Charles Fischer

Ha! I heard the joke a different way....that people in Alabama say, "well at least we are not Mississippi!"

Another component in all of this is Verdell's injury; when he went down...Dye had accepted a "No. 2" role in the offense. Not now. He feels he has earned the "featured back" title, and if Verdell stays... And since I doubt he is NFL material--this last year is it for him and he has to make the most of NIL and his college experience. And that might not be at Oregon. But I will love him for what he did this last year!

I imagine we will know the real reason eventually, but I cannot help but wonder if he did not mesh with the new RB coach, or perhaps did not like hearing how, "every job is open" and he has to win the spot back again? Or with Verdell returning--he doesn't want to split time? Maybe he is showing his hand to allow other RBs to make a better decision? I agree with David Marsh; it makes my heart hurt. Nobody exemplifies "Ducks" like Travis, so I guess the legacy will Dye after all.

He is leaving a 10 win team that has superb upside for next year; where is he going to go and "be-the-man" where the same opportunity exists? I am running out of players I can put in my background photo for the forum that shows up on Desktops. Can't use Brown, or Devon Williams, or Mykael Wright and now not Dye?

I can't get into it, so if anyone wanted to summarize...that would be nice. Thanks. (Don't copy and paste it!)

Kayvon Thibodeaux Shares His Big Problem with Nick Saban’s Recruiting Pitch by Larry Brown of Larry Brown Sports OK...first there was this article above that 30Duck posted with Thibs thoughts about Saban and Alabama Greg McElroy Fires Back at Kayvon Thibodeaux over Alabama Education Remarks by Erin Walsh of Bleacher Report Then former Alabama QB Greg McElroy fires back? (Above) But it gets worse....(below) And more tweets and 'disses!

OK...I am not a big fan of his ramblings about his travels while a game is going on. But this is funny... Bill Walton Explains the Tinder Portal on Oregon-UCLA ESPN Broadcast by Matt Clapp of Awful Announcing

I plan to do some study of his prior performances in the off-season, but this did surprise me. (And he has two years of eligibility?) ESPN tabs Oregon QB Bo Nix as Ducks' Top 'Instant-Impact Newcomer' by Zachary Neel of Ducks Wire

THAT is the perfect question that I am going to copy and see what I can do with....

Dillon Brooks willed the team to victory so many times, and the current Ducks need someone to do the same. Is that going to be Richardson?

