HappyToBeADuck

Fun stuff to ponder and some great thoughts and comments from the OBDF's posters. For me, i rarely focus on the TOP 25 because its biased and subjective. What i do focus on is the PAC and its members. So much has to take place and so many things have to happen for a team to win 10 games. Its a solid accomplishment not always achieved. I think 3 PAC teams have a shot at 11-1 and a PAC title game appearance. Its a long shot with the depth of talent in the PAC...... usc, uw and our Ducks are the 3 top teams for talent. Utah, ucla and the beavs will be tough outs but may lack the depth to run this gaunlet. So it doesnt matter where you are ranked now. Where u r ranked after the conference title games is what matters. Penix, Williams and Bo have enough fire power on board to get the job done. The team with the best D play will win the PAC. I see Oregon beating usc, usc beating uw and uw besting our Ducks in an epic game off the lake. All 3 have the talent to go 11-1. Dont know how the tie breaker will work out. But at least one 11-1 team will be playing in the Alamo Bowl. I hope that team will be usc and that the Ducks vs huskies play for the title. Winner to the CFP and loser to a New Years 6 Bowl. The winning teams QB should be in New York with a shot at the Heisman. It will be a great season for the PAC. GO DUCKS!

Charles, thanks for your honest evaluation of the Spring game and the players involved. Your assessment was spot on..... Both D units made it difficult for the offense to put points on the board. Up front pressure and tight coverage were on display. For me, it was difficult to tell how the best offensive lineman were split amongst both units. Both front sevens took advantage of any opportunities inexperienced players provided. As for Ty Thompson, he showed improvement in a number of phases. Is that improvement enough to lead the Ducks to 10 wins if he was the starter? I suppose if DL and Stein bring in a QB thru the portal then we will have the coaches answer that question. Would have liked to have seen more play or any play from all the QB's. Lightning can strike at any time on the football field.......having multiple back up options would be nice. GO Ducks.........

Charles, you are correct. There is alot to digest from a small sample size. 1. Open field tackling is much improved. Both units made solid, one on one, openfield tackles. Very promising....... 2. TT has improved his pocket presense. Improved his reads and progressions, except when it was an obvious situation. Then he locked on to just one receiver. Solid on his long throws. 3. Dez has a 2nd and 3rd gear in the open field. PAC D coordinators may not have an answer. 4. Everything on both sides of the ball was fairly generic. However, both D units stuffed the run games. 5. Many positives and many negatives. Young receivers dropped on the money passes. 6. 2nd year D players appeared to understand DL's schemes better. Loved it all, good or bad, because its actual real football. With Top 10 talent on the field. GO DUCKS........

Thanls for sharing your heartfelt feelings 81DuckAlum ....... This is truly a one of a kind forum. As humans, with flaws, from time to time we show or exercise poor judgement. It just happens..... But most of all, IMHO, this forum is a family, bound by a commonality in the love of the Oregon Ducks. Each of us bring something special to the forum. Free to express our feelings, opinions and passions. Free to agree or politely disagree with what is presented. With respect toward each other the foundation or core of the OBDF. Charles has created something special for us to mutually share. The Ducks just make it better.

Alex, thanks for this article and a great take on what you are looking for from OBD's in this spring game. My eyes will be focused in the trenchs........ On offense, it starts with the oline. Can this unit jell together to provide the pass blocking needed for Bo to be the best Bo? Can those big boys up front run block at the first and second level so Bucky can be the best Bucky? Can the Oline jell and show us that they can build and grow together and dominate at a CFP level? On defense can the front seven create chaos and cause disruption? Can they get to the QB? Even though its just an April spring game can and will we see front seven improvememt? For me, the play in the trenches will determine the 2023 outcome for the Ducks. The Oline has some big shoes to fill and the D front seven needs to put the letter D back in the Ducks Defense. I feel confident they can.......

It is going to be a great 2023. Should be some great games and must watch tv....... There is no room for losses in OOC games. The conference schedule will be brutal. A one loss survivor, boasting a 12-1 record after the PAC 12 title victory should be heading to the CFP. Hopefully the loser of the BIG and loser of the SEC title games will have 2 losses. Because a 12-1 Bama, Georgia, tOSU or Michigan could pose a problem for the PAC Champ. Let's hope the Ducks are that 12-1 PAC Champ. 13-0 would be a sure invite. The journey will be challenging for the PAC Champ. However, multiple high profile games against top 25 opponents will bode well for the PAC.....

