HDuck

Lunardi, early Sunday morning (late Saturday night) 11-seed – Oregon vs Tex Tech in Spokane – Midwest Regional 10-seed – Colorado vs 10-seed TCU in Play-in game, winner then vs Utah St in Indianapolis – South Regional Colorado one of the last four in. Me...there are four "play-in games" which include the last four in, but that's two games. So, there has to be two more games matching "higher seeds." Looking back at prior tournaments those four games include the four 16 seeds and often four of the 11 seeds or 12 seeds. That is why Lunardi's post about his 10-seeds Colorado/TCU was interesting. Thus, whatever the Ducks' seed, 10, 11, 12, the primary hope is they are not assigned to a play in game which would mean fewer days of rest before the first game, and would likely be paired with a game somewhere other than Pacific Time Zone. Better to have a 12 non-play-in, than a 12 play-in.

Most of the pundits say Oregon HAS to win to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. And say, Colorado is a last four in, first four out, type if the Buffs lose. Colorado will play to avoid a first four out status. I wonder how much Oregon has left in the tank after Friday's comeback effort? History of Boyle vs Altman: 3-1 in Pac12 tourney 9-1 in Boulder 3-8 in Eugene Both are the longest tenured current coaches in the conference. Both 14 seasons. Altman has a better overall record but Boyle has the head-to-head record. Next year it is off to the Big12 and BigTen. Hope Altman can get one more vs Boyle, just as he did against Zona.

I think they have to win on Saturday. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but a lot of these conference tournaments have had upsets which puts more "comparables" that the Ducks would have to fend off.

Uh, this math can't be right? Can it? Heather Dinich According to sources, Washington State and Oregon State are expecting to receive $360,000 each per year in the new CFP contract - 1/5 of the $1.8 million Group of 5 schools would make. Historically, they received between $6-7 million per school as members of the Pac-12. and, reaction from Oregon State https://twitter.com/johncanzanobft/status/1768770877955752109

Well, if those numbers add up to 98.8 percent, then the "leftovers" would split 1.2 percent. A 29 percent share split 18 ways would be 1.6 percent each which I presume would be a disincentive to add more members unless the reduced share of CFP was offset by new revenue from regular season media deals that new members above 18 might bring. For example, if Notre Dame joined the conference the 29% would be split 19 ways, but the additional value ND would bring from regular season media contracts would offset that. The UO/UW reduced share applies to a portion but not all B1G revenue. It applies primarily to the regular season B1G media deals. There is annual money above and beyond that, such as money shared from the CFP and bowl games and from the basketball tournament. That is why when Rutgers, Maryland and Nebraska joined with reduced shares they had the option of borrowing against the future revenues....their payback could come from taking reduced money from the "additional money".

UNLV did win the National Championship in 1990. When DAT went 91 yds in the Rose Bowl that went a long way in cleansing my pallet of that Carter run.

The San Francisco 49ers are planning to cut their longest tenured player by releasing defensive tackle Arik Armstead in a salary cap move, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. Armstead will be released and hit the open market after the start of the new league year on Wednesday, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday night because the team had not announced the move. Armstead was drafted by San Francisco in the first round in 2015 and is the only player remaining on the roster who was on the team when coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over in 2017. Armstead was due to have a $17.4 million base salary and $28.4 million salary cap charge this season, leading the cap-strapped 49ers to make the move. Armstead will still carry a $25.9 million dead cap charge and the Niners will likely designate him a post-June 1 release. San Francisco will carry the entire cap charge until June, but can then delay $15.5 million of the charge until 2025. That will open up $18 million in cap room for this season. Armstead, who grew up in the Sacramento area, has also been a stalwart contributor in the community during his nine seasons in San Francisco. He was the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award the past four seasons for his work helping schools.

How it might affect future mini-tournaments like the Maui Invitational... How will college basketball change with NIL tournament payouts? AWFULANNOUNCING.COM In-season tournaments paying out NIL rewards could have a major impact on the college basketball landscape and reshape the calendar.

