Charles Fischer

I hope there is room on that bench, because there are a bunch of us!

Great point, as it is a muddling to two time periods. Just the wings would be fine to me... And frankly.....I would not mind seeing these below again and just the "O" without the wings.

Time to get my Rolaids! Not a fan of what happened, but appreciate you and everyone posting articles--thanks!

Thanks Brian, as I was being kind to that writer and rough on myself. One thing about last year I enjoyed and we may disagree on....is the helmets. I loved them!

And my game-plan is that as long as there is Oregon football--there will be a safe place in the OBD forum to discuss it!

This is highly subjective, as I think the Beavers really waste what could be done to look cool with their colors. Colorado's to me, can be very cool and I like the combinations for the Utes. The picture in the article is dated for Cal, as it shows a shiny Navy color, when now--they use the "flat-blue" color as the Cougs do, thus I grade their uniforms down. Ranking the best and worst football uniforms in the Pac-12 DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM When it comes to ranking the best and worst football uniforms in the Pac-12 conference, is it really a competition? I mean, everyone is pretty much playing for second place, no? It’s an inter… But then....I am a fuddy-duddy who wants what we wore in the early 1980s! Hmmm. Right about the time you graduated...showing your age, Charles!

I too, recognize all the good he did for us in recruiting and in national stature beginning to be restored in some areas. The win in Columbus will be his crowning achievement rivaling even the Rose Bowl win, so yes--while it may not appear that way--I am grateful for what he did for us. But he did diminish the national brand on offense, and actually got the fans booing....even when we were ahead! (Think about that...it is hard to do!) Based upon a number of factors...it is not a stretch that by the end of the fourth year--the same thing might be heard in the Orange Bowl. Even "The Rock" might be doing it! (Or giving his famous raised eyebrow at least) And I predict that 'Cane fans will be worried about their star QB transferring out after the '22 season.

Great post. Thanks for the "thanks," as I like to think that we are pretty good at "Opinion-Editorial" articles, and those type of articles feed into the forum wonderfully and generate discussion. For those who like to write for fun as the FD writers do....we will have some slots open--email me: charles@fishduck.com

Good one!

It has always been that way. With the Dan-Man, we can embrace the challenge, and let's make the 'Natty between Oregon and USC as it was for two SEC teams this year. Don't everyone laugh yet! It could happen in the future...and what would THAT do for the conference?

Give USC all the hype, and it will be that much sweeter when we beat them. I am sure our friends in Utah would agree with those sentiments...

You had a good seat!

Made for Oregon fans then, and we will have a BLAST!

