EagleScoutJim

And for all those year, the Oregon coaching staff ‘coached up’ those one, two, and 3* players. It’s the foundational reason we’re here today.

Remember that not all signed QBs remain QBs. Good hands, quick legged athletes have other options. 17/18 year old egos as BMOC are often brought down to reality once joining a team. is it better to be a starting player in an other than recruited role on a championship team, a starting player in recruited role on a non-competitive team, or the backup in the recruited role on a championship team?

I have found David Hale’s (ESPN) ‘Saturday summary’ articles to be an enjoyable reads this season (his takes in Mario are especially enjoyable). However, there are two ways to read his comments on OBD. First, they can be construed as maligning, worthy of tar and feathers. My take is slightly different. This year’s team doesn’t have the flash or novelty of the 2010-era Chip-innovated teams. That’s what most of the press has expected from us. That innovation is what brought us to prominence, and helped make us most kids’ second favorite team - the team with the cool and athletic appeal. Instead, the 2024 brand of Ducks gets down to business - the business of winning grind-it-out, in-the-trenches warfare that the tOSUs, Alabama’s, and Michigan’s of the world have fought for years. The adage “Defense wins championships” applied to them in the past, and it applies to OBD now. And let’s face it - defense isn’t flashy. Sure, there’s and occasional WOW moment, but mostly it just ‘punches the clock and get it done’. We shouldn’t be looking at Hale’s comments as an insult, but rather as the highest compliment: We have arrived and are eating at the adult’s table.

Honestly, I think that the talking heads are fun shy about talking up the Ducks - they have been burned every time since 2010 whenever they committed to talking up OBD. Face it, we’re not one of ‘the blue bloods’ ( no loss there IMHO). We have not succeeded in our two BCS championship games (Dyer was down, and it would have helped if we were had at least one receiver not suspended or injured and able to play). Last year we were beaten by The Dawgs twice, and won the opportunity to showcase our talent playing Liberty in a bowl game. The point is, it has been risky to talk up the Ducks. But talent and coaching will win out. When we win a championship this year, all that will change for good.

OREGON 39-20 (5 TD’s, a field goal, a 2pt. conversion) 2 TO (1 fumble, 1 interception) 3 sacks (Burch in beast mode for 1-1/2) 316 yds

This is only possible if the Ducks ignore everything DL has taught them about focus and let penalties rule the day. I just don’t see this happening. Honestly, this sounds more like ‘wishful thinking’ than based in reality. i am not suggesting OBD can afford not to take Wisconsin seriously, nor that anything can happen on a given Saturday. Rather, I think Lanning has a strategy that the players buy into that will minimize looking ahead and losing sight of the prize - a win at UW.

Slightly off topic: The ultimate network nightmare from a ratings perspective: A Ducks-Hoosiers final

Ducks 48-10 2 TO 4 Sacks 357 passing yards

While not being a participation trophy per se, we ALL win by being Ducks fans!

41-17 Ducks (Michigan scores a TD during trash time in the 4th) 3 TO 3 Sacks 320 Passing

Cry havoc, and release the Ducks of war.

While I hate the thought of rooting for the Dawgs, I will never root for either USC or UCLA (unless it directly helps the Ducks). They (along with our former commissioner Larry Scott) are responsible for the demise of the Pac12, and I find that unforgivable.

If tOSU wins, the Duck will probably face Indiana (who will likely win out). If Penn State wins, it’s possible that there will be 3 undefeated teams in the B1G all vying for 2 championship game spots.

Dyer was down…