P Duck thank you for posting the DiStepano article. This has valuable information that is worth pondering and discussing..... It is worth the read and putting 2 and 2 together. DiStepano VALIDATES that 1. No one has asked them to join the Big 12. 2. Colorado has no desire to join the Big 12. That just supports this Forum's consensus that those rumors, speculation and conjecture were just empty piles of BS...... The reason they had unnamed sources were because they had NO SOURCES. Just a waste of time. DiStepsno VALIDATES that 1. Colorado has a working plan to improve their football fortunes on the field. 2. They cleared the roadblocks that were crippling their transfer portal recruiting. 3. Colorado is committed to the PAC and to winning Championships Good for Colorado. Everyone in the PAC seems committed to building, investing and growing their brand and the PAC ... (Not sure about Cal, Stanford and WSU). Five teams will start the season in the Top 25. The 2023 football season will be awesome. The carnage and cannibalism will be brutal. Their will be at least 2 PAC teams again playing in New Years Six Bowls Thats worth pondering..... When the new BIG commissioner publicly announces the invite to the BIG for any PAC teams then I will believe it. How people, who are not in the room, can make these BS, unfounded statements is beyond me. The new BIG commisdioner works for the BIG Presidents and Chancellors. I dont have the articles but last July and August a few of those Presidents said they did not want to be responsible for destroying the PAC. Until they say different then anything else published is more BS ........ One final note, in football UCLA will become irrelevant once joining the BIG. This move is a big mistake for the Bruins. If they had stayed in the PAC they would have brought about $10 million annual per school in media rights. The PAC would have been in the low $40 million per year range in media rights money. By the rime the Bruins pay annual travel expenses for all sports ($10-$15 million per year, I have read this on Athlon and SI articles) they will net between $45-$50 million a year. What did they gain? Tired and exhausted athletes transferring to PAC schools. And they will lose the SoCal recruiting wars to usuck and the Ducks. And open the doors for SDSU. Go Ducks.

Personally the PAC needs fresh blood and a new look. SMU, SDSU and maybe 2 other invites could help stretch the PAC foot print and the adjoining exposure. A Beaver- Tulane or husky-Mustang kickoff at 1 pm Central means PAC football at 11 am on a Saturday.would be refreshing from this fans perspective. Friday PAC after Dark could kick off with SDSU at SMU at 8 central, 9 eastern and 6 pacific. More people awake to watch. Of course this type of thinking may be out of the box for our uppitty, academic genuis presidents. An invite to the BIG would also provide a new look and fresh blood. However, the road to the CFP would be be more difficult. The journey thru tOSU, Michigan, PSU, USC and any fluke season by an upstart BIG 2nd tier team could seriously dampen a CFP invite. The CFP invite and 2 potential games will net 40-60 million dollars. PAC participants should reap the lions share of the revenue. For example; lets say the Ducks invite is 5 thru 12. So they win the first game to get into the final eight. Win game 2 and reach the final four. With that victory OBD's earn a 3rd game Now we are in the $60-90 million range. Make the NATTY and win or lose the Ducks are in the $80 to $120 million range. The CFP invite is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The money could be more. Every game will be watched by most all college football fans. So ask yourself if adding SDSU and SMU, thus keeping the PAC together gives OBD's a better chance at the CFP? Or should we try and go thru the top end of the BIG and usc? ??????????

Injuries would be a main concern no matter who the Ducks played Local, linear tv or ESPN could payvto televise. Advertisers would certainly participate. NIL sponsors could promote their products via their signed athletes. Cover PSU expenses and split tge rest 50/50. A big boost to both athletic departments . I agree with Charles and others that we play the big boys in the playoffs. I would go one step further and say no P-5 teams. Just FCS. Fun idea ro ponder......

Darren there certainly are many factors that go into the determination of a Heisman. And all but one are out of the eventual winners hand. The eventual winner controls how well they perform week in and week out. A QB winner can lead his team but he has no control over whether a lineman misses a block and a strip fumble occurs. Or a defense that cant make a stop in a crucial game that allows a bitter rival to beat you. Thus knocking you out of the titke game. Or the OC that calls plays that get you injured. So much has to go right and fall into place. IMHO, OBD's need at a minimum a 12-1 season and a CFP invite in order for Bo to be considered. 13-0 would be best. A victory over usc and williams is a must....... The season and difficult back end of the schedule set Bo up for a heroes finish. Go Ducks......Go Bo........

Thanks Charles for the article. Will be fun to get a glimpse of this offense during the spring game. Hoping to see the fun continue with a powerful ground game wearing down our opponents and some back breaking bombs for TD's Also hoping for some back breaking sacks by our front seven. Go Ducks.........

