As a student at the University of Oregon, and a diehard fan of the Ducks, it’s frustrating to see how concerned people are with the football team heading into this season. It seems as if every fan is saying “The void that Marcus Mariota left behind might be too much for the Ducks to overcome.” Instead, people should be talking about the …
Ducks Reloading, Not Rebuilding for 2015 Campaign
In an article posted to the ESPN Pac-12 Blog on July 2, Travis Haney delved into the question marks surrounding the top teams in each division of the Power 5 conferences (ACC Atlantic and Coastal, Big Ten East and West, Big 12, Pac-12 North and South, and SEC East and West). For his section on the Pac-12 North, Haney naturally elected …
The Top Three Least Outrageous Headlines for Next Season’s Offense
There’s already been a lot of speculation about the outcome of Oregon’s 2015 season, despite the fact that the team has had very little time to practice with its full roster. As is customary with the football off-season, the media (FishDuck.com included) does its best to deliver popular and provocative headlines that create conversations among Duck fans. Some headlines are …
Oregon Can Be the Next Back-to-Back Heisman Winners
In the history of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, only two colleges have had back-to-back Heisman winners — in 1945 and 1946 by Army with fullback Doc Blanchard and running back Glenn Davis winning the award. Then 28 years later when Ohio State running back Archie Griffin won the award twice in 1974 and 1975. Coming off Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy season, could Oregon be the …
The Numbers Can Lie
With the conclusion of the NBA and NHL Finals, baseball has taken center stage, meaning that football is right around the corner. Bringing with it many questions, hopes and fears for Oregon fans. Is the Pac-12 the best division in college football? Can a team without a definitive quarterback take them to another National Title game? Will Oregon put up …
Loaded With Talent — Ducks Passing Game Set to Soar
Although Oregon has been a run-oriented football team the past few years, the number of times they have run the ball has decreased in both of Mark Helfrich’s seasons as head coach. The difference in the Helfrich era thus far has been athletic passers playing the QB position rather than runners who can somewhat throw. The Chip Kelly-type QB will always be defined …
Gary Campbell — The Man in the Suit and Behind the Offense
Rich Brooks, Mike Bellotti, and Chip Kelly are all coaches responsible for great seasons and the current state of the Oregon football team. As fans, we attribute success and failure to the head coaches, but it is never just the head coaches that are responsible for the success of a team. Too often we give the head coaches — and sometimes …
Should Oregon Retire Numbers?
While watching ”The Sandlot” the other day, I couldn’t help but get caught up in my nostalgia. Babe Ruth comes into Benny’s room and gives him advice on his predicament, and before he leaves, he says, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” I began to think about Marcus Mariota. His contributions to the Oregon football program go far beyond …
Unconventional Superstars — It’s Just the Oregon Way
Easily the most highly touted player to come out of college in recent memory, Andrew Luck checked all the boxes. At the combine he measured in at 6’4″ and a stocky 230 lbs, and every time he threw a football people swore you could hear the laces sing in pure awe and glory. Seriously, the guy was the living, breathing …
Running Styles: Oregon Runners Griffin, Tyner and Freeman
It was 1993 and I was a senior in high school playing running back for the South Salem Saxons. I wore No. 43 before Darren Sproles made it cool to wear the number. The Ducks running back in 1993, Sean Burwell, finished with 457 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on the season. Last season, Oregon ran for 301 yards in …
Flying Under the Radar for Ducks Football
The University of Oregon has become a hotbed for awesome talent. Since 2010, the school has turned into a football powerhouse, attracting athletes from all across the country. The best players are often times recognized on a national scale. Guys like Marcus Mariota and Royce Freeman were known by every person in America last year. But those guys are not the entire team, and it would be …
Why Oregon Will Have Two 1,000-Yard Rushers
It’s no secret the Ducks are loaded in the backfield this year. With three proven every-down backs, and a slew of young talent waiting for a chance to shine, Oregon is in as good a position as any team in the nation. A favorable schedule, and a competent quarterback to keep teams from stuffing the box could mean Oregon will …