Charles Fischer

The new PAC-Conference is not a power conference, but simply a Mountain West+ in my view.

Great series of articles by Mike Whitty, that comes to a logical conclusion today. I've learned a ton from his research, and am grateful for all the time he put into creating these articles for us.

I have had feedback on this thread, and wish to update it. There is a time to discuss all the negative aspects of what college athletics is turning into, there is ALWAYS a time to go negative--when things are negative, as it makes sense and that is what we do here. But I have found over the years that a percentage of people are just "Negative-Nellies" who always look at the gloomy side of things, and when there isn't gloom--they pull from another topic to pour cold water on the good news or happy events occurring. I have had this happen a number of times over the last dozen years, and my mistake with those people was letting them "say whatever, and whenever" and thus coming to forum or to the comments below the articles turned into a buzz-kill. I had serious discussions with other key members about how to address it. I created the Rule No. 31c about venting. Writing negative when negative occurs is fine, writing about negative when negative events occur is fine, but pulling out the negative when you have a happy event is venting. The bottom line is that I have to protect the atmosphere of the site, as I do other behaviors, and hence why the rule No. 31c was created. My Mistake? Now it is the next day? My regret is doing this in public, as that is not our protocol. But I have a temper concerning my own personal "hot" topics, and people pulling negative out during positive events is near the top of my list. I lost my head and was wrong to denigrate DanLduck in public. I should have hid the thread immediately, and discussed things with him like the mature man that I was not at that moment. I made a mistake, and compounded it in the thread. I publicly apologize to DanLduck for the mistake, and resolve to get better. I make this mistake about once a year, and after doing it so many times--I should be able to recognize within myself when I am over-reacting at the moment, and need to take it private. This is why I say..."none of us wear halos here." We all make mistakes with the rules, and I am not exempt....which is crazy when you consider that I MADE THE RULES! It is humbling to realize my error, but as I tell everyone else when they make a mistake..."we acknowledge it, learn from it, move forward and forget about it." Age 67 and still learning...

And DanL? I did not say I LIKED IT, but I wish to remain an Oregon fan, thus will adjust to the new reality. And AllOregon crushed it with a fantastic observation... Amen Duck-Brother.

My prediction on Lanning remains; I believe he is here to win a 'Natty, and then he will want the challenge of taking on the best minds of the NFL. I could see him as a NFL DC trying to stop a DeBoer passing offense--who is also in the NFL by then.

He will have won a 'Natty at a place where it has never happened, and if that occurs--he will never have to walk again. People will carry him everywhere he goes!

Now...how about some reality going forward? Georgia has the No. 1 recruiting class; did you hear about ALL their transfers out? It was an incredible number, that is the way it is these days, and the way it will be at Oregon. Did Oregon lose GREAT STARTERS to the portal? NO. They lost players who for the most part did not play much, and looked to be passed on the depth chart by underclassmen or incoming players. The Lanning strategy is to recruit a ton at each position, find out who is best, and the rest transfer out. That is it, the strategy, and it will be a combo between the best of the HS players who emerge, coupled with portal transfers to plug a few holes. You will note Oregon will have far fewer transfers in this year than last, and as the cream of the last two recruiting classes rises to the top--thus there will be even less portal players brought in. This means we will lose half to two-thirds of the roster over time, as those who do not play a lot will leave. It is the way at Georgia, and will be the way of things here. Can you live with it? And can you live with ALL THE WINNING that will come from it? Meanwhile the players are getting paid AND a scholarship. Seems like everybody wins to me...

Oh brother. Yeah, this really hits the spot; with all the rain and fog in Eugene these days....I NEED MORE COLD WATER. Sure, let's take a happy time, and douse it with sour. DanL, you and everyone are free to share your opinion, but I will state that I do not care for people taking happy times, and LOOKING FOR THE NEGATIVES. There are times to be negative, such as the 2016 season, the offense of Cristobal, the leaving of Taggart and Cristobal, losing to Washington...etc. etc. Get the idea? Those are the times to dwell on the negative--when there actually is negative. This, to me, is a stretch of extracting the ugly from one of the happiest times of Duck Football in the year. Oh my...I might as well go to where everything else is headed! On to the CRAPPER!

The two we got from Washington? Platt and Crader are VERY good players that I am excited about; Fox Crader is very athletic OL, and could be playing immediately in the two deep next year. Platt is a stud linebacker who has the speed Dano wants to cover sideline-to-sideline. Brayden Platt

I agree with you: why do teams recruit from the portal? To get help RIGHT NOW, and thus a Gabriel should be rated ten times higher than an unproven Moore.

