Notalot

The women often right based on their track records. Thanks.

During the shuffle of Head Coaches this week, like many of you, I consumed a great amount of college football media and social media. As reference points for me, I have lived thirty-five miles from Clemson University for 13 years. I was born in Eugene and attended UO, but I had become a Ducks fan earlier during my first football game at Hayward Field in 1960. I am passionate for and dedicated to Oregon sports. The area in which I live is populated by fans dedicated to Clemson Football. There was great national, regional, and local attention, speculation, and conversations last week about Clemson and Dabo Swinney. There was more attention this week than I’ve ever before seen in this region on the Oregon Ducks and Dan Lanning. Coach Lanning is highly respected, and has shed a glow and spotlight on Oregon for the first time in the Southeast. Dabo became Clemson’s HC in 2008. He led Clemson teams to twelve consecutive seasons with 12 or more wins, including two with 14 wins and one with 15 wins. Clemson won two national championships with Dabo at the helm. The Swinney’s have created and oversee a large charitable foundation supporting breast cancer which Kathleen herself battled and beat. Mrs. Swinney owns several successful businesses. The Swinney’s have raised their children in Clemson. The Swinney’s are local legends and will leave a legacy in Clemson, at Clemson University and across the Southeast U.S. sports world. Clemson football struggled this year into the middle of the season. It had a first time starting QB. The team suffered injuries early in the season. The team was bit by the turnover bug and led the nation in give-aways at one point. Even with Dabo Swinney’s stellar record, national championships, and celebrity upstate South Carolina status many fans quickly turned against him. Social media and talk radio blazed with criticism and second guessing of Dabo. It was apparent that Dabo was hurt by the turn of fickle fans. Dabo Swinney grew up in Alabama. He played football and graduated from the University of Alabama. Nick Saban was his coaching colleague and friend. If ever there was a job that he could leave Clemson for it would have conceivably been Head Coach at Alabama. When it most seemed that he might leave Clemson the fan base was appalled and fearful. Some of the same crowd that was ready mid season to run him out of town were championing him as the GOAT of Clemson football coaching. Dabo is entrenched and loyal to Clemson, but as he considered the Alabama position he must have felt the sting from cheap shots over the season. Dabo is tough, but human. I’ve thought a lot about loyalty and priorities this week. I remembered bad decisions made in my own life and some others by friends and colleagues. I thought about these two great men, their staffs, families, friends, and fans. Dan Lanning openly shared about his priorities and motivators. He loves his family and takes the responsibilities of fatherhood very seriously. Lanning has smelled the roses of Oregon, the UO, and his position. Lanning declared his loyalty and expressed his desire to continue to be a key cog in the University of Oregon’s sports program (sic). As fans, we must remember Dan Lanning’s loyalty and his humanism in the future. When a game is lost it is important to be humble and respectful, and not cut down players, play calls, coaches with harsh and disrespectful taunts within the stadium or on social media. Dabo could easily have left for Alabama after surveying the disrespect and drama he endured. A lesser man may have left with a “touché”. He didn’t. Coach Lanning will build a football monster. He will likely coach more big wins than any Oregon coach before him. Big wins over ranked and highly ranked opponents. As Ducks fans let us give Lanning respect and space. I would hate for him to ever feel the rub of disappointment that Dabo wrestled with. Going forward, I am expecting the day when a playoff or OOC game includes Oregon Ducks versus Clemson Tigers. Daniel against Dabo.

247 reports that Lanning is remaining a Duck, and he reported being home when CBS Sports said he was in Tuscaloosa. "I have lived in eight different states. I'm tired of moving, right? You've got to change, like, license and all that stuff, all the time. It's not fun and probably even less fun for my wife. So we love Oregon. It's been everything that we wanted. We get to coach great players and be around great people, and it makes a lot of sense for us." Lanning

Most fun: Bucky n Tez Most valuable: Bo/JPJ

TEZTASTIC news! He supercharges the offense. Tez is a Swiss Army knife that can slice defenses apart. Tez makes every game more exciting than it would be without him. Go Ducks.

If I was a big man there are places I would rather play than 5328 feet elevation Boulder, CO. GASP😬

JPJ is an amazing leader, athlete, an example that perseverance can result in excellence. JPJ has overcome so many obstacles and injuries to excel in his craft. Who knows what a “real man of Oregon” is, but From my perspective he is one. We are blessed as fans to have had JPJ and Bo Nix together in the same teams as heroes on and off the field. It will be interesting to see them move through the next phases of their lives. I wish them well and thank them for their contributions to the University of Oregon and Oregon Football.

This good news that you will be writing featured articles again for FishDuck.com.keep the facts and humor coming, Jon. And oh..in News local to you (South Carolina), have you noticed that Beamer has as many in the Portal as in his 2024 inbound class of recruits? Keep your eyes on Nyck Harbor. He may yet become a Duck some day.

