30Duck

The Fiesta Bowl certainly didn't go the way we wanted. But, the Ducks are two time defending champions, no matter how much the Huskies or Jon Wilner throw shade on it. Last season, Oregon made history by winning the football championship, and Men's & Women's basketball. They already have the football, and are in position to sweep basketball again too. Stanford is not going to make it easy for the Lady Ducks. They just rolled all over #6 Arizona, and will be more than happy to knock the Ducks off their perch. The Ducks will be @ Stanford on Friday, and they'll be ready. The Men are off to a great start. They lost early to a good Missouri team, they were missing some key players though. Most of them are back, though Dante is gone for the year. But, quicker than usual for Altman's teams, the Ducks have bonded in to a really good, high functioning team, and will just get better when Richardson is back. Hopefully in about 2 weeks. Football is done. But we'll have a lot of fun watching the basketball games!

Canzano had a really good title for his article, that is exactly what we watched yesterday. The situation at quarterback stood out, but it was only one example of the disorganization. Mario is intent on creating a power based methodical machine. But right now all the parts are disconnected and scattered across the field. I had actually forgotten about the bungled attempt at catching the punt, my mind was filled still with Iowa State executing the longest onside kick I've ever seen. Toss in the fumbles and it's easy to see how we could forget one of the mistakes, and penalties. We can hope that an extended practice time will really help, especially the quarterback, in getting the offense an identity, and similarly, the defense will for sure be moving by design, not because the player doesn't know where he's supposed to line up. But one thing we finaly don't have to worry about? The Ducks have a kicker!

Good job, Ryan, you laid it out plain and simple. There is a lot to be done before the Ducks are a playoff team. It might be that even if the playoffs were set to include the conference champions, the Ducks would still be out of their league when it came to winning the championship. The recruiting is getting there. But unfortunately, the Fiesta Bowl told us that there is more for Cristobal to get right, than we thought. The Fiesta Bowl exposed problems much deeper than sitting on a lead, The disfunction at quarterback stands out, but it's only one of the things you pointed out. Iowa State had an identity, a plan to go with its purpose. Oregon looked unsettled, verging on to chaotic. They really need a productive off season to get to work on this. Ohio State in game one, should be a motivating force.

That was fun, It was shaky for a while, the Ducks couldn't buy a basket. But the D kept them in the game. They finally got their biggest lead, 2. Then it got a bit bigger, Duarte and Ommayuri heated up, along with #12, LJ Figueroa, and pulled away, winning by 16, 73-56.

Hey, actually even better. In case you don't have ESPNU, the game is now on ESPN2, as soon as Gonzaga finnishes beating San Francisco

It was a very cruel reversal of fortunes for the Ducks. For a while, they had made the last few minutes of the first half their red zone. Today, those minutes were a disaster. They get a great goal line stand, march 99 yards, tie the score, and look forward to getting the ball at the start of the second half. what could go wrong? Sadly, we all know what went wrong. Iowa State ended up winning the TOP, about 48-12, and the Ducks spent a lot of the time they did have the ball, committing costly penalties or turning the ball over. Somehow it seems the score should have been even worse.

That's the way to see the bright side of things. Both basketball teams are off to great starts, and should just get better as the season goes on.

It sure is, no other forum is even close. I hope you make it your regular destination to talk about all things Duck with a bunch of other Duck fans.

This is truly the case. When you watch Alabama, and Ohio State, those guys just don't look like our guys, every one of them is huge and fast. KT was the #1 recruit, and he doesn't look like the Alabama guys. Mario is trying, the only way he can to get the players. But Alabama is still getting better players. It's going to be tough to catch up.

I agree. Alabama is in a class by itself. It is not understanding and respecting what Saban has created at Alabama to think that Oregon will be comparable anytime soon. As well as Mario has recruited here lately, his best ever class at Oregon, would be a dismal failure at Alabama. But, Mario has the team going in the right direction, and it just has to keep going.

That happens when you do the bold or italics, etc, as you're writing. The way for that not to happen is to write out first, then go back and highlight the section(s) you want to enhance.

Just another example of ESPN deciding who, IS IN

Just like they did to Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, last year in the Rose Bowl.

