Charles Fischer

....as it is simply an ESCAPE. Coach Moorhead is one of the highest profile and respected OCs in the nation, and this move (regardless of prior ties) reeks of "get-me-out-of-here-anyway-possible."

Thanks to all, as again...in slow motion watch the precise moment that "Sala" leaves the combo block and gets the linebacker. This is done in fractions of seconds, and the timing is so crucial. They have all "matured" in this play and now everyone is happy. Fans are NOT complaining about pounding the "A" gaps when we have plays like what you see above, and obviously Cristobal loves it, and Moorhead calls the play! Normally I only do one example, but both were so good and within a minute and a half of each in the game...but it required me to take FIVE HOURS to complete this analysis with all the details and technology.

Mark Helfrich. He has a subservient personality which would mesh with Cristobal, and he was the best OC ever at Oregon, including better than Chip. (More balance) But the bad blood between he and Mullens makes that impossible. (And yes, everyone--I know he was not a leader, but neither is Joe Moorhead)

Yes, I am doing that because not only did the game start for us at 14-0, but in my case my DVR burped, and I had to shut down and go through the start-up routine while the game was going on! There is another showing on ESPN2 on Tuesday night I believe, but it is only two hours, so they had to have cut a ton out. Bless you for thinking of everyone and posting that!

SpecialK...great to see you post as a new member. Share your thoughts often and WELCOME!

Not very classy, but funny!

Wow. USC is better than Oklahoma? And agreed....THANKS for posting that deschutesduck!

And...I'd like to know what Jonathan Smith is signing for per year?

I don't think he is available as he plans to sign a new long-term contract with Baylor.

And I agree with you my FD Friend....with the talent we have emerging on offense--if we could have a QB perform like Brown on Saturday--we could seriously challenge for the Playoff. But the defense sure gave it up in the second half...we will grow there too I hope.

Well...I think Oregon should be averaging at least 40 points per game, and should not be giving up more than 20 points per game, IMHO.

Not often enough! But luck can come quickly!

OK....even with all the good feelings today--ask yourself honesty....are Oregon's numbers below what you want?

OK...I am in agreement that what Dickert did with the Cougars is amazing, but Herm Edwards?

Here is a bit of reality that I cannot deny...

My friends, I am not complaining, but I would sure like to know why we could not have had THAT Anthony Brown present in other games? I have stated to many that this team with a great quarterback is most certainly a very good team, but we did not see it very often. Throws that in the past were behind receivers were nailed in stride for BIG first downs against Oregon State. I mean, 23-28 is the elite kind of day we've seen from other Oregon QBs in the past, but not him. And it turns out that we needed every bit of it. One Duck-Buddy thought it was home field, but I recall the boos at home...it was such an amazing performance--can he do it two more times? Ever? What was it my friends?

I am surprised it is not higher?

OK...I did not see this coming!

Way up from before, but still pretty bad odds. Although I have to admit that if I was on the outside...

"The Ducks have had no repeat starting lineups on offense or defense all season, 21 different offensive players have started a game this season, and 22 different defensive players have started a game this season. When the Ducks left the football field on Saturday afternoon with a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game, they did it without 16 players who were not available or got hurt in the Oregon State game from the team's Week 1 Depth Chart."

Boy...the beginning of a ton of great pondering and discussion about this game! THANKS for posting this. Everybody post articles!

That subject is just not something I want to approach yet, as I do think it is premature to pondering it. But I appreciate very much that you are a new member, and posting a new thread already! WELCOME!