That article at the top? In all the years of following Oregon football and for years seeing ALL the great recruits go to USC? That article would have been IMPOSSIBLE to imagine. Lanning is pretty darn special....

Poor USC...it makes me so SAD! I NEVER said I was Noble...

My Duck-Buddies, as a dedicated fan--it does not get any better than this! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The problem is none of USC's recruiting wins over the last two years have come against Oregon. None of the Trojans' Top 247 prospects in 2023 and 2024 officially visited Oregon. Pellum, Fields, Laulea, Uiagalelei, Conerly and Florence all officially visited USC. The Trojans were in it with every one of those prospects, but came up short with all of them." "Oregon hasn't truly been in on any of USC's blue-chip signees." "When both schools have heavily pursued a premier recruit in the last three cycles, they've always chosen the Ducks. That's not a sustainable model for the Trojans, especially with both programs moving to the Big Ten Conference." Column: Oregon's recruiting wins over USC aren't sustainable for Trojans 247SPORTS.COM In head-to-head recruiting battles over the last two cycles, Oregon has swept USC when it comes to landing blue-chip prospects.

The Pinned Post at the top about the different places across the globe that FishDuck.com does business with, and how it all works took an especially bizarre turn recently. I received the backlink order from Bulgaria, then I just received one from Hong Kong! From across one ocean, to across the other ocean. Then I get an order back to Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea for tomorrow? I can't make this stuff up. While it is a hassle of my time--it helps to pay the FishDuck and OBD forum bills, and these orders will pay for our photographer on the field of the Fiesta Bowl. Cool! Nicosia, Cyprus

That was directed at everyone above who had to tell me of the obvious about Washington and DeBoer. Just a week ago I wrote how, "that Bastard DeBoer is a damn good coach." I don't need any reminders of what the Huskies have done, but again--NOBODY ELSE HERE is pointing out something to celebrate that could have a big impact on the future of the rivalry. Instead I get suck-up to Washington type of responses. Oh well.

Jordan Seaton did NOT sign with Colorado, and is still deciding between them, Maryland, Nebraska and Oregon. While the Ducks are still in it...not great chances, IMHO. Jor

Jericho Johnson announces tonight at 7:45 PM PST, and it looks like Oregon, but you never know until it happens.

Gotta celebrate every advantage until the victory comes. Instead of everyone “Bowing Down” to the Huskies, I wish others would appreciate that Lanning’s recruiting difference with the most important players is not by a nod, or twice as much. It is three times more of the most valuable recruits. This is important for someone to point out to everyone else, for us all to take note of, and is important to offer hope for the future. You’re welcome.

No kidding. Think I don't know any of that? But let's take a moment to enjoy all the little victories...like beating Cal...

On their criteria...sure. But that changes year-to-year. My criteria has been consistent for 20 years, and it is the number of 4/5-Star players on Rivals. Right now we are tied at 19, and tomorrow we could break it... Unless he goes to Washington!

If you want the definition of "Butt-Hurt," just look further at actual comments on a USC board... "Two out of the Top 20 CA players are signing with SC. No matter how you try to spin this isn’t going to help you win a conference championship let alone a natty. Saw two threads today saying LR has to recruit outside of CA because some of the players are too soft, and there aren’t enough highly ranked players in next years class or players are too small all while we’re losing recruits to the likes of Oregon." "Oregon has more players from California should be concerning… however no one from Oregon is good enough to be rated." "Oregon has nine players from California to our six? That six has to an all time historic low number of kids from California in a Trojan Class." "Oregon has a number of players from more states than we do." "Oregon is a much better Football program at this point, better recent history, consistent showing dedication to having a facility's on par with top schools, USC has a decade of apathy, and failure to compete, USC is going to be the "Chargers" with the coliseum looking like home games for traveling big 10 schools. IF you think differently please let me know why." "Same old Oregon, money at the 11th hour wins every time." I Never Said I Was Noble....

I already counted him, and he signed as expected. BIG linebacker recruit!

Boy, we all knew nothing about Stein or A'lique Terry for OL coach, yet Lanning did as these guys are killing it. We all had doubts, but by now I should trust Lanning more!

As a new member of this forum--you are off to a GREAT start! Thanks for your humor, and WELCOME!