By John Canzano...."ESPN will televise the USC spring game." Lincoln Riley will coach his first spring game at USC on April 23. USC will play its first spring football game under coach Lincoln Riley on April 23 at noon PT at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game is open to fans and will be televised on ESPN with Kirk Herbstreit, Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway and Molly McGrath on the broadcast. I’ll watch it. Bet you will, too. The Pac-12 suffered some surprising turnover last season. Oregon and Washington are both in transition with new head coaches. That will benefit Riley’s rapid rebuild. Still, I think fixing USC is a tougher job than people understand. The Trojans were depleted of talent in some position groups where they have traditionally been gifted. It wasn’t just that USC went 4-8, it was the demoralizing way they lost games. Six of those losses were by 14-or-more points. USC plays Notre Dame next season. The other two non-conference games are vs. Fresno State and vs. Rice. I’ll put the Trojans at 2-1 there. But Utah is entrenched as a power in the South Division and I expect Arizona and UCLA might be really improved next season. Lincoln Riley’s home in Palos Verdes Estates is 13,000 square feet. A lot has been made of Riley’s arrival in Southern California. USC is reportedly paying him $110 million to coach the football team. He bought a 3.17-acre oceanfront hut in Palos Verdes Estates for $17.2 million. It includes 13,000 square feet of living space, seven fire places and an elevator. Also his first spring practice was heralded by some as the greatest to ever happen on a football practice field. OK. But seriously what does success look like next season for Riley? 8 wins and a decent bowl game? 9 wins? A South Division title? And what kind of pressure might arise if the rebuild is slower than expected? The USC spring game will produce some much-needed national attention for the Pac-12. That ESPN is sending the “A-Team” broadcast crew is no surprise. I also think ESPN will likely send one of the good satellite trucks to this event. I hope. Some other good stuff… • UCLA coach Chip Kelly opens his spring football on Tuesday at 8:45 a.m. All of the Bruins’ spring practices start early and are scheduled only for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Kelly scheduled his spring “showcase” for April 23 — same date as rival USC and that big-time ESPN event. The UCLA spring game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network. Of note, Kelly tacked on three scheduled practices the week after that spring showcase game. • There’s no way that ugly Oscars scene between Will Smith and Chris Rock was rehearsed. • Spoke with an Oregon State football player on Sunday who told me he believes Jonathan Smith is a forever guy in Corvallis. Smith’s team finished 7-6 last season and made the LA Bowl. The coach was rewarded with a six-year contract extension worth $22.6 million. The contract includes a unique extension bonus — if Smith wins seven-plus games in 2022, 2023 and/or 2024 he’ll get another year of job security added to the deal. The Beavers’ spring game is April 16 and will air on the Pac-12 Networks. • Oregon Ducks’ first-year football coach Dan Lanning told me last month that he bought a pair of size 13 boots and fly-fishing equipment. UO special teams coach Joe Lorig is serving as his fly-fishing guide. Lorig is from the Pacific Northwest, was team captain at Western Oregon and his wife is from Klamath Falls. Lanning told me, “I want to experience Eugene.” The head coach popped up on Instagram last week with a picture of himself holding a trout on the McKenzie River. His first win? coachdanlanning A post shared by Dan Lanning (@coachdanlanning) • Chris Rock took that Will Smith slap like a champ. It was a disturbing and uncomfortable scene. Still, I can’t help but look forward to the next episode of Saturday Night Live. • The Stanford women’s basketball team is 32-3 this season. The Cardinal avenged one of their three regular-season losses on Sunday by beating Texas in an NCAA Tournament game that served as the gateway to the Final Four. Coach Tara VanDerveer said: “You’re always happy to go to the Final Four, but sometimes you’re really happy.” The defending national champions are now two wins away from being back-to-back champs. VanDerveer loosened her team up in the run-up to the regional final game vs. Texas by promising her players that they’d perform a team dance if they won the game. She spent practice time working on this. "I think it just loosened people up and showed them that I had confidence in them," VanDerveer told media after the win. "And they know I can't dance so they're watching me and laughing, so it was all good." • Will Smith was wrong to slap-fight on Oscars night, right? Can we agree on that? I mean, it was a joke that set him off. But did Chris Rock go too far in making fun of Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia? Who was out of line? Smith? Rock? Or both? Anna posed that exact poll question on her Twitter: Anna Canzano @Anna_Canzano Who was out of line? Chris Rock for joking about Jada Pickett-Smith’s alopecia? Or Will Smith for slapping him for it? #Oscars2022 March 28th 2022 3 Likes • Washington coach Kalen DeBoer starts his first spring practices this week in Seattle. I think DeBoer was a really smart hire by AD Jennifer Cohen. The move flew under the radar with USC (Lincoln Riley) and Oregon (Dan Lanning) conducting searches that got more run from national media. Keep an eye on gifted Huskies’ running back Emeka Megwa, the highly coveted recruit who fielded 36 scholarship offers (Alabama included) before picking UW. He graduated high school early and enrolled at Washington last September. Feels like this is his spring to shine. • Washington State football is also holding its spring game on April 23. I’m especially interested to see transfer quarterback Cameron Ward, who left Division-II University of Incarnate Word and chose WSU over joining Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. Ward is familiar with the Air Raid offense. He played for new WSU offensive coordinator Eric Morris at Incarnate Word. I’m not as concerned as others with questions about the step-up of competition Ward will see in the Pac-12. I think the Cougars could be sneaky good next season if Ward is as advertised.

I will not say that I "hope" that what is below will happen, because I KNOW it will happen. Mario was emboldened to continue to do for the 'Canes what he did at Oregon with an Eight Million a year positive reinforcement; he absolutely will do all of it again because he is smarter than everyone else. (Especially on offense) Boy...I cannot believe how lucky we are as Oregon fans. Great Dano-Days are ahead!

This is going to become a BIG DEAL, and made for TV...

Whoa! That is a loaded calendar, an Oregon Sports FEAST!

I do not deny what is happening, and I am not putting my head in a hole...but nothing is going to change dramatically for Oregon in the next three years, maybe even four years as Jon Joseph and I have concluded. Thus.... Not me! We have a three year window to enjoy Oregon football before major changes occur; why not soak it up while we can and savor what we know is so sweet while we can? The change will be there forever, and we can check out of college football then!

You have to scroll down and look to the right margin, but Oregon State is No. 3, Arizona is No. 15, Oregon is No. 21, and Gonzaga is No. 24. Playing Oregon State five times later this season gives us a chance to increase that ranking! How The Top 25 Fared: Week Six • D1Baseball D1BASEBALL.COM Chase Burns and Tennessee had an outstanding weekend, as we take an in-depth look at how the Top 25 fared over the past week. And Oregon has climbed to No. 4 in the RPI! Nitty Gritty • D1Baseball D1BASEBALL.COM Follow along with the most accurate college baseball RPI updated daily as the Road to Omaha continues.

Look...holding onto first place in Baseball is going to be hard, but it is a thrill to see it for the moment! For Softball...the upside is still there!

You made me LOL! Agreed, as I don't think he believes in a Sacrifice Fly. (We have good hitters...he is thinking) Yep, the play-by-play can call the game well, but I don't learn much from them. Or when they make a strategy call--they don't explain why.

