HappyToBeADuck

If Butterfield is 3rd on the depth chart after spring ball, I would look for him to transfer. Depending on how close he is to getting his degree may alter his time table. JB committed to Oregon in May of 2019. He took no other visits. He wanted to be a Duck. Not sure of his enrollment date but he should have put a dent in his credits toward a degree. When he came to Oregon he was listed at 6'6" and 180 pounds. 2020 season did not count against his eligibility. Assuming he takes 2021 as a redshirt year, then he hits the field in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. With 4 years eligibility left. He was listed in 2021 as 6'6" and 218 pounds. Another 12 pounds and the boy who enrolled will now have his man body. NFL man body. Once he garners his degree he could move on to a NIL deal and a coaching staff who wants give him playing time. Good for Jay and others who have this opportunity before them. Or he could earn his field time and remain a Duck.

Most everything we read or hear coming out of the USC hype machine should be taken with a grain of salt. As usual, even before the National signing day has arrived the USC faithful, ESPN and the Socal media have awarded the PAC title to the Trojans. Been there, heard that and yet see them rebuild their dynasty. Trojan fans should be excited at the off field developments. Riley is potentially a step up. But you still have to develop players and coach against Shaw, Whittington and others. Look at the talent our previous coach and his staff brought to Oregon. Yet did the Ducks make it to the CFP? A All Star cast has to prove it on the field at a near perfect level. Should the Trojans make it to the CFP then it's good for the PAC. Oregon will just have to step it up. Both teams need to be 12-0 or 11-1 when they meet in the PAC title game. Stop all the talk and posturing. Get it done on the field. That's goes for both teams.

Had to read that article 3 times to wrap my head around all the complexity of issues. Ever have a bully on the play ground settle an issue? It often ended bloody...... In 7th and 8th grade we had a big athletic bully backed by twin brothers, Twins were 1 year younger. For almost 2 years, no one stood up to them. They picked on everyone and recess was dreaded. Occasionally somebody would challenge them. It did not end well. The collective group would not stand up to them. One day, the bully was picking on, name calling and embarrassing a very sweet, shy girl. All of us, except the bully had been together since kindergarten or 1st grade. We were all friends. Bully showed up in 7th grade and had no friends. As tears rolled down her cheeks, I foolishly told the bully to stop. I told everyone to stop picking on her. She was a friend and I wanted this to stop! Immediately, the bully stepped into me and I did not even reach his shoulders. Was about to get the beating of my life. Just after the first blow landed on most of my face, to my surprise, 3 of my friends attacked the bully. As the twins moved into the frey, they were met by the rest of the 8th grade class. It was over quickly. The play ground changed because the group stood up to the bully. Will the group stand up to the bully (Sankey and SEC)? Not a chance this will happen! It's going to be bloody and the bully will have his way......... That article makes it clear that change is going to happen. Their are pros and cons but the bully holds all the cards. From all my 43 years in business I assure you that the PAC'S decision to not merge with with BIG12 will be detrimental in this process. One conference, 20 schools with a common cause to negotiate their collective interests. No amount of West Coast academic ignorance is going to stop this bully.

The NIL could play a big part in his decision. Family, girl friends, friends and social media will also be a part of the decision. Teammates....... Coaches? Yes the coaches will matter. Where will he get the best preparation for an NFL career. Which coaches the last 3 years put the most players in the NFL? My view would be slanted to Oregon. Homer for sure. Personally both schools have alot to offer this young man.

Jon, I read an article in the San Jose Mercury News that the networks would want to reduce the payouts for any reduction in conference match ups. Unless the PAC replaces those games with P-5 OOC match ups. Makes sense from their perspective. Oregon/Utah is a better ROI than Oregon/Portland State. The article mentioned that the PAC was trying to get the BIG to roll back to an 8 game schedule. Then those 2 conferences could play each other in a better quality OOC game. I think the article was by Wilner. Don't know if it's conjecture or real time discussions. However, if the PAC had expanded to 14 teams to match the BIG, then the decision could have been easier. The execution seamless. Zero forward thinking by PAC Presidents to be better positioned for the changing landscape. The networks would prefer a MSU/UCLA game to broadcast over Colorado/Arizona. Bottom line, the Networks are okay with changes during their current agreements with the PAC. They just want P-5/P-5 match ups not P-5/FCS. Only the SEC gets that privilege.

