The Ducks have had some fantastic running backs in the past. Players like LaMichael James, Derek Loville, and Jonathan Stewart have all cemented themselves as stars in Oregon’s football history. However, the Ducks have also historically had some difficulty dealing with depth for the running back spot, and that hasn’t changed. Currently on the roster, we have CJ Verdell, Travis …
Yes, I know. And I will happily embrace the name change you might be thinking of: Lou Farnsworth should now be known as “Homer Duck.” So with that preliminary bit of honesty settled, let’s look at the data, which actually gives objective support to my claims of a dynasty in this article’s title. I recently wrote about our chances of …
In 2018, the NCAA proposed that redshirted players could participate in up to four games in a season without burning up a year of collegiate athletic eligibility. This was a fantastic rule change in the eyes of many coaches, as it allowed for more flexibility on rosters, as well as for players, who could test playing at another level of …
In 2010, the Ducks led the league in scoring, made top five in the majority of offensive categories, and qualified for a national championship. A fully fledged offensive force took the field, nimbly dancing around defenders and tearing apart formations. However, in recent years the Ducks have transitioned to a much more physical and aggressive play style, relying on larger …
After winning the Pac-12 Championship in both Women’s and Men’s College Basketball, it looked as if both Ducks teams were primed for long March Madness runs. Then the sports world stopped. On March 11th, 2020, after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz was diagnosed with COVID-19, the NBA announced they were suspending the season. Although the news was shocking to …
Sports have been around for a while. Cavemen probably competed against each other by throwing rocks against trees. “Hey Og, see that squatty little tree way over there? I’ll bet you five clams that I can hit it and you can’t!” But since that was before recorded history, we can only guess about Og, the rocks, the trees, and any …
As the Oregon men’s basketball team hits some midseason struggles, its luster is wearing off. The year started off with a fast break, but now the Ducks are down and trying to beat a full-court press. This week the Ducks checked in at number 17 in the AP Poll, dropping three spots after their lackluster loss to Oregon State over …
GREYBEARD UPFRONT DISCLAIMER: I admit that I have been indicted in the past for the crime of “sunshine pumping.” I probably could have been convicted on certain charges: specifically, having been huckstered by Brady Hoke. Later, the charisma of a certain ex-FSU coach beguiled me way longer than I care to admit. I am, by nature, optimistic. And, yes, sometimes …
What a season it was for our mighty Oregon Ducks. The Ducks went 10-2 in the regular season and then continued their dream season with wins in the Pac-12 championship and Rose Bowl. The success of the 2019 Oregon Duck football team relied not only on talent, but on the players’ genuine desire to play for one another. The 2020 …
Last Saturday the Ducks were able to secure their biggest road win in the Dana Altman era: a crucial 71-70 overtime win on the road over then No. 5 ranked Michigan. It had the intensity of a make-or-break game in March, and should build momentum for this team going into conference play. The Ducks were carried by the senior backcourt …
ATTENTION DUCK FANS! We’ve got a shot at this whole playoff thing. On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff Committee announced its first set of top 25 rankings. As expected, Oregon was ranked seventh in the country behind a pair of Big Ten teams, three SEC teams and Clemson. There were a few surprises in the rankings, such as Ohio State …
Mario Cristobal has convinced me that he has chops. However, the exact size of those chops is still an open question. Ugly Duckling wrote a great piece recently that focused on how absolutely critical it is to the long term success of winning programs to have proper roster management. That got me to thinking not only about roster management, but …