Charles Fischer

OMIGOSH! 4-0 DUCKS after two innings! Grinsell put them out 1-2-3, and the Oregon batters have shocked the USC pitcher. We got steady base hits from a number of them including true freshman, the Pride of Alaska, Coen Niclai, who they started at catcher and put Anson Aroz in left field. Can't leave Aroz out of the batting lineup, and Niclai got a nice scoring single as one of many from Our Beloved Ducks.

1-0 Ducks after the first inning, as Grayson Grinsell finished his side through four batters. Mason Neville hit a big homer on the first swing an Oregon batter took, and the Oregon fans in stadium shouted their delight.

Game summary is at the bottom of the thread! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USC is 9-3 with a good team that has been in a turnaround since their new coach took over two seasons back. The Trojans have two really-good starting pitchers, and a bunch of ace relievers, thus our hitting is going to be challenged. Their starting pitcher has a very low 1.80 ERA, compared to our starter Grayson Grinsell, who is at 6.40 ERA and is not playing like a Pre-Season All-American thus far. I suspect he will be up for the game, and the question is whether the coaches are going to take a chance on Ryan Featherston as first reliever, since he also is having a tough start. Our other pitchers have been impressive, so I expect to see changes in who we turn to in the bullpen tonight. I wrote last week that we have four freshman pitchers...and you need to make that SIX freshman pitchers, as two more saw action last weekend and threw scoreless innings!

Please look at the bolded red and green sentences below... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oregon Announces Contract Extensions For Lanning, Lupoi, Stein EUGENE, Ore. – University of Oregon director of athletics Rob Mullens announced on Friday that UO has agreed to terms and is finalizing contract extensions with head football coach Dan Lanning, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi and offensive coordinator Will Stein. The extensions have been approved by the UO Board of Trustees and are funded from athletics revenues, including donor funds. Lanning’s agreement runs through the 2030 season while the extensions for Lupoi and Stein run through the 2027 season. “Oregon football has reached historic heights under Dan’s leadership,” Mullens said. “His relentless commitment to providing a first-class student-athlete experience is evident in the culture he has fostered within his program. His dedication to this university, our student-athletes and the city of Eugene has put Oregon football in position to compete for championships on a yearly basis. “Dan has surrounded himself with elite coaches and people within his program, and we are thrilled to be able to retain coordinators of Tosh and Will’s caliber. They have done a tremendous job in their respective roles and are terrific representatives of the University of Oregon. We have a great staff in place and look forward to continued success for Oregon football.” Lanning has led the Ducks to a 35-6 overall record in three seasons as head coach, the third-most wins among FBS head coaches during that stretch and the most wins ever by an Oregon head coach in the first three seasons. UO has posted double-digit wins each year under Lanning, and he is just the second Oregon head coach with back-to-back 12-win campaigns after winning 12 games in 2023 and a program-record tying 13 in 2024. “Every morning I wake up grateful and hungry to represent Oregon,” Lanning said. “Sauphia and I continue to be humbled by the support that the University of Oregon provides. I’m also very thankful we have been able to have great continuity with our coaching staff over the last three years. The job Will and Tosh do for our program cannot be overstated. I have seen growth from both sides of the ball which is a credit to their leadership and the support they receive from our offensive and defensive staffs. “Their commitment, along with their families’ commitment to our program, shows great promise for our future. Thank you to Phil and Penny Knight, our athletic director Rob Mullens, and President Karl Scholz for their continued investments in our future. There is no better place to coach or play football than Oregon, and there has never been a better time to be a Duck.” Lanning guided the Ducks to the Big Ten Championship in the program’s first year in the conference in 2024, after securing the second undefeated regular season in program history. Oregon was the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and reached the Rose Bowl, after winning the Holiday Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl in Lanning’s first two seasons. Oregon has gone 19-1 at home in three seasons under Lanning while seeing fan support skyrocket. The Ducks played in front of four of the 15 largest crowds in Autzen Stadium history in 2024, including a stadium-record 60,129 fans for Oregon’s historic win over No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 12. Recruiting and development under Lanning and his staff has translated into success on the field and beyond for Oregon student-athletes. The Ducks had back-to-back conference offensive players of the year and Heisman Trophy finalists with Bo Nix (2023) and Dillon Gabriel (2024), and UO has had 14 players selected in the last two NFL Drafts. Oregon is expected to again break the program record of eight players taken in the NFL Draft after a record 12 players were invited to the 2025 NFL Combine. Oregon’s defense has been among the nation’s most improved over the last three seasons with Lupoi as defensive coordinator. The Ducks have ranked in the top 25 in both scoring defense and total defense in each of the last two seasons, and they allowed 14 points or less seven times in 2024. Oregon also posted its first shutout since 2012 last season with a 35-0 win at Purdue. In 2023, the Ducks allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (102.6) by an Oregon team since 1989. Lupoi was a 2024 semifinalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. He has coached eight NFL Draft picks so far in his time at Oregon, including cornerback Christian Gonzalez who was the No. 17 overall selection in 2023. Oregon leads the nation in scoring offense (39.3 PPG) over the last three seasons and is also first nationally over the last two seasons (39.5 PPG) since Stein took over as offensive coordinator. The Ducks were the only team to score 30-plus points in every game in 2023 before doing so 11 times in 2024. Stein was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2023 after Nix and the Ducks led the nation in passing with 346.9 yards per game. Nix set the NCAA record that season with a 77.4 completion percentage before going on to be the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Stein also coached the two most productive receivers in program history, with Troy Franklin breaking the UO single-season records for receiving yards (1,383) and touchdowns (14) in 2023 while Tez Johnson set the program record for receptions (86). Oregon will host its annual Spring Game on April 26 in Autzen Stadium (1 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network). Season tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now at www.GoDucks.com/FBTix.

