Charles Fischer

This is really, really good. But the Pistol?

Thanks for being a good sport, and I'd like to think the new "Word Filter" software might make that easier on all of us.

That is the biggest compliment ever, and thanks so much. I've really enjoyed the great Utah and Georgia fans who chime in here, as all of us together make it a richer experience.

Sometimes figuring out Oregon events in the future hinges on hints of what is not happening. For example, I realize we will not officially know the decision of Bo Nix until after the Bowl game, but it would appear that the Ducks are leading candidates for some big portal transfers on offense. Would this be happening if Bo Nix was leaving with an unknown quarterback, (or Ty Thompson) leading Oregon? (One major Oregon pay-site has the principal leaning to Nix staying) The Ducks are being visited by stud Arizona receiver, Dorian Singer, this weekend. Wouldn't a whisper to "Nix your worries about Bo; he'll be the one to throw," help seal-the-deal? What a replacement for Chase Cota that would be! But wait! Alabama transfer receiver Traeshon Holden, (6'3" and former Rivals 4-Star) is also interested in Oregon...would he be without Nix? The big (6'4", 315 lbs.) Rhode Island OL transfer, Ajani Cornelius, is visiting this weekend as well. Wouldn't some Nix-News sweeten that pot? Or am I letting visions of sugar-plums merge with my crazy Duck-Love to imagine what I want for Christmas? Dorian Singer

I felt it was important to explain to everyone how taxing it is to deal with some of the violators. And when I roll out this new way of notifying rule-violators....I did not want to do it without some explanation as to "why," and this article not only does so now, but the link to that explanation article is something I can include with the templates I create of which are sent to violators later. A year and a half ago--I went to the powers-that-be of the forum software company with my individual-post moderating plug-in request. They did not receive it well, and practically laughed me out of their Tech-Exchange forum. (Long story) But in the last two months they included in their latest update patches--components of what I wanted back then. Apparently others began requesting it too? So there are elements of the original forum software my web developer will be using, components that are now new in the last two months within the forum software, and then there is the moderation plug-in you are familiar with that has the check box and moderating dashboard that pops up. Between these three--I can get a compromise built that will take me personally out of the equation, and thus make it easier for me. There is a downside for the violators, (the loss of personal contact with me) and while I regret that...I think I've endured enough from the problem-cases to warrant this change. We are still working on it, and I am excited about it. Thank you for your kind thoughts and offer!

There is a lot of risk going this route, and I'll explain in an article on Saturday.

You have no idea what your post means to me. I am a little misty-eyed as I write this. THANK YOU.

My friend, you have really nailed the crux of it. I am a crazy, ridiculous fan...I mean who else would go through all this work as a fan? Fanatic...that is me. Dealing with the selfishness over-and-over was not killing my Duck-Love, but my interest in a forum. But with new tech alternatives--I think I can make this work. It will not operate very well for the violators, but I have to structure it to work well for me, and my mental well-being. These encounters are very energy and life-draining, and of all the things I manage with both sites--it is the one area I am not good at handling. Most negative with me is "water-off-a-Duck" which is why the Eeyores of the forum will annoy me on occasion. But the intense encounters--by email even--display the dark side of humanity. You just don't want to be a part of it very often. Of course when I ban someone...they have to send the "get-even" email, or the "save-face" email, (I even have category names for them!) and usually I take it with humor and look for new innovative insults. But some are not something I would wish on anyone. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Yep, as I often say, "none of us here wear halos," as I've made mistakes too, only mine are usually a lot more public. Thanks again for being a good sport, and moving forward to new great discussions.

Yes, and I wrote in the emails that "we forget about it now and move forward," and we did. No big deal, and you have been a great fan and OBD member. Thank you...

