Duck 1972

Nothing about Phil. From what I remember he was a big part of the recruiting process.

Hayward I believe you nailed it with the observation that they didn't go to camps, 7 on7 or specialized just on FB, thus were not seen and went unnoticed. Entirely understandable.

This shows we are going to be a player in the country and NIL. And this is for all players not just a few which I believe is the best, especially for team cohesion.

Great article on ESPN "Behind-the-Scenes Battle Over Oregon's Football Future, and Why Dan Lanning Won by Kyle Bonagura and Adam Rittenberg of ESPN" Very helpful and detailed analysis.

Logic over emotion. IMHO Go figure!

In the limited games I watched UGA play what impressed me the most was how many batted down balls there were by the front 7.

He was the best WR left in the portal with 3+ years experience especially in the PAC. We offered several other portal WR but they chose to go elsewhere. There are many factors why a player may not be able to be the "one" at any particular school and a chance with a different coach is all they need. Again if he doesn't have the talent to beat out the players we currently have he will still be a help with the depth of the WR room. More importantly help our very inexperienced but very talented WRs with his experience.

All he has to see and hear is the video of the hiring of RB coach Locklyn. I believe there are 5 RB in the pros because of his tutelage. And I don't believe they were superstars. If you are uber talented why wouldn't you want the crux of his philosophy to possibly become one of the greatest ever. As long as you are; NO DIVA! ( Kurt Rambis)

NO DIVAS! TEAM FIRST! RELEASE THE DOGS OF WAR AND CREATE HAVOC! WOE TO MY ENEMY! THEY SHALL FEAR ME!

Obviously the presidents have spoken they don't care about sports. Period! I believe the time difference is a big problem for any kind of merging by the PAC. The late show hurts us nationally. The lack of eyes and attendance means less interest therefore less money. What TV enterprises are going to pay us anywhere close to SEC/B1G to be able to compete with them. No merger will change this fact IMHO. To me when you try to swim up a waterfall all you get is wet. Therefore you change how you go about it and portage around it. The SEC is going to poach Clemson FSU and possibly Miami. What will the rest of the ACC going to do to keep playing CFB, the same with the bigger schools in the Big 12 and PAC. Again the only solution is to do an Alliance/Divisions/leagues. At least it would level playing field as to amount of money each school will have, which should allow for better competition on the field of play. Since money is what is doing the driving and always has and it has been discussed how this isn't going to change we are left with where we already are.

Remember you can count on your hand how many true frosh QBs start a game in college. The transition from HS to CFB is tremendous no matter how much talent you are supposed to have. And just like any teenagers you have those that are willing to wait for their time and those that want it now. Out of this group u will have many who can't hit a curve, late bloomers and the best. In the end it's all a crap shoot anyway.

I call it "specialization". The bigger devolving into the smaller. Happens all the time with us humans. Weither for better or worse, sometimes yes sometimes no.

Amazing post, Happy. So many detailed points that I believe are the truth. You can't peel the onion any further. My solution would be to create more divisions. You have the B1G and SEC in one. The ACC, us and big 12 in an Alliance. Teams can move up or down by merit. Kind of like the pod example stated in earlier posts on other topics in the same vein as this one. Nothing else changes although tweaks might occur. I don't see any other way to level the playing field.

I believe his season has been the most perplexing. Maybe he's not suited to be the alpha. I have seen him make so many mistakes this year that didn't seem to occur in previous years.

That's the problem we'll never know. Proved the theory of it's all about the money, not merit. Oh well as MLK said "I believe we'll reach the mountain top someday". Maybe sooner than everyone thinks!

The OL is also so important. If you don't have time to do your progressions. I believe that's the difference between the good ones and the great ones. The speed with which u can do it. Don't know if that can be taught.

Agree. But I don't necessarily believe it's the stars. I think this is the first time that Dana's mishmash of new guys haven't meshed together as a team. They thought they had and then Cal happened and it deflated them. ASU just a bad game. Then to have UA at McHale on the ropes! They missed a golden opportunity to save the season. I just don't see it happening this year. Sure hope I'm wrong but?

I can't remember the kids name but back in 1999 there was a stud linebacker out of McNary HS in Salem. I knew his uncle. There were a bunch of us pushing him to make sure he tried to get the kid to go to OBD. He said he and his dad were doing so but in the end it was up to him. It came down to us or UCLA and it was close to signing day. We had gotten together for a BBQ and asked where the kid had decided to go. The uncle said it was UCLA. We were all disappointed and asked why? He didn't hesitate and replied. It came down to the fact of sun and barely clad girls. As we were all red blooded American males, who could argue with that logic. Now I don't have a clue what why or how a kid decides where to go to school. I'm sure there are many factors. I guess I'm only positing that what ever the reasons I believe that u can make a mistake. Come to your senses and do what Cota has done and come back home. I can't fault him for that desicion. Besides if DL didn't think he could improve our team he wouldn't have gotten the offer in the first place. So welcome home Mr Cota now help us win a championship.

As long as no problems with the fractured ankle. I'm excited.

More the merrier.

It may be a blessing in disguise. Right now at least there's a chance of not having a SEC against SEC for the championship every year. That's what I see with the way the expansion as proposed would have worked out.

Axel and Crtman I agree with both you but the genie is out of the bottle. Here's my take on the issue. The reason the SEC and BIG 10 are so dominate is they have so many good to great teams. Iron sharpens iron, playing against the best will make you better. That's why they get the best players and the most money. If we can't beat a great USC how can we compete with the blue bloods back East and South. I would always like to be there, but to then lose badly like OU isn't something I want either. I believe that's what is needed for the PAC not just to get to the PO but win. I also believe we are going to be able to do so with a DL defense, a SEC offense and top 10 recruiting classes year in and year out. We may lose in the end but bring it on USC. You are going to have to take the league back from us on the field of play, then we'll see who is walking the walk and not just talking the talk. We'll win some lose some but in the end it can only help both of us as long as a majority of the PAC also gets better soon.

I believe it was last year. The greatest win in program history. At the "shoe" against mighty tOSU. No one, I mean no one including my homer self, gave us any chance. And it wasn't a fluke. We controlled that game from start to finish. And without our best player. I know last year left a sour taste in the latter part of the season but for that game it was brilliantly coached, played and the most exciting I've seen.

I want to see 1 more year before I make any conclusions about Chip. This McGovern guy did coach in the pros so that's something. Also being 60k in the hole is a situation that would be hard to manage by anyone. He did find a lot of in the rough while here and everyone says the QB is the key and he's got a good one still playing for him and one in waiting. He did turn a corner and had a good season last year. Let's not bury him yet.

I believe that players loved to play for MC. I've read 3 articles by KT, McKinley and G Moore which confirmed so. I also believe we are going to see similar if not better from DL and staff. With all of the things he is doing there's no other option. I believe we are witnessing something new being created that will revamp CFB (especially coaching) probably just like CK did when he was here. As Hayward has stated many times, this is the innovation the Ducks have in spades.