Charles Fischer

In this morning‘s Eugene Register-Guard, it was revealed that most of these transfer players still have a year of eligibility. Only Jacob Young is out of eligibility, and they all have to decide if they are going to return. Dana also made it clear that whoever remains had better be prepared to work very hard, so there will be a blending of the new and the old next year for sure. It is even possible we could see will Richardson return next year!

I am surprised to hear that Bittle was mentioned, as he struck me as someone who would want to work. It will be interesting to see which of the big-men stay and who goes. I do think Dana has something to point to..."this is what happens when you ignore my system." These Ducks have to work harder...

More later, but this a new record at Oregon as they have had multiple home runs FIVE GAMES in a row! The Zags are No. 23 in one Baseball poll, and No. 19 in another as they've swept three games from both Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma State and beat Missouri. They have a pitcher who throws 97 mph, but I am not sure if we will see him. Oregon is starting Jacob Hughes, 1-0, 1.59 ERA from Meridian, Idaho and who has a brother Gabriel, on the Gonzaga team and won freshman All-American honors as a pitcher. I wonder if we will see a brotherly pitching duel?

I recall Graves declaring that Prince would be one of the top draft picks of the WNBA when she left.

Bob Gregory coming to Oregon as an analyst from Washington got the ire and respect of some Husky fans. I do think it is so cute when they refer to us as the "Zeros;" like the number of National Championship won by Husky men? My friends....in case you did not notice...for Oregon Football News....this current time is like the DEAD SEA, and tidbits like this below are amusing to read during such a time. For those who do not wish to read what Husky fans are writing--don't. "Don’t kid yourself He’s a good coach and a nice pickup for Oregon if it happens." "I agree that he's a good coach and a good guy, and they're not asking him to be the DC. I just think he's spent an entire career at places known for the highest ethical standards, and landing at a place that is known for the opposite. I wish him all the best, as soon as he leaves Eugene." "Objectively, it's a good move for the Zeros (I refuse to use the word "smart" in connection with them). They have a pretty new staff that does not have recent experience playing or coaching against Pac-12 teams. Whether we liked Gregory at UW or not, they get a seasoned Pac-12 defensive coach and recent DC of a consistently top 3 defense to help them scout all of the other Pac-12 teams. Gregory has prepared or been an integral part of preparing for and executing relatively successful defensive game plans against these teams for almost a decade. He is not allowed to be in a recruiting role (his Achilles heel at UW) if he is an off-field defensive analyst. Besides, the Zeros have above average to strong recruiters up and down their coaching staff, so he adds relatively little value there. Their perceived weakness as a coaching staff is coaching chops. I would say that Gregory is definitely a net positive in that department for them. I bet Tosh Lupoi is pushing hard for this, since Gregory was his DC when he played at Cal. Gregory also coaches the same position group as Tosh does, so perhaps Tosh feels that BG can be a redundancy for him at that position group, as well?" "Lol he went from our DC and interim HC to an “Analyst” for Oregon. That tells you everything you need to know about how bad we were under JL." "Bob Gregory was not a great DC but I think he was a good LBer coach that was unfortunate enough to play in a defense that was very unfriendly to ILBs the last few years. He wasn’t a great recruiter but he was a good position coach. And if he does get hired as an analyst he’s not going to be asked to do much recruiting at all." "LMAO. Let me get this straight. So Ulo (a walk-on) doesn’t count as a hidden gem find for Gregory because Ulo worked hard? But the other coaches find hidden gems but they Do count because it furthers your argument? I’m not saying I want Bob Gregory back as our ILB coach. But the man did have an eye for talent. He just wasn’t able to recruit well enough to get most of his targets. But my main point is to laugh at your take that all the other coaches found hidden gems when Bob didn’t… even though our two starters this year are hidden gems lol." "I know he's a good coach ... but don't sell yourself and work for a program that continually used negative recruiting tactics during your time at UW ... sit on the sidelines till something better comes up ..." "Gregory absolutely did not want to be the DC. He turned down Lake when he asked him initially. But good ole Jimmy circled around and came back and told him that he had to be the DC because there was nobody else." "We all have our opinions, mine is that Gregory was not a good recruiter and so, so as a coach and horrible as a DC. And he chose to continue working for Lake even after figuring out what we did that he was a fake head coach. Anyway, glad he is now Oregon's problem." "I sincerely doubt that the Oregon staff looks at it that way. He’s a good defensive mind." "Yes he is. Worked for Jeff Tedford and Chris Petersen. He could be a solid help for the Ducks. Adding some actual coaching help." "He's a good coach that has been around the west coast forever. Good pickup for the Ducks." "OH please make this happen...Everyone drop AD Rod Mullens a note and draw comparisons of Gregory to the great Oregon Alum Denny Shuler. Include the fact Denny scored the first Ducks TD ever in Autzen Stadium!" "It’s Rob Mullens. BTW, Bellotti thought very highly of Gregory. Veteran coach in the Pac-12 should be a plus for this new staff."

