David Marsh

I think it is about the money for Riley along with not moving into the SEC where he knows he won't be able to win the conference as easily as Oklahoma. It is also pretty likely that there was been some back channeling between Riley and the players joining him at USC. This is a new age where players can follow their coach... that isn't even possible in the NFL but it is now in college football with the transfer portal.

Hey if both sides were acting badly like that then both should get a warning.

The NFL has it figured out this year... next year different story. But it is always nice to have a truly competitive year, especially in pro sports. Now if only the NBA can figure things out. You can pretty much determine the final 4 by the end of the year due to statistics alone. The playoff for the NBA feels more like a formality than an actual playoff. The NFL has the right thing going for their playoff. Dare I say one of the few playoffs that is formatted better than College equivalent? Yes... I dare say it.

A lot of walk-ons are entering the transfer portal in search of scholarships. Many don't get scholarships but a few do in the end so for walk-ons the appeal of the transfer portal is pretty simple... get a scholarship and maybe some meaningful playing time. Especially walk-ons from the larger programs like Oregon.

If it is meeting with high school coaches and admin that is still a huge aspect of recruiting us building those relationships. Those are the people who can get out the early info and get coaches in contact with students. We usually just don't hear about this part of recruiting.

Remember the Titans .... I also think that is probably the only football movie I have ever seen more than once.

I think he is still a solid Duck... This came out later today. Not directly from him but seems a little coincidental to come out the same day. I think he is locked in and I think there is some money heading his way already.

It feels like they are really just looking because Oregon is high profile and more importantly NOT in the SEC.

The announcers did seem to say "Boogie" what felt like every three seconds...

Not on the UCLA budget... if there was a real strong desire to build they could make it happen. Universities also own a TON of land that isn't even being used but they are projecting out 50-100 years when they might need it. I am sure UCLA probably has the land available but I am sure it is slated for other projects in the distant future.

I do think the culture was falling apart at Oregon. Those two Utah games had it on full display where the ducks just didn't look like they cared... And they were the no. 3 team for the first game and they were playing for a pac-12 championship in the second game... They had EVERYTHING to play for and they didn't show up? This season on the whole had that feeling with with 6/10 of the games Oregon won this year were by 10 points or less. I mean come on... It was a constant frustration for fans this year that we couldn't put opponents away. That had to have put the squeeze on the culture. That and Pittman leaving probably soured things pretty badly, that is a mixture of Pittman and Cristobal I feel because he or someone else probably should have seen that coming. I read somewhere that there was just a lack of energy in the program and under Lanning and new strength coach Love that there is already new life and energy back in the building. If MC had stayed I think there was going to be an off season with a lot of transfers. Also take note how many transfers from Oregon are going to Miami... Currently zero. How does that speak to the culture that was developing in the Oregon locker room at the end of the year?

UCLA is one of those schools who need a new stadium badly. The rose bowl is a wonderful venue for a bowl game but UCLA can't fill it with fans every week and it makes them look even worse. Also... The Rose Bowl is just lacking those modern touches that most stadiums have which probably hurts the fan experience. I mean Oregon State is giving Riser a facelift and trying to up their stadium game. UCLA needs a new stadium... And probably a smaller one too. But that all will cost loads of money which they don't have and so the cycle continues where they don't have enough money for new facilities while the old ones are hurting fan turn out ... Along with the on field product. Most of that could be solved if they just were better. I'm sure they are filling seats in their basketball arena right now.

Hmm I didn't know the current NIL stuff didn't cover jerseys... That feels like a no brainer.

And as of the first game next year, Kelly will have been the head coach at UCLA longer than he was the head coach at Oregon. Kinda crazy to think about really.

He has been a good Tight End for Oregon but as we have a good grasp on that position now and some depth, I really see him becoming a dominant force on defense under Lanning. I think it is a really smart move on his part to return for one more year to show case his ceiling and talents with a top tier defensive scheme.

Biggest difference between the two programs though is that Oregon has some pretty good alternative options. Cardwell has tons of potential and may have actually pushed Dye out of a sure-fire starting spot with a full off-season. Dollars and McGee are both more in the mold of Dye than an every down back anyways so Cardwell is absolutely the future of the program. Now, I don't want to see Dye go because of how dynamic and passionate of a player he is... but Oregon is in a far better situation than Colorado.

I think this is probably the biggest reason for Dye. I think he has heard some NFL feedback in some way, shape or form and has basically heard you are on the smaller side for the league. You may be a late round draft pick but may be relegated to a practice squad and struggle to get on the field. Trying to leverage his last year in college and get some NIL money could be the most reliable way he gets paid for his football career. If that is the reasoning... then Oregon donors get this kid some NIL money.

This one makes my head hurt... Granted I don't feel like Oregon will be gutted from this. I think we were all expecting the end of the Verdell-Dye era this year so I feel we have some good options in Cardwell, Dollars and McGee... however, if Oregon is only down to those three players then we REALLY need another running back because there is no depth.

It is interesting you bring this up... I feel Mullens was faced with similar circumstances when Cristobal bolted for Miami. Someone who the administration was highly invested in and felt they had "their guy" locked in leaves effectively for their "dream school" of sorts. Colorado went with someone safe with some more local ties and has some head coaching experience. Oregon took a significant risk hiring someone who didn't have local ties and beyond that didn't have any head coaching experience. We will just have to wait and see how it all turns out... I think the Ducks chose the better route.

I am really ready for the spring game right now... How long do we have to wait? I can't wait to get a first look at what all these coaches can do.

Stanford has been hit the hardest of anyone by the transfer portal. They only lose talent to it and never pick any up. Their academic requirements require players to be able to enroll by their grades alone. Follow up with no guarantee that they can take a master's program as they have to apply and be accepted on their non football merits. That in itself shuts down any grad transfers and anyone else who may be interested if they don't have their grades high enough. The result is they lose talent to the portal but can't really gain any talent from it.

No... Most lose their scholarship and don't find a new home. So for many it is the end of the line for their scholarships entirely.

Sad reality is that it might be a good thing ... Allows Lanning to get some more players he wants. But if we suffer anywhere near the injuries we did this year... The lack of depth is a major cause for concern.

this is really starting to smell like the return of at least one of Dye and Verdell. Bronson and Dollars in the portal ... That leaves Cardwell and McGee for sure ... But I'd bet we have either Dye or Verdell or both next year. Otherwise that is 0 depth with no additional running backs coming in as recruits this year.

It has less to do about Bo Nix and his talent... as I do think Thompson or Butterfield will probably win out and if they don't I will be concerned for the program. I think the bigger question comes around scholarship count and whether or not the new staff wants to allocate another scholarship for a quarterback. It is certainly possible... but I don't think it will be likely.