DanLduck

I went to the Fiesta Bowl against KSU. My beloved spouse came too. We had a great time and have many memories. It also was a good away time for just us, you know, strengthening the marriage. We also did season tickets for a couple years. I worked Saturdays so it was tough sometimes getting there. We also had to sleep over for those late games. That increased costs greatly. So on the surface, choosing 1 game vs 8 or 9 seems a no brainer. One choice will be much more $$. The other more relationship building. So for me, which is the greater need? And which can you afford.

Sports is an escape from the throes of life. A chance to feel a part of something greater then ourselves. An opportunity to join in with like minded individuals sharing joy and enthusiasm. Something 'good' to cheer for. And when our team is victorious, we vicariously share in that experience. And when they aren't, we'll, it can be very devastating. It doesn't even make sense, logically, to be so down, but being a sports fan doesn't allow for common sense. Our real lives sometimes are so full of less than joyful moments, that is it too much to ask for a win?! I am constantly battling with myself to keep an even keel when our Ducks lose, but I have to admit it's taken me 3 days to see the sun again. I have suffered real loss in my life, and the Ducks losing isn't the same, I know. But that doesn't take away the feeling of loss of the hopes for a championship. I'm in awe of those of you who have found a way to move on so easily. So I encourage those of you, who like me, need a few extra days to regain balance, hang in there. We still have a bowl game to watch. And the portal to watch. And early signing day. And spring ball. Another portal period. Fall practice. And before you know it, a new season, and in the B1G too. Woo hoo. Sco Ducks!

No surprise. Good riddance. This means he must be leaving for pro. Wonder who USuC picks (pays) out of the portal.

I've often wondered how much success and failure, is due to coaching, and how much is result of poor execution by players. It's a hard metric to measure. However, I think I read somewhere that Deboar is 9-0 as head coach against top 25 ranked teams. Coaching must mean something. No doubt we are on the right trajectory. As keen as coach Lanning is on going to the "doctor" each week to find and improve that 1%, it won't be long before he keeps winning those close games. Even Saban lost to Auburn his first 2 years at Bama. His first Iron bowl win was a 36-0 shellacing. We gotta hang in there Duck fans and believe. We're gonna get there. Now bring on Liberty.

With Bo planning to play one more game as a Duck, perhaps he encourages several others to stay and play. Last year USuC didn't show up and lost to Tulane. Caleb W claimed they didn't want to be there. With Bo leading our team, I don't see our guys feeling that way. I would love to see us go play hard one more time and see the depth of our team with younger guys getting more playing time. The bowl game can be an important part of our start for next year.

Assuming Bo opts out for NFL draft, we would expect Ty Thompson to play. But what if rumors about taking Cam Ward are true? That would be announced next week. Wouldn't Ty need to jump in the portal himself just to find needed (and deserved) playing time? And with expected NFL draft players opting out, including offensive and defensive linemen, starting secondary, Troy, TFerg, what kind of team would be left to play? Led by a true freshman qb with no playing time? So will Austin Novasad get his first start?

Sorry for the rant...but I do feel better now. Txs.

All this does is prove the playoff committee is and has been a joke. Winning on the field is now meaningless. Being a member of the SEC is all that matters. Even with 12 teams coming in the future, CFB is a joke. I think the ACC should not play in any bowl games. Refuse them all. Winning without star players should prove the case that you have the best 'team'. I cannot convey enough how disgusted I feel about this outcome. If games played and won don't matter, why even expand to 12 teams?! Btw, I don't even like FSU. But man, to go 13-0 in a power 5, with a conference championship, and be left out?! We live in crazy times. Oh well, bring on Liberty!

Steven A, For the record, I almost picked uw and I had the exact score! But, alas, I could not do it. I guess I too watched the first game over too much. I also love all your posts and appreciate all you do to help this site. I know you're a true blue (green) Duck fan. OK, bring on Liberty.

IMHO, UW made better adjustments from 1st game. They brought in an extra blocker every time and picked up the delayed linebacker blitz. They tweeked something on their quick out passes so that our lb's were blocked when they reacted quickly. We slowed these down much more in 1st game. I think our db's did a great job. Probably the best group of WR's in CFB, and a QB that throws laser guided missiles. You cant stop them, you can only try to minimize them. But our run defense gave up too much. I also think they keyed on stopping Bucky so well that he started doubting and he played poorly for him. I think for whatever reason, Bo was not his best. Even then he was pretty amazing. All in all, we played perhaps worst game of the year, and lost by 3 pts to a very good team. We are a very good team. Gotta give credit to UW. They did beat us. The officiating didn't cost us. We didn't make a lot of mistakes. 3 of 10 3rd downs, gotta give some credit to defense. I hate losing. I hate losing to UW more. But our guys had a great run and an amazing year. Our coaches will keep learning and improving. Our recruiting classes will continue to be great. We are on the right trajectory. Sco Ducks!