Marshall! And I thought I scared you off! Your example is a timely one, because with the new technology I am using--it will operate on a "penalty-point" system, and someone could be banned in their first post for multiple violations. Back then when I called you--I went through a period of trying to talk with tons of people to gather information how to make the rules better--communicate our policies better, etc. it was real helpful at the time. I did that for a couple of month period and now I do not call violators unless it is a Duck-Buddy or a "regular" to soothe over that "an email is coming." Even with that...I've had regulars be outraged at receiving a notification email, when it was their actions that brought the series of events about. No matter. They chose to leave, and that was never my intent. A ton of great people have left because they love the wonderful clean pool to swim in as a Duck, and they want the rules enforced on everyone else to keep the pool clean, but they want to be the only person who gets an exception to pee in it. Not how this Duck Pond works! Great to see you, and thank you for your kind thoughts.

Expressing that frustration is fine, as long as it is within our rules...that have proven to work. Negative posts are fine, critical analysis is not only accepted, but encouraged. It is when someone does an excessive number of over-the-top negative posts that I have to step in with them. We don't have anyone like that right now, but we do have an Eeyore or two who seem to look for the negative in nearly every topic. That annoys me, but it is not a violation. Oh my,...don't you know it is all going bad for Oregon?

Remember what the REAL problem here is....

Oh I am absolutely keeping the forum up, but it was "iffy" for quite a while. I had a ton of soul-searching to do. In the end....I decided that I personally cannot live without this community, and the ability to post and ponder in a safe place. I just had to come up with a way to deal with violators in a way that did not tear me up inside. It is not optimum, not the solution I want, (you all will see why later) but I had to choose between two negative outcomes.

We had an election week in November, a very contentious one. Yet we had NO reference to it at all in the forum, and I consider that a BIG VICTORY for all of us. Thanks to everyone for their wisdom and restraint....

Each violator thinks, "it is draining, but it is only me, one instance." But I have so many of these every month; imagine going through what you and I did every week for a year. Mentally...where would you be? That is where I am at.

Very, very true. On the web, the one who goes lowest wins. And it is impossible to ask tons of people to rise above that; they just don't want to in today's culture.

I do hear it more than often enough and am grateful for it. But I have to admit that many of the rule violators have taken a ton out of me over time--and some poor moderators who have heard me vent can vouch for that. I just cannot go through the mental anguish on a regular basis any more. I had to come up with a tech solution that is efficient, but to make it that way it is also "cold-as-hell" and will drive some people off because of what appears to be an uncaring approach. But in the end it is them or me... I do not thank the moderators enough, as without them--this doesn't work at all.

That may have been true for you and I, but I am not sure if it is taught in today's kindergarten. No matter, the issue is selfishness, and it has come from all age groups.

The always-wonderful Georgia fans who show up here will vouch for this, as Coach Lanning is going to gradually make us into an SEC Far-West program. Bulldog fans, (on one of their sites) made a BIG deal of this... Learning About Lanning: "This is a VERY HARD Program" FISHDUCK.COM We've covered quite a few aspects of the Georgia program over the last month that Coach Dan Lanning will be integrating into his version of the 2022 Oregon... Hug a FishDuck writer today!

We might want to give Coach Meat more than a year? Especially when you look at his ranking among all assistant coaches in the Pac-12 for recruiting... The 10 best Pac-12 recruiters for the 2023 class 247SPORTS.COM Here's a rundown of what the Pac-12 recruiter rankings look like after the recent addition of four-star athlete Kenyon Sadiq.

Something must be amiss with the Tar Heel DB coach! If you are Mack Brown...

Would that be Troy Franklin or Bo Nix? Good gosh what an opportunity for our receivers! Chase Cota....ready for another bomb? But wait...Coach Meat and Coach Lanning might be licking their lips the most...why? Could this shore up the Oregon secondary in a hurry?