(Press Release to Credentialed Media from Oregon Athletics) LOS ANGELES — A momentous night in the career of Dana Altman was made all the more so by the circumstances of the game. Altman coached his 700th career Division-I victory Thursday, and it came in an 84-81 overtime upset for the Oregon men's basketball team over No. 3 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. The Ducks squandered a six-point lead in the final 44 seconds of regulation but got six points from Jacob Young and five from Will Richardson in overtime to hand the Bruins their second loss of the season. The Ducks (10-6, 3-2 Pac-12) won their fourth straight game, behind 23 points from Young to lead six scorers in double figures. His turnover led to the game-tying basket late in regulation, but he atoned with two tiebreaking buckets in overtime and a third that put Oregon up 83-79 with 24 seconds left. "I'm really proud of the way they fought back," said Altman, whose first career D-I win was with Marshall in 1989-90. "They fought through it. We haven't fought through adversity throughout the year. But we sure showed some growth tonight. How It Happened: Down 35-30 at halftime, the Ducks found their stroke from three-point range and used an 11-0 run to go ahead 46-37 in the opening minutes of the second half. UCLA fought back into a tie with 9:16 to go, but a three-point play by De'Vion Harmon gave Oregon a 64-58 advantage with 6:49 left, and the lead remained six inside the final minute. That's when things turned sour for the Ducks. The Bruins closed within four on two free throws, then used a UO turnover and two offensive rebounds to set up two more free throws and close within 73-71. Oregon inbounded with 21 seconds left and Young tried to throw a pass from his own baseline to a teammate underneath the basket, where Jaylen Clark made a steal and sunk the game-tying hoop. For a UO men's team whose losses this season included an overtime defeat to Arizona State and a three-point loss at Stanford, the script was starting to feel familiar. "We had a couple games where we hit a hump in the game, and we didn't really get over that hump," Richardson said. "We're a new team, and we weren't used to that yet. Last game (at Oregon State on Monday), winning that tough game on the road, it gave us confidence we could fight adversity. And we did that tonight." The Ducks never trailed in overtime. The two teams went back-and-forth in the opening minutes, with Richardson hitting two go-ahead baskets and Young adding two more. But after UCLA had managed to tie the game after each of the first three, the Ducks got two stops on defense and then the Bruins missed two potential game-tying free throws before Young's third basket in overtime made it 83-79. The Bruins did manage to answer that one, getting within 83-81 with 11 seconds left. Richardson made the second of two free throws at the other end for an 84-81 lead, and that held up as the final score when two desperation three-point attempts by UCLA were off the mark. "Really happy for the team," said Altman, the stoic UO coach who allowed himself a smile on the court postgame. "It's been a frustrating period for all of us. As a coach, a teacher, you want your guys to perform well. We've been doing C and D work, and we should be doing A and B work. As a coach, a teach, that's frustrating; for players it's frustrating. (But) they really responded tonight. Who Stood Out: Young had 23 points on 11-of-18 shooting, and Richardson added 16 points with three rebounds. N'Faly Dante was solid in the post with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Eric Williams Jr. finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Quincy Guerrier added 11 points with six boards, and Harmon also reached double figures with 10 points. What It Means: Not only did the Ducks get Altman his 700th win, but they continued to show signs of what has been a trend for Oregon men's basketball under Altman, that being steady improvement throughout the season — and particularly once Pac-12 play begins. "The whole team's just coming along," Richardson said. "It's just fun, exciting." Richardson said the Ducks' team chemistry has improved through recent COVID disruptions, and said he wasn't certain why that was the case. But Altman said he had an idea. "We've been getting some great leadership from Will," Altman said. "He's keeping the guys together, and really talking to them." Up Next: The Ducks play at No. 5 USC on Saturday (8 p.m., FS1).

Or..."what is the upside, the potential of the trenches?" We don't want to chase him off!

They were suck-ups to Cristobal, and now they will be suck-ups to Lanning.

An inexperienced coach urged to jump into the deep end... What could possibly go WRONG?

The 24/7 article was much better, and I learned a little. You can hear his enthusiasm for the program and the future through the text of the article! Great that he toured the Jacqua Center, and saw Hayward Field, as this is so important in recruiting. Something I forgot, is that often OCs and DCs are looking to get "ANY" head coaching job that comes along. Sure you could coach at Vanderbilt or WSU, but how hard is it going to be to recruit and build? Chances are you will be another picture on the wall of "former coaches." Meanwhile he comes to a team that had TEN WINS this last year, and THAT is a nice situation to walk into. (Especially considering all the upside on both offense and defense!) It is fun to be bubbly and optimistic again! Let's Go Get Those Dawgs!

Something he will have in common with Dan Lanning...a rare win over the Crimson Tide and Nick!

A redshirt freshman who did not see the field much, but was a top-100 player out of HS? Sounds like some real talent... Another Georgia Bulldog Defensive Back Enters Transfer Portal After Dan Lanning Departure by Zachary Neel of Ducks Wire

Yes, for Washington fans, the off-season is going to be "De-Bore!"

Book him Danno!

And it gives Lanning more time to work his magic?

I agree with both, as they shout big things for 2022...

Sure, and it is OK to have something "OT" or off-topic from Oregon Sports. Speaking of the off-season...I am finishing an article for tomorrow about the off-season for both Oregon fans and FishDuck...

Great article and great points; for all the competition we will have with USC....if both schools keep the West Coast talent home--Oregon and USC will prosper and the conference will benefit. Thanks Joshua!

WolfDuck....that is a GREAT post. Glad to have you posting often and your thoughts about the trenches in 2022 are right-on!

And the heck of it is....I thought they made a good return, did-in a bad guy and now a whole new bunch of plot directions with Harrison in it. I agree with Jon...can't really do this without Dexter.