End of 1st Half gasp, tho any Ducks TD is good.

Ducks 42-21 2 TO 2 TFL 337 YP

HOGWASH! The Ducks control their own destiny. Win out and thru the playoffs to become national champions. That’s it. Anything less is great season, but short of the target. The Ducks continue to improve.

Not on Dan Lanning’s watch with Stein and Lupoi directing the charges. 6 TD’s by halftime? The D pitching a shutout!

Ducks 45-28 2 turnovers 3 sacks 328 pass yds

This year’s Ducks are laden with talented receivers who get better every game. The best is yet to come. Franklin and Tez are fast and can shake and bake through heavy traffic. They are good with the ball, blocking, and can catch contested balls due to superb balance, hang time, focus and strong hands. This team is deep. The backs can catch and run after contact. The tight ends led by Ferguson, Herbert, and Sadiq are great talents. WR’s are deep with six or more who have contributed and play at a high level. I am not disputing Ryan’s synopsis, and add that there are many more capable receivers, TE’s, and RB’s. The receiving corps is very good and getting better. It is a reliable group who can create first downs, cross the middle and stretch the field. Go Ducks! Beat Trojans!

Just win (out) Baby!

Yesterday was a glorious day despite the rain in Autzen. I was with my daughter in Death Valley in Clemson, SC watching the Tigers rebound to pounce on the Irish. Fyi, it was in full fall color, sunny, blue skies and low 70’s. I was there with 81,500 of my closest friends. With the timing of the games and a 12 Noon kickoff at Clemson, following the game we stopped for a quick dinner at Twin Peaks with its 50+ TV’s all airing football, and arrived home in Greenville as the Oregon game kicked off at 5:30 local time. What a game! It had explosive plays, takeaway's, amazing catches, long runs, scatback dodging runs, spills, big hits, mistakes all resulting in a statement win with many players contributing. Oh man - I love Ducks football Saturdays. It doesn’t get any better and I’ll take memories of yesterday to my grave. The weekend two years ago in Columbus with the win in the Horseshoe at The Ohio State University, also spent with my daughter, comes in a close second to yesterday.

Charles spelled out the “x’s” and “o’s” with strategies used versus Utah. Failing to exploit the middle of the field had been a shortcoming of the Duck’s offense before this game. That tendency resulted in greater pressures in the rush and on the margins for the wideouts. The offense is functioning at a higher level now, and is a greater threat to defenders. Bo Nix is a pro at reading the defenses and calmly dissects them. With the protection he gets from the OLine, he mostly has time to do his job, or, he is improved at side-stepping and avoiding tacklers inside the box, and he is a capable runner when lanes open to him. Go Bo.

Winning big games results in signing more big players. Congratulations coaches and fans. Go Ducks!!

Utah and the Trojans will present challenges in different perspectives. The toughest game left in my view will be against the Beavers. They are an excellent team that is fast with strong lines. They play well together and their coach is one of the best and understands the importance of this game to Beaver nation. The Beavers will have skill plus some tricks up their sleeve. The Beavers will leave their guts on the field. As of now, I’m not sure that the Ducks have the same or more constitution than the Beavs. If the Ducks find the fortitude to win against Utah, it will be a step forward toward beating the Beavers, and getting into the playoff. The talent and depth are there, but is the fire?

DUCKS 45-31 2 2 341

If we think that “Oregon”, “Ducks”, fun creative offenses, cutting edge swag, uniforms, in-game fan experiences and traditions have made UO a national brand Charles is correct that the audience and fan base should explode with superior distribution. How much it expands will depend on how competitive the football team is and how consistently it is ranked inside the Top Ten, plus whether Oregon wins one or more national championship titles during the next five years. Some other factors that may affect the audience volume and popularity are, in no particular order: - What Dan Lanning’s image on the national stage becomes - Whether the Ducks have Star players on their rosters who are locks for NFL careers - Whether UO, Ducks Football, players and staff will avoid scandal - and many other influencing factors 40% lift within five years?

Thanks for pointing this out and providing support for the premise so easy to understand.

I batted against Russ pitching for PH in MidState Summer league. So, Baseball too.

Sad, but it happens. Wishing him best luck and full recovery. I also thank him for his hard work and contributions made to the flock.

It will depend game by game on what the opposing defense gives to our Ducks. This year’s Ducks football has a highly talented and deep receiver corps coupled with a top 5 nationally Running Backs group. As the season progresses some games will rely primarily on rushing while other games will be won by the receivers. Balance is beautiful. I fully expect big plays periodically by the special teams, too. This will be something not seen in recent seasons.