(For Oregon Athletics Credentialed Media) EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning officially hired Will Stein as the Ducks’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Wednesday. “I am thrilled to welcome Will, his wife, Darby, and their newborn son, Joey, to our family here at Oregon,” Lanning said. “In our search to find the absolute best fit for the University of Oregon, we committed to a detailed search for the right person to lead our offense. Will is that person. He is a passionate and innovative coach who consistently finds ways to maximize his personnel. “Will has done a great job developing dynamic quarterbacks in his career, and he is able to see the game through a different lens as a former quarterback himself. He is a tremendous teacher and a tireless worker, and his focus on the student-athlete experience aligns with our philosophy here in Eugene. I am excited to see our team and offense reach new heights under his leadership and direction with our entire offensive staff.” Stein comes to Oregon from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he served as the Roadrunners’ co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 after spending the previous two seasons as pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach. Prior to joining UTSA in 2020, Stein got his coaching career started at Louisville (2013-14), Texas (2015-17) and Lake Travis High School (2018-19). “My family and I are extremely grateful to Coach Lanning and the Oregon administration for this incredible opportunity,” Stein said. “Oregon has become synonymous with explosive offense and dynamic playmakers, and I am so excited to be a part of such a powerful national brand. Coach Lanning and the rest of the staff are building something really special, and I can’t wait to get to work with these student-athletes both on the field and getting to know them as young men.” With Stein elevated to co-offensive coordinator in 2022, UTSA ranked No. 9 nationally in total offense (486.1 YPG), No. 12 in scoring offense (38.7 PPG) and No. 12 in passing offense (308.6 YPG). The Roadrunners scored 30-plus points in 12 of 13 games and 40-plus points in seven games, including 48 points in a dominant win over North Texas in the Conference USA Championship Game. UTSA also ranked eighth in the nation this season in third-down conversions (50.0 percent), and 17th in red-zone scoring (90.16 percent). On the ground, the Roadrunners were in the top 25 nationally with 28 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Frank Harris was terrific in 2022 while learning under Stein, ranking second in the nation with 4,453 total yards of offense and sixth with 40 total touchdowns. Harris is sixth nationally in passing yards (3,865), seventh in passer rating (167.37) and tied for ninth in passing touchdowns (31), and his 71.1 completion percentage ranks third behind only Clay Millen (Colorado State) and Oregon’s Bo Nix. Harris was named the 2022 Conference USA Most Valuable Player, and running back Kevorian Barnes was selected as the league’s Freshman of the Year after rushing for 713 yards and six touchdowns while averaging an impressive 6.25 yards per carry. UTSA’s wide receivers enjoyed a historic season under Stein in 2021 while emerging as one of the top units in the nation. The trio of Joshua Cephus, Zakhari Franklin and De’Corian Clark combined to catch 204 passes for 2,585 yards and 25 touchdowns, making the Roadrunners one of just three teams to have three receivers with at least 50 receptions and 750 yards apiece. Franklin was a first-team all-conference selection after setting program records for receptions (81), yards (1,027), yards per game (79.0) and touchdowns (12). In his first season in San Antonio in 2020, Stein coached UTSA’s wide receivers to a combined 170 receptions, 1,923 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He helped lead a balanced offensive attack that piled up 2,399 passing yards and a school-record 2,585 rushing yards. Stein joined UTSA after spending 2018 and 2019 as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas. He helped lead the Cavaliers to a 26-4 combined record and back-to-back appearances in the state semifinal round of the Class 6A Division I playoffs. A former quarterback at Louisville, Stein got his coaching start in 2013 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater. Stein helped coach quarterbacks in his first season before moving into an offensive quality control role in 2014 while working with the wide receivers. Stein reunited with former Louisville head coach Charlie Strong at Texas, where he worked as a quality control coach with the Longhorns’ wide receivers in 2015 and 2016. He then helped coach Texas’ quarterbacks in 2017 before moving on to Lake Travis High School in 2018. Stein played for Steve Kragthorpe (2008-09) and Strong (2010-12) at Louisville, and was part of the 2012 team that won the Allstate Sugar Bowl with a 33-23 win over No. 3 Florida. He played his high school ball at Trinity High School in Louisville, where he was a three-time state champion and set the program’s single-season record for touchdown passes with 54. Stein earned a bachelor’s degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2011, and Master’s in business administration in 2014.