Notalot

It probably would not bode well for MC to make the uncle who brought him back to the U look like a chump.

Ed Reed

I realize that time is limited during recruiting visits, but nothing says "world-class" and is as unmatchable by other NCAA programs as the new Heyward Field. There should be even greater appeal to speedy visitors with accomplished track backgrounds, and for OL/DL weight men. The line up of the biggest T&F events alone speaks volumes for Oregon's position in athletics. MBB beat the Beavs tonight.

The Athletic published an article about the Transfer Portal. The story discussed the recent meeting in San Antonio of the American Football Coaches Association. Following are several quotes which indicate several possible approaches to reigning in the present free-for-all. "One suggestion the committee pitched to calm some of the transfer chaos: Giving players a two-month window after the regular season and after the spring semester to enter the portal, which would better allow coaches to project their numbers and fill them through recruiting or backfilling in the portal. In the sport’s current state, an entire position group could depart for any reason and leave a gaping hole in any roster. Another possible solution: Keeping the scholarship count at 85 but requiring two-thirds of those scholarships be players the program signed out of high school. “Those sound great, but what the NCAA is concerned about more than anything else is they don’t want to restrict players’ ability to do anything because of the Supreme Court decision,” a Group of 5 assistant said. One Power 5 assistant said he hoped the sport would have some kind of collective bargaining agreement in the future. “If we’re going to be like the pros, we’ve gotta have something in there that’s beneficial on both sides,” he said."

Or, McDonald's bags like Tennessee. The McDonald's bags have become BRINKS and GARDA trucks backed to the curb with the doors wide open. But nobody seems to notice or care, The NCAA is taking a Covid break to hide its money and plan for a much reduced role in Act II, or possibly for its demise..

Losing Travis Dye was a shock and I know that I will miss him. His most productive year may still be ahead of him as he was ever more productive. I really appreciate all that Troy and Travis did for Oregon Football, and hope they will be alumni boosters in the future. They both "left it all on the field". I like our RB's though the ranks have become thin with the departures of Travis and Trey Benson. I'm somewhat confident that we will see one or more new RB's before the recruiting cycle ends for 2022, and the coaches will need to find top RB commits for 2023. The RB position is not a huge worry for me in 2022.

Oregon Football fans and observers are thrilled with the excitement of change. Some are intrigued that the new head man and Head Coach, Dan Lanning has background stints with perennial championship contender, and sometimes champion, Alabama. Lanning is fresh off from leading a ferocious defense to the college football title with Georgia. Others are amazed with the talented staff of young upwardly mobile coaches that Dan Lanning has assembled around him. Then there are the transfers and recruits being added to the roster along with the considerable skills and talents brought to Oregon before Coach Lanning by Mario Cristobal. The talent cupboard is presently being stocked by recruiters who hold accolades for aplomb in recruiting top-rated talent in several of college football’s renowned and ripest pastures of talent. Though the scenarios of the coming Oregon Football season, and those of 2023 and 2024 are tantalizing, the reality is that this staff and team has not yet practiced one snap together, let alone played a game. Football is not like a Betty Crocker mix, “Just add water and stir.” Creating a competitive winning team takes tremendous skill and results in organizational management by the Head Coach. The “Jimmy’s and Joe’s and X’s and O’s) are ingredients of the mix, or pieces of a 1000-piece puzzle. Oregon Football has been blessed in the off-season, and over the past four years, to add staff positions to bolster the football program and apply greater emphasis on details that support the program. The addition of personnel theoretically helps the team, but in other ways adds to the complexity of managing the larger organization. It is not simply control, but spearheading communication, and molding diverse personalities into one culture. The long-term challenge of building a single-minded unit has increased because the coaching staff is mostly young coaches who have thus far into their careers have been highly mobile and have demonstrated “Alpha” personalities to rise above others meteorically. Then there are the players. It has always been challenging for coaches to organize and ignite a group of 17–24-year-old young men from diverse backgrounds into an efficient cohesive championship team. The challenge has become more complex with the effects of the Transfer Portal, the pull of NIL propositions, and the demise of control by the NCAA. Then consider the environment that Covid-related protocols, concerns, and mandates. Surmise that the coming few years ahead will challenge players and their coaches in new ways. What is Organization Management? Organization management refers to the art of getting people together on a common platform to make them work towards a common predefined goal. Organization management enables the optimum use of resources through meticulous planning and control at the organization entity. Organization management gives a sense of direction to the employees. The individuals within the team are well aware of their roles and responsibilities and know what they are supposed to do. Is there a need for effective Organization Management? Organization management gives a sense of security and oneness to the employees. An effective management is necessary for better coordination among various departments and functions within the football operations, staff, and players. Employees accomplish tasks within the stipulated timeframe and result with effective organization management. The players and staff are loyal towards their job, managers, and peers, and do not treat work as a burden. Effective organization management leads to a peaceful and positive ambience on the field and within the organization. I will be interested, as you may be, to see the schemes and formations of the offense and defense. Getting to know the new coaches and watch them at work will be fun. It is always stimulating to meet players, see them perform, develop, and grow through their careers. Most everything will be new in 2022 Ducks Football. Coach Lanning has had a wonderful and successful early career as a coach. I anticipate that the results and ranking of Oregon football through the coming years will have more to do with the Organizational Management by the Head Coach rather than the specifics of the “X’s and O’s” or the “Jimmy’s and Joes.” Can Dan do it?

Phillipina and Sedona play with such happiness, freedom, and joy. They both appear to genuinely enjoy basketball and their teammates. The best is yet to come for them and Oregon WBB. Franck Kepnang has similar enthusiasm with the men’s team.