Fantastic research as usual Jon, and I love the wordplay. I also suspect that just as Oregon fans have no idea how good Moore is, neither does anyone else. Thus not as much love as usual, but you would think if we did NOT take a portal QB...it says a ton about the confidence the coaching staff has Dante Moore.

Go to 16 teams so there is no doubt that any challengers that could win....is in. That leaves room for the occasional ACC or Big12 team that is exceptional and third in their conference.

I am very grateful for turn-around of the mens team, and cross my Duck Feathers for the best!

Well, I was alluding to how we have the most points of any team in the nation since 2022? And who was the OC for 2023 and 2024?

First...I believe he will gradually evolve into a top-five coach, or better. (Once he learns to take-the-damn-points) and I do believe there is a deferred compensation arrangement with Phil that rewards longevity in Eugene. These DC contracts are private, and do not have to be reported. We are uncertain of its presence, but reference was made to it a few times over the last couple of years. This is a stunning amount for Lanning between both sources, and while I think he is exceptional and is worthy--I also think it is another element to keep him here a long time.

Pretty interesting sentence in that press release... "Since 2022, Oregon’s offense leads the nation in points per game (39.3) and passing touchdowns (109) while ranking second in scrimmage yards per game (489.5) and fifth in passing yards per game (304.2)."

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning announced multiple promotions and an addition to the Ducks’ 2025 coaching staff on Wednesday, including the promotion of tight ends coach Drew Mehringer to co-offensive coordinator. Lanning also announced promotions for current staff members Rashad Wadood, Kamran Araghi and Koa Ka’ai. Wadood will coach the Ducks’ cornerbacks, Araghi will oversee Oregon’s edges, and Ka’ai will move into a new role as assistant quarterbacks coach. Additionally, Lanning announced the return of Cutter Leftwich as the Ducks’ assistant offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Leftwich was on Oregon’s staff in 2023 before spending the 2024 season at North Texas as the Mean Green’s offensive line coach. “We are excited about our coaching staff as we prepare for the spring and the 2025 season,” Lanning said. “Our staff does a tremendous job of prioritizing the student-athlete experience and making sure we are putting our players in a position to succeed, both on and off the field. I look forward to seeing guys like Drew, Rashad, Kamran and Koa thrive in expanded roles, and we are thrilled to welcome Cutter back to our program to assist with our offensive line.” Mehringer joined Lanning’s inaugural staff at Oregon as the tight ends coach ahead of the 2022 season and has played an integral role in directing one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses over the last three years. In three years playing for Mehringer, Terrance Ferguson became Oregon’s all-time leader among tight ends in career receptions (134) and receiving touchdowns (16), and his 43 receptions in 2024 tied the UO single-season record by a tight end. Since 2022, Oregon’s offense leads the nation in points per game (39.3) and passing touchdowns (109) while ranking second in scrimmage yards per game (489.5) and fifth in passing yards per game (304.2). Araghi and Wadood helped Oregon’s defense put together one of the best seasons in program history in 2024 as graduate assistants while working with the outside linebackers and cornerbacks, respectively. The Ducks ranked 16th nationally in scoring defense (19.4 PPG) while also sitting in the top 25 for pass breakups (T-5th, 63), total defense (15th, 315.9 YPG), sacks (T-14th, 40), third-down defense (23rd, 33.70%) and passing defense (T-25th, 185.9 YPG). Araghi and Wadood have been on Lanning’s staff since 2022, with Araghi beginning as a defensive analyst and Wadood starting as director of community engagement before both moved into graduate assistant roles. A former tight end for the Ducks from 2011-15, Ka’ai has been on Lanning’s staff as an offensive analyst since 2022. He will now work closely with offensive coordinator Will Stein while assisting with Oregon’s quarterback room. Leftwich returns to Oregon after spending 2024 as the offensive line coach at North Texas. With Leftwich on staff, the Mean Green ranked third nationally in total yards per game (488.8), fourth in passing yards per game (328.2) and 23rd in points per game (33.5). Leftwich was on staff at Oregon in 2023 when the Ducks were selected as a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line. 2025 Oregon Football Coaching Staff Dan Lanning – Head Coach Will Stein – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Tosh Lupoi – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Ra’Shaad Samples – Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Chris Hampton – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Joe Lorig – Special Teams Coordinator/Nickels Drew Mehringer – Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Ross Douglas – Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator Brian Michalowski – Inside Linebackers A’lique Terry – Offensive Line Tony Tuioti – Defensive Line Wilson Love – Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach Kyle Bolton – Director of Speed & Performance Taylor Porter – Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Mark Davis – Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Drew Jordan – Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Kamran Araghi – Edge Rashad Wadood – Cornerbacks Dante Bartee – Defensive Assistant Connor Boyd – Defensive Assistant Kyle Cogan – Defensive Assistant Darrion Daniels – Assistant Defensive Line Donte Ellington – Assistant Wide Receivers Steven Haunga – Offensive Assistant Koa Ka’ai – Assistant Quarterbacks Cutter Leftwich – Assistant Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator Jack Smith – Offensive Graduate Assistant Zach Tinker – Special Teams Analyst Ryan Walk – Offensive Graduate Assistant Dallas Warmack – Offensive Analyst

