Charles Fischer

Look....I think this is GREAT, as it is rewarding the true "Student-Athlete" and will pay the equivalent of $500.00 a month which can help with extra food and things an athlete needs. This is another example along with what Adidas has announced that can help take the pressure off of the need to pay so much NIL to a player. Thus, the calamitous things feared may not be as bad when these and other development emerge over time.

My friends...if you look at the Navigation Toolbar near the top of the site just under the logo...you will see new additions. On mobile, the Navigation Toolbar is three horizontal lines at the top and on the left side, and you would touch the lines. On the far right is the new "Directions" page, and all you have to do is click on "Directions" and it will take you to a page of links of directions on how to do EVERYTHING in the forum. Wonder how I add formatting like this, or color to text, or add a GIF, a picture...any of it--very simple directions are now available. This is something that I've wanted for everyone for a long time, and was untold hours in the making. On other sites, I could see people doing things, but I am not tech-intuitive, could not figure it out, and there were no directions. Well at the Our Beloved Ducks Forum....you have directions available now for everything. You will find that it only takes two minutes to read the directions on something, and then only takes seconds to do it--when you know how. It is all easy...take a few minutes and learn! I did have directions up there once, but the links stopped working and frankly--there was a ton of updating to do on them. I was going to create videos, but I don't have time, and would be pretty redundant next to my simple instructions. There are other new listings up there, such as how to contact Mr. FishDuck, and a new category for Moderators that anyone is welcome to read. Want to know what I am telling moderators? Want to see real-life examples of what "not" to do from this forum? All there! Of course the rules are there along with the Drop-Down menu of the Oregon Football Repository for easy access to the depth chart, the Oregon Analysis Library and other selections. I cannot tell you how much work went into all of this--at no charge to you. It is just another way our community is different than the others, but the biggest difference is YOU. The members of this forum want civility, and it is so refreshing to have it! Do take a few minutes on a regular basis, and learn how to make all the hours here in the forum that much more fun for you! He followed my directions...up to a point... The directions have pictures, arrows and are very simplistic--everyone can benefit!

This is a very cool two minute video...I dare you to try to watch without feeling some pride, gratitude, nostalgia and your eyes glistening a touch. What a path! (Be sure to have the sound turned on in the video)

A lot to unpack here....and as usual, Mike Leach has a great quote that has truth to it. And George Kliavkoff is doing a lot of things right? I am too busy shaking my head to find another Cat-GIF...

