Ryan Robertson

I've been a fan my entire life, and I have never felt this confident in a team. I used to hope beyond hope we could win it all, and we came close! But today I would be totally unsurprised if we lifted the trophy at the end. And I'll be even more confident next year than I am this year, because the next set of guys looks fantastic as well! Delicious is the only way I can describe it!

I think it comes from the same place as the hurry-up complaints: jealousy. Teams want their own school to be on the cutting edge, not us!

And on the day they win it all, the other schools will say we "bought" our success because their administration's failed to build their programs for the times we are living in. No one seems to think tOSU is "buying" players, even though their NIL department is flourishing.

I think when a non-traditional power, like UO, start to have high-levels of success that many teams who see themselves as "blue bloods" take it as an affront to the sport. As if only teams that have always been good can be good now.

I think that more could be done to give the crowd ENERGY, not just get them singing.

I didn't consider food because I never really eat at the stadium (unless someone in my group goes to get chicken sandwiches!) There's a lot they could potentially do with it too. There should be some food item that we are famous for. Something that people go "Oh you went to Autzen? Did you try X?"

I love the walk to the stadium, it looks great on camera, but when I used to have to drive up from Grants Pass it was a huge pain if we couldn't get there super early. I think a slightly expanded parking area would do wonders.

I am hoping the first one finds its way there in about 7 months!

I definitely agree. I think that a second level of access, which is fairly common in large stadiums, would be a huge relief for all fans.

Bellotti was definitely a tone setter. It wasn't like we needed everything to go perfect to compete at the highest level anymore, because he made the program itself capable of turning out good players. Plus, I would argue he was the greatest HC at hiring assistants in school history.

Alright, I guess I will weigh in on the article that I wrote, and my answer is going to be contrarian. The coach who changed my perspective on the program the most wasn't Mike, who was the guy during my childhood, Chip, who made me see what was possible, or even Dan, who makes winning feel inevitable. My choice is Mario. I know, I know: not the most popular guy. I don't even think he was a good coach on Saturdays. BUT what he did Sunday through Friday changed my perspective on the entire program. While Chip made it feel like we could win big, and that we would have won it all had he stayed, but Mario made me feel like we should be winning at the highest level. If we could recruit how he could, win conference championships with some of the worst playcalling I have ever seen, then all we needed was someone who could recruit and coach then we would win it all. During his tenure I didn't feel like we could win, because I didn't think he was good enough on the sideline to beat the best coaches in the country. But that just made me mad, because I felt like we should have been winning big. All the pieces were there, so there was no excuse not to win it all.

Charles, I definitely agree on the importance of Coach Brooks, I just left him off the board in the conversation because it is tough to compare his accomplishments to those who came after. Not having PK as a major part of the program was tough to overcome, but he eventually did. I think he stands atop the list, but I would argue that he came along before the program itself was modernized. He reminds me of the first guy to realize that when you combine Iron, Copper, and Tin that it creates steel. Sure, his steel was probably the weakest in physical strength, but I will never hold it against him for figuring out the recipe. Everyone who came after had the recipe for steel and went on to figure out how to make it stronger and stronger over time.

I definitely think that PK is the most important person in the history of the athletic department, I was just trying to explore the coaches here. And I would never try to downplay the accomplishments of Brooks! He was an incredible coach!

Just wanted to say that I was definitely not trying to minimize RB in the article! He is probably the most important coach of any department in school history. You don't have modern football the way it is in Eugene without him, and I removed him from the conversation simply because he didn't have the backing that the other coaches enjoyed, so from an outside perspective he is "less accomplished". I don't agree with that at all, because taking the program from not good to respectable was a massive feat, especially with UW being what they were in the 90's, USC being an ever-present threat, and there not being a massive amount of local talent. I like Brooks so much I made him the cover photo, that says a ton!

Seems to be a fair amount of doom and gloom in the replies here. Not me! I am super excited! It isn't often I've been in a position to go to a bowl game, and this will be interesting either way! Scenario 1 - guys play, we blow them out, and experience catharsis for the way the championship went. Add a great trophy to the case, and head into the spring with a good final memory of this squad. Scenario 2 - the draft eligible players don't play, and we get to see if Ty is the guy! The young players are so much fun, and our defense is constructed to beat this run-heavy opponent. Tickets are purchased and we are booking the hotel now! It's only a 3 hour drive from Sierra Vista, you couldn't keep me away from this game! Go Ducks!

I think this title is some of my best work.

Nothing beats a Saturday in the fall!

I personally think that TVD would be cool to see, and it would make Miami realize their HC might not have what it takes when he goes crazy under a new offense. As far as guys like Cam Ward, or de Laura: they both have transferred once, so they'd have to sit out a year unless they're grad transfers (I think). Both are definitely dynamic, so they'd be interesting. I saw someone mention Fifita, and I can't see him transferring after taking the starting job as effectively as he has. I wonder if a guy like Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi would look to transfer P5 after having such a strong year. Or maybe a guy like Diego Pavia could make the jump. Or of course there are the non-FBS QBs. No idea what they look like though.

With BoDacious leaving for the NFL after a storied career (hopefully culminating in some playoff WINS), next year the Ducks will need a new man under center. The obvious successor is Ty Thompson, who has been really good in mop-up duty all season long. The kid has shown growth, an ability to run the offense he had never shown before, and (just to bring it back to mr. FishDuck himself) a field PRESENCE. But is it enough to win the starting spot? I'm not so sure. And if Dan Lanning holds to his tendencies, he will bring in a transfer QB, despite two guys presumably returning, and two recruits coming in. So my question for all of you: Who is the WORST quarterback transfer you would take from another school? Someone you think could challenge for the starting spot, but maybe they haven't played fantastic throughout their career (think Bo Nix, Anthony Brown, Tyler Shough on his way to TTU).

Duck fans: I'm very glad to be back writing for you. I've got a few interesting article ideas that I expect you will enjoy. I am back for what should be an incredible season, and I will bring you the best Sunday articles I can as long as I keep writing! Also of note: I convinced my wife, whose birthday is January 1st, that if the Ducks make the Rose Bowl/Playoff that we should go, so maybe I can get some good in-the-stadium coverage! Go Ducks!

Yesterday I had an article discussing the mentality of Washington compared to that of clemson. Here UW is complaining about having road games before they play us this year. It's the exact mentality I was talking about...

So even if we give them the 94 natty, it has been 28 years since then. It's been 20 since they won a Rose Bowl. They suck and they're in denial.

I would say that Oregon might be able to squeak in to the playoff, sure, but it is going to have to be a 13-0 team. The perception is that bad at this point. The only way that they won't have to be perfect and make the playoff is if the teams they play look better nationally. Stanford is in a down stretch, so we have to rely on the other historically notable teams, a la UW and USC. No one is going to take an oregon team beating a bad Stanford, a mediocre UW and a mediocre USC seriously.

It didn't make it in the article, but the conference needs big games in the conference. Oregon played USC in the conference championship, it was the dream game for the conference but the game was completely irrelevant. They need the games to be more highly billed.

Charles, Troy Dye was seemingly omnipotent. He easily has the best nose for the ball I've ever seen at Oregon. At least on film, HT (as he will henceforth be known) looks like he is cut from the same cloth to me. If Oregon can secure the commitment, he would fill a huge need on the defense.