Fact of the matter is since mid nineties, Ducks have a had better coaches, better continuity and have butt whipped the whiners. Fact, the Ducks have better facilities, better doners and maybe even better whiners. Fact, better players. Scoreboard counts you butt sniffing, toilet drinking, academic ignorant.......... Fact this forum rocks..........

If I was the Commissioner of the BIG12, I would poach 4 to 6 teams from the PAC. Just because the genius, acacademic brain trust of the PAC didn't want expansion doesn't mean the BIG 12 or BIG don't want too. West coast eye balls are leverage to a Midwest/Texas conference in negotiations.

Great thought out article Jon. Lots to digest, ponder and discuss. To me it boils down to Academics, Athletics, forward thinking and leverage. Without to much thought on this, in order to protect all of a school's athletic student athletes (Title 9) IT TAKES MONEY. Plain and simple money. The PAC presidents made it clear that the conference members must have enough money and can stand pat on expansion. Real forward thinking by the conference presidents? Academic arrogance the cousin of academic ignorance. Expansion into Texas and Midwest opens up about 50 million more legitimate eyeballs. When negotiating with networks those eyeballs would represent leverage. Maybe a Baylor/Oregon matchup wouldn't interest some on this forum. But the networks would pay for it. In Texas, football is king. The stadium would be full and the television turned on. Utah/Texas Tech, USC/OSU, UCLA/ IOWA STATE would sell to the networks. Not all match ups would be compelling with expansion. IMHO, very few PAC games are compelling. A 18-20 team conference would be better leverage for the future. The future of college athletics is here now and changing daily. The only leverage the PAC truly has is after dark games. In business terms, because I rarely watch them then why would I pay big money for them. Jon, keep it up, your voice makes some sense amidst the chaos.

Thanks Annie for posting the rankings. Once the Ducks and Trojans fill our their class they should move into the top 20 Besides its not how many you recruit but who you recruit that matters. Any needs can and should be filled via the portal Next few weeks will bring a big shuffling of those rankings.

Denver Duck, welcome. Look forward to your comments and posts. I love this forum and the Ducks. My concern is my recurring dream where the Ducks lose 1 game against a lesser opponent almost every year. This happens to all schools except the top CFP contenders. You cannot lose to the teams you should beat and expect to be in the CFP. Recruiting classes ranked 10-25 will not be making it to the CFP. Couple that with some insane scheduling and the goal gets even tougher. I believe Coach Lanning has the potential to be a great coach. Time will tell.........

I agree with Charles that we should count our blessings if we win 10 games next season. 10-2 is possible but 8-4 is definitely in play. As we all know the right talent coached properly can overcome alot in the weak PAC. As Jon mentioned WSU and Arizona create some problems. Especially on the road. That schedule is demanding and requires A plus energy from coaches and players. With the portal in play predictions and forecasts can change daily. Roster foundations are no longer poured in 3 or 4 year footers. The building blocks may be be quick fixes poured over quicksand. I hope Denver Duck is correct on 10-2. A win against Utah or USC in the P-12 Championships should put 11-2 Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl. Just a side note: Why and I mean why does the f. Fool who makes this schedule have the 2 top teams (Utah and Oregon) playing late season? No chance for the loser to recover. Why does a conference that critically needs CFP appearances set up both teams to fail. WTH......

I could be way off base here so anyone please fact check me or correct my comment. One of the reasons for ESD was to get LOI's in so the players could register and enroll in early January. Thus participation in S and C and spring ball. A fair number of players are completing high school early and jumping right in. This is important to these young men and I would hate to see that get skewered Most of the ESD process accomplishes what the NCAA is all about. CHAOS....... David another well thought out and written article. So many parts moving in multiple directions. No leadership, no rudder, no rules. Just how the SEC likes it.

Toss up between Friday Night Lights and either Longest Yard movie.. Greatest sports movie? Another toss up between Slap Shot and The Sandlot. Hockey bus road trips following the Spokane Jets/Flyers into Cranbrook, Nelson and Trail BC rang true to the movie. Booze, babes, brawls and hockey in the late 60's and early 70's without the movie set.. Played neighborhood baseball, all day long in the summer in vacant fields in the late 50's and early 60's. it was simply the best of times.

