. Read at your own discretion. An already nasty situation grew worse on Monday when new video surfaced of now former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his wife Janay in an Atlantic City casino elevator. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to see the video, you know how disturbing Rice’s actions …

Chip Kelly Update: Like Father, Like Son

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Let’s call the Oregon Ducks’ football program the ‘father’ and the Philadelphia Eagles’ version the ‘son’. (Yes, Chip Kelly is the parent of both, but don’t overthink this metaphor into something creepy.) With all due respect for South Dakota State, both teams had their first real test this past weekend, and the family resemblance was striking. Both teams were favored but …