Now that we’re only seven days from the return of Duck football, let’s take a look back at another season opener. What a difference just two years makes. Here we are, with an upcoming opening game at home against Nicholls State. Juxtapose that with those serious pre-LSU game jitters on a “neutral field” that most of us were feeling in …
Kevin Cline On Monday, we looked at who could potentially crash the National Championship Game, but we all know that is not happening. It’s going to be two of the five teams below that play for a title. But who has the best chance? Let’s find out, unlikeliest to likeliest. 5) Stanford The last three years, the Oregon-Stanford game has …
There is no debate: in college football, nothing is more important than talent. The overwhelmingly positive correlation between talent and winning says it all. While many factors go into becoming a successful, winning program, no other has as much of an impact as talent. There’s a reason coaches take recruiting so seriously. This week, we look at the four most …
Rob Moseley knows a beast when he sees one. Moseley, the new editor-in-chief of GoDucks.com, has been covering Oregon football for more than a decade, so he’s personally seen some of the best players in Ducks history. This month, Moseley has been writing daily (sometimes twice-daily) reports from each of Oregon’s closed fall practices. Anyone reading them will notice a …
I’ve lived in Tacoma, Washington, for the better part of two decades. During that time, Tacoma has had several nicknames. First, it was “City of Destiny,” then, “America’s Most-Wired City.” But my favorite is the one that was just adopted, “You Can Smell the Huskies’ Desperation From Here.” Living up here gives me the unique opportunity to talk to …
Oregon Football is often defined by one word: Speed. Whether it is the grueling tempo that the offense uses, or an individual player racing past an entire defense, the Ducks do it fast. Over the last few seasons, observers would see LaMichael James, De’Anthony Thomas, or Kenjon Barner breaking a long touchdown run on the highlights and might assume …
Kevin Cline Offense. Defense. Special teams. While Oregon may not be Alabama or Ohio State in terms of tradition, prestige, or heritage, the Oregon football program has a rich history filled with star-studded teams and immense talent in all three phases of the game. Among the long list of former Oregon football players, a handful stand out atop the school’s record books, …
Kevin Cline With the dog days of summer behind us, the Ducks have officially begun their season, diving into fall practice. Comfortably installed in their new digs, Helfrich and company have high expectations from fans and the media for this upcoming season. This month of practice will be crucial for the coaching staff to identify talent and ultimately decide who will …
Kevin Cline “The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail.” — J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings This year is one of the most important years in the history of Oregon football. During the years of Mike Bellotti, the football program was solid – very successful, but never quite reaching the …
Kevin Cline Football Recruiting News You thought I was going to lead off with Portland Trail Blazers legend Arvydas Sabonis, didn’t you? What! This is football season… oh, just you wait. Oregon is waist deep in two-a-days, and a clearer picture of the 2013 campaign is rapidly taking shape. Headliners of head coach Mark Helfrich’s first recruiting class, running back …
Gary Breedlove Amid all the off-season changes and rumors swirling around the mighty Ducks of Oregon, there is still a strong belief around the nation that these Chip Kelly-less Ducks can contend for a national title, and that the Ducks are favorites to win the Pac-12 crown. If you look across all major sporting websites, specifically at their college football previews, almost every expert has …
When starting a new job mistakes are to be anticipated, they are a part of the learning process. There is a honeymoon of sorts and perfection is not the expectation. For Mark Helfrich, that statement could not be more inaccurate. In his first ever head coaching position, Helfrich has been given the keys to a Ferrari (a talent-loaded football team) and …