Both coaches will have to be at the top of their respective games. And I mean all aspects of the coaching profession. I agree with Duckhart that Rileys bowl record and 2020 conference losses can't be ignored. No matter the level of opponents. Rileys defenses leave alot to be desired. Its one thing to inherit a P-5 Conference championship team.. It's another thing to build one.. He has work to do........ The Ducks lost to Iowa State, Utah twice and Oklahoma. As a fan I was concerned about our former HC 's ability in big games. Coach Lanning brings the bona fides that he can recruit and build a Natty Champion defense. Now can he build a staff and develop the players on both sides of the ball. He also has alot of work to do............ Utah has built a Championship Culture which is good. But the future of national relevance for the PAC lies with Oregon and USC. Here's to both young coaches and their absolute success. And remember the rest of the PAC members are waiting on their share of that future.

Jon, you make an excellent point that Oregon and USC need to be top ranked teams playing for P-12 Championship. Winner to CFP, loser to NY6 Bowl. Stop losing to teams you should beat and win your OOC games. True ROI only happens with a Natty. When Coach Lanning and staff guide these talented players to a CFP appearance then Oregon will be paying in the multi year $100 million figure to keep Coach Lanning. Who knows where that dollar amount goes for a National Championship Trophy. It will be a bidding war for certain. Can't wait.........

Coach Lanning was offered the Oregon HC position because of his proven ability to recruit and build a power house defense. So by all means, within the rules, recruit the players you have your relationships with. Just like the new HC at LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Washington and Miami will do.

Well I think that MaiTaiDuck really summed it up with these words, "every year with how CF is heading its Championship or bust every year now ". IMHO, Oregon has been in that mode since the turn of the century. For some of us old timers I mean this century (21st) not the turn of the last century (20th). In 2002, the 2nd ranked Ducks earned the right to play #1 ranked Miami. They qualified per the BCS guidelines. The TV Network wanted ratings so a very distant 3rd ranked Nebraska was chosen. Miami destroyed the Cornhuskers, the Ducks got........ The Dennis Dixon injury derailed the next BCS title run. That season that offense was unstoppable with DD at the helm. Of course we played in the BCS Natty in 2010. We were poised and positioned for other Natty's but Inexplicable losses sent us to other New Years bowls. Then the CFP annihilation of FSU and another Natty appearance in 2014. Possibly just one less loss against ASU and we are in the 2020 CFB. This century the Ducks football program has been in Championship or bust mode. Now the rules and landscape have changed. Will the program change within the rules to match the landscape? Every year, every team takes a chance on the character of their coaches and players. Grown men coaches double talk us and 18 year olds make mistakes and suffer the consequences of their actions. Thru all that the teams play to win. Only a handful of teams have any possibility of a CFP and Natty. Oregon has been and I hope will be one of the handful.

So much joy and happiness as the huskies continue their self imposed decline. Even better that others are noticing. No amount of barking, slobbering or butt sniffing will change this. I agree with noDucknewby, "Another 0-12 season would warm my heart"

Mario has 2 of the 3 key ingredients necessary to build a CFP participant. First, He is a outstanding recruiter who wins the kitchen table wars. Oregon's recruiting classes bear that out. He put talent on the field. Second, no one will out work him and his staff. He will put in the hours and make the sacrifices necessary to work toward achieving his goals. But as Miami fans and the drooling talking fools (ESPN) will discover he lacks the third key ingredient. He cannot coach or will not put a coaching staff together who can develop the players to their full potential. As a HC, he and his staff could not make in game adjustments or grasp game management procedures Or Mario simply over ruled those decisions. As a result, of poor coaching decisions, the last 4 seasons the Ducks lost games they should not have lost to. CFP teams don't lose those games. That will not change in Miami. Mario will win alot of games in the ACC. The conference is stacked with teams you should not lose to. However, Mario will find a way to lose one each year. Then the Miami fans can listen to his useless, coach speak pressers. He excels in that area for certain.......