If PAC fans pay to watch their favorite team via a streaming service then that could be the beginning of the end for hugh linear media rights contracts. Jon Joseph is correct that ESPN wants to and will move games from the SEC and ACC into ESPN+ Streaming........ WHY? If the fans of the weakest Power 5 conference will pay a monthly fee to stream their favorite college team then the sports crazed SEC and ACC fans will pay, too. ESPN/Disney need to recapture subscribers who have cut the chord and moved to streaming. Why fight it when you just provide content they want. Its good business. 5 of my sports crazy grandchildren (all in their 20's) do not have cable. They pay for and stream what they want to view. Thst is the world my greatgrandkids are growing up in. The future is already upon us and the PAC is the test case. I will pay to watch the PAC and of course the Ducks. Some wont and some will! The PAC Network didnt have the forward thinking to move into streaming. Perhaps they could have found investors to build a streaming platform and told the oyhers to whizz off. All though Its hard to lead when the dirt has already been thrown on your grave.

The only media deal will hopefully be the right deal for all the PAC members. Whether its the PAC 10, 12 or 16! The right media deal! The more media partners the more inventory necessary. That means more members. I feel confident that this is a complicated negotiation. So patience will be necessary. ESPN, Amazon and Apple will want whats best for them. The PAC will want whats best for them. And ultimately the lawyers will tell them what they can get. If i was representing the networks, i would have serious concerns that the PAC doesnt have enough quality games to fill everyones needs. It may be the elephant in the room.

IMHO, its important that usc, uw and the beavers do their part and win all their OOC games. Then win in early to mid October so the late October/November games are high profile events. However, victories by Utah over Florida and Baylor in September are critical to raising not only the conference perception but elevating Utahs SOS. There will be no BO Heisman without a Duck victory on the road against the Utes. Gonna be a fun ride watching OBD's In 2023. Go Ducks - Go Bo!

Congrats to SDSU Mens BB Team. Making the Elite 8, Final 4 and NCG is no small feat! That path has eluded numerous PAC mrmbers for decades. Well done......... There are so many quality reasons to invite SDSU, SMU and others into the PAC. There are 10 reasons, the Presidents, while they wont get an invite. The PAC is taking their time, hopefully to get the media deal and expansion right! Their previous track record for high, quality decision making leaves alot to be desired. What is obvious to many may not even matter to the 10 Presidents. From my life long business decision making experience here are a few of my steadfast rules: Dont think you are the smartest person in the room Dont think you are better than who you are dealing with. Be open minded and forward thinking. Put your self in the other persons shoes. But then again I dont have a college degree. So i could be wrong.

Anything positive that draws national attention to and for the PAC is welcome. Deon is a natural born lightning rod for attention. A,winning season in Colorado will demand attention from ALL the sports networks. No one will want to miss out on anything coming out of Deons mouth. And Deon will have plenty to say! A Duck vs Buffaloe PAC Title game in the next few seasons will raise the PAC profile, image and recruiting. Go Ducks and Go PAC...........

Personally, our Ducks and the huskies would be foolish and short sighted if they didnt accept an offer from the BIG. That's if they actually get an invite....... 5 years from now, usc, ucla, noryhwestern, maryland and rutgers could have $150 million more in the bank than any PAC member. That number could be much higher depending on what GK can or cannot put together. Rutgers or Maryland could afford to steal the best PAC coaches. Money talks. Coaches are for sale to the highest bidder in many cases. Recruiting could suffered without competitive linear exposure. Not in the short term. 8 to 10 years need to see OBD's in order to dream about them. I hate the idea of the PAC breaking up...... However, TV and money drive the football bus. Ask yourself do you want to be on the bus or watching the bus drive right by? Dont worrry Duck fans, the presidents have watched alot of buses drive by the last 10 years...

As mentioned before, none of us, including sports writers, bloggers and fools know any facts. Just the people in the room. The negotiators, lawyers, GK and the Presidents. Perhaps there are no leaks because there is no news to leak. If a school President says there is no imminent deal, well, i believe him. i feel confident that OBD's will be playing football games in September of 2024 in Autzen. What linear channel or streaming channel they will be on will be determined. What conference they may be in will be determined.And i certainly have no say in those decisions. I only control being a Duck fan. And getting to discuss all this info or disinfo on this great Forum. And DL, his staff anf players will determine the outcome on the field. GO Ducks.........

