Charles Fischer

I did not know Dollars was taking a step up and that is great to see! Oregon Football: Ducks RB Sean Dollars makes a leap in spring practice DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Not long ago, Sean Dollars was considering a transfer away from Oregon. Now he’s making a strong case to be the RB1 for the Ducks.

Nice first post, and welcome to the forum! Do share your thoughts often, as we want to see all opinions on all topics…

I’m happy for Robby Ashford, as he would NOT have been a contender to start in the fall at Oregon as he is at Auburn.

There is no better way to start the day then one of Axel‘s humorous post. The best!

My Friends, I had to share this with you to lighten the mood a bit around here! (From five years ago) 10 Reasons Why Oregon Spring Football is Better Than Sex | FishDuck FISHDUCK.COM Abbie the Official Mascot of FishDuck.com discusses 10 Reasons Why Oregon Spring Football is Better Than Sex. The photo at the top of the article is now in the Smithsonian, as they wanted it for a specific section illustrating college football! I couldn't believe it when I received the phone call...

By John Canzano Oregon's Biggest Win of Dan Lanning Era Sparks Collective Cheer Dan Lanning has enjoyed some nice off-field victories since he was hired by the Oregon Ducks. But getting a commitment from Josh Conerly Jr. is easily Lanning’s biggest win yet. The five-star offensive tackle picked Oregon on Friday. In doing so, Conerly Jr. spurned USC and hometown Washington and skipped out on Michigan, Oklahoma and Miami, too. Hurricanes’ coach Mario Cristobal won’t be happy about any of this. The Ducks are thrilled. Conerly is 6-foot-5 and 283 pounds and attends Seattle’s Rainier Beach High. He ranks as the best high school player in the state and is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation. Lanning already had a commitment from the state of Washington’s No. 2 high school lineman (Puyallup High School four-star recruit Dave Iuli) but getting Conerly is a next-level win for the Ducks. One that I’m certain doesn’t happen without an assist from the Division Street collective. The entity was founded last year to assist Oregon student athletes in monetizing their name/image/likeness (NIL). A group of UO super boosters provided the seed money and business connections. The group includes Nike co-founder Phil Knight, insurance-czar Pat Kilkenny, beverage-king Ed Maletis, lumber-lord Jim Morse and the Papé Family. What did it cost to land Conerly? That’s the question being asked across the Pac-12 footprint today. One insider told me that Conerly Jr. was influenced by the six-figure deals that Kayvon Thibodeaux enjoyed during his college tour in Eugene. Another conference source wondered if the hulking lineman might be the Pac-12’s first seven-figure endorser. I left a message with Division Street, Inc. The collective is run by Rosemary St. Clair, former VP and GM of Nike Women. Ex-Nike VP of Sports Marketing, Rudy Chapa, is the Chairman of the Board. The UO boosters involved will tell you that they have no oversight and prefer it that way. Speaking of — isn't the murky, unregulated feeling of the NIL world exactly what fuels everyone’s discomfort? Athletic directors across the country are lamenting how woeful and inadequate the NCAA looks in this new world. The governing body of college athletics has asked some questions about policies and procedures at a few universities (including Oregon) but isn’t at all positioned to regulate the landscape. What we have in that void is a free-for-all dominated by those who have the means and motivation. Said one prominent Pac-12 booster: “The NCAA had a chance to get ahead of the oncoming mess. No leadership.” Greg Biggins is the national recruiting analyst for 247Sports. He’s been tuned into the recruiting world for years and is one of the best around. On Saturday, as everyone absorbed Oregon’s big win, I asked Biggins how collectives such as Division Street, Inc. have changed what top recruits value. “It used to be relationship with staff, early playing time and depth chart, winning program, culture, stability of staff,” Biggins said. “Those still matter but NIL is now right near top.” Biggins told me NIL is now a top-three item on the menu for elite athletes, “and one of the first things brought up on a visit.” The money is out there. It’s a free market. I don’t blame Conerly Jr. one bit if that was a major factor. He’s welcome to participate and profit. I also don’t blame Division Street, Inc. The collective is simply doing what it was designed to do. But I wonder where this leaves major college athletics. Ducks’ assistant Adrian Klemm was the point person on Conerly Jr.’s recruitment. Beating Lincoln Riley for a high-value offensive line recruiting target can’t be overstated. These are the kinds of nice offseason wins that turn into even bigger regular-season wins. The University Washington, meanwhile, did all it could to keep Conerly Jr. in Seattle. The Huskies fell all over themselves recruiting him and even hired Courtney Morgan from Michigan. Morgan was the director of player personnel in Ann Arbor who recruited the five-star lineman on the Wolverines’ behalf. UW also had the “Montlake Futures” collective working in the same space as Division Street, Inc. USC was busy pursuing Conerly Jr., too, and appeared by all accounts to have the inside edge. What ensued was a recruiting tug-of-war and Oregon’s third-party NIL arm apparently had enough muscle to win it. How important is that in college football? “Huge,” said one recruiting-world insider. “Word was (Conerly Jr.) was going to whoever was giving him the best NIL deal.” Endorsement opportunities are part of the calculus now, like it or not. By picking Oregon Conerly Jr. chose a Nike-influenced football program that has recent success and an energetic coaching staff. It’s a manageable trip to Eugene for his family and friends to come see him play. Playing time, check. Coaching relationships, check. Winning football culture, check. Where Oregon really stands out, though, is with Knight and friends backing the collective and pushing the endorsement and marketing envelope. He and the others involved all built empires in their respective industries. They know how to win and have deep connections. Few universities will be able to match that. “It was tough deciding between Eugene and LA,” Conerly Jr. said minutes after announcing his college decision. “… it’s the best thing that is closest to me and my family and I’m going to be able to thrive there.” USC can’t happy about this. Michigan must be ticked. Washington has to be wondering what more it could have done. I’m happy for the kid and his family. It sounds like he made a good choice. I remain uneasy, however, with the lack of NCAA oversight these days. We’re knee-deep in an era of full-blown, unrestricted free agency in college athletics. Getting a commitment from Josh Conerly Jr. goes down as the biggest win of Dan Lanning’s young head coaching career. Huge victory for the Ducks. Game ball to Division Street, Inc.

