Charles Fischer

Lovely, just lovely. So if one of the west coast teams make it--the fans are at a huge travel disadvantage? Hopefully it will not matter in the future, as I think conference championship games should be eliminated, now that we have a Playoff. (And that should go to 16 teams)

The article is locked if you have been to OregonLive a couple of times lately, but I have not been there in months...so it was free to me and to share... -------------------------------------------------------------- Oregon AD Rob Mullens says he ‘did worry’ Ducks could lose Dan Lanning to Alabama By Bill Oram | The Oregonian/OregonLive No matter how many times Dan Lanning has said he will not leave the Oregon Ducks for another job, dating back to his earliest days in Eugene all the way through a podcast interview last week, there will be people who worry that he could be lured away. And at no point in Lanning’s two years has there been a greater risk — perceived, at least — of Lanning bolting from Oregon than in January when Nick Saban retired and created a job opening at Alabama. At the top of the list of those who were concerned the young coach could bolt was his boss: Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. “I feel like part of my job is to worry,” Mullens told The Oregonian/OregonLive last week in a wide-ranging interview. “And so yes, I did worry.” That would be justifiable, considering the two coaches who preceded Lanning at Oregon, Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal, both made similar pledges before reversing course and leaving for other opportunities. Taggart went to Florida State in 2018 and Cristobal to Miami in 2021. Lanning did not make Mullens — or Ducks fans — wait long for a positive resolution. The 38-year-old announced the morning after Saban’s departure that he would not pursue the job, despite being widely viewed as the top candidate. Given the constant movement of college football coaches, and Lanning’s superstar trajectory, it was a moderately surprising development, and a resounding victory for Oregon in a world where coaches preaching loyalty are easier to find than those who practice it. “From the first time we interviewed Dan, to every private conversation I’ve had,” Mullens said, “it has been exactly what he says publicly. But I’m paid to worry.” Alabama eventually hired Lanning’s counterpart at rival Washington, Kalen DeBoer, to replace Saban. Lanning has repeatedly doubled down publicly on his commitment to Oregon, including after he signed a contract extension last fall with a $20 million buyout. He was linked to openings at Auburn and Texas A&M before quickly dismissing those. During the Ducks’ preparation for the Fiesta Bowl in January, Lanning said he expected Oregon to be his “final” job, something he reiterated last week in an interview with broadcast personality Bobby Bones. “Lucky for me, I found my last job,” Lanning said. Lanning is 22-5 in two seasons at Oregon, which is preparing for its first season in the Big Ten. The Ducks are seen as a likely candidate to open the season in the top five and a favorite for the expanded College Football Playoff. Come...to OREGON! The Ducks have brought in back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes, including a class ranked third in the country this year, according to rankings from 247 Sports. “Everybody knew when we hired him — particularly people in Athens, Georgia, because we did a lot of reference calls — knew that we are hiring an outstanding football coach,” Mullens said. “They knew that he gets connection, they knew that he builds quality relationships. And that he would build the kind of culture that would allow us to succeed at the highest level. And now we’re seeing it happen.”

Beavis...I would not expect you to understand... Right. You got bigger problems this fall...

This article was posted in another thread, but I think it deserves its own thread. Read it, and see if you agree with the reasoning? ------------------------------------------------------------------- For anyone who says Oregon did it for money and cared more about being a national — or global — brand than it did than scabbing together a diminished version of the Pac-12, well, yeah. “Particularly given that 85% of our student-athletes are out of state, our brand is extremely, extremely important,” Mullens said. “What are we going to do strategically to allow ourselves to compete with a 58,000-seat stadium against teams who have 102,000? You can do the simple math on that. “So we have to spend considerable time thinking strategically.” Bill Oram: At the Big Ten’s doorstep, Oregon AD Rob Mullens on the end of the Pac-12 and uncertainties ahead WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM Mullens believes Oregon "did everything we could" to save Pac-12, saying, "It wasn't possible."

I'm not sure that Deon has this D1 coaching thing down yet...

(From Jon Joseph originally) 2024 Big Ten Media Days: Storylines to watch in Indianapolis - On3 WWW.ON3.COM .

