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Everything posted by DanLduck
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Updated and Admin Revised: Top Rated Recruiting Class: Who Cares?!
It appears coach Lanning and staff have brought in the highest rated high school recruiting class in Oregon history. Are we supposed to care? Get excited? In this day of transfer craziness and nil money madness, how many of these young men will actually become Oregon graduates? Now don't get me wrong, I love to see all these stud blue-chip players come to Oregon, but by the time I get to know their name and number, a little history, too many have moved on elsewhere. I guess I'm too old school, but when Marcus gave his acceptance speech for the Heisman, I cried like he was my own son. I felt I knew him. Today I'm not sure I even want to bother reading about this latest class. 25% will probably leave next year. Coach talks alot about family, I guess he means adoption more than birth. So forgive me for being a bit of a sourpuss, I'm glad we got so many new stud guys. But does anyone else feel short changed, or is chasing the elusive Natty worth whatever the costs?
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Schedule Adjustments Include Home-and-Home With OSU
This year's Civil War game was the 4th largest in attendance history of any game at Autzen. It would appear that the fan base likes this game. Going forward, I'm not sure the interest will hold, but for now it appears so. Also, it allows for 7 home games in 2025, instead of 6. So all in all, perhaps this makes for more consistent season ticket pricing. I understand that over 2,000 new season ticket applications have come in for 2024 season. Seeing those B1G teams is a big draw.
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Crap. RB Dante Dowdell Transferring Out
If I recall correctly, when we first got Lanning there was talk from UGA fans about players leaving every year. Something about de-recruiting? I guess this is something we will have to get use to. Stacked top recruiting classes and now with portal, adding key ingredients. Will only add to some players leaving and as we recruit so many studs, only studs will be leaving. With only 4 years to play, can't blame kids for looking for that needed playing time. Hard part for us fans is getting attached, and letting go. Well, I guess 'this is the way'. Good luck to all those who migrate elsewhere.
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Did the Oregon Ducks Fail Ty Thompson?
No, the Ducks did not fail Ty. But did he get a fair shot? Depends how you define fair. Ty beat out all young qb's, but not a 3 year, 5☆, starter. Who would? (You could argue that competing against 3-5 year starters isn't exactly a level playing field) Ty was clearly developed as a player. His improvement from that first spring game and early playing time until this past season was huge. His throws were timely, on target and with touch. He is clearly ready to run an offense for a D1 program. But as he is young in actual game experience, he will make his learning errors. Apparently, Lanning & Co aren't willing to endure that learning curve. Who can blame them. In this day and age of win now, and multi-million dollar salaries, DL needs to do what he needs to do. Joining the B1G next year, with a very experienced qb is a massive asset. No way could he pass on DG. As far as Ty goes, he will land in a good place and utilize the lessons he learned at Oregon, being developed by great coaches, to become successful. He is ready and earned his shot. I hope Mr. Gabriel does well, and more importantly, stays healthy. As now we are very inexperienced at backup.
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Jayden Daniels Wins The Heisman
Book, hisses, don't like the results. Bo is the real winner in my book.
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Ty Thompson Enters Transfer Portal
Greatness shows early. Maybe so. But is development the same as greatness? Did Tom Brady show greatness early? Our Beloved Marcus redshirted. Was a 2☆ qb. Dillon Gabriel was a 3☆, rated 9th best in Hawaii, 247th in nation. But he got a chance to play. He started at UCF before transfer to OK. He developed. We all have no idea, zero, about Ty. He never got an opportunity to play and develop. What little we saw suggests potential, so I hope he gets his chance. Gabriel has 1 year left. As Duck fan, I hope he does well. But I don't like this 'hired gun' mentality. How do we look high-school recruits in the face and tell them 'come to Oregon, get developed '
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Don't Miss Saturday's Match/Game/Shows for the Dedicated Oregon Fan!
In this era of nfl, dropping down in the draft isn't all bad for a qb. Yeah, less $$ at first, but you land on a better team. Better O-line, better receivers. Generally. Maybe. I agree SEC prejudice will give Heisman to Daniel's. Too bad. Bo actually had better numbers than Marcus.
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Jeff Lebby Poaching Oregon S&C Staff
There's no place like home. He will be missed. Our S&C team did an outstanding job this year. We were stronger and faster at every position. However, I'm sure coach DL has a short list of excellent replacements. As our (and his) success continues, we can expect regular poaching of assistants and staff. Remember, strength & conditioning coaches spend more time with players year round than even position coaches do. They are a very important, but unheralded group of very influential people. Like a long snapper. No one knows their name, but boy are you in trouble without one.
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The NCAA Faces Reality from the Wall Street Journal
I got it. Very interesting read. He is right about boosters. Whichever way a school goes, full arms race for sports or not, some will not be happy. Think of our 'friends' up the valley, those boosters hoping to get in the arms race are now a day late and millions short. A refitted stadium to join the MWC?! I'll just follow my beloved Ducks as long as I can, as long as they still are University of Oregon.
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Transfer Portal QB Questions…
Officially neither qb has been offered by Oregon. However it appears they have because Dillon is visiting. Ty has great potential, but is unproven. Gabriel is experienced and proven. As stated previously, an experienced qb is probably the single most important position for wins. Lanning was hired to get wins and a Natty. Bringing in someone like Gabriel helps towards achieving that. Ty Thompson, Austin Novosad, incoming Luke Moga are great talents. However, your qb room is never "good enough". On TT transferring, that is a great question for him. He needs playing time to develop, as all qb's do. There is no guarantee he gets that by leaving. He has spent the last 2 years learning the Oregon offense, to go elsewhere he will have to learn something new. So, does he stay, or does he go? Personally, I can see an argument for either choice. He has a BIG (B1G) decision to make. I wish him well in his decision.
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5-Star OT Jordan Seaton Announces Surprise College Commitment
Apparently $$ talks. Sanders said the NIL collaborative needed to ante up...guess they did. They definitely need O-line help, he should start right away. Maybe this is the new way, take the easy $$