It appeared to me as the cameras scanned both sidelines that many of those players had their man bodies. That was big men football on both lines of scrimmage. Utah had a number of upper classmen players with fully developed man bodies. The end result was what it should have been. And that's okay. Win or lose the young Ducks played 4 games on the big stage. Size, speed and experience matter. When our young ducks took off their helmets there were alot of baby faces on the sidelines. Next year those baby ducks should be bigger, stronger and faster. With big game experience. Sprinkle in a few leaders from the portal and let's get after it. Go Ducks. Big time football awaits in Georgia......

Thanks Charles for this first glimpse into Coach Lannings defensive schemes. Looking forward to many more articles. Exciting times ahead for Duck fans. Ian Miller painted a bleak picture of the talent and ability of the Bulldogs back 4 defensive players. The Ducks appear to have some NFL talent in those positions on the roster now. The Lanning emphasis appears to be driven by the front 7. Barring injury or the portal, the 2-5☆ linebackers you mentioned (Sewell and Flowe) could have All-American years. The returning Duck front 7 has talent and game experience. Another reason for excitement. If the Georgia staff apologized for not playing Bulldog football, it made me wonder. Did Smart over rule Lanning on the game plan? Or did Lanning sell Smart on that disastrous defensive game plan in SEC championship? Probably never know but if the proof is in the pudding, somebody is getting served tonight. Go Georgia D. The best reason for me to be excited is that once the Natty is over, Oregon has a full-time HC.

Structure with time tables for portal use might help. You could even set up basic equal monthly payments to players This is something within the NCAA and schools control. Some action might be possible once the lawyers hash it thru. Remember you could pay every player on your team $1,500 per month.bit the player has their NIL rights. 2 separate issues But no legislation by these forces are in play for NIL. This is between the player, who owns the rights to their NIL and whoever wants to buy those rights. Smart players whose parents lawyer up may have the ability to sell their NIL rights to multiple bidders. It's wide open.......

What will happen is the million dollar question. For the super talented they will get the million dollar answer and maybe much more. No real answers at this point. To early to tell. Some AD'S will lose their jobs if they don't get NILS lined up for next season. The leash just got shorter for coaches. If A & M boosters spent $30 million for a season then Jimbo is on the hot seat to bring a Natty to the trophy case. Right now hot....... Some schools won't do anything. Just ride out their current TV deals and then see where the landscape is at that time. The snapshot will be a full blown album of good and bad shortly. As a fan, I just wonder how many top 10 recruiting classes can Coach Lanning bring in without a solid NIL support system. I guess the term "never in my lifetime " is no longer applicable to paying college athletes.

I always root against Bama. Looking forward to see if Coach Lsnning can make the necessary adjustments to shut down the Bama offense. How does he handle a rematch opportunity? Not to dwell on the past but our previous staff did not make or could not make the necessary adjustments in the critical Utah rematch. With good coaching, returning talent and transfer portal their is a very good chance Utah and Oregon play twice next year. How Coach Lanning handles this high level opportunity is a snapshot for next year's potential rematch games. Even though I despise Bama and it's unrivaled success I admire Coach Sabans coaching performance. Player and Coach development is unrivaled anywhere. My wish and hope is that Coach Lanning can bring this results to Oregon.

Charles well considered posts in just a few words: "Very few teams out of the 120 D-1 programs can do this" Consider these few thoughts and look forward to all POV's. The beauty or ugly of the pay for play NIL is that the schools don't have to do this. All the AD has to do is grant license or invite the boosters, local/regional business or marketing firms to create the NIL opportunities. Granted not all booster bases are created equal. But the opportunities exist for the bold and creative. Look at Sanders at Jackson State, that's FCS level. My son even made this comment to consider. If our business model was big enough it would be worth it to NIL an entire conference. WTH...... Haven't had time to digest all of that statement. I am certain if my son had big tech money coupled with his football passion that he would follow thru with that idea. He would find a way to just do it. To be 35 again. The best thing the NCAA could do at this point is contact the FBS members and see who would want to join a different D-1 division. Create a commonality that would have rules and purpose with NIL included. Create a 32 team playoff with 85 scholarships per team. FCS model works pretty well. Gather and involve common sense boosters in the process. Whatever mistakes were previously made or are now unfolding then fix it. Be positive, creative, forward thinking and put the student athlete first. It sounds bad but in just a few weeks or months their will truly be the haves and have nots in football. Conferences and Presidents are going to have make business decisions. No amount of academic prowess will save this business model. Common sense and a good business plan.