First of all, No. 18 is Purdue and while this was not all the B1G sportswriters, at least it is beyond the WAGs we have been getting from blog writers. These are writers behind the predictions are who actively cover their teams. If you’re wondering who voted: Cleveland.com picked up the responsibility for organizing the poll when the Big Ten dropped it 14 years ago. Beat writers from all 14 Big Ten teams were invited to participate, as were some who cover the entire league or have a national perspective. A total of 26 voters participated. I personally am surprised at where they put Penn State, and am wondering if Washington hasn't been disrespected enough? Could Michigan State or UCLA show better?

It is very cool to see our logo on the B1G site for the FIRST TIME!

Boy...I do not know about making the bowl season before the Playoffs, because that is also the prime recruiting signing time. Can't do both at once as a coach... I would like to think that you can mix in the bowl games between the Playoff games, which means they may be on Thursday or Friday nights for example? Great stuff to ponder, David--thanks. About to get a sack in the Alamo Bowl...

No sweat, Nevada. Everyone is welcome to offer their views, even if it is a minority view. As I have learned from many years back, a minority view can become the most prevalent view in a few years. So let all the views be heard and in the process, we are all better, educated and become better college football fans because of the current minority views.

Are we going to take ALL their lunch money?

I hear Washington's new 2024 offensive line is VERY athletic...

Lincoln Riley NOW sees the problem...

The future of the Pac-12 in 2024-2026...

Poor Beavs, snow on the field AND that kickoff?

I just love this...

Beaver fan after the Las Vegas Media Conference for the Pig-2...

In my 36 years of being in the Wealth Management Business, I got to meet some amazing, accomplished people, but I also met some grounded folks who spoke the truth in a simply way. One such retired gentleman told me how..."Charles, in this life...all we need is a roof over our head, a bite to eat, and a good belly laugh once in a while." A good life philosophy, and after all these years--I have not forgotten. In that vein and with all the serious things happening in the real-world--let's find some reasons to smile. (And maybe even laugh) Got one to add? This is the thread!

For me, I spin it in my mind as that it is the part of the total entertainment cost of being the intense Duck fan that I am. Now Peacock does have a number of specials and shows you might enjoy if you missed them on TV, or were not available to you before which helps to sweeten the value to you. By contrast...isn't this forum the best value for any Duck fan out there? Is there anything comparable for all the information, the great discussion, and the occasional laugh?

EUGENE, Ore. – A total of 15 current and past Oregon track and field standouts will compete at the 2024 Olympics beginning next week in Paris. The group is representing nine countries and includes the UO trio of Shana Grebo, Klaudia Kazimierska and Jaida Ross that competed for the Ducks this past season. The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place Friday, July 26, with the track and field schedule beginning Thursday, August 1. There are seven returning UO Olympians from Tokyo including 4x100 silver medalist Jenna Prandini and 1500-meter finalists Cole Hocker and Jessica Hull. Prandini and Claire Michel, competing in the triathlon for Belgium, become the second and third Oregon women to be appear at three Olympics; Lisa (Martin) Ondieki competed in the marathon at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Games. The list of Ducks making their first Olympic appearances including Grebo, Kazimierska, Ross, Susan Ejore, Alaysha Johnson, Kyree King, Kemba Nelson and Alessia Zarbo. Along with Hocker, Hull, Michel and Prandini, the returners list also features Emmanuel Ihemeje, Aneta Konieczek and Jorinde Van Klinken. Ihemeje was a finalist in the triple jump in 2021. Van Klinken is set to compete in both the shot put and discus. The official entry lists for all participating countries were published July 12 by World Athletics. 2024 Paris Olympians Susan Ejore (KEN) – 1500 meters Shana Grebo (FRA) – 400m hurdles Cole Hocker (USA) – 1500 meters Jessica Hull (AUS) – 1500 meters Emmanuel Ihemeje Jr. (ITA) - triple jump Alaysha Johnson (USA) – 100m hurdles Klaudia Kazimierska (POL) – 1500 meters Aneta Konieczek (POL) - steeplechase Kyree King (USA) – 4x100m relay Claire Michel (BEL) - triathlon Kemba Nelson (JAM) - 4x100m relay Jenna Prandini (USA) - 4x100m relay Jaida Ross (USA) – shot put Jorinde Van Klinken (NED) – shot put, discus Alessia Zarbo (FRA) - 10,000 meters The list of Ducks includes those who are currently student-athletes at Oregon, graduated from Oregon or turned pro during their Oregon careers. Oregon track and field now has 112 Olympians in program history and enters the Games with 25 medals among 19 athletes including eight gold medalists.