Three Predictions Kirk Herbstreit Wants Back

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It would be quite a mixed bag to be a nationally recognized TV analyst. Private flights, shocking paychecks, and tailored suits would often be overshadowed by ignorant twitter fights, unfair accusations of homer-ism, and those pesky “expert” picks gone wrong. It isn’t easy to have your opinions be so publically on the record, and you and I should be grateful …

College Fantasy Football Leagues: The New Drug

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Starting Thursday night, you cling to the edge of your couch screaming for your fantasy team player to score a touchdown. You shoot up out of your seat and jump around every time your starting defense picks off the opposing quarterback. You curse and yell when you watch your No. 1 running back fumble the ball on the goal line. The …

The Unveiling of Royce Freeman

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the Ducks revealing little in anticipation of next week’s non-conference pièce de résistance, it was two true freshmen left to dominate the storylines from Saturday’s game: The Unveiling of Royce Freeman Kickoff wasn’t until 7:30 Saturday night, but the texts came early in the morning: “Is Royce going to live up to the hype?” Of all the question marks that …

Mike Merrell’s Three-And-Out: Nick Aliotti Was Right

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I know. He was fined. It was not politically correct. It was even against the rules. But it was honest, and it was the truth. Just as Nick Aliotti intimated (well, spouted off, actually), during garbage time of last year’s Oregon/Washington State game Wazoo coach Mike Leach should have been working on his running game instead of scoring two passing …

Three Reasons To Be An Idyllic Duck Fan After Week One

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

1. You (likely) don’t live in South Carolina. After brutal beatdowns by a combined 48 points, both of South Carolina’s major universities are suffering from opening day hangovers that won’t be soon forgotten, even with copious consumption of bourbon and barbecue. If you also observed that poor Clemson fan the cameras repeatedly panned, with head in hands, play after disappointing …

Ducks — and Fans — Must Rediscover “One Week at a Time” Approach

Will Denner FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It began in 2009, when Chip Kelly, in his inaugural year as head coach, took a Ducks team to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995. The 2010 season followed with a national championship appearance, and 2011 saw the Ducks end their 95-year-long winless drought in the Rose Bowl. The triumphs of those three seasons combined brought the …

Embrace the Uncertainty

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What will the 2014 season look like? After eight months of speculating, the first part of that question will be answered this Saturday. Those outside of the Oregon program seem certain everything will be just resemble the Ducks we’ve seen much of the past five seasons; the favorite in the Pac-12, and a contender for a playoff spot come January. …

This is “THE” year? Not So Fast My Fine Feathered Friends …

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Many Duck football fans have it in their heads that 2014 is a do or die year. After all, the Ducks stand to lose possibly the best player in college football in Marcus Mariota, along with All-Americans center Hroniss Grasu and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. But while 2014 appears to be a high-opportunity year, the talent expected to be return for …

Johnstone’s Setback Comes With an Important Lesson

Will Denner FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When the news broke on Tuesday that left tackle Tyler Johnstone re-tore the ACL in his right knee during practice, Duck fans could do little else besides shake their heads in disbelief. It’s the latest loss to an offense, which had already lost their best receiver – Bralon Addison – to the same injury in April. Losing either a No.1 receiver or starting …

2014 Predictions — Part Three

Kim Hastings FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Good morning, Ducks! Last Saturday I brought you Part One of my Super Accurate 2014 predictions for the upcoming football season. Part Two was available to subscribers only. If you want to subscribe, my PayPal information is available. Subscribers get inside information on my predictions as well as fun, behind the scenes looks at my life. A look inside the …

Top Three Pac-12 Non-Conference Games to Watch

Pat Pannu FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Exactly 19 days from today is the first college football game of the 2014 season when Abilene Christian plays Georgia State on August 27th. The wait for football season is almost over and with that our appetite for news about important or exciting games is only increasing. These three games are by far not the only good non-conference matches in …

Time to Take Off the Training Wheels — Let Thomas Tyner Run Wild

Will Denner FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The running back duo of Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner have made headlines together lately as each player was named to the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award preseason watch lists earlier this month. But it’s their much-hyped battle for a starting backfield spot opposite Marcus Mariota that is making for an even more intriguing story line this summer. The …