Whew! Big Inning!

I have my doubts about that....and I'll explain why (my opinion) in an upcoming article. I've been pondering this for a bit...

The final between BYU and No. 11 Oregon is 9-3!

It was surprising to hear Coach Graves being so frank...."we act entitled, and we haven't done anything." Whew!

I'm not sure Manny Diaz would agree. This is one time I wish I had an "Ouch!" reaction symbol, as a thumbs up doesn't do it. I am putting together a list of new ones to add and "Ouch!" is one of them.

Yep. It is out in the open now; there is NO WAY anyone can pay 8 million to a QB, make a profit, and it pencils out. Ditto for a "charity" paying $50,000 a year to the third string offensive lineman at Texas? If there is regulation on the horizon...this time will be considered by the players to be a Golden Age for them. Don't TOUCH my NIL.

With Conerly...most signs are pointing at USC unfortunately, because we expect to get out-bid in NIL. I NEVER thought I would be writing such a thing.

Or his position coach...what a terrible spot to put Athletic Administrations into!

Well, that is RPI, but in the usual poll below--we still have a few weeks yet. But our Tuesday opponent is ranked No. 23! D1Baseball Top 25: Virginia, Arizona Make Big Moves • D1Baseball D1BASEBALL.COM Virginia and Arizona surged in the D1Baseball Top 25, while Louisville and UConn entered the rankings.

For those who like to dive into it... Recapping all of the offers Dan Lanning and Oregon made last week 247SPORTS.COM Recapping all of the offers Dan Lanning and Oregon made last week

Good for the former Oregon pitcher, but I know a bunch of SF Giant fans who are also Oregon fans who may not be pleased!

Well....here are TEN candidates! (And we know two of them from above) College Recruiting: The 10 best remaining QB prospects in 2023 class DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM You can count on the Oregon Ducks to try hard to sign one of these remaining QBs in the 2023 class.

This seems plausible, but what about the chance to WIN? QB Carousel: A landing spot has opened up for Marcus Mariota DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Quarterbacks in the NFL are getting traded all over the place. Fortunately for Duck fans, it may have opened a perfect spot for Marcus Mariota to reboot his career.

And the ESPN hype of the SEC resulted in ONE to the Sweet Sixteen? Talk about undeserved... Now THAT was deserved...

Yes, and it may not be from a top-flight program as players prove themselves at lower levels and emerge. Right now, Oregon's leading hitter on the Baseball team transferred in from a D-3 school. Talent is talent....