Some amazing performances...and this team are truly Fighting Ducks!

(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) EUGENE, Ore. — USC celebrated first Sunday afternoon, but the Oregon baseball team celebrated last after the Ducks rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to complete a 7-6 comeback before 1,277 fans at PK Park. The Trojans homered once during a five-run first inning then added a solo shot in the second, prompting celebrations that didn’t go unnoticed by the home team. Down 6-1 at the seventh-inning stretch, the Ducks got within two on a Colby Shade homer in the bottom of that inning, then blasted two more home runs in the eighth to take the lead. Logan Mercado kept Oregon in the game when it was 6-1, facing one over the minimum across 3.2 innings of relief. Dylan Sabia (1-0) pitched two more scoreless innings to get the win after taking over from Mercado, who was in Oregon’s dugout when the Trojans were celebrating their early success Sunday, and also during USC’s win to even the series Saturday. “I was just angry; I was really angry,” Mercado said of his mentality once he took the mound. “Those guys had been hammering us all weekend. The antics the past two games just kind of fueled me to go out there and just pitch angry.” Logan Mercado is not a big guy, but has a big heart. (And arm!) Sunday’s victory gave the Ducks their third straight series win to open Pac-12 play. At 7-2 in the conference, Oregon is a game ahead of defending champion Arizona and Oregon State for first place. How It Happened: UO starter Caleb Sloan was touched for five runs in the first, all with two outs. With two on and two out, USC stroked back-to-back singles for a 3-0 lead, followed by a two-run homer to break it open. Brennan Milone doubled home Shade in the bottom of the first to make it 5-1, but USC got the run back with a solo homer in the second. Mercado entered the game with two on and one out in the third, and retired the next two hitters to end the threat. The Ducks stranded a runner in scoring position all four innings he was on the mound, but Mercado kept them in the game to set the stage for a late rally. “He came in and threw the ball over the plate, had multiple pitches for strikes and he brought a mentality that was infectious in the dugout,” UO coach Mark Wasikowski said. “As he continued to pound the strike zone, you could just feel a little bit more energy, a little bit more momentum. It was all Logan Mercado today.” Sabia took over and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Gavin Grant worked a leadoff walk and two batters later Shade made it 6-3 with his third hit of the game, and third home run of the season. Josh Kasevich led off Oregon’s half of the eighth with his third hit of the day, and Anthony Hall followed with a walk. Two batters later, Josiah Cromwick crushed the first pitch he saw for a mammoth home run to deep left field, tying the game. “I just wanted to get on-time to something,” said Cromwick, who entered the game in the fourth when the UO staff assessed that right-handed hitters were putting better swings on USC’s starting pitcher. “I was looking for something over the middle of the plate, and I was just trying to put a barrel on it.” With two out, UO leadoff hitter Tanner Smith hit Oregon’s third home run in two innings, giving the Ducks a 7-6 lead. Kolby Somers retired USC in order in the ninth for his fourth save of the season. The home runs by Cromwick and Smith came off USC reliever Carson Lambert, who was 3-0 with one save and an ERA of 1.85 entering the day, having allowed only one home run across 11 appearances. “We didn't want to lose,” Wasikowski said. “Simple as that. We didn't wanna lose.” On The Mound: Mercado allowed only a single in the fourth inning, lowering his ERA this season to 1.12 across eight appearances. Sabia needed just 21 pitches to record six outs and earn his first victory with the Ducks. Mercado, Sabia and Somers got the last 20 outs of the game while allowing one base runner combined. At The Plate: Smith’s home run was his team-leading seventh of the season, coming a day after he saw his 12-game hitting streak end in Saturday’s loss. Shade’s three hits got his average up to .451 for the season, and he now leads the Ducks with 23 RBIs. On Deck: The Ducks open a two-game series with San Francisco in PK Park on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

From Coach Was: (Courtesy of 247) “That's one of the learning lessons of the day is you play nine a game for the reason that it's nine innings,” said head coach Mark Wasikowski after the game. “If the game ended after two then I guess we lose and we can go home and feel bad about ourselves. Because we had some perseverance and they stuck with it and I credit coach (Jack) Marder for that. I think he brought a lot of energy, especially when we needed it and he did a great job preparing those guys we got some very good swings are obviously late in the game and broke down a bullpen guy that that's very, very good for USC.” “Player of the day,” said Wasikowski regarding Logan Mercado’s efforts. “We had a bad start. We had a bad first guy up and boy just it could have really gotten away from us, had Logan not done what he did. He came in he threw the ball over the plate. He had multiple pitches for strikes and he brought a mentality that the became infectious in the dugout. And as he continued to pound the strike zone. You could just feel a little bit more energy, a little bit more energy, a little bit more momentum. And it was all Logan Mercado today.”

Your team was also incredibly young last year, thus I believe you are set for a great year. With all we've had to swallow of the USC hype--it would sure be great to see you take the South. Thanks for your feedback as always.