Some Wednesday Musings by John Canzano A stripe of Washington Husky football fans are in a tizzy this week. Not about the trajectory of the football program or the cost of a gallon of gasoline. Nope. They’re hopping mad at Twitter. The social media platform recently assigned the hashtag #GoDawgs to the University of Georgia. Utilize it in a tweet today and what automatically pops up alongside the hashtag is the Georgia Bulldogs’ helmet logo. Bulldogs’ fans are delighted with the development, of course. They’re using it liberally. Some UW fans, who have also used the hashtag for years are now irked. They’ve complained to Twitter and debated Georgia fans on the platform itself. One UW user even created a poll asking which fan base has the better claim to the “#GoDawgs” hashtag. The poll generated 13,240 votes. The results weren’t favorable for Washington, however — 89.9 percent voted for Georgia. Maybe Bulldogs fans just have the numbers right now. They’re coming off a national championship football season and a 14-1 record. Washington went 4-8 last season and fired its coach. Or maybe this falls into the SEC’s, “… it just means more,” branding. One SEC fan replying to the poll offered that the Bulldogs’ should own the right to the hashtag because Georgia was founded in 1785 — 76 years before UW. Washington fans shot back, pointing to university trademarks and licensing policies. UW controls licenses for: “Washington, Huskies, Dawgs, University of Washington; UW, UDub, and logos such as the block ‘W,’ the Husky mascot marks, the Husky football helmet and the official UW seal.” I think there’s more to this, though. The University of Washington, located in Seattle, already has to deal with some minor brand confusion with the NFL team located in Washington, D.C. Also, I wonder how the Seattle Seahawks’ long-time fight with Texas A&M over licensing for the “12th Man” term may factor in the dust up. Six years ago the Seahawks agreed to pay Texas A&M $140,000 for limited rights to the “12th Man” trademark. That included a royalty of $18,000 a year for using the mark and another $10,000 a year to help support the Aggies in their fight to defend it. Also, the Seahawks had to stop using the “12th Man” term on its social media handles and signage inside the stadium. Washington Husky fans, I do feel for you. Really. All you want is to be able to use Twitter in peace and quiet. You’re just there to support your team, use a hashtag, and go about your business. You’re hopeful that coach Kalen DeBoer is going to end up a great hire and deliver UW to a major bowl game in the coming years. Then, you wake up amid spring football and find your timeline has been hijacked by a bunch of unhinged Georgia fans who know way too much about the team’s back-up long snapper. I’d normally suggest UW should pivot to using, “#GoDogs.” However, Fresno State is already using that. I’d offer, “#GoHuskies” but the University of Connecticut, the University of Southern Maine and Northern Illinois are all using it, too. Unless Washington can lobby Twitter to offer the “UW” logo as the default pop-up, you’re still dealing with some brand confusion. The continued use of “#GoDawgs” is off the table, too. Unless the Washington fans can get somewhere with Twitter it feels like the hashtag is now Georgia’s to lose. I reached out to Twitter support and marketing folks for comment. I’ll update when/if anyone replies. I also contacted UW athletic director Jennifer Cohen, who I’m pretty sure has better things to do than talk hashtags. Cohen told me she’s been in meetings all morning and doesn’t have enough information to speak on the topic. In the meantime… #WinMoreGames and this will be moot. COACH SPEAK: Count me among those who smiled and shook my head when Oregon Ducks’ offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham recently fired some verbal shots at the rest of the conference. He was asked by reporters about his early impressions at UO. “This place cares about football,” Dillingham said. “I say this is the only place west of Texas that has a mindset of the South when it comes to football. This is a southern school. When it comes to football and when it comes to sports, it’s a true college town that can win championships. And if you’re out west, this is the only real college town that can win championships." “It’s pretty cool.” Eugene is a college town. Dillingham has that right. Also, relative to some others, Oregon has tremendous resources. But his comments invite a deeper analysis. What are the college towns? Among them is Oregon really the only contender? Rival Oregon State couldn’t have liked what Dillingham said. OSU markets itself using “the Best College Town” branding. Forbes recently ranked Corvallis as the No. 4 College Town in America. But OSU isn’t a title contender in football right now. I have to think Washington State (Pullman), Colorado (Boulder) and Arizona (Tucson) would also be put off by Dillingham’s remarks. They’re all located in college towns. But I don’t see an immediate College Football Playoff contender among them. I don’t think USC, UCLA, ASU, Cal, Stanford, Washington or Utah are located in true college towns. As Mike Leach told me years ago, “There’s a real shortage of common sense and college towns in the Pac-12.” I like the swagger in Dillingham’s game. He’s got some confidence and he’s right — Oregon very much cares about winning and has invested heavily in football. But I’m not ready to anoint the Ducks as a contender and I don’t happen to think of Eugene as home to a “southern school.” Still, I smiled. As media members we ask subjects to be authentic and speak candidly. What we typically get in return is coach-speak and tired clichés. Dillingham gave us something to think about, talk about, and debate. Nothing wrong with that. I just hope the guy can call plays. OPEN INVITATION: George Kliavkoff is doing a lot of things right. The Pac-12 Commissioner has some good early ideas and has felt far more accessible and relatable than his predecessor. That was never more apparent than when the Arizona football Twitter account invited the commissioner to its spring game this week. Arizona will hold the spring game on Saturday in Tucson. Kliavkoff now has an official invitation to attend. I don’t know if he will go but the conference commissioner already feels like part of the fabric of the conference. Kliavkoff told me on the day he was hired that he planned to do a “listening tour” of the campuses. He met with coaches, athletes and administrators as a high-priority item. He didn’t fly in and out on a charter like his predecessor. He stuck around the universities, stayed overnight, ate meals, shook hands and listened to people. Kliavkoff said at the time, “I feel its important to connect with the people on our campuses and do some listening.” Funny how that works.

I am surprised we did not have more reaction to a little humor...

Way to call it for the truth Joshua, as yes their fans are fervent--but that is not the major reason for the success of the SEC.

Maybe he should be doing the decathlon?

