Charles Fischer

Conference play is going to be so brutal this year--great entertainment!

GREAT article to post and thanks. Everybody...do your part and post articles for the rest of us!

Think about this my friends....the amount of talent on that squad! (Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon leads the Pac-12 with four players on the preseason all-conference team, as Te-Hina Paopao, Sedona Prince, Endyia Rogers and Nyara Sabally each earned a spot on the 15-player team following a vote by media who cover the league. The Ducks also checked in at No. 2 in the preseason Pac-12 media poll Wednesday, matching where they were picked to finish by the league’s coaches at Pac-12 Media Day in October. Paopao, who was named to the preseason watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award honoring the nation’s top point guard, averaged 10.2 points and a team-high 4.4 assists per game as a freshman in 2020-21. She also shot 39.5 percent from downtown while leading all freshman nationally with a 2.40 assist-to-turnover ratio on the way to earning postseason All-Pac-12 honors. In her first season on the court as a collegiate player, Prince scored 10.4 points per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and grabbing 3.9 rebounds per contest. She also blocked 1.5 shots per game while reaching double figures in scoring 11 times, highlighted by a career-high 22 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Georgia. A two-year starter at USC before transferring to Oregon, Rogers averaged 13.8 points per game and averaged 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists over her two seasons with the Trojans. She earned All-Pac-12 honors a season ago after finishing seventh in the conference with 14.8 points per game while ending the year fifth in the league with 4.3 assists per contest. Another All-Pac-12 selection in 2020-21, Sabally led the Ducks in both scoring (12.9 PPG) and rebounding (7.3 RPG) while ranking third in the conference with a field goal percentage of 54.7. She was named to the preseason watch list for the Katrina McClain Award, which goes to the nation’s top power forward, after reaching double figures in scoring 19 times in 23 games and recording four double-doubles. Preseason All-Conference Team Cameron Brink - STAN Mya Hollingshed - COLO Lexie Hull - STAN Haley Jones - STAN Taylor Jones - OSU Charlisse Leger-Walker - WSU Charisma Osborne - UCLA Te-Hina Paopao - ORE Alissa Pili - USC Sedona Prince - ORE Cate Reese - ARIZ Endyia Rogers - ORE Nyara Sabally - ORE Sam Thomas - ARIZ Talia von Oelhoffen - OSU

I went absolutely nuts when this play happened, as I could not believe it. What is it now...about 23 years ago?

I know that Jon Joseph covered this before in posts, but to see it as an image and listen to all the discussion about Our Beloved Ducks on this national show is just so fun!

The Ducks have not been relevant and discussed on the Playoff Show in seven years, since 2014. Is that the greatest image ever below? (And it could get better!)

This has been a very pleasant experiment that has worked out for Our Beloved Ducks! (No subscription needed for this article) Jeffrey Bassa Continues to Make Strides as a Linebacker by Jared Mack of Duck Territory 247

Look, I know I posted this in the past, but we all should take a look at their projections on a game-by-game basis (Utah!) and the number for winning out? Is it really that bad? ESPN FPI Update: Despite win, Oregon's Chances to win Pac-12 Championship Drop by Zachary Neel of Ducks Wire

It is a fun article about the state of college football in the state, and we gotta consider all that he points out and appreciate what we have in the final four games... Canzano: Outraged? Appalled? Disappointed? You must be a Beavers or Ducks Football fan by John Canzano of OregonLive (No subscription needed for this article)

I think this might be interesting for the team...every little bit of motivation helps? Oregon Football: Twitter Reactions to Shocking No. 4 Ranking in First Playoff Poll by Connor Muldowney of Autzen Zoo

Pretty impressive article Joshua, considering that you did not even begin working on it until 8:00 PM Eastern! I have some quibbles here and there, but the committee was consistent about SOS and head-to-head meetings. I thought we would be No. 6 or No. 7, and I hope the Ducks do something with this gift.

Good article and pretty similar to what happened at another NW team...thanks.