(Oregon Athletics Press Release) EUGENE, Ore. – The two-time defending Pac-12 champions will try to make it three in a row when the Ducks play Friday in the conference title game, which No. 11 Oregon advanced to by beating Oregon State 38-29 in Autzen Stadium on Saturday. The first sellout crowd at Autzen in two years witnessed the Ducks' 19th straight win at home, in which they put up 506 yards of offense and limited OSU's vaunted rushing attack to 85 yards. UO quarterback Anthony Brown accounted for three touchdowns, helping the Ducks to a 24-3 halftime lead that forced the Beavers out of their comfort zone offensively. Oregon (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) advanced to play in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, in a rematch against one of two teams to beat the Ducks this season, Utah. The Ducks beat the Utes in the 2019 conference title game, before beating USC to win the 2020 Pac-12 crown. "All in all, just proud of our guys for taking control of the game in the most critical moments, and earning an opportunity to play a 13th game," said UO coach Mario Cristobal, who left Eugene after the game for an overnight trip to visit his mother, who he said in his postgame comments had fallen ill. A week after falling behind 28-0 at halftime in a loss at Utah that dashed their playoff hopes, the Ducks scored on all four of their first-half possessions against the Beavers. Travis Dye, who surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season Saturday, opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown and Devon Williams made it 14-0 with a touchdown that came during his 110-yard receiving day. Brown scored on the ground just before halftime after the teams had traded field goals, making it 24-3. Kris Hutson hauled in Brown's second touchdown pass of the day in the fourth quarter, giving Oregon a 31-9 lead. And though Oregon State quickly rallied for two touchdowns, recovering an onside kick in between, Dye put the nail in OSU's coffin with his second rushing touchdown of the day for a 38-21 lead with 3:14 to play. Emotions boiled over as OSU drove to one last late touchdown. UO safety Verone McKinley III was called for targeting, and though the call was reversed by replay, the two teams scuffled in the end zone moments later. In the end, though, Oregon was able to celebrate clinching the Pac-12 North division, and a rematch with Utah. "We couldn't be more excited to get another shot at Utah next week in Vegas, especially in that beautiful stadium," UO linebacker Nate Heaukulani said, looking ahead to the Pac-12 title game in the new home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. Saturday's win for the Ducks came on senior day. A pregame ceremony included not only guys like Brown and Heaukulani, but NFL-bound sophomore defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, and also receivers Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd, program mainstays in recent years who participated in the ceremony using scooters to immobilize their respective legs injuries. In the absence of Johnson and Redd, Williams had the first 100-yard outing by a UO receiver this season, and Hutson caught his first career touchdown pass. Brown finished the day with 358 yards of total offense, having completed 23-of-28 passes for 275 yards while rushing for another 83 yards. "This being senior day, it was special going out the way I did, and the way we went out against Oregon State at home," Brown said. "It was just a great experience." Oregon State came into the game as the Pac-12's best rushing team at 229.4 yards per game, and having allowed 24 total points in their previous two games. The Ducks matched that 24 points by halftime Saturday and held OSU's rushing attack under 100 yards for just the second time this season, as Oregon won for the 12th time in the last 14 games against the Beavers. OSU's late flurry of points came with two of the Ducks' top defenders, linebacker Noah Sewell and cornerback Mykael Wright, on the sideline due to injuries. Cristobal said after the game none of the players banged up Saturday looked to be seriously hurt, at least based on preliminary diagnoses. McKinley led the UO defense with six tackles, setting a ferocious tone against the run after the Ducks allowed 208 yards on the ground in losing to the Utes. That effort Saturday earned Oregon a rematch with Utah come Friday. "We'll be in bright and early tomorrow, ready to work," McKinley said. "We know what we want to do. We know what the task is. We know what's at stake. And we're ready to go."

Geez you guys are good, and this is so close! The winner by a Duck feather is Duck1984! Member Winner Score Spread Turnovers Sacks Passing Yards Actual Stats Oregon 38-29 9 points 1 0 275 Duck1984 Oregon 38-30 8 points 3 3 333 (58 yards from actual) 30Duck Oregon 37-29 8 points 3 3 212 (63 yards from actual)

(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) Question: What does the rivalry win mean to you, especially after last year’s game? CRISTOBAL: "Well, it was big. I mean, last year, that was a rough one. You know, coming off that field and in the fashion that it was won, again, a back-and-forth battle, but they found a way to win. We found a way not to win. You know, we had to change that by the way we played, by the way we executed. Things got a little bit heated there at the end. You wish it doesn’t because that’s not part of the game, man. You know, it’s just frustrations leaking out. We’re all responsible, both sides. You know, can’t let that stuff happen, but this game is really important and we— you know, you saw a lot of talk today and throughout the week on rivalry week, and how teams, when they play in rivalry week, they carry the support of all those that wore the “O” or whatever respective logo they play for. They carry that with them, and when you do, you’re playing for a lot more than just the guys in the locker room. You know, and I think the ones that understand that, the important of rivalries, well, I think that’s why it carries that extra energy, and you can focus on getting your guys ready for the game by executing and digging deep in a game plan and fundamentals and technique. But the other stuff carries you over, pushes you over the top, and I think we felt that today. We want to make our guys proud." Question: What’s the moment like when you’re able to enjoy the win and do it with your family? CRISTOBAL: "You want to enjoy it with everybody. You know, the boys, you know, the family, Jessica hadn’t had a chance to be out on the field all year, you know. I want to celebrate with the players. I like congratulating each and every person in the organization right after a game, right after a victory. And I want to chuck the ball around with them a little bit. You know, they’re the best. They’re actually sitting here watching me, probably critiquing everything I’m saying, you know. You don’t get to see them much, so really appreciate the opportunity to just throw a couple deep passes out there in Autzen. Maybe they’re recruitable in a couple years!"