This is from ChicoDuck, who does superb player analysis. All is not lost, as there are talented targets remaining! Eli Holstein 6' 3-1/2" and 226 Pounds - Zackary High School - Zackary, Louisiana Zackary H.S. Enrollment about 1,600 kids (9-12) Four-Time 5A State Champions in Football Holstein led his team to 15-0 Record and the 5A State Tile in 2021 as a Junior. He was also 5A Louisiana Player of the Year. As a sophomore, he led Zackary to a State Quarterfinal round before bowing out. He is a great athlete. According to Geaux247 at a sanctioned event (May 19, 2021) he recorded a 4.69 40-Clock, a 4.40 Short Shuttle, an impressive 38" Vert and an equally impressive 42'0 Power Ball. His 118.50 SPARQ score at 6'3 and 212 pounds is eye-opening. FRESHMAN YEAR He started and played very well for a 14-year-old at the Varsity level. His mechanics, though clunky were good considering his age. He made impressive 40 yard Go routes, 35-yard flag routes and even executed a screen play. SOPHOMORE YEAR He looked like a different guy with a year of snaps under his belt. His decision-making was faster. The clock in his head starting to phase with the speed of the game. His mechanics eroded as he was playing some hero ball. He was looking like a gunslinger. He can really fire a ball. He unhinges his trail leg when he does it, but the velocity is there. JUNIOR YEAR Can make all the throws to all three levels. Their offense went vertical. Very impressive passing attack. Reminded me of the Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" His Center had trouble snapping to him at the same point. Holstein handled these errant snaps without any problems. It didn't appear to affect his clock. This kid is a very cool cat. Big arm. Lots of 50+ yard vertical routes either from a set platform and on the move. Very impressive core strength. Looked off the Safety and came back to throw a 25-yard laser to his opposite Split Receiver for a TD. Next level stuff right there. He's ready for D1. MECHANICS He has a very compact stride. It's a bit odd. I think at the next level (wherever he goes) the QB coach is going to try to uncoil him by lengthen his lead leg a little. Though that affects his release time a microsecond, his clock is running fast enough it won't matter. It will help him generate a little more velocity when he needs it, and flatten the trajectory. He has quiet feet for a HS kid. He remains anchored and rarely unhinges. His core is very strong and will only get stronger as he matures. One film clip where he's flushed out of the pocket and he uncorks a 58 yard throw on the run without setting his feet is a testament to how strong he is. This kid is D1 ready right now. At his next stop they will adjust the level of where ball is received at the snap. He has a bit of a baseball windup. They will get him to bring it more to his chin/ear for a more consistent launch platform. It will make him even more accurate than he already is. SUMMARY He decommitted from Texas A&M three days after Oregon offered him on March 15th. The key phrase in his decommit tweet "...with all of the coaching changes...". Of his potential finalists only Miami and Oregon could have prompted this, as they're the only two schools on his radar with staff changes. Let's not kid ourselves here. This kid is really good. He's nobody's "backup" plan. He is a premier talent that can take a team to the Big Show and win it.

This is a good one, but on other sites--it is evident that there are more targets for the Ducks, although this one is key to focus on. Oregon Recruiting: Ducks’ eyes turn to 5-star QB Jaden Rashada DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM With the expected news that Nico Iamaleava Jr. has committed to Tennessee, Oregon’s efforts will likely ramp up on recruiting a new 5-star QB to Eugene.

The past and the future is addressed in this article...seems like next year is a crossroads year. Are they vaulting back, or settling in? Oregon Basketball: Kelly Graves looking at bright future for Ducks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The 2022 season didn’t end how they planned, but Kelly Graves and the Ducks have reasons for optimism going into the offseason.

This is good, but get more help on defense! (As Bill Walton would say...."Please.") Oregon Legends: Justin Herbert adds TE Gerald Everett in free agency DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM It appears that talented pass-catchers are showing a desire to play with Justin Herbert and the LA Chargers.