Jon...that is stunning for you to reveal; 15 of 18 B1G starters are NOT developed QBs, but transfer QBs? Maybe my article about going with portal QBs only that seemed to offended some--is not so controversial? Oregon QB Recruiting Strategy: ALWAYS Go Portal? | FishDuck FISHDUCK.COM The changes in college football has left us behind what the coaches are thinking and doing, and often as fans we are catching up to the new ways of thinking in…

SIDEARM Integrations GODUCKS.COM Hellman and Neville combine for three homers and the Ducks get second shutout in as many games

15-0 Ducks, after seven innings, so I guess the run-rule doesn’t apply tonight!

11-0 Ducks! Damn...Our Beloved Ducks can hit the ball! Five innings gone, and now let's get the freshmen in there!

Good gosh, it is 7-0 Ducks after four innings from scoreless pitching by Ian Umlandt, and a three run homer by Dominic Hellman! His second homer in this game! Another Dom-Bomb...

The "Haves" such as Oregon, like the thought...

4-0 Ducks after two innings, as Dominic Hellman blasted a solo homer on a hanging breaking ball! A Dom-Bomb...

Game summary coming to the bottom of the thread later... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3-0 Ducks after one inning. So comforting to have veteran Ian Umlandt, an Oregon lad, on the hill. Mason Neville hit a home run as lead-off hitter! Did it at full-count, opposite field to boot. Jacob Walsh walks, and then Anson Aroz hits a difficult fielding double that scores Walsh. Aroz then scores when Maddox Molony hits a nice single. Off to a good start!

If they hire him, then they deserve what they get. There is so much online about him, that this should be an easy decision, as I don't know how he could have done worse for the conference than what he did. "I fooled those saps, and now it is your turn."

Up to No. 10 in D1Baseball rankings, the only B1G team ranked...Our Beloved Ducks have more surprises than I want to list here. Two of them were B1G Freshman of the Week last week, Burke-Lee Mabeus, and now B1G Player of the Week in Dominic Hellman. Mabeus is one of the heralded freshmen who are already performing, while Hellman is a great development story. I wrote him off, just as I did Collin Clarke, our Saturday night starter, but both have improved beyond what anyone anticipated. While the numbers are inflated a bit, we do have eight players batting over .300 at the moment! And that does not include Chase Meggers, one of last year's best still not back from injury. Ditto for Parker Stinson, a transfer that Coach Waz said was the best hitter in fall camp. Burke-Lee Mabeus A new OBD member, sports fan, noted that our Friday night starting pitcher and first relief pitcher have fallen off last year's results. I felt that two games was too soon to make an assessment, but both came up short of their best this last weekend as well. Grinsell, I sense, will recover. Featherston? I don't know...so that was a great observation by our new member. But boy...so many great pitching surprises and faces. We have a JC guy, Santiago Garcia, who had some scoreless innings, and while I was chortling about our four surprising freshman pitchers....Waz trots out another one, Tanner Bradley, who looked good. We DO have a lot of arms to turn to! We have a game at 4:00 PM PST Tuesday night at PK Park against Utah Tech on B1G+, and I suspect that the "Pride of Sherwood," Ian Umlandt, will be the starter. Fine surprises, and we DO have a shot at Omaha!