Two great games for our basketball teams. The Men went through a 6 minute drought in the first half, but Aaron Estrada's shot at the buzzer gave them a lead and they never looked back. Eugene O is a consistent scoring threat in the paint, a type of player Altman only had before in Joevan Catron his first season, and he wasn't as good as Eugene O. Tonight, the Ducks face Stanford, 7:00 on ESPN2 Duarte has found his game. It looked a while that he was a bit lost without Pritchard, but in the last couple of games he is back to the type of game we got used to. This team is already good, and Will Richardson could be back in around two weeks. When he is fully assimilated, this team will be scary good. The Women. They aren't as good as last season's team. but they're closer than any other team is. Taylor Chavez was called back to Arizona for personal reasons, and Jaz Shelley was inserted in to the starting line-up. Jaz responded with her best game of the season. Te-Hina PaoPao, again looked like a seasoned vet. Taylor Mikesell found her 3 point shot again, and Erin Boley, now free to roam the court, made plays everywhere, Kylee Watson need only work on her free throw shooting. It was great, that on one she banked in, she couldn't hide the grin on her face. The depth on the team is incredible. #1 Stanford blew out #6 Arizona, 81-54. It will be a great test when the Ducks and Cardinals meet later this month. But before that, UCLA @ Oregon, Sunday, 1:00 on the Pac-12 Network.

That article was harsh, because the author brought up everything that's been posted here.

Breaking News! Texas, after beating Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, just fired Tom Herman. Alabama OC, Steve Sarkisian, is said to be the front runner to be the new coach. I believe that hiring Sarkisian would help Texas immensely. Since Brown left, the Longhorns have been treading water.

Oh man, Ernie flashback, hearing him from the sideline, "Go!". That was it.

Hearing the Huskies whimpering over the Ducks getting their back-back championships has been sweet, hopefully the team, and Mario remember how they played, and repeat that. Winning back to back NY6 games is fun too. Mario has described the Cyclones as the most physical team the Ducks have seen since he's been here. With that in mind, he has to be getting the Ducks ready to ball out like they never have since he's been here, doesn't it? The defense showed up against USC, harassing Klovis, picking him off, stopping the running game. But, it's the offense we have questions about, starting with the quarterback. Lately, Tyler Shough hasn't played with the confidence necessary to make the offense dynamic. The Cyclone's defense's biggest vulnerability is downfield passing. Is Shough going to get the ball out to JJ and Redd? Pittman is a big play waiting to happen. There are definitely a lot of questions going in to this one.

37-31 Oregon. It's great to be able to figure field goals into the Ducks score.

I have no illusion about how much better the top 5 or 6 teams are. It's the matter in which ESPN presents the farce that is the Playoffs, that is the most irritating. The Committee doesn't do anything. They aren't watching all the games. Their Top 25 exists only to fill time. Everybody knows who Is IN. I detest everything about, the Eye Test. Would this team beat that team? Play the game.

Exactly. Clemson is the main reason I can't stand The Invitational. Before the season starts, They Know, "They Are In". This season they lost, not a problem. Even idf ND had beaten them again, they would have been in. Boise State didn't even get a chance when they were dominating from the Mountain West. But Clemson from the ACC, that's totally different. Why? ESPN.

That's impressive, Jon. I can't believe I'm happy that Ohio State is beating Clemson, there is no way I can actually go in to a game wanting them to win. So, it'll be. "Roll, Tide"! from me.

This is why I have a new appreciation for Nick Saban. It is not enough to have the great talent that Alabama has. In fact, it actually makes what he has done at Alabama even more impressive. If any team might not get up for a game, especially against an unranked team, it would be Alabama. But they don't. Alabama has the culture I believe Mario is trying to create at Oregon. WIN. That's it, nothing else is acceptable.

I sure didn't see this coming! I can't believe I'm actually glad that Ohio State is winning, Leading up to the game, Dabo wasn't mincing words, he seriously questioned if Ohio State should be in the Playoffs.

THIS is what's so awful about the "Invitational". It's bad enough that it has created a post season where only fans of the teams playing in the NY6 Bowls care about them. They can't see that having Alabama- Clemson, year after year is a problem!