Canzano: Pac-12 Standing a Little Taller Amid Broken Brackets (How did the selection committee do?) The Pac-12 put two teams in the men’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Pac-12 Conference has to feel a little better about itself today. The conference put two teams — Arizona and UCLA — in the men’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. I’m celebrating this today because the conference only had three total teams in the entire bracket. That’s a 67 percent bracket survival rate, folks. I checked in with Pac-12 deputy commissioner Jamie Zaninovich this morning to see how he was feeling about things. He’s the supervisor in charge of basketball for the conference. Zaninovich said, “Our universities continue to invest in basketball and it is great to see that paying off in annual national competitiveness in March Madness.” A lot was made of the Big Ten landing nine teams in the men’s tournament field. It was the second straight year the selection committee over-bought the Big Ten. Last year only one of the Big Ten’s nine teams reached the Sweet 16. This year only two of the nine (Michigan and Purdue) survived the opening weekend — a 22 percent survival rate. Here’s the Sweet 16 by conference: ACC: 3 Big 12: 3 Pac-12: 2 Big Ten: 2 Big East: 2 The SEC, WCC, American Athletic Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference each have one team left. SELECTIVE JUDGEMENT: I talked with two members who served on the men’s NCAA Tournament Selection Committee in the last week. UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond told me it was a time-consuming endeavor. Said Jarmond: “It’s not something that starts with six days in Indianapolis. You’re watching games all year. Each committee person has conferences that they monitor and you do weekly calls with the conference to learn more about the teams. You’re not just watching games, you’re getting feedback from the conferences about the teams in the conference. “It’s intense.” That little line about “feedback” is ringing in my ears today. Because right now it really looks like someone from the Big Ten did an especially nice job lobbying the selection committee and selling the strength of the conference. How did the selection committee do in general with the Sweet 16? Take a look at the remaining seeds by each region: West: 1, 2, 3, 4. South: 1, 2, 5, 11. Midwest: 1, 4, 10, 11. East: 3, 4, 8, 15. The committee has to feel good about how things played out in the West. The region performed exactly as the committee predicted it would — (1) Gonzaga, (2) Duke, (3) Texas Tech and (4) Arkansas all advanced The South wasn’t awful aside from maybe No. 11-seed Michigan knocking out No. 3 Tennessee in the second round. But the committee did some shaky work in the Midwest, where only two of the top-four seeds are still in play. The East is messy, too. The top-two seeds (No. 1 Baylor and No. 2 Kentucky) were both upset and No. 15 Saint Peter’s has been a bracket wrecking ball. Picking the field is never easy and there’s a ton of subjectivity involved but I’m always interested in seeing how the committee’s work lines up against the actual results on the court. CINDERELLA LIVES IN JERSEY: You’re going to read a lot about Saint Peter’s University in the coming days. It’s playing the role of Cinderella in the men’s NCAA Tournament. The Peacocks are a private university in New Jersey with an enrollment of 3,554. They play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Saint Peter’s beat No. 7-seed Murray State to advance to the Sweet 16. Before that it upset No. 2 Kentucky in a first-round shocker. Fun fact… Saint Peter’s endowment: $37 million. Kentucky coach John Calipari’s contract: $86 million. Calipari’s contract also gives him a country club membership and use of two “late-model, quality automobiles.” Just throwing that out there in case you wonder what he’ll be doing with his free time in the next week or two. Stanford is a No. 1-seed in the women’s NCAA Tournament. FUN CONTINUES: The Pac-12 had a terrific women’s NCAA Tournament a year ago, landing two teams in the national title game. Stanford, a No. 1-seed, has already advanced to the Sweet 16 in this year’s tournament. No. 4-seed Arizona can do the same with a win today over No. 5-seed North Carolina. Keep an eye on the Elite Eight, though. At least two Pac-12 women’s teams have made the Elite Eight every year since 2016. There was an interesting moment that bridged the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments over the weekend. A USA Today reporter based in Portland asked Memphis coach Penny Hardaway a question he wasn’t totally prepared for in his news conference on Friday at Moda Center. Stanford women’s coach Tara VanDerveer has pledged $10 in humanitarian support to Ukraine for every three-point basket made in the NCAA women’s tournament. The reporter asked Hardaway if he’d match $10 per three-point basket for the men’s tournament. The exchange: Hardaway: “I didn't know about it. And it's our team? However many threes we make?” Reporter: “No. It's however many threes are made in the entire NCAA Tournament to give a lot of money.” Hardaway: “I need to call Tara and ask can I just give a donation. I don't know if I can commit to that because — obviously I want to be a part of it, so I'm sure I can get in touch with coach but I don't know about — I will give a donation.” Hardaway wasn’t alone with his reaction. Gonzaga’s Mark Few got the same question a few minutes later. So did Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett and UCLA’s Mick Cronin. They all agreed to make a donation in some form to Ukraine relief. Said Few: “Sounds like a worthy endeavor and we will look into it.” Said Bennett: “Let me know what those numbers look like before I totally join it, but I would definitely support that.” Said Cronin: “Yeah, that's easy, that's not even a hard one… I think we should have a charity thing every year where we donate $1 from every ticket sold from every first-round game in both tournaments. The NCAA should take $1 from every ticket from every first game including the First Four and we should decide where we're giving it.” The 5-year old and 7-year old played on the beach over the weekend. BEACH ENERGY: I have three daughters. The youngest two, ages 5 and 7, absolutely love playing on the beach. Maybe your kids do, too. On Sunday they got a chance to get their feet on the sand. They dug holes, climbed dunes, ran in circles, picked up sticks, collected broken seashells and bird feathers, and pretty much went wild on the Oregon coast. They were filthy, hungry and smiling by the end. Neither of them seemed to care that it was cold and windy. My wife and I sat for a spell and watched them play. Anna noted, “There’s just something about the beach that energizes kids and dogs.” Ain’t it the truth.