Yep, money is the only reason recruits choose Oregon...right? (The world according to Huskies)

My thanks to ICamel for his posting, and let’s get another win on Sunday at noon!

Good stuff, and thanks for posting it Coach.

I don’t get to do this very often, but hearing the banal blusterings of USC fans is fine whine meant to be slowly enjoyed…

Very cool! Arik Armstead...

I certainly believe he will play, but I do not believe that he can beat out either Sala or Bass with all their experience.

I think Alex Grinch as the Trojan defensive coordinator, is an extraordinary coach. He was the primary reason that Washington State beat Oregon four years in a row when he was there.

After three innings, it still remains Oregon ahead 1-0.

I give credit for Mario bringing in the tremendous classes, but it really was Willie Taggart who first broke the recruiting glass ceiling at Oregon. And I am grateful to him for that!

Go Ducks! Oregon is going for its 20th win of the season today! Tanner Smith hit the first pitch for a home run over the right field fence, and the Ducks lead after one inning 1-0.

Before you all ask why....I do not have the funds to pay writers, thus we have always been all-volunteer. We have had a ton of writers move on to paying gigs, and I appreciate their time at FishDuck and wish them well. In the end...whether Eric's articles are posted here from FD or from the other site--we all can still read and learn from them!

It is FishDuck, if you please.

MaiTaiDuck, I believe that what was being written, was the warmest day of the year so far. It would not be the hottest day of 2022.

Yep!

ICamel...I agree. I was worried when they tied it up for the second time. In the end...the lack of great pitching depth versus these hitters was the difference. They walked HOW many runs in? I was feeling their pain... but not for too long!

This is NOT an OL recruit that Cristobal would have got. Why? Because by now the exodus of players leaving Oregon would have been HUGE if Mario stayed. The vibe with the program would be 180 degrees south of where it is right now. That, and the fact that Adrian Klemm has Super Bowl rings on his fingers playing for the Patriots, and coaching in the NFL? If you are an offensive lineman...how much BETTER coaching can you get than that? And who hired Klemm? This is a massive victory for Coach Dan Lanning, as this is WHY he went after Coach Klemm. Riley, Debore and Cristobal? You can get a sniff, but Dan-Man will prevail.

Oregon Names Chuck Martin as Assistant Basketball Coach EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon has hired Chuck Martin as a men’s basketball assistant coach, head coach Dana Altman announced Friday. Martin will replace Chris Crutchfield, who was named head coach at Omaha in March. Martin spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at South Carolina and brings more than 20 years of experience to the coaching staff. “We are really excited to have Coach Martin join our staff,” Coach Altman said. “Coach Martin has had success in some of the most competitive leagues in the country and has helped develop some great players over the years”. While at South Carolina, Martin helped develop 2018 co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-SEC first team member Chris Silva, as well as 2019 SEC Sixth Man of the Year Hassani Gravett. Last season, the Gamecocks went 18-13 and finished 9-9 in the SEC. Prior to joining the South Carolina staff, Martin was an assistant coach at Indiana from 2014-17 and helped the Hoosiers to three postseason appearances, including two NCAA tournament births. Led by two-time first-team All-Big Ten honoree Yogi Ferrell, Indiana won the Big Ten in 2015-16 and advanced to the Sweet 16. Martin spent the 2013-14 season as a scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA after his time as head coach at Marist (2008-13). Three of Martin’s recruits at Marist went on to earn MAAC All-Rookie honors. Martin served as an assistant coach under John Calipari at Memphis from 2006-08. The Tigers amassed a 71-6 record in Martin’s tenure, reaching the 2008 NCAA Championship game. Three players from the 2007-08 team were selected in the 2008 NBA draft, headlined by first overall pick Derrick Rose. Before his time in Memphis, Martin was also an assistant at St. John’s (2004-06), Drexel (2001-04), UMass (2000-01) and Manhattan. (1999-2000). Martin grew up in Bronx, N.Y. and graduated from Monmouth University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He and his wife, Lee, are the proud parents of daughter Ashley-Monet, and sons, Jordan and Justin. Coaching History 1999-00: Manhattan (Assistant Coach) 2000-01: UMass (Assistant Coach) 2001-04: Drexel (Assistant Coach) 2004-06: St. John’s (Assistant Coach) 2006-08: Memphis (Assistant Coach) 2008-13: Marist (Head Coach) 2013-14: Oklahoma City Thunder (Scout) 2014-17: Indiana (Assistant Coach) 2017-21: South Carolina (Assistant Coach) 2021-22: South Carolina (Associate Head Coach) 2022-Present: Oregon (Assistant Coach)

I was waiting for that....every offensive coordinator everywhere, including Chip and Helf were installing the No-Huddle, Fast Tempo offense for their first time. Nobody had done since the 90s when Chip came along, and everybody has studied it and installed it just fine. I am not going negative until I have a reason to be, and I will not hold off or delay. I was all-over Cristobal and his offense in the first month of his first year--that was all I needed to see. With all the recent talk about the "Oregon Brand," and fast tempo--I am confident in seeing a higher scoring offense, and yet he will screw-up on occasion (as we all do) with the learning curve of truly running his first program. If he had done it already as a proven high caliber OC--we would not have been able to hire him. We hired him as we do with recruiting, IMHO...for the upside.

He is a Rivals.com 3-Star, but is 315 lbs. with upside and what I like is how he was offered by Utah, USC and Washington! (Still taking defensive tackles from them!)