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SAM N'GATA, 6'5/215# son of former Oregon great, Haloti N'gata... class of '27

This is about the only unit I have questions about going into next year. And it's just because I haven't seen a lot from the new starters. And it is really about giving Dante time when they get to the playoffs.

They didn't seem to pass protect as well as the 2024 guys, but I sure did like seeing Harkey throw some nasty blocks. That dude is an animal.

JG's daughter went to school with my wife's cousin. The Girls were opponents for Home Coming Queen. Jerry bought her a stretch limo to arrive in style forthe Homecoming game. That didn't end quite the way they expected.

I think Seaton will be really good at LSU. There’s no denying that unless he gets injured. I’m very interested to see what a O-Line with a few years experience in the offensive system looks like. I know Crader and Pancho will be solid. I have high hopes for newcomers Nacho and Bennett, but I have the same hopes for Wilson, Luli, Rogers, Addison, Utu, et al.

A lot of people seem to be down on portal OL and I get it. I will throw in Pregnon came in and had to play on an OL with two other portal OL and was an AP first team All-American. He was good. I think that is the Ducks third AP 1st team AA OL since 1920. Over 100 years of regular OL development and two AP 1st team OL (and one of the two has been described as an absolute OL unicorn). Since the portal opened up, I think the Ducks have brought in 7 new OL and now have a 3rd AP 1st team AA OL. The Duck staff brought in a two year starter from FBS USC, and then added two G5 OL from Nevada and Texas State who they hoped to "fine-tune" or "fix" in 9 months, and these two particular OL I think (arguably) turned out to be mostly who they were on film the last 4 years. I think Harkey was 3rd team All-Sun Belt in 2024 and World was honorable mention All-Mountain West in 2024. Like all recruiting, the portal is at least in part projection. On college football boards, I see the term JAG used a lot, simply meaning "just another guy". If you bring in 3 hopefulls on the OL and get 2/3 JAGs, of course it isn't going to always look great. World and Harkey did help the team to 13-2 and into a game to have a shot to play in the National Championship. I'd say still not bad.

Lincoln Riley selling the U$C AD and the donors on his contract extension while branding the team. Ok, I'm done now...

I can only say that I am very disappointed in Oregon Basketball... The days of competing in final four... the days of Sabrina. I'd go to some games but the product is not worth maybe catching the flu lol. No I am not blaming Altman and Kelly Graves used to be a winner..... Anyways, when they are competitive I will go to some games. At least the women have competed... I seriously considered season tickets for Duck women, and will again as I've really enjoyed watching them in the past.... Just waiting... time will tell. Yeah I know, injures every year. (not a good excuse over and over) Go Ducks.... I will go watch some volleyball...

I can see spots on the jersey going to the highest bidders.

If Phil wants exclusivity, yes, he deserves it... but he will probably have to pay for it just the same.

There is only one way to find out if your position coaches can actually develop players...

I share the sentiments of other posters that there is a silver lining here. This player has committed to Deion Sanders and Lane Kiffin after a lot of "look at me" drama. Between that and his asking price, I was worried about team chemistry and locker room culture. Given our overall talent composite score, he is a luxury that has a downside at a particular price. I think Lanning made the right price/value prop by not outbidding LSU in this case. Fox Crader....c'mon down! I think he will abetter than Harkey and World were anyway.

The Safeway at 40th & Donald. There was a convenience store in the parking lot called "Grocery Cart."(Part of a competing chain with "Dari Mart", which is still around). It's now "Edgewood Animal Clinic." Summer of '87 or '88. My young wife and I and only child at the time, pull in to get ice cream bars. Wife and kid go in. I'm in the only car there. Right outside the window by the cashier. She's talking to a guy. I then realize that it's Jerry. Wife and kid walk up and stand off the Jerry's side. Jerry turns and says something to her... Anyway, they came out and got in the car. And I ask her what he said to her. She said that he asked her if she wanted an autograph. To which she replied "No. I just want to pay for our ice creams..." I said "You know who that was don't you?" She said no. I said "Jerry Garcia, lead guitar for The Grateful Dead?" She said " Who's that?" Every now and then I bring it up. But I think my daughter gets a bigger chuckle out of it than her mom.