Webfoots was officially adopted as the program nickname in 1926. Very quickly, however, the program became known as the Ducks — a nickname that has stuck despite challengers from nicknames such as the Timberwolves, Lumberjacks, Trappers, Pioneers, Yellowjackets, and Spearsmen. https://www.uoalumni.com/s/1540/21/tabs.aspx?sid=1540&gid=3&pgid=11110&cid=27798&ecid=27798&crid=0&calpgid=10708&calcid=27658

Proud Duck alums Bob & Beverly Lewis....worth reading Bob and Beverly Lewis: Beloved Racing Royalty WWW.AMERICASBESTRACING.NET Thoroughbred racing, like any other sport, has been home to the exploits of scamps, scallywags, and scoundrels. At the other end of the scale of human character and integrity, few people in the sport Robert and Beverly Lewis Integrative Science Building, University of Oregon - Pharmaceutical Technology WWW.PHARMACEUTICAL-TECHNOLOGY.COM University of Oregon’s (UO) new Robert and Beverly Lewis Integrative Science Building (LISB) was opened in November 2012. Named after…

This is a quote from Jon Wilner's column about Commissioner K today: "Kliavkoff either didn’t bother or was unable to read the room: After the failed promise of the Pac-12 Networks, the last thing the presidents and athletic directors wanted was an all-streaming media rights deal with revenue tied to reaching subscription tiers. They wanted linear exposure and revenue certainty. He delivered neither." To me that pretty much says what needs to be said about why the Pac12 escapees ran for the life boats. Anyone who has said subsequently that UW/UO, and then UA/ASU/Utah, should have stuck around to make OSU/WSU happy simply doesn't want to accept the reality of what was happening. At that time UW's President pointed the finger at how underwhelming the proposal from K was, and without linear certainty for visibility and recruiting. And now, with the consolidation of influence and money in two conferences, it was even more so the right decision in retrospect.

Yes, $8M seems like a big chunk. But, when Jonathan Smith joined Michigan State in December it was reported his assistants pool would be $10.75M, more than twice what he had at Oregon State. DeBoer had $7.5M pool at Washington. Alabama under Saban was $9.17M which was an increase from $8.24M. There was quite a bit of assistant coaches changing jobs around the bigger conferences in the off-season as each program looks for best coaches, best recruiters. It's a wild market out there.

Stubblefield's future... Dana Altman hopes former assistant Tony Stubblefield will consider returning to Oregon basketball staff WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM Tony Stubblefield was Dana Altman’s right-hand man for 11 seasons at Oregon and the Ducks head coach is hoping they might reunite.

Former Fox executive Bob Thompson yesterday tweet: "If anyone thinks that any distributor is going to carry Pac 12 Networks after July 1 please give me a call. I have some land I would like to talk to you about. Could continue as a production house for third parties, and the two remaining schools, but beyond that???" Me...one issue would be how much is WSU and OSU willing to spend to keep the "production house" going? That is going to have to come out of the bag they are keeping from the 10 escapees. Where would the "production house" be? Still in the Bay Area? Still paying the lease? How many employees? How much would the MtWest or WCC be willing to fork over? And, if no network is willing to pay for content generated, how will the content be used? If nobody wants to pay for the content, what value do the old game films of USC vs Washington have to the Pac2? And, so on...

"...blame Rob Mullens, you don't walk away from a poker table while money is on the table.." When the schools indicated they were leaving they all said "effective August 1, 2024" which is the end of the current Pac12 agreement. They did not say "we are leaving immediately." Note: they are still playing Pac12 games including providing competition for OSU and WSU in a variety of sports. They will participate in tournaments at the end of the basketball season. A couple will claim the NCAA basketball tournament automatic qualifier for the Pac12...and so on. I still did not understand how the "judge" could rule the way he did. Was the wording a bit confusing? Yes. But, the escaping members were clear on the effective date announcement, and clear by their actions since. Even the Big Ten and Big12 made announcements that "these are our new members effective August 1."

"....Autzen complex, Alton Baker/Cuthbert, Riverfront Project, etc., all moving in unison.." I understand the attraction of nearby tailgating, and the gameday revenue generated by the Mo Center, but I've felt Cuthbert has been an underutilized venue potential for gamedays. Yes, there is walking distance involved, but putting the right kind of entertainment into Cuthbert could attract earlier arrivals and take some pressure off of Autzen traffic as kickoff approaches. A venue with student and/or Eugene area bands, for example? As noted in my earlier post, Iowa State's project includes a proposal for a stadium area amphitheater as a pre-game/post-game venue. Obviously if Oregon ends up with a lot of late Saturday home games in the Big Ten, then that is somewhat limiting. But, vendor access near Cuthbert could create economic opportunity. (And, more restroom access)

There are about a half-dozen projects like this being "considered" around the country. But, it is a long haul between considered and actual doing... Iowa State announces $200M 'CYTown' plans | Here's what is included WWW.WEAREIOWA.COM Iowa State announced has plans for a $200 million retail, office and entertainment development called “CYTown” between Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum.

