Charles Fischer

Yep. It is especially strange considering that his team has not even played a Big-12 game yet!

Right.

Do you really think Oregon‘s national exposure is going to decline with the new contract? Do you think any of us here are actually worried about that? Go Troll somewhere else.

I think this is another example of some people looking for the negative, "no announcement-again this week." While I think the information above is pretty uplifting! But there will always be....

Speculation on who the new partners are?

We will get it done with more time to spare to our deadline, than the B1G did to theirs. As for the Big-12 deal, I think you will find that...

When the Pac-12 Media deal comes out? We'll see about your statement!

My Duck-Buddies--this is sounding better-and-better! Canzano wrote that 'a conference source,' told him that the negotiations have been “advanced and productive” and a deal is in “the near future." “We’ve had very productive negotiations,” the source told John. “New entrants have come in. We’re feeling good and our schools will be rewarded for their patience.” One thing is evident: The Pac-12 is seeing numbers it likes, has some new partners at the table, and believes a deal is near. “All the schools are together,” the source said. With a new deal signed that is superior to the Big-12, and the Pac-12 becomes the first conference to have a large presence on streaming, we will all be pleased....

Yep. Liability issues, but a good thought for a party!

So cool!

I know we are in the running, but I thought Alabama had the lead for him now. It gets my heart pumping--thinking about him in green, and we’ll cross our fingers. Fun information Alex!

Whatever. After so many years of reading and listening to it... ...what we get is Coachspeak and.... Frankly, I learn a ton more from all of you than I do them.

You know...it has been suggested to me that those of us who do NOT have tickets, (I split my tickets, and he has the USC tickets) consider meeting to watch the game together, and THAT would be fun. It could make your trip worthwhile if you don't get tickets, and might match the objective of others. Those who are NOT OBD members, but are simply readers are also welcome to these events. I will know more in two months...

Of course. These predictions are in our own green-colored fantasies.... But consider this; without one play of running the QB between the tackles...Oregon would have gone 11-1 last year with a crappy defense! I think we will be MUCH better on defense this year, so how would that bode?

Look, I've respected the work of PFF in the past....but this is classic east-coast-never-watched-the-games-ignoring-five-in-the-top-25 garbage. It makes me much more skeptical of their work going forward...

And Joshua...you do such great research for your articles, and this was another dandy.

Back to my head-versus-my-heart issue when it comes to Our Beloved Ducks. My head says, 10-2, but my heart believes in a slight improvement to the offense to 40 points per game, and a BIG improvement on the defense. My heart says that although the games against USC, Utah, Washington and Oregon State are going to be tough....this older, savvy Oregon squad can do it! 12-0 Baby!

You would be very welcome to join us!

I don't look at ranking as I do the number of points per game average. I say: score 40 points average per game on offense, and Oregon's improved defense holds the opponent average to scoring only 22 points a game, (we have done that before) and we will win a boatload of games.

Right...the way Georgia has done it with great evaluation, and a sprinkling of 3-Stars. I am quite aware of the point you are making since I have written about 100 recruiting articles over time, and that is why I wrote what I did about a real shot at top-five and probable top-ten finish in the recruiting rankings. Yet having some 3-Stars with a chip on their shoulder, and pushing the 4/5-Stars is a good thing. Every year I am following closely the number of 4/5-Star players we sign, and write articles about it. Last year, Lanning's first, was the second best year ever in Oregon football recruiting history with 16 of the 4/5-Star players signed. Our coaches have been super at evaluation; this year we have seen QB Luke Moga and OL Fox Crader have already been moved up from 3-Star to 4-Star at Rivals, and I expect another one or two. Luke Moga

When most sportswriters have nothing to write about... But FishDuck writers deliver!

To have a class in the top five, you need two 5-Star players, and at least one to make the top ten. I believe we are headed to a ultimate top five finish, and am hoping for a new record. Declaring we go by the average sounds nice, but that means that 3-Star guys are grading you down. Yet we have 3-Star players that perform better than 4-Star players on a regular basis. Georgia has a boatload of starters who have gone on to high NFL Draft picks from beginning as a 3-Star. Like you, I like to look at the average, but I am not swayed by it like I used to. All you have to do is look at some of our recruiting years and see all the "busts" at 4/5-Star players, yet the class did well for the team due to the development of the 3-Stars. I believe we need a healthy balance of both, thus I am not stuck on a No. 1 recruiting ranking, or even No. 5, as I think a balance of them that gets you in the top ten will place you well enough in the Blue-Chip ratio...and you will win with that class. Or... No sweat.

Mr. FD: This is not all of his article today, but some tasty morsels I found interesting. I would suggest subscribing and supporting independent writing that is right here in Oregon. (Beyond FishDuck of course!) JC: "I think UCLA is going to pay close attention to the distribution number the Pac-12 ends up with in the media-rights deal. After increased travel expenses and the actual travel burden, how far ahead do the Bruins actually feel like they ended up? Who knows? Maybe UCLA will be happy and win a pile of Big Ten titles. But ex-Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos told me that the move to the Big Ten was an eye opener for the Huskers." 'It ain’t going to be an easy road for USC and UCLA,' Moos told me. “At Nebraska, we took teams into Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State… let’s just say, there aren’t going to be any 10-2 seasons.” Mr. FD: WOWWWWW. JC: "Strike or not, live-sports programming is unique. It brings large and immediate audiences to the screen in a way nothing else can. Interesting that Disney and ESPN cut $3 billion in content expenses from the balance sheet, but didn’t trim a dime from its live-sports programming budget. I expect the spending in that area to continue, particularly as ESPN moves towards becoming an all-stream, direct-to-consumer product." Q: What about the recent ACC deal with CW? Any idea how much that will boost their revenue/distribution? How might this impact Pac-12 negotiations? JC: "It was a distribution play by the ACC. It solved an ongoing visibility problem for that conference and will sprinkle a little revenue over the members. Everyone in America can get the CW. The network will broadcast 50 football and basketball games a year until 2026-27. Next season, the CW will air 13 football games, 28 men’s basketball games, and nine women’s basketball games. It will sweeten the revenue pot a little, but it was more of an exposure move." "The dirty secret? We all know that the Pac-12 would have been mocked for doing the exact same deal."

The big problem is what was already stated; Oregon was the elite No-Huddle Spread Offense at that time, and while Petersen ran a good offense, it was Pro-Style and was not a fit. Neither side wanted to bend on that issue, if I recall correctly. AJ Feely, Petersen, and Joey in 1999. (Incredible Photo!)