Hellman Earns Big Ten Honor EUGENE, Ore. – Coming off a series sweep of Columbia, Oregon designated hitter Dominic Hellman has been named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week. Hellman (Mill Creek, Wash.) started all four games at DH leading Oregon to convincing wins that saw Oregon outscore the Lions 70-15 in the four-game series. Hellman slashed .500/.583/1.056 with a 1.639 OPS. He slugged three home runs, including a pair of grand slams in the series opener, while driving in a team-high 13 runs with nine runs scored and a double. In a 20-11 win in the first game of the series, Hellman went 3-for-5 with two grand slams, eight RBI, three runs scored, while also doubling and reaching on a hit-by-pitch. With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the second, launched his first grand slam of the day to give the Ducks a 7-3 lead. After reaching base on a HBP and scoring in the fourth and doubling in the fifth, Hellman broke open a four-run game in the bottom of the seventh with his second grand slam to secure the win. The Ducks’ DH had another big game in Oregon 35-1 win in the second game of the series. He reached base five times (3-for-5, 2 HBP), while driving in four more runs and scoring four times. After getting hit by pitches in his first two at-bats and coming around to score, Hellman picked up his first RBI with a ground out in the third inning. He added singles in the fourth and fifth innings, a sacrifice fly in the sixth and then a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth. In game two of Saturday’s doubleheader and game three of the series, Hellman went 1-for-5 in Oregon’s 8-3 win. He slugged his third home run of the series in the eighth inning to wrap up the Ducks’ win. In the series finale on Sunday, Hellman reached base four times (2-for-3, 2 BB) and scored once. He singled in his first two at-bats, before walking and scoring in his final two at-bats. The first run scored pushed Oregon’s lead to 3-0 in the seventh, while his second gave the Ducks a 7-0 lead. Hellman is the first Oregon baseball player ever to win the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week award and the second to win a conference award, joining Burke-Lee Mabeus who was the league’s freshman of the week last week. All-Time Big Ten Conference Players of the Week Burke-Lee Mabeus (3/3/25) Freshman of the Week All-Time Pac-12 Conference Players of the Week Jacob Walsh (3/11/24; 4/3/23) Drew Cowley (5/1/23) Gabe Matthews (4/13/21) Kenyon Yovan (3/9/21) Spencer Steer (4/15/19) Scott Heineman (5/25/15; 4/15/13) Shaun Chase (5/5/14) Mitchell Tolman (4/14/14; 5/6/13) Ryon Healy (4/29/13; 2/19/13) Aaron Payne (5/7/12; 4/29/12) Brett Thomas (4/9/12) Danny Pulfer (5/16/11) Aaron Jones (3/21/11) Eddie Rodriguez (5/17/10; 3/8/10)

My Duck-Buddies, If you ever thought of a road-trip with fellow Oregon fans...this is the one. The prices are better than I thought, and we can all meet and laugh together at a Tailgate that has been scheduled before the Penn State-Oregon game! It will be so much fun getting acquainted, and putting names (handles) to faces. Consider the time....not early September when it is too hot, not in November when it is too cold, but September 27th...JUST RIGHT! (Remember that you do NOT have to be an OBD member. Are you a reader? Cool. You are WELCOME to join us!) The Big Deal? Lodging can cost a fortune, but NJDuck set up a fantastic block of rooms reserved at $183.00 a night for the two nights of Friday and Saturday at the Hampton Inn of Du Bois, Pennsylvania. This is SO much less than the crazy rates we were seeing, and we still have rooms available before we lock in the reservation. I checked rental car prices, and a mid-size for the two days is $684.00 for the two days...but we can beat that price with the shuttle buses we have arranged. We can group together from Pittsburg International to the Hampton Inn, and back on Sunday morning in our arranged shuttle-bus. For the game...we have a shuttle picking us up in the morning and bringing us back that night to the Hampton Inn. And the shuttle takes us to within 200 yards of the stadium...an easy walk to football, but first to the tailgate we are all invited to! So our total costs of the shuttles look to be under $600.00 total for all three trips, and you don't have to drive the winding, mountainous territory for two hours to the Hampton Inn and back. This has turned out MUCH better than I could have anticipated, thanks to Joe, NJDuck, who put enormous time into the research and arrangements. Want to come? It is not too late, but it will be within days. Call me at 541-915-4541 or email charles@fishduck.com to reserve your room. (Each room has two queen sized beds, so bring a friend!) Once I hear from you on that--you get your flight arrangements and football tickets purchased on your own. Join us for this BUCKET-LIST event with Our Beloved Ducks members!

Do you think the B1G resentment of Oregon will grow? Oregon says...

Well, some Oregon praise from John Canzano! He reports that thus far in the academic year, (we are not halfway yet) that Oregon leads the league with the most B1G championships thus far. We won Football, Womens Cross-Country, and now Indoor Womens and Indoor Mens Track. He stated that no other program among the other 17 schools in the league are even close. (Talking to YOU, Ohio State and Michigan!)