The Grateful Duck

Personally, I'm trying hard not to take any of this "outta my control" stuff too much to heart. Literally, doing that is hard on the heart AND the brain, physically, literally. If coach had left or not, my mantra should remain the same: outta my control, not my problem. Immediately I was ready to look at possible coaches who might be available and what the pros/cons of each. I wasn't going to moan, groan, gnash my teeth, cry, etc., becoming an unpleasantly unhappy chap. All of us have to live our lives dictated by what is best for the individual and loved ones that will give that individual the best opportunity to succeed by whatever metric any of us might apply. Coach Lanning, the players, the staff, the fans, etc., all of us in any given situation. Decisions might be made for the most selfish or altruistic reasons. But it should be dictated by the weighing of any and possibly all factors. And unless it is my decision, decisions can be outta my control. I'm trying to choose neutrality because the opposite is more heinous than just accepting what is for the fact in the matter. Plus I'm dealing with now ingrained anger control issues, depression, and negativity that is not who I want to be. I can't change what is past but I might extend my present equanimity into the future. Which is much more healthy for myself and those with whom I interact. But that's just me. We each and every one of us have our own trip, may it be long and strange, to the measure of each.

Great points from those better equipped to assess the Ducks prospects going forward. Thanks so for the sane assessments. Grateful Duck in Renton (I can hear the Huskies howling from Montlake. Music to the ears!!!)

Or the change of tempo/style may actually clash-crash rather than mesh. I haven't been keenly following the b-ball team, but how many of those wins have come from tier 1/2 programs? Next week will be a big tell. Utah/Colorado may be a better measure of the quality for our mesh/crash possibility. Before seeing Arizona later... I'm thankful that some Duck fans have been tracking the b-ball team. Football has been quite captivating for an off-season.

That last one: ouch! Brutal. The husky howling: classic!

Lanning replacements: Jedd Fisch Kenny Dillingham Will Stein Jeff Chadwell Liberty HC Sherrone Moore ...? If he's interviewing, he's interested. We've seen this play before.

Bo Nix. Leadership, loyalty, and the fact that he's acknowledged how wonderful everything about his Oregon tenure has been, basically life-enhancing. Thanks for being the man, Bo.

Mike, I agree. Penix just seemed off, not only missing throws, but not confident in any facet of his normal game. Of course, one could say that Michigan's defense had a major effect on his performance but it's not like the Ducks or the Wildcats hadn't already hit/sacked him previously. And the play selection/tempo was atrocious. The Huskies needed to speed it up a bit at times, especially after a longish play. The Husky offense was stuck in 1st gear, whether previous play was successful/not or the defense got rattled after a chunk play. Despite rooting for the Huskies, I'll still be able to troll them when the need arises. There's always a bright side to a Husky loss!

Mike, I love competitive games and all, but having watched a few too many USC beatdowns of OBD back in the day at Autzen (in the rain!), I draw the line at the Trojans. The only instances I'll root for the Trojans: vs. any SEC team or they are playing a team whose losing would benefit OBD's championship profile because OBD've already beat SC, by at least 2 tds. Losing and SC has to be a more regular feature before I want SC to win. Hearing that bit of their fight song after the most inane play...confirms my dislike anew over and over! Ugh!

"(Michigan's) defense has no PAC 12 comparison." And Washington's offense has no B1G comparison. So which is better? UM's offense or UDub's defense? Well, if the Dawgs' defense plays like they played versus OBD (Vegas version) or Texas... Advantage Dawgs. Plus, special teams? Advantage Dawgs IF UM performs like they did versus Alabama. They were downright atrocious. And one thing the Ducks and Longhorns learned: the Huskies LOVE playing the disrespected under-dawg card!

I've been thinking that as well. Perhaps someday he'll return to the team as a GA, then QB coach, eventually the OC... The guy may end up being a coaching legend, too. Imo, Bo is in the top 5 Oregon players. "Where" is just an opinion that needs no defense because it literally is an impossible task because different eras/schemes/opportunities etc. so vastly determine a player's production. This being said, I love Bo because I had a mostly negative reaction when he committed to the Ducks...boy, was I wrong. Bo was better and then some.