According to WPTV, West Palm Beach reporting on the 2021 end of season polls rankings: "That leaves the state of Florida with no ranked teams, a rare occurrence in recent poll history. The last time it happened was in 2011, when the Sunshine State didn't have a single ranked team." It looks like the M&M's (Mirabal and Mario) have a challenge ahead of them.

Yes, let's hope so. Hope springs eternal. History has seen Rob caught with his pants down around his ankles and it's not been a pretty sight.

It may prove beneficial in the end to have slack (open slots) in the roster. The new coaches will have time to understand the players they inherited, assess needs, and find and attract the best fitting players to their schemes. I think we fans will be pleasantly surprised and optimistic by the revised roster when spring practice begins. Now, can the new coaches motivate, teach. and coach as a unified staff? September won't come fast enough.

The AD, Rob Mullens now, has a responsibility to keep his hand on the pulse and manage continuity of the coaches in the football program. As football is the revenue-driver of UO sports, then his attention on football coaches must be high and constant. Rob Mullens has been caught short a few times. The environment of football coaches and their contracts has changed. RM needs to get ahead of the game.

DanLDuck

UO v OU is an epic and anticipated matchup anytime. Slotted in TV prime time on a slow sports night the game will be watched coast to coast. What better time is there for the Ducks to prove that the win over the Buckeyes in the Shoe was deserved? I would like to see the O-line push the Oklahoma defense with Dye passing 150 yards rushing and Cardwell adding 100 more. It will be great if the defense can plug the LOS and play a pressing pass defense taking away the first six yards that the Ducks opponents feasted on throughout the season. No guts no glory. No balls no blue chips. Go Ducks.

Thanks, Jon, for writing the sad story that encapsulates the management foibles of the leaders of the PAC. The PAC-12 has dug itself into the proverbial hole. Along with those you called out by name, I would further place responsibility on the university presidents who failed to protect and increase the present and future value of the asset of “college football” and the brand of the PAC-12 and its predecessors. As only three strikes are allowed, the management “misses” of the administrators should be afforded foul ball status at the least.

Like a breath of fresh air. Optimism returns. The elements detailed by Coach Boles have been sorely absent from the.Duck’s recent offenses. Two back sets, counter plays (Mr. FishDuck will be happy}, under center snaps, and more up tempo snaps will add variety to the offense and challenge defenses. I’ve been a fan of Coach Norvell at both Tulsa and Memphis. If Oregon’s offense migrates to Norvell’s schemes under Coach Dillingham, then Oregon’s offense should roll again. Coach Joe Moorhead’s tenure as OC began with optimism based on his notable track record. The offenses under Moorhead turned out to be unimaginative, mundane, and disappointing overall, uncharacteristic of Modern day Ducks football. Go Ducks.

Graduate transfer for his next act. He has coached the Patriots and now the Bucs - next the Ducks?

Tom?

Mullens got juked by Mario who ran by him and scored. Mullens failed by not having a contract signed at least 30 days before early signing. He blew it by not having advanced contingency actions underway for the "what if" scenarios. Is this his Strike 2. Strike 3, or just another foul ball? This hire must be a home run. Excellence? Or mediocrity? And, oh by the way, the next HC needs to be strong, admired, connected, and respected enough to bring a great OC, DC, and staff along quickly.

From Duck Territory: I am astounded at Rob Mullen's floundering slow progress in replacing his key employee, the Head Coach for Football.My shock and amazement is amplified with his history of being unprepared when the last coaches turned over.An executive supervising division managers typically continually prepares for key employee turnover.AD Mullens should always have a short-list of best HC candidates watching their performance, contract status, and family news shuffling the list to always have 4-5 viable and desirable prospects (who would likely take the position if offered) for head, and have been grooming his relationship with each.A rapid hire is not always required and the process can sometimes be more leisurely. In some cases, such as the current Head Coach vacancy, moving quickly is valuable and necessary.Was Rob Mullens adequately prepared for Cristobal to bolt? Did he read the tea leaves two weeks ago and begin hitting up agents, warming up his top prospects indirectly, etc.? Or, was AD Mullens caught napping with his pants down?I certainly don't have the answer. but it looks like a Duck and walks like a Duck. Again.

Mycah knew/knows something. He wouldn't have known MC was bailing. That's too far above his pay grade. What did he know? He was rarely targeted with a thrown ball. Often passes were ill- timed or off the mark. The offense was ineffective without a passing game. His role was all exercise and risk without corresponding rewards. The coaches were stubborn and resisting change. All of the WR. TE's, and RB's must have known the same. The fans saw it from miles away. Mycah went away. That's in the past. The future is new and bright. Go Ducks. Go QB's and receivers. You have uffered enough.

The regular season is nearing its end. For the Ducks, “Just win, Baby”! Do that and let the chips fall (sic) where they may. Don’t win - don’t qualify.

Run Utah into the ground. Stop the Ute's passing game and QB scrambles. This feels like a Duck Day to me.

Flashy no. Balanced? A passing threat? More yards on offense? More PPG? All that added to more rushing yards. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Thanks David for sharing your thoughts. The "is Becoming" within your Title suggests the future. I sure hope for a more watchable offense in Oregon's future. I wince more than applaud during most games. "It's not easy being green" said Kermit the frog. But, I'm happy for the wins, and proud of the foundation and substance of Oregon Football. Hopefully, better days on the offense will dawn ahead. Go Ducks. Go David.