It is a slow part of the season but this past week there has been some good reads on the back door dealings in college football. Of course it is all coming out while we are once again speaking of paying players and compensating them for their “time.” I just look forward to the season starting even if it’s more than four months …
Injuries happen every year, to every team. In a game as violent as football, players are injured in every scrimmage and every game. Most of the time these injuries are bumps, bruises, stingers and sprains. But the teams that contend for National Championships are either able to weather those injuries or manage to escape major injuries to key players. Oregon …
Thursday was my wife’s birthday (“Happy birthday, honey. Sorry about, well, you know.”) It being her special day, I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell all of you what a lucky guy I am. When I met her all those years ago, she didn’t know the difference between Oregon and Oregon State. Last season, at the end of the Civil …
As spring practices commence for the Ducks — and Marcus Mariota remains starting quarterback — high hopes for the upcoming season are infectious. Currently ranked third in the “Sports Illustrated’s” “Way-Too-Early Top 25″ and sixth on ”Bleacher Report,” 2014 is looking to be an exciting season. And with Mariota’s knee having months to heal, the stage is set for a potentially great year …
Two weeks ago, I wrote that Chip Kelly and the Eagles front office seemed to be dissatisfied with star wide receiver DeSean Jackson’s attitude, and it looked like they were shopping him around. Less than three hours after my column was published, the Eagles released him outright. No trade, no compensatory pick. Just, “Good bye. It’s been real.” This was …
The recruiting wisdom of Mark Helfrich is becoming more evident as time goes on. Most recently comes the news that Hawaii defensive tackle, Ratu Mafileo, got his “eligibility” green light from the NCAA and can now attend and play football at UO. The nephew of former Oregon great, Haloti Ngata, sheds new light on a 2014 recruiting class that was …
Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington are just a handful of the quality programs that offered scholarships to blue-chip twin brothers Tyree and Tyrell Robinson. They are now both proud Ducks. Tyree redshirted last season, his first in the program after graduating in 2013 from Lincoln High School in …
The early 2000’s hold many fond memories for many Duck fans. Oregon was on the rise to the national spotlight, as they made a name for themselves with back-to-back 2000-2001 Pac-12 titles, and winning the BCS-rated Fiesta Bowl — finishing ranked No. 2 nationally (2001). Meanwhile, Autzen Stadium was rising – and so was a big name on the Oregon special …
Football Recruiting News Last week, following the first day of spring practice, Oregon head man Mark Helfrich was asked if there was a chance of adding players who had not yet signed with the program in February. “That’s always a possibility,” said Helfrich. “There are always a couple [of irons in] the fire that way.” Not more than 72 hours …
Oregon’s spring sports are moving at a tremendous pace as we head into the final month of regular season games on the diamond and a speedy stretch of 11 events for Outdoor track and field. It is still an early season for Oregon’s track and field teams, but the expectations are high after sweeping the 2013 Indoor Championships. These early …
When the Ducks travelled south to play Pac-12 rival Stanford, there were predictions of a Duck victory. De’Anthony Thomas predicted the Oregon offense would put up forty points, and many others had Oregon at least securing the W. Vegas even had the Ducks as a 10+ point favorite. The Duck faithful had high hopes, and with good reason. Leading up …
If you ask anybody to take on the job of blocking a 6’4″, 250 lb. linebacker running at full speed, I’ll bet few would be up for the job. This is something Tyler Johnstone, starting offensive lineman for the Oregon Ducks, embraces — and lives for. Through every play, every practice and every moment surrounding Ducks football, Tyler Johnstone is the …