Refresh … Refresh … Is this thing working? Did I lose my spot in line? Is it time yet? Will I be able to go to ANY football games this year? What if I don’t get tickets?! What has the world come to?! This is a scenario that I, and I’m sure many other Oregon students and fans are familiar with. …
Scott’s Turf: Falling Skies
Chicken Little is alive and well. Yesterday’s landmark decision, the latest in a series of landmarks that is sure to change the way we think of college athletics well into the future, set the angst-ridden fans into a free fall of emotion that had them virtually writing their own version of “Death to the BCS” with an updated “”Death of …
Recruiting Update: Ty Joins Taj
Football Recruiting Visits Up-and-coming east coast product Jahque Alleyne (3-Star/Virginia Beach, VA) recently indicated that a cross-country visit is in the works. “I don’t know the dates yet, but (a visit to) Oregon (is going to happen),” said Alleyne. At 6-foot-1, 180 lbs., Alleyne has taken snaps all over the field, but shines brightest on the edge as a wide …
Recruiting Update: Oregon Setting up Shop in Tornado Alley
Football Recruiting News Head coach Mark Helfrich hasn’t been bashful about looking for talent at the JUCO level. A long recruiting rapport with high-profile defensive end Ulric Jones (3-Star/El Dorado, KS) has paid off and the big man from the south is ever closer to donning Oregon colors. “I talk to the Oregon coaches at least twice a week,” said …
Scott’s Turf: Unacceptable Behavior
Last fall, during a game at Autzen Stadium, I witnessed a moment I am most embarrassed about; the booing of a college player. Has there ever been a more maligned player in Oregon history than Alejandro Maldonado? Criticism of players is fair game in my opinion; it is what we do. But as George Wrightster told me last week, it’s …
Recruiting Update: Cota’s Nephew Joins Flock
Football Recruiting Commitments Oregon received a tremendous boost in the defensive backfield with a pair of commitments coming by way of Dylan Kane (3-Star/Honolulu, HI) and 2016 class member Brady Breeze (4-Star/Portland, OR). Kane, a 6-foot-3, 195 lb. hard-hitting safety has been an Oregon lean for some time and made his official pledge following his visit this past weekend. “I …
While Duck Fans Cheer, Haters Pray for Oregon’s (Imminent) Collapse
No Mark Twain quotes here. No rehashing of the great author’s famous statement about his death being overstated. Yet, as Duck fans, many of us can relate to that phrase. Every year Oregon’s detractors predict that the end is nigh, that surely this year the Ducks will face some sort of collapse and fall flat on their feathered faces. This year, the …
Scott’s Turf: Does Stanford Still Have An ‘Oregon’ Problem?
A couple of years ago, as Andrew Luck suffered another 20-plus point defeat to the Oregon Ducks at Stanford Stadium, a familiar statement was circulating around that “Stanford has an Oregon problem.” Of course, this refers to the fact that Stanford, but for a loss to Oregon in two consecutive years, would have been in the BCS National Championship Game. …
As Inaugural College Football Playoff Season Commences, Ducks Timing Is Perfect
When the four-team College Football Playoff was formally approved by the NCAA in June 2012, teams, analysts and fans alike rejoiced in the reformation of the BCS — a system which had been previously criticized for not being fair to all teams. The Playoff, which runs through the 2025 season, reduces the likelihood of a deserving team getting left out of …
Recruiting Update: “Taj-ma-Wall” Working on 4-Star Merritt
Football Recruiting News Recently-minted Oregon commit Travis Waller (4-Star/Anaheim, Cal./Rivals250) entered July with something to prove. Even in the highly scrutinized world of prep recruiting, a large contingent of fans and pundits had yet to cast their evaluation on the Duck’s new signal caller. That all changed this past week. Waller not only turned heads, but led his 7-on-7 Apocalypse …
Friday Night Lights to College Gameday
Imagine walking into Autzen Stadium for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. What do you experience? Are you overwhelmed by the sixty thousand fans screaming “O?” Do you feel lost in a sea of green and yellow jerseys? Or are you intimidated by the opposing team? These consuming feelings are pressed upon young freshmen each new season. Going from a top …
Autzen Stadium Expansion: Challenges and Benefits
What would you think if Autzen Stadium, already known for being loud, expanded and became a cradle for eardrum-splitting noise? Silly question. You’re a Northwest sports fan, which, by default, means you are always seeking acknowledgement as the most raucous fan base in the country. Just spend five minutes witnessing a game at the Rose Garden (Moda Center) or CenturyLink …