This too has been a concern for me about this game. UW has had too many obvious gratuitous calls go there way this season that have helped them win close games. Their db's seem to get away with more interference then our db's. You would think the Pac12 refs would want to be auditioning for jobs in the B1G, as they will need more refs! Well, can only deal with what you can control. Here's hoping for a well officiated game.

The portal isn't even open yet. No "official" offers from schools can be made, thus no NIL offers can be made. This is all speculation ar best, more likely a hoax to spread discontent before tonight's game. FEBU

Oregon 38 - 35 1 - t/o 2 - Saks 325 - yds pass. CAM Lewis kicks winning FG

I think I read Utah's QB is returning, Cam Rising. Would be his 7th year I think. What kind of degree is he working on?

Making 2020 a free year gave everyone extra time if they wanted it. But man, I've never seen so many 5+ year seniors! However, if anyone can use another year to develop, it's DJU. He has the physical attributes, big body, strong arm, but he has yet to put it all together on the field. Good luck to him. Maybe MSU?

Pretty interesting that it all comes down to this one game. Which is exactly what we wanted this past September. If Bo plays great, he should win the Heisman. We win only if Bo plays great. That makes him pretty outstanding in my book. My hope is Bo and Troy and Tez light it up fri night and our entire d line make it to Penix often. Then all this teams hard work will bring the goal to fruition, playing for and winning a natty.

With the expanded playoff, there should be fewer player defections like there are now for bowl games. It will diminish regular season a little, can't help that, but will encourage many more teams to fill those last 8 spots. So I think it's actually a bigger win. I think that adding the wildcard spot in MLB added a ton to many teams season, and to all those fans. I see the same thing happening for college football. And with all the changes, conference wise, NIL, transfers, etc, CFB needs all the help they can get.

Kids change their mind all the time. Playing for championship on a winning team still matters more then nil. At least to the better players. This doesn't mean Colorado is losing everything, it just means some of the hype is settling down. Reality has a way of doing that. If neon Dion continues to rely on transfer portal for his front line guys as opposed to recruit and develop, he will have a steady diet of 4 - 8 seasons.

With Oregon at #5, highest ranked 1 loss team, a win over #3 UW puts them in guaranteed. Bama at #8 would only make it to #4 with a win over UGA. FSU lost its starting QB, they will struggle with Louisville. Quite possibly lose. But with a win, FSU is in. Michigan will win, they're in. Texas will win, but if Bama wins UT will be out cuz Bama will have a better win, as OSU is ranked #18, and the SEC bias will give Bama the edge. Unless, if Texas wins huge, and Bama doesn't, they might get in over UA. Either way, we are in with a victory over #3 UW and Pac-12 championship.

It's not every day you get a chance at a re-do. And yet, here we are! I think we win and cover, but, I think UW has some kind of mojo going for them this year. It's very hard to go undefeated, in fact this is first and only time since we went to 12 teams someone has. And yet they have not looked great doing it, but they still got it done. Like I said, some kind of mojo. When you're outplayed, and still win? So I'm a little concerned. I think we need Bo to be the mvp of this game and be as sharp as he has ever been. We have played hard every week, no reason to doubt now. And our DB's will need to play great.

But wins and losses at season end resonate more.

Assume the following: Michigan wins. FSU wins. Oregon wins. Texas wins. Alabama wins. The final poll is: #1 Michigan #2 FSU #3 Oregon #4 Alabama Reason, Texas beat #18 OSU Alabama beat #1 UGA Texas gets the Fiesta. Big 12 weak conference.

I also think if Alabama wins they move to #4. So, Mich wins, they're #1. FSU wins they're #2 Oregon wins they're #3. Texas wins and 'Bama wins, Texas gets the Fiesta. Reason, UA beat #1 UGA, Texas beat #18 OSU.

This basically guarantees the Ducks make the playoff with a win over the hated Huskies. Awesome. OK. Take care of business Ducks. Win in Friday!! Woo hoo! Scooo Ducks!!

Interesting stat: 2023 was lowest forced turnover year by half, compared to 2010 and 2012. Yet our points per game are very close to those 2 years. Our high point total for those 2 years was due in part to high # of turnovers leading to short fields. But this year we still scored a high average per game with half the # of turnovers. Suggests to me a very efficient offense. Well done Will Stein Well done Bo Nix. Well done Ducks!!