If we go that route, for criminy sakes make sure Phil signs off on it. If he wants exclusivity then he deserves it.

Lanning is pretty good at assessing the teams needs. If he wasn't confident the existing OL room could do the job then he would have gone after more OL hard in the portal. IMHO Seaton was a "nice to have" not a "have to have" guy. It's possible that the Yale transfer was just added for depth and DL and Terry are very happy with the existing crew and incoming recruits. One thing I've noticed the past two seasons is that an OL loaded with transfers takes a while to gel. Hopefully with the experience this crew has playing together they will hit the ground running.

You play your game of the week at 7:30 after a week of nonstop ESecPN promotion as opposed to playing the B1G game of the week at Noon ... In Week 2, Ohio State plays at Texas. This will be the Prime Time game on ABC and will draw millions more eyeballs than last season's game in Columbus. This, and what in Hades does the Big Ten have to do to get respect? In 2026, Oregon plays - Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, USC, Nebraska, and UW. And B1G opponents Michigan State, Northwestern, and UCLA will all be improved from what they put in the field in 2025. In an article today, a CBS Sports 'journalist' referred to this slate of B1G games as being 'relatively easy.' Come On Man! This is the kind of 'stuff' that had OBD with a second Big Ten loss last season, being unworthy of a PO spot. But seven SEC teams, including 3-loss Bama, should have been in the PO field. Check out Notre Dame's 2026 schedule and try to find more than a possible loss at BYU and a home loss to Miami. And a 12 or higher-ranked Notre Dame is automatically in the 2026-27 and future PO fields. If Notre Dame had been given this gift in 2025, the Irish would have knocked out Miami. I have no idea why Petitti and Sankey allowed this to happen. Well, actually I do, $$$. On a Penn State site today, with this bending over for Notre Dame, a Penn State writer wonders why PSU didn't remain independent. Maybe one of these days, the FBS will have a real playoff?

Looking at the roster for returning o line guys I see: 1 five star 7 four stars 6 three stars That doesn't include in coming freshman. I'd rather let these guys play than bring in portal guys and watch them all leave.

Looks like the B1G is going to have to do some promoting.

This is an unlocked article from the Wall Street Journal that appears to be locked but it is not. https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/sec-big-ten-tv-ratings-69025ef6?st=XLPvXn&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Extra credit for the Cole Porter reference.

As Urban Meyer and many others have noted, in today's CFB, the O-line is the most difficult position to recruit and portal pick. In recognition of Yale's Michael Bennett committing to OBD - "Eli, Eli, Bulldog, Bulldog, Bulldog, Bow, wow, wow!" From one of Yale's fight songs, written by Cole Porter, Yale Class of 1913, in honor of Yale's mascot, bulldog Handsome Dan. Here's hoping Mike brings some of that Bulldog with him. WOOF!

So does that mean players being interviewed after the game will be thanking their sponsors and God?

There will be one addition. Transfer from Yale. But I think development in the OL takes time and sometimes those timelines don't match up with need. However, keep in mind that Oregon have been finalists for the Joe Moore best O line award for the past three years. So they're still doing something right. However I'd say this seasons line was a step down from the previous two. Harkey and World just weren't as refined at tackle.

Thanks Santa Rosa Duck. Thanks so much....

I am cautiously optimistic. These players have been developing in the system, so there should be more of a known factor than bringing a guy from the portal. I think the biggest 'win' was not seeing so many of leave like the D line just did. On the upside, we should see them play well as a unit because they have been practicing together for so long in the same system. Last point: Seaton was great in the Big 12, but they don't have same kind of defensive players as the Big 10, except for Texas Tech. It will be interesting to see how he does vs SEC rushers.