Teams make their own luck. Granted, the Stanford and Arizona State games were luck, especially the Stanford receiver's open field drop. Both games, the Huskies were lucky to escape defeat. Against the Ducks, in the first game, you might call it luck, or you could say that the Ducks and the coaching staff kind of choked. The Vegas game, the Ducks got dominated, in a fashion like the Longhorns, not ever completely out of the game but the sledding was tougher than expected. After the Ducks took the lead in the 4th, the Huskies just stuffed the football down our Duck gullets. That was brutal. And how many 3 and outs? Their defense came to play. Otherwise, I can't recall a game in which we could say they won by being lucky. The Texas game, maybe? But ultimately, the end was more about some sloppy coaching and some bad luck. The final play was a quality defensive play, both in coverage and in athletic ability. Personally, I don't see any shame in having lost to the Huskies twice. The first game was the Ducks to take; the team and staff blew it. The 2nd game...well, we see what sort of team the Huskies are after what they did to Texas. That team is playing for the natty and deservedly so.

Aye!!!!!

Other than the last 2 minutes of play, UW showed up to play. And no SEC? It could not have gone better today. IMO.

Mike West. Exactly! Thanks because these are my sentiments. I've tried putting it in words that weren't pitiful. There it is.... I want to add, I live in Husky-land just outside Seattle. Of course there are some obnoxious fans, especially those commenting on various sport site comment sections (I've seen some pretty obnoxious Duck/Texas/FSU/♾️... fans also), but for the most part I've run into many more that aren't. I'm no Husky apologist but at this time I'm (kind of) more "done with" whiny Bucktooth rodent fans. Screw them and their righteous one-sided victimhood. Their problem was years in the making and NOW they whine beaver-tears about being left behind? But more importantly, the Husky's Duck comeuppance is coming.... It's going to be harsh! To the patient, revenge, sweet revenge, is all the sweeter.

Before I pass, I 100% believe that the Ducks will win a natty. We're getting closer. And being in the B1G should better OBD's chances, re: recruiting (HS & portal), toughness, profile, DL's coaching chops, preparation for the big stages, perception, etc. Just looking at the schedules for the next few years, it's like a CFB wet dream.

My rooting hierarchy: Huskies 75 Michigan 20 Texas 5 Alabama 0 Under no circumstances will I be rooting for an SEC team unless OBD played them previously. I'm hoping for an all B1G final and I'll be rooting for the Huskies. But worse case scenario, Texas v. Alabama, I'm 100% rooting for Texas. But I probably won't be watching the game....

So far, all I'm proving is that whatever I think will happen expect the opposite. Like out in the woods, if I said the truck was up that hill to the north, you'd be better to head down that ridge to the south. 🤣🤣🤣

Beavs just can't blame their woes on OBD enough. It's getting tiresome, honestly.

Yes!! And, yep. Sark will prove you right!

Jon. Mario C. would be 1st ballot HoFer being over .500. It's an appropriate comparison in reality, though. Mario(!!!) Mendoza was known for his futility at the plate, kind of like it was for Duck fans experiencing Mario on the sidelines. Such frustrating futlilty!

Re: Boise State. I didn't know that. But, that being acknowledged, I just don't trust Chip/UCLA. I see Boise being much more amped for the game than the Bruins. And one thing about SoCal teams, without motivation they often suck. Utah has a lot to prove. Perhaps that streak continues...or when you least expect it, Utah wins 14 - 6. 🤣 Northwestern will probably be motivated as well. They've endured a lot this year. I think the Fiesta's gonna be exciting. And Lanning will have the team fired up. After Vegas, he better have, right?

They're better than SEC fans, generally. Other than some Georgia fans, those folks down south think the Ducks play touch football. All we can say is, "okay. Let's strap it up and see what you got." It's gonna be fun, if not always pretty. Plus, next year, we got both UWs. I've been told by some nice Wisconsin fans (are any of them mean?), they look forward to seeing the Ducks in Camp Randall. They are excited as much as we are. It's funny that the 2 fan bases we most recently faced (and beat) seen the most eager to engage pleasantly. Some are downright respectful of us and OBD! Let the games begin, right?

LA bowl: Boise State Independence: Cal Las Vegas: Utah Holiday: Louisville Alamo: Arizona Sun: Notre Dame Fiesta: OBD (not bored!) Sugar: the Puppies (I live in the Seattle area. Talk about dreading the thought of this...woof! OMG, the horror!!!)

"Football is a hard sport." Truth! Sometimes Bo makes it look soooo easy. Almost effortless. He's not perfect, obviously. But he often makes it look easy.

frick everybody but us...