Other than the concern over poor usc and ucla having to travel so much, how has anything changed in regards to UO and UW Going to the BIG? The BIG didn't want the schools because they didn't bring enough value. They didnt move the meter in July, so how do they move the meter now? Some of the BIG presidents expressed concern that they didnt want to destroy another conference completely. Have they changed their minds? tOSU and USC will vote no on the invite. The Ducks currently dominate usc and tOSU doesnt want a legitimate challenger. It's bad enough that Michigan has won 2 in a row. tOSU will not want to come to Autzen. The conference is 2 legit teams and 12 wannabees. With 2 more wannabees set to join. The Ducks are a legit athletic department that will challenge on many fronts. If the,SEC makes a move, in some fashion for Clemson and FSU thrn the BIG may counter with UO and uw. But what do I know?

Great question and welcome to the Forum! If the PAC ends up with more streaming games than linear then these would be my preferences. 1. Go to an 8 game conference schedule. 2. Schedule home and homes with P5 opponents that get OBD's on national linear tv. This can be done without scheduling Bama, The Real Dawgs and tOSU. We need the exposure and should schedule opponents ranked 5 thru 20. 3. However, if winning the PAC gets us into the expanded playoff then schedule the big dogs, too. As long as the money is $5 million plus,and we dont have to share the revenue. Actually all PAC teams shouldn't have to share revenue for non conference games. 4. Every school for itself and stay in the PAC. Its home.........

The unit payouts for each game played in the NCAA can provide much needed annual cash for conferences and their members. Certain members of the PAC seem to be content with "receiving the money" and doing very little to build their programs to bring in the money. With ucla and usc leaving that reduces future units that they would have produced for the PAC, especially ucla, for years to come. All revenue matters! Bringing in SDSU will help because they make the dance often. At least more often than Cal or WSU for example. Hopefully, the PAC can bring in Gonzaga for basketball. They are an annual dancer and usually play 3 games. An excellent replacement for ucla.

Joshua, you are so correct that anything less than significant improvement should be cause for major concern. This fan has never expected the Duck defense to be like the 2021 Georgia defense. If my memory is correct they had 8 players drafted by the NFL. Oregon's talent and depth of talent does not measure to that level. However, thats okay! But the Duck D unit had enough talent and experience to not allow the Beavers to dominate the last 20 minutes of clock in the Civil War game. The players looked lost or didnt care. 12 games into the season and they couldnt make a stop? With a trip to the PAC title game on the line? GEEZ! This Duck fan is excited about the new transfer players and incoming freshmen that DL and staff have assembled. The talent level may be the best in the PAC. To me the staff must improve on player development or I will be concerned. The players need to learn the scheme and jell as a unit. Then bring energy and pride to the field. GO DUCKS.........

It's always difficult to know another persons agenda or end game. They can look you in the eye, shake your hand and on the surface lead you to believe that you have an agreement. As humans we tend to believe people will be true to their word. 2 good examples would be the BIG commish agreeing that neither the ACC, PAC 12 or BIG would poach any teams from their respective conferences. Or anytime the USC President opened her mouth. We know how well the words of assuances or hand shakes turned out. My Mom would have simply said they were liars and should not be trusted. As for some sports writers, podcasters and influencers, well to validate their existence, they must say or write something. Their are no consequemces to their BS they peddle. Doesn't matter who they hurt, demean or mislead. They just want clicks. They dont want respect. They want clicks. The more outrageous the statement the more clicks. We have choices to believe them or not believe them. Not once have these BS click bait artists named a source that was in the room. Evidently the greatest source is an unnamed source. I think we all know what my mom would say about these click bait clowns......

For discussion's sake let's say that the BIG begins negotiations for Oregon and Washington....... Why not invite Stanford and Cal, too? This reduces teams traveling east for both the BIG and FOX's prize, the sacred cow that is usc. This creates a more diverse After Dark Friday and Satutday football games for FOX to offer. This move would shut out ESPN, the world wide leader in sports from west coast sports. FOX would control the LA, Bay Area, Portland and Seattle media markets. Shutting out and damaging a rival? This fits FOX And USC's mission statement perfectly. Now potentially, ESPN would have to raise their offer to the PAC into the $50 million per school range. Or vacate big time west coast sports. Then ESPN could broadcast the revised MWC for way less money. Maybe in the $10 million per school range. This fits the new ESPN/ABC mission statement, too. Cheap, get them cheap. There will be only one winner in all of this mess, FOX/BIG.

JJ, that was a powerful post. Thanks for a well qualified and detailed explanation. One of the questions I have: In figuring potential damages to the remaining 9 schools (Cal may be out of equation because the Board of Trustees okayed UCLA to leave) do they need to wait until the final media rights offers are in? Then assess danages. Another question: If WSU and OSU get left behind and the PAC disbands, would they have potential standing ro sue all the other schools? Or just USC and UCLA. The lack of progress by GK leads me to believe we are looking at an unfavorable outcome.