Mike....you are so right, in that you cannot get any more drama, any more entertainment than this. EVERYBODY in the nation is going to be watching Oregon...."will they stumble?" The attention back on the program is so much fun, and I do remind everyone of Herbie's words earlier in the season as "college football is better when Oregon is relevant." Amen my Duck Brothers and Sisters!

I do not think that there is any more outside motivation than getting into the Playoff. It could not be more clear to them...."win out and you're in!" There are two ways to look at this, and one is acknowledging the pressure of every game. The other is the incredible opportunity in front of them, and "let's go for it and get it!" We have good, tough opponents in front of us, but none are ranked. Every conference has tough teams, and the Big-10 and Big-12 have a brutal final four games. You cannot ask for a better table to be set in front of you... Let's savor this moment my friends!

My friends, I've added more to the first post, but I will show it here as well for you.... From CFB Playoff Chairman Gary Barta, AD at Iowa: "Oregon has some nice wins, they've played some very good football and they've been through a lot of challenges, losing their running back (Verdell) and Thibodeaux, their best player early on. They beat Ohio State at Ohio State and that was really important to the committee." ESPN Reporter Heather Dinich explained that the committee had an "emphasis on strength-of-schedule, and while there has been change on that committee--that hasn't changed." My friends, this is why I've wanted a forum for so long...as we cannot produce articles quite like this in a regular blog with the superb discussion that takes place in a forum like this. And it allows the "reporter" within me to emerge to overcome the occasional Analyst and Op-Ed writer that I usually operate as. Wait until later tonight and you see the screenshots I will produce.... This is great fun for yours-truly, and I hope for you too!

My friends....I am a muttering mass of protoplasm. I am still stunned at seeing Oregon at No. 4, and even more at our biggest critic, Herbie admitting that if we win out.....we're in! I have added more quotes to the original post and the official press release from Oregon who had it up long before the show was over. I will most likely be placing more quotes in the top post in the next two hours. Enjoy!