Judge Corker is one of about 860 US District Court judges. My sense is his "decision" will have review and probably shouldn't be considered permanent precedent. Another topic for review is athlete wages. So, here is an interesting link: College Athlete Union Push Arrives as Schools Face Budget Clouds WWW.SPORTICO.COM It's increasingly likely that college athletes will be recognized as employees and unions. Universities then face hard legal and economic choices.

Fish is correct. The really self-delusional thing is how they regard their own value. When USC/UCLA left, the TV value of the remaining 10 dropped precipitously. It was obvious in the absence of TV bids after that announcement when the 10 "went to market." Now, when 8 more leave, there is an absence not only of TV bids but of conference affiliation offers. Why? Because the 2 remaining have little value on their own. So, the two are angry that the other 8 didn't stick around to prop up their value, because they obviously couldn't carry their own weight. After suckling off the value of USC, UW, UO, perhaps UCLA and a couple others for years, they want it to continue...and in equal shares for the 10...which would diminish what the departing 8 could otherwise obtain. They rationalize it by claiming, "well, 35 million per year isn't that much more than 25 million" without acknowledging the 35 will grow at a higher rate in the future than the 25 would have. And thus, the schools at the forefront of departure: Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Oregon are therefore to blame for their own 2 school self generated predicament. The blame is cast largely on UW/UO while ignoring others because "our sister schools should have taken a haircut to save us." If the 8 had stuck around, it would only have very likely been temporary regardless, and in the interim the 8 suffer loss of revenue, loss of preferred TV network exposure, loss of public consciousness, and further loss of value for future negotiations. Perhaps the 8 should borrow the line of the dating couple who break up and tell the 2, "it's not me, it's you."

Well, since ESPN has regular season broadcast agreements with SEC, ACC, Big12...but not with the Big Ten anymore...how do you think that may influence Playoff selections? (rhetorical question) And, Game Day campus visits.

Well, since the Pac2 could have 2 people in these positions, the question maybe should be why 2 out of 4 came from WSU, and none from Beavis? "...any CFP decisions require unanimous approval through the 2025 season playoff and Schulz since December has been unwilling to grant his vote until WSU and OSU’s concerns are addressed.." So, if the WSU folks ask for too much, then everybody else just sits on the current situation for 2 years, and after that tells them to put their "influence" where the sun don't shine, because everything starts new after the 2025 season including participation in the Playoff organization. And, if the SEC and B1G are unhappy with what the Pac2 demands now which prevents them from moving forward with changes now, they will have very long memories.

The 3 "profiles" so far have been really skimpy on details - really skimpy. Most have had an era of football success, or basketball success, and some schools more than one era. Likewise notable/star players. What/when/how long ago? A bit about the city in which each is located would be nice too.

Well, if you live in Southern Oregon, you are about equal distance between the Blazers arena and the Kings arena, so there is really not automatic loyalty to the Blazers just because they are in "Oregon." And, the Kings have played better lately. I am not an NBA fan because of the style of play as noted by others earlier. Add in taking steps, traveling, pushing off, ticky tack defense calls, etc. The guys are very athletic, but that is just not enough to garner my interest because of how the game is played/allowed. I am not a baseball fan either, but I understand the passion some baseball fans possess. Likewise, understand the passion some possess for the Blazers in Portland Metro. It is nice to live in a sports era with choices where there are still options beyond those you ignore.

There is a column in The Athletic today that suggests this "bundle" will cost $50/month...and, of course, doesn't include some networks in the bundle. Therefore, subscribers would have to pay for additional streaming services to get those other sports carriers, or continue their cable. For example, CBS...this year's Super Bowl carrier...is not part of the proposed bundle. According to the column, each participant expects to receive the same $$ as they would on cable. So, for example, if ESPN gets $12/month from cable, they would expect to continue receiving the same from this "streaming bundle." And, that is just basic ESPN, not the other ESPN options.

Well, while I would prefer more shots of the two teams cheerleaders, and less of Ms.Swift, I do have one suggestion....since the NFL gets money from advertisers. For one prominent advertiser State Farm which uses Mahomes in its ads.... do an ad with Swift driving, Kelce as a passenger, and the vehicle striking a tree. Mahomes shows up as the State Farm agent and does his patented eye roll when he sees the couple.