Jon Joseph

LOL! Thanks Charles. I do think the P-12 is in trouble and I'm not kitten around.

I hope not? But AAU member schools Oregon, UW, Stanford and USC leaving for the B1G would be just ducky. Add Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin to form the B1G W Division.

Give thanks for this great forum!

Using the most recent CT rankings. All P5 champs in. At least 1 G5 representative. 6 teams at large (AL). Top 4 seeds receive a 1st round bye. 1 Georgia - SEC vs 9 Ole Miss - AL at 8 Baylor - AL 2 Ohio State - B1G vs 10 Oklahoma - AL at 7 Oklahoma State - B12 3. Alabama - AL vs 11 Oregon - Pac-12 at 6 Notre Dame - AL 4. Cincinnati - AAC/G5 vs 12 Pitt - ACC at Michigan - AL 3 SEC 3 B12 2 B1G 1 AAC 1 ACC 1 IND 1 Pac-12 In its current configuration, playing 9 conference games, and playing reasonable competition OOC, will a 12 team PO field be that big of a boon to the Pac-12? Certainly not to 'today's' Pac-12.

Thanks for the wonderful editorial assistance.

Thanks 30. As I mentioned before when considering the obstacles in front of him Mario Cristobal is the best recruiter in the nation. GK talks the talk but to date, he seems to taking the same walk as did Larry? First, why fight PO expansion when your conference does not, year after year, qualify for the PO? Adding a P5 PO game? In 2022 Oregon plays Georgia and BYU OOC. To add another P5 OOC game would mean dropping E. Washington for say, North Carolina? And adding another P5 opponent when playing 9 conference games is senseless.

Thank you. This to me is the KEY issue. By standing pat the Pac-12 is 'stuck' in its current footprint. If the Pac-12 decides to expand in the future where can it go? No Mountain West team expands the Pac-12's market place. New teams from the Mountain West simply overlap the existing footprint. No Mountain West team comes close to spending the money on football that Oregon spends and none make the income made by Pac-12 programs. Why would Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin consider leaving the lucrative B1G for the Pac-12? And as I noted, the four schools I identify as expansion candidates have very good basketball programs. Not so long ago Texas Tech won the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I just don't 'get' the Pac-12's long term strategy? If, it even has a strategy.

A 10-3 Oregon with a close loss to Utah in LV could, depending on how things go, could be in the Fiesta Bowl. OKK defeats OK ST twice? OK could be in the final 4 and Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. I think there is a decent chance that a 10-3 Oregon could play Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, if Ohio State finishes 12-1. OK, OK ST and Baylor have no OOC win that comes close to Oregon's W at Ohio State.

Your record is what you are as coach. Mario's record at Oregon has been fine. Not great, fine. His recruiting has been excellent. Not very good, excellent. Scheduling matters. An 8 game conference schedule and the Ducks play Utah in Las Vegas and not SLC. And in 2022, Mullens has given Mario an opening game 'at' Georgia and a home game vs BYU, plus 9 conference games. This is silly PO scheduling. It's not like UGA and Bama continually battle and roll over top 25 teams. Check the latest rankings to see how many top 25 teams these 2 have defeated. UGA gets a bump because Clemson is is in the top 25. Any number of teams with Clemson's record could be in the top 25, including Fresno State. Dabo is in happier recruiting hunting grounds than is Mario. Dabo plays 8 conference games and not 9. Top to bottom the Pac-12 is as good as the ACC.

Bummer! Should not be behind 2L Baylor. This makes it harder to garner a Fiesta Bowl bid.

CHEER ON OHIO STATE. If Ohio State wins out, the Ducks defeat OR ST and lose a close game to Utah in Las Vegas, the ONLY shot a 10-3 Oregon would have to go to the Fiesta Bowl is if Ohio State finishes 12-1 and wins the B1G championship.

NO! The W in Columbus was the only reason after the L at Stanford why the Ducks was in the top 4. The 4th cross-over, 9th regularly scheduled game, on the road vs a top 25 team is what hurt the Ducks.

Wilner has Oregon #14 in his AP vote. I think the CT ranks OR at 9 or 10 tonight? This would mean a shot at the Fiesta Bowl if OR does not make it to the Rose Bowl.

But I wouldn't mind seeing Rattler at UO in 2022?

That was a 'perfect storm' in SLC. Reminded me of when the Ducks played WAZZU the Saturday Gameday finally visited flag waving Pullman. I want a re-match in Las Vegas. Utah is clearly not 31 points better than the Ducks. Your comment about Thompson is a good one. Both Bryce Young at Bama and CJ Stroud at Ohio State sat on the bench last season. In fairness, they did sit behind 2 guys now starting in the NFL. If Moorhead stays it will be interesting to see if McSorley made Moorhead or vice versa?

Good stuff. Unfortunately the Ducks tip off very late eastern time so I watch the video. Very interesting game tonight 10 eastern on ESPN when 1 Gonzaga plays 2. UCLA.

David and I am not in the least being facetious, I can't help but wonder if Mario and the team for that matter could be helped by a top drawer psychologist? Many individuals and teams have gone in this direction and seen improvement. Someone from the outside who could perhaps help Mario and the team play on a more even keel? The roller coaster performances are so puzzling. Mario does not seem to be learning on his own when it comes to having the team prepared to play to its ability every week. Perhaps this would help?

Thanks Ducked. The loss Saturday really, really hurt. But life goes on and the Ducks keep on quacking. Facing Big Blue and Harbaugh would be sweet. Have the Ducks played Michigan since Dennis Dixon baffled the Wolverines in Ann Arbor?

