Mariota’s 2013 Season Was the Best in School History, So Where’s the National Love?

Joey Holland Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

Kevin Cline Marcus Mariota has completed arguably the finest regular season ever put together by an Oregon quarterback, or any offensive player for that matter.  With 39 total touchdowns and 3,994 yards of total offense, the Flyin’ Hawaiian has cemented himself among the college football elite. Since Mariota was named the starter in Eugene at the beginning of the 2012 …

How to Spend the Days Until the Alamo Bowl

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline For die-hard football fans, the calendar is broken up into two sections, football season and the off-season. The off-season is primarily spent wishing for the runaway train of football season, where once the season starts, die-hard fans jump on and bid adieu to their friends and family until the winter.  Only the absence of footballs at season’s end …

NFL Ducks: Pushing for the Playoffs

Josh White FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

 Kevin Cline As the current Oregon football team begins preparing for their showdown against the Texas Longhorns (whose coach, Mack Brown, is expected to resign after the Valero Alamo Bowl), college football has entered the elongated calm before the storm of bowl games.  The weekly rhythm of the football season has come to a halt, and many are left with an unfamiliar …

Oregon Football Recruiting Cycle Ending with Fab Five Finish

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Usually, early December is far too early to accurately predict an Oregon recruiting class, but this year might be the exception.  After landing their 15th verbal commitment earlier in the week from JUCO stud Offensive Guard Haniteli Lousi, it appears that the Ducks are going hard after just five more players.  Who are these five special targets? 1) …

What Now Oregon?

Don Gilman FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline It would appear that after four straight years of BCS appearances, the University of Oregon football team will be left on the outside looking in.  Most likely the team will be headed to the Alamo Bowl, something that most pundits and fans would not have predicted before the season began.  Yet here they are. There is nothing wrong …

Oregon’s Bitter Rival Delivers Another Blow

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck One of the complaints of the modern shift in college football, with conference realignment and the addition of a playoff amongst other changes, is the end of annual matchups in many historical rivalries.  Yet it is Oregon’s biggest rival in recent years, the BCS, that the Ducks will happily say goodbye to as this era ends.  After four …

Josh Huff on Brink of Making History After Heroic Civil War Performance

Joey Holland Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

Kevin Cline It feels like Josh Huff has been a Duck for much longer than four years. Since the beginning of his true freshman season in 2010, Huff has been an exceptional playmaker.  In his four seasons as a lethal offensive weapon, he has done as much for Oregon Duck football as anyone.  Capping Oregon’s meteoric rise to the top of …

Is Helfrich Establishing a New Identity for the Ducks?

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Is Mark Helfrich’s team taking on a new identity?  Did anyone see that ending coming?  What about Oregon’s other senior receiver?  Following the closest Civil War in more than 30 years that was part of the craziest weekend in college football in recent memory, some thoughts: Mark Helfrich is Beginning to Establish His Own Identity as Head Coach Remember …

4 Things Some Duck Fans Had Forgotten in 2013

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck 1. Oregon has the ability to win a close game (though not on the leg of their kicker) — For those questioning Oregon’s heart these past few weeks, a gritty performance by Josh Huff reminded fans that Oregon hasn’t completely lost its mojo.  The offensive line continues to lack depth and strength up front in spells against aggressive …

An Emotional Civil War Victory Marks the Beginning of an Era

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline In five years, the previous decade of Oregon football may end up being remembered as two separate eras: before and after the Arizona game of 2013. Some would say that opening sentence is nonsense, arguing that the latter era began once Mark Helfrich became the head coach.  I would respond by suggesting that for the first time this year, the …

Oregon Recruiting Analysis: PAC-12 Struggling?

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Like they always do, the Ducks are closing strong as the 2014 recruiting cycle begins to wind down.  The recent commitments of OT Braden Eggert, DB Glen Ihenacho and DE Henry Mondeaux give Oregon 14 commits to date.  Given that the Ducks are expected to take between 18-20 players, only 4-6 spots remain. Who will fill these remaining …