For the last half-decade, Oregon football has been one of a handful of teams that has been, at some point during each season, a true contender for a national championship. For a variety of reasons they have fallen short of attaining this goal. They have come very close on multiple occasions, but have failed to close the deal. In each …
With this week’s unceremonious ouster of Oregon State from the Pac-12 Basketball Tourney, the Ducks have once again plunged a knife into the soul of our friends from Corvallis. I, for one, feel bad. It must be hard to be a Beaver over the last, oh, 100 years. Much is made of the fact that Oregon State’s Head Coach is …
Seventeen years ago this spring, Joey Harrington was a senior at Portland’s Central Catholic High School with a big future ahead of him: a legendary football career at Oregon that would make him the school’s first Heisman Trophy finalist, then seven years as an NFL quarterback and finally the broadcasting career he enjoys today. And from the time he entered …
Chip Kelly and GM Howie Roseman began their free agency moves on Tuesday, and they continue to implement their distinctive strategy: 1) Don’t swing for the bleachers by competing for the highest priced stars, 2) Stick to young players, 3) Aim for versatility, 4) Get good citizens and leaders. Philadelphia Eagles fans are not thrilled with this approach. They want …
1. Have You Seen the Court Design?! As we all know, U of O’s Kilkenny Floor in Matthew Knight Arena has the number one most crazy, outlandish court in the country. Just as with nearly every other aspect of Oregon athletics, they went big on the design. At first glance, one might question just why the court has the design …
Relentless persistence and determination are qualities that set great athletes apart from the simply good. These qualities are also critically important to an athlete that isn’t offered a scholarship. No scholarship means a player is not guaranteed a spot on the team, but rather just a chance to try out for a “walk-on” position, and on their own dime at …
Take Me Out to the Ballgame is embodied in a wonderful, family-themed time at PK Park. We’ll get back to talking about playing the game later. It was a Saturday afternoon game and who the Ducks were playing didn’t matter, because we were there to enjoy ourselves win, lose or draw. However, don’t get too excited — we do care and a Duck …
Football Recruiting Offers Jack-of-all-trades athlete Stephen Johnson III (4-Star/San Leandro, CA) is catching fire heading into his senior summer. While recently discovered by the Oregon faithful, Johnson III appears to have been on wide receivers coach Matt Lubick’s wish list for some time. Toward the end of last week, the Ducks’ coaching staff made good on their promise and extended …
I don’t know what it’s like to be a redshirt freshman on the football team, but I imagine it’s a peculiar situation. You work so hard throughout high school to become the best player you can, and the fruits of your labor are rewarded by multiple scholarship offers from schools across the country. In your senior year, you’re the big …
In order to beat high quality basketball teams such as UCLA and Arizona, the Ducks must do more than just score in transition. Although it’s obvious that Oregon excels on the break, they actually work a mean half-court game, as well. Unbeknownst to the common observer, a large portion of the Ducks’ offensive set consists of the classic “drive-and-kick” offensive scheme. The …
What were a person’s entertainment choices in Eugene on a Tuesday night in February, 1943? It was the height of World War II and choices were limited. You could go dining and dancing at The Holland, go ice skating, or catch a double feature at one of the area theaters. There was one other option on February 1st. You could …
Relocation. It is a term that sports fans, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest, associate as a threat than with opportunity, the darkest side of pro sports fandom that makes college fans grateful their teams will always be a constant presence where they presently reside. Yet for all the negative experiences the Pacific Northwest fan base has faced regarding relocation …