Although I did call Saturday's game in SLC a crucible coaching challenge for Mario, I find Wilner's take to be over the top. A loss at Utah defines Oregon's ceiling? First, Oregon has handled Utah regularly since Utah joined the conference. 2nd, the conference will smarten up and go to an 8 game conference schedule. The Ducks should have been playing Portland State in Autzen Saturday night and not a 4th cross over game on the road. Bama played NM ST a week ago Saturday. Kentucky played NM ST this Saturday among the cupcakes the SEC played and consumed on 11/20/21. Second, how does your PO upside improve at UF or Miami? Way Over The Top.

Not making the Final 4 is disappointing but 'Game On!' Lots to play for. ROSE BOWL - The Ducks represent the conference if 9-2 Oregon defeats 7-4 Oregon State on Saturday, and then defeats Utah in Las Vegas. Both games are winnable. The Beavers have not been a good road team in 2021. Utah is certainly not 31 points better than Oregon. Opponent - Unless Michigan can defeat Ohio State in Ann Arbor on Saturday a 10-2 Michigan will likely be the B1G representative. FIESTA BOWL - A defeat of the Beavers and a close loss to Utah in the champ would give a 10-3 Oregon a shot at the Fiesta Bowl? This would mean another $4M for the conference. Watch where Oregon is ranked tonight? High enough, no lower than10, and a 3 L Ducks could get the invite as did a 3L LSU in the past. Opponent - Cincinnati if not in the Final 4 could be sent here? But I see a number #5 Bearcats team playing in the Peach bowl? More likely the opponent would be the B12 runner-up, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State? Although Notre Dame and Baylor could be in the mix? ALAMO BOWL - Defeat Oregon State and lose to Utah in the champ game. 9-3 may not be good enough to qualify for a NY6 Bowl? This will all come down to the whims and rankings of the playoff committee. Opponent - Oklahoma State and Oklahoma still have a reasonable shot at the Final 4. If one does make the playoff field, the Oklahoma school left out will play in the Sugar Bowl. This means Baylor would play a few hours south of Waco in the Alamo Bowl. What about an L versus the Beavers? Oregon would finish 9-3. With a W over a likely Final 4 team and 2 Ls versus unranked teams, one at home. I think this would mean the Holiday Bowl? Opponent - the opponent will come from the ACC. Could be Pitt, NC State, Wake Forest or even Clemson. Tough loss on Saturday. Let's hope the team rallies, wins the next 2 and plays in Pasadena?

What is Mario's Mendoza Line? How many years should Mario be given to reach the Playoff? How many years of losing to inferior teams on the road and scrapping by inferior teams at home will be acceptable? In how many big games will rushing for less than 70 yards and allowing 240 yards rushing be acceptable? How long will playing at altitude, injuries and the team's youth keep Mario off of the hook? How long will the team's retrogressing during the course of the season be acceptable? What you see today with Mario is what you will continue to see. A very good man. A very good recruiter. A baffling failure of the roster not playing up to its potential. An antiquated offense that will not win titles. A coach who has won around 60% of his games as a head coach. I asked if anyone saw 'progress' from the 2019 PO game failure at ASU, to the debacle we witnessed on Saturday night? A debacle that confirmed beyond doubt the 'experts' view of Oregon and the Pac-12. A blowout loss at the hands of a team that was 7-3, ranked 23 with losses vs BYU, Oregon State and San Diego State. Ls to teams ranked 14 and 19 and to a NR team. Oregon came in ranked 3 with a win on the road at the #4 ranked team in the country. A win against a team that earlier in the day blew out the #7 team. Fire him? With Mario's buyout does Oregon if it wanted to, have the money to fire him and pay the buyout of a replacement coach? So no, I would not fire Mario. But at the same time I would not give him a bump in pay and a contract extension before he earns it. Many seem to be perfectly satisfied with a division championship over multi-loss teams, a conference championship over a multi-loss team, a non-PO Rose Bowl or other NY6 bowl appearance; or, playing in the Alamo Bowl? Satisfied with the conference making the PO 2 out of out 8 years. Satisfied with the conference falling farther behind the B1G, SEC and based on today's rankings and records, the 'New B12.' conferences. Satisfied with the status quo but for an extra P5 OOC game vs a B1G or ACC team. If the above defines 'success,' then Mario is the guy. And I say this will all due respect to those who are happy with Mario and his performance to date. Not all aspire to be national champions, which is fine.

And the Beavs just throttled a good ASU O. The Beavs will be coming in fired up. The Ducks now out of PO contention? As you so noted Utah was run down and run over by the Beavs run game. However, the win at SC was the Beavs only win on the road this season. Should be a very interesting game. Who wants it more? Oregon settling for a Rose Bowl chance or the Beavs going for their first Rose Bowl shot in many the year?

WHY? Look at the man's record at FAU and Ole Miss. With this group of Ducks athletes Kiffin would be putting up 40+ points game after game. And the D at Ole Miss does not stink. Plus, the guy can recruit.

It's year 4. I have no patience left. QB's developing? Where? On the bench? WRs developing? As blockers?

My good friends, I am just short of not caring. The same thing we saw at ASU in 2019, we saw last night in SLC. And if you saw Herbert play tonight; well, that is a further reason for frustration. More proof that this coaching staff does not have superior athletes prepared to play to their level of ability. There is NO excuse. Injuries, youth of roster, not enough experience with a coach who has been a HC for over 70 games, to justify or excuse the failure to win when it matters.. None whatsoever, The failure to make the PO in 2019 and 2021 is all about incompetent coaching. And IMO, this cannot be excused by superior recruiting, a 1 point win over 3L Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl or hidden behind a complete Fiesta Bowl no show vs Iowa State and a loss to Stanford team that did not belong on the same field. Oregon was PO worthy team in 2019 and 2021. The failure to reach the ultimate level is squarely on the shoulders of this coaching staff.