My friends, I cannot remember how long it has been since Our Beloved Ducks were talked about so much on the College Playoff Rankings show! I was blown away to see the Ducks at No. 4, and let's look at their logic and some quotes from the telecast. Let's start with the most important quote that summarizes it all; after it was revealed that Oregon was No. 4, Kirk Herbstreit stated that, "ultimately, if Oregon wins the rest of their games and wins the Pac-12--they're going to the Playoffs." He added how the Ducks went through a three week stretch of NOT looking impressive, but in the wins over UCLA and Colorado "they turned their fortunes around the last two weeks." The telecast torqued me off in the beginning with how many were making the case for the "Eyeball Test" and "full resume" over a head-to-head matchup. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy asserted that, "we shouldn't base things off the eye test," in referring to how people want to put the Buckeyes ahead of Oregon, even though the Ducks won their game earlier in the season. He went on to say that, "we have to value the head-to-head", and Oregon "has to be ahead of the Buckeyes." Then Kirk Herbstreit began his campaign of diminishing the Ducks, as he began to kick dirt on Oregon's season and stated, that yes, "Oregon has the win, (over Ohio State) but Oregon also has the most embarrassing loss to a 3-5 Stanford." He kicked some more with, "It's not just about beating teams, (like Ohio State that he was a QB at) head-to-head, but the entire body of work." ESPN analyst Joey Galloway chimed in more to support Herbstreit when he referred to Cincinnati barely beating Navy, and Michigan State barely beating Indiana...."one stumble is OK, more than that is a pattern." In other words--you are losing the eyeball test. It was an oblique reference to the Ducks looking poorly a number of weeks in a row, IMHO. A Pattern of Honoring Head-to-Head Games in the Rankings It was clear from the beginning that the committee was going to respect the head-to-head games, as they placed Wisconsin at No. 21 ahead of No. 22 Iowa because of the Badger victory in their game earlier this season. The committee continued this trend by putting Mississippi State at No. 17 ahead of No. 18 Kentucky who they beat. (I did not realize the Pirate was doing so well!) With this respect to the head-to-head matchups...the Dye for Oregon was cast. (Pun intended) It was also helpful to Oregon that Fresno State was No. 23, helping our resume' for the committee. From CFB Playoff Chairman Gary Barta, AD at Iowa: "Oregon has some nice wins, they've played some very good football and they've been through a lot of challenges, losing their running back (Verdell) and Thibodeaux, their best player early on. They beat Ohio State at Ohio State and that was really important to the committee." ESPN Reporter Heather Dinich explained that the committee had an "emphasis on strength-of-schedule, and while there has been change on that committee--that hasn't changed." (Official Press Release from Oregon Athletics below) EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon football earned the No. 4 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2021 season, which were unveiled Tuesday evening on ESPN. Off to a 7-1 start overall and 4-1 in conference play, the Ducks are the lone Pac-12 team in the initial CFP top-25 rankings. One of four schools to play in the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014, Oregon has now appeared in the CFP poll 21 times. This is the Ducks’ seventh CFP top-five ranking – and first since closing 2014 at No. 2 – and their 12th time in the top 10. Oregon is in the top four of the initial CFP rankings for the first time. The Ducks scored a season-high 52 points last weekend in a win over Colorado while racking up a season-high 568 yards of total offense. Oregon won its 17th straight game at Autzen Stadium – the third-longest active home win streak in the nation – and its 13th consecutive Pac-12 home game. Oregon will travel to Seattle this Saturday to take on Washington at 4:44 p.m. PT on ABC. Oregon’s Resumé at a Glance » 7-1 overall, 4-1 in Pac-12 play – first place in the Pac-12 North. » Defeated No. 5 Ohio State on Sept. 11 – first road team to win at Ohio Stadium since 2017. » Opened the season with a win over No. 23 Fresno State at Autzen Stadium. » 5-0 at home this season, averaging 39.2 points per game while allowing just 19.2 points per game. » First in the Pac-12 and No. 23 in the nation with 36.1 points per game. » Scored 31-plus points in six of eight games. » Four games of 200-plus rushing yards – 15-1 under Mario Cristobal when rushing for 200 or more. » No. 11 in the nation in third-down conversion percentage (49.0%). » Tied for second in the nation with touchdowns on 77.78 percent of red zone opportunities. » No. 1 in the Pac-12 and tied for ninth in the FBS with a plus-8 turnover margin.

It is 7:00 PM Eastern, and 4:00 PM Pacific on ESPN, with more details below. When are the College Football Playoff Rankings Released? Time, Channel for First CFP Selection Show in 2021 by Zac Al-Khateeb of the Sporting News

Great stuff guys...can't wait.

You gotta read this short article about the new Womens Basketball verbal, as her story is not the usual one. She is a champion at scoring, but does not sound like a "Prima-Donna" at all with what she said about playing defense. Don't want to spoil it for you, but this is great reporting. Oregon Women's Basketball Pledge Amari Whiting Breaks Down Decision by Erik Skopil of Duck Territory 247

For the 2022 Recruiting Class according to Rivals, the Ducks are No. 7 and the Huskies are....wait-for-it....No. 67, just barely behind Appalachian State and Arkansas State. For last year's 2021 Recruiting Class: Oregon No. 3 and Washington No. 30! It is pretty routine to see that the majority of players signed by Oregon last year had offers from Washington as well.

I LOVE blow-out games! I love the scoring, I love wondering how we're going to score next and I love watching the reserves. I LOVE winning big... That style took us to TWO "Nattys, and doesn't suck.

From those of us who do not have a subscription--THANKS for bringing to us what Wilner writes.

Respect for its former football coach? Can a University President "throw-shade?"

I always enjoy seeing how they are doing, and there are always some surprises... How Former Oregon Ducks Performed in NFL Week 8 Games by Andy Patton of Ducks Wire Jevon Holland