Stadiums of 50,000-100,000 people are regularly jam-packed. Giant parades are thrown for the team that wins it all. Is there anything like sports? Can you think of any other event that can bring a whole city or state together? You can’t. For whatever reason, sports hold a special place in the hearts of so many different people. When we put …
Oregon’s Title Chances of the 21st Century
With another National Championship at stake, the 2014 Ducks are attempting to accomplish something that no team before them in program history has done successfully. Under the new College Football Playoff system, the Ducks are one semifinal win away from returning to the title game, which would be their first appearance since 2011. Although that 2010-2011 team was the first to …
Mariota, Mariota and More Mariota
Oh my, Marcus Mariota will never stop surprising us. I can’t even imagine what the rest of his career as a football player has to offer! It’s about time for an update on all the amazing things this young man is accomplishing, so here it goes. To begin, Mariota was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after leading …
Three Unforgettable Moments in Oregon Civil War History
In 1894, the biggest football games were played on the East Coast between a handful of Ivy League teams. A few thousand miles away, in the middle of seemingly endless Oregon farmland, two teams were preparing for their first football game, lacing up their shoes on a field best described as a “cross between a duck pond and a hog …
How 2014 is like 2007, and How It Isn’t
Imagine if the 2007 season never ended. That was the obvious connection following week six. Not just among the college football landscape because of tumult among the nation’s top teams, but within the dynamic of Oregon’s own team. Just as in 2007, Oregon started the season looking like one of the best teams in the nation, jumping out to a 4-0 …
Ruining the Season: An Arizona Specialty
“Bear Down.” It is the official motto of the University of Arizona, a slogan based on a Gipper-ish legend of a former player’s message to his team. Lying in his hospital bed in 1926, starting quarterback John “Button” Salmon told coach Pop McKale (yes, that McKale) on his final hospital visit to Salmon, “…Tell the team to bear down.” The motto …
Oregon Football: Without Mariota, Who Gets the Nod at QB?
With the news coming a few days ago about the transfer of QB Jake Rodrigues, the margin for error for the 2014 Oregon football team just shrunk a little bit more. Faced with the daunting task of replacing talented receiver Bralon Addison and the host of graduated seniors, the Ducks already had their work cut out for them in reshuffling the …
From the Backfield Ensemble to the Gospel Ensemble
The mid-2000’s saw Oregon rise from nationally known to nationally renowned. The program became renowned for the great rushers the program featured, and treated Oregon fans to many throughout the decade. From 2004-2007, a talented tailback ran in the Oregon backfield as a quiet, yet successful backup, while making a special difference on special teams and behind the scenes. Still catching …
Mark Helfrich Assaulting Record Books With Chip Kelly’s Best QB
Entering what is now the second spring of the Mark Helfrich era at Oregon, Chip Kelly’s influence remains visible across all facets of the Oregon football program. From the up-tempo style of play Kelly initially installed as a coordinator to the commitment to unique and cutting-edge preparation with a focus on continuous daily improvement – as well as maintaining the invaluable coaching …
The Ballad of the Green Brigade
Fighting Ducks against the sky These are men who jump so high Men who mean just what they say The brave men of the Green Brigade Trained to live on Husky meat Washington they’re sure to beat Men who fight by day and night Listen not, to Herbie’s hype Put silver wings on my son’s chest Make him one …
Former Player Tribute: Secret Success to a Big Man on Campus
In football, a strong and fast offensive line is key to a team’s success. The entire front must be strong enough to block for the backs, creating running room and giving the quarterback enough time to think. Especially in Oregon’s renowned spread offense, where it’s a physically daunting task, and easily taken for granted by many fans. All too often, spectators …
The Ten Most Influential Plays of the Last Ten Seasons: #5-1
In case you missed Part 1, read it here. To read the list in its entirety, go here. Before we get to plays #5-1, here are some plays that just missed the list: Honorable Mention: Kenjon Barner’s punt return fumble against LSU (2011): The play had a heavy impact on the game (as well as Tyrann Mathieu’s career), but had …