Ducks Volleyball: Where No Duck Has Gone Before

Carl Blackwell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Ducks are in uncharted waters. The #5 Oregon Ducks Women’s volleyball team entered the second round of the NCAA tournament for only the third time in the history of the program. In their previous attempts, the Ducks did not advance past the round of 16. Emotions ran high against the #12 BYU Cougars on Friday. Although they would wind …

Optimus Klein vs. Flyin’ Hawaiian will be a show for the ages

Joel Gunderson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

There will be plenty of matchups worth watching on January 3rd when Oregon and Kansas State collide in the Fiesta Bowl. Kansas State’s special teams prowess versus Oregon’s woeful coverage. Oregon’s high speed athletes versus the Wildcats plodding attack. The best, however, will be the one between two guys who will never be on the field at the same time. …

What Happens in Vegas Matters a Lot to Some People

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

On December 22nd, shortly after noon, Washington will play Boise State in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.  It’s a battle of teams that used to have national relevance.  This week Washington Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian said, “This is why players come to the University of Washington.  To play in games like this.”     That was a silly thing …

An Oregon Unknown: We Were Never Ducks

Josh White History

When the University of Oregon began searching for an athletic nickname in the late 1800s, the name “Webfoots” was the obvious choice. After all, until 1909 the State of Oregon was known as the Webfoot State. It didn’t become the official moniker of the student body until 1926, when then Oregonian Editor L.H. Gregory submitted the winning choice in the …

Hey, Johnny Football? Thank Dennis Dixon for That Heisman

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In 1970, Notre Dame’s publicity man, Roger Valdiserri, convinced the school’s starting QB, a senior named Joe Theismann, to do something drastic to increase his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.  Valdiserri suggested to the QB, who pronounced his Austrian surname “thees-man“, that he should change the pronunciation to “thies-man”, to rhyme with the name of the sport’s most prestigious …

Recruiting Analysis: Confusing Developments

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“What in the world are the coaches doing?” Oregon’s recruiting philosophy has always been a bit of a mystery, but some of the recent happenings have left many more confused than ever. Let’s take a look at some of the recent head-scratchers. It seemed to start with Gareon Conley, a Tier-1 cornerback prospect that recently de-committed from Michigan, and by all …

We See Kansas State Bruises, But We Wanted SEC Blood

Joey Holland FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What would happen if an unstoppable force were to meet an immovable object? If Oregon had received a bowl bid to play a top SEC team with an elite defense instead of Kansas State, then the college football world may have finally found an answer to that age-old question. I don’t mean to take away from the No. 5-ranked Wildcats …

Viva Las Vegas: Oregon Lights up the Strip in Air Force domination

FishDuck Staff History

Beloved stars Akili Smith, Pat Johnson, and Saladin McCullough shined brightly among the glit of “the strip” of Las Vegas at this time fifteen years ago.  To this day, no game in Oregon football history compares to the explosive opening of the 1997 Las Vegas Bowl.  Despite their success over the past two decades, no other Oregon game began with …

Life as a Linebacker: Michael Clay

Jerry Thompson Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

A Special Article from our Friends at the Publication MIGHTY OREGON Michael Clay, #46, 5-11, 225 Linebacker Background: Michael Clay is one of those rare players that come out of high school and make an impact as a college freshman.  It was not real surprising considering his resume in high school at Bellermine College Prep in San Jose, California:  Clay …

Recruiting Update: Oregon Mounting Raid in SEC’s Backyard?

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting News/Offers Oregon’s post-Civil War recruiting trips may have yielded a new angle in the deep South. Once a seemingly untouchable region, the walls of the “southern accent” conference aren’t so tall anymore. Somewhat of a sleeper storyline, linebackers coach Don Pellum visited and offered rising senior Zach Cunningham (NR/Pinson, AL). Oregon is a strong contender to land the 6’4″, 196 …

Chip Kelly Slashes the Beavers Two Ways on One Play?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Fish Reports

Does Oregon have an audible at the line of scrimmage to change the defender being zone read on the play?  Sometimes the choice looks predetermined, but we might have some proof from the Civil War game that audibles are taking place as I suspected.  If so, this adds an enormous burden to opposing defensive coordinators, and offers us a hint of the …