Ducks Add Veteran Guard Taya Hanson EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon head coach Kelly Graves announced the addition of graduate transfer and Pac-12 Conference veteran Taya Hanson, who played four seasons at Arizona State. “We’re excited to welcome Taya to the Oregon family,” said Graves. “Taya plays with a ton of toughness and energy and is going to bring a veteran presence to our team. She has been one of my favorite guards in the Pac-12 the last few years, and her leadership and ability to defend at a high level will be a major addition to our program.” Hanson did not miss a game during her four seasons at Arizona State, playing in all 114 games while making 62 starts over that span. She comes to Eugene with 739 career points (6.5 per game) to go along with 296 rebounds and 144 made three-pointers during her time with the Sun Devils. Hanson started the final 51 games of her Arizona State career, getting the nod in all 50 games during the last two seasons. As a senior at ASU, Hanson averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while leading the team with an 88.7 free throw percentage. She connected on 33 of her final 34 attempts from the line to end the season, including a streak of 32 made free throws that stretched from December until the season finale at the Pac-12 Tournament. An All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection in 2020-21, Hanson led the team with 12.6 points per game while finishing third in rebounding with 4.3 per contest while coming away with a team-high 1.4 steals per game. She reached double figures in scoring in 18 of the 24 games, scoring 15-plus points eight times. Hanson also led the team and finished tied for second in the Pac-12 with 62 made three-pointers, going 62-of-180 from long range, hitting a three in all but one game and multiple threes 16 times. Hanson played in 64 games while making 12 starts over her first two seasons in Tempe, averaging 3.5 points per game in 16.9 minutes per contest. The Kelowna, B.C., native was also a part of Canadian Junior Women’s National Teams a number of times prior to arriving at Arizona State, helping lead Canada to a gold medal at the 2015 FIBA U16 Americas.

Good gosh I'm with you on this 30Duck....that article makes it hard to wait!

For all the frustration with the portal....we are doing to a good job attracting experienced players! Ducks add Hawaii defensive back transfer Donovan Dalton 247SPORTS.COM Ducks add Hawaii defensive back transfer Donovan Dalton

I bagged on Ducks Wire with the Dye article, but this one is superb with all the quotes. Love what he said about his receivers, his gratitude toward Bo Nix, and...it sounds like this staff is making football fun again! "It’s so much fun. I get so much joy out of doing it right. And, you know, putting in all the time that I do, and then it shows up on the field. It just makes me so happy. So I mean, that’s part of the reason I’m out here enjoying the sport. So much is because I’m really like obsessed with what I do.”

He better make the most of next year, because I do not think he will be super-welcome at former player/alumni meetings in future years. Thanks for what you did here, Travis, but you are going to be remembered as a traitor in the end. Going for the NIL may not work out so well...

They have eight National Championships and yes, Oregon has 34. Imagine if it was reversed? They would be claiming that Oregon should not even be their league...

This would be pretty cool...and not so far-fetched!

Another Ducks Wire blah-blah article with quotes from the other day--and this nonsense about "being close to family?" If he makes an NFL roster....how close will he be then? So this is being close to family for ONE YEAR? I think he lapped up NIL...

Fantastic! Now let's go kill-it with your speed Patrick!

Oh brother....Georgia fans are very proud of their "Dawg" label, and were curious if the Huskies tried to make a claim to the same spelling? (I can't make this stuff up!) No, it is just a Husky barking alone....and I recognize that bark...it is one of being "frightened."

I had to pass this along, although it is much more applicable in the SEC than here...

A little NC humor....in the Jayhawk Locker room at halftime...

If we can't have the stripe....that uni above is my second choice!

Prehm makes a good point; it takes a year or so to become a dominant force. None of those guys started that way... (Well, Bol Bol wasn't around long enough for us to see) Jordan Bell

Amen Duck-Brother, as we are hearing the most encouraging things about our offense since....Willie Taggart! (Before you snarl....even with Herbert hurt--Taggart scored more than Cristobal averaged over his four years) Under Chip/Helf, we took it for granted and loved it. And to me...the code for "creating matchups" means the passing game. It happens with a slot WR on a linebacker or safety for example, or a speedy running back beating a covering linebacker down the sideline for a wheel route. Fun to watch for!

Well, Nathan Bittle....are you ready?