Sleepy Ducks Oust Cougs in Autzen

Ryan Robertson Editorials

What can you say? It was Washington State. I was surprised to learn, as the Ducks came out in victory formation, that Oregon has won five consecutive games against the Cougars. No really, they have won three straight at Autzen Stadium, and two straight in Pullman. It seems like the Cougs are always a thorn in the side of Oregon. But after …

The Green Wall: Oregon’s New Offensive Line

David Marsh Editorials

This is not the year we envisioned for Oregon’s offensive line. We all expected to have Penei Sewell anchor the left side this fall. However, the pandemic robbed us of the opportunity to watch Sewell dominate the line of scrimmage for one final season as a Duck, as he instead prepares for the 2021 NFL Draft. Sewell’s opt-out dramatically changed …

College Football Nation: Upsets Galore and Mississippi Uprising

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Arizona started the upset bus, and the state of Mississippi took over from there. Many had their top four penciled in for the playoffs, but after today they can just throw that list out. Thursday night, Duck fans were left to wonder when it will be their year, while Alabama fans are still learning to grasp the feeling and emotions …

Surviving Pullman on Struggling Saturday

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

This is what we wanted, right? The Oregon fan’s burden has always been that there will never be enough respect for the Ducks: that the offense is a gimmick, that their schedule isn’t tough enough, largely due to playing in an underwhelming conference. They’re told the Pac-12 isn’t anywhere near as good as the mighty SEC, winner of seven of …

Opponent Analysis: The Covert Claws of the Cougars

Rory Davidson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

OK, get your laughs in now. Joke about how terrible the Cougars are, including their defense. The usual: “My 6-year-old brother’s Pop Warner team could beat WSU.” You guys got the giggles out? Good. Now we can move on to business. Washington State isn’t the joke you may think. They have a proven head coach, Mike Leach, in his second year …

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out: The Greatest Blunders of 2013

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It was a long, long time ago that I first saw a team totally snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Unfortunately, the team doing it was our own beloved Oregon Ducks. As I say, it was long ago, so I may be mistaken on a detail or two. Anyway,  the way I remember it, the Ducks were down …

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 …

SEC ‘Gauntlet’ Missing Lower Teeth

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Those from the lower right corner of the country would have us believe that the fabled SEC gauntlet provides no rest for the weary warriors, as they battle their way through one formidable SEC foe after another.  Top to bottom, the SEC is just the toughest thing going in college sports, or so the story goes. The SEC’s recent decision …

Lies, Damned Lies, and Stanford Narratives

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck The Spread Offense will never work.  Stanford’s win over Oregon was clearly evidence of that.  “Power Football” will always trump speed and innovation.  So give up Ducks, old-school football has and will always prevail. This is the narrative that emerges following seemingly every Oregon loss.  When Oregon loses, the argument never seems to be that Oregon with its …

Oregon Continues to Win as its Schedule “Improves”

Nathan Roholt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck Worried about what we saw in Oregon’s game against Washington State last night?  Concerned about Oregon’s long-term prospects for the season?  Don’t worry; here is your weekly affirmation that everything will be ok — for now. Washington State is Much Improved . . . Yes, Oregon was a 40-point favorite over the Cougars last Saturday, but this is …

College Football Nation: FSU Scalps Clemson and SEC in Mutiny

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  This could be the best Saturday we have had in college football this season.  The upset bug was at work all around the country.  We are really starting to see who are the contenders (Alabama, Oregon, FSU) and the pretenders (Clemson, Georgia, LSU).  Team stocks are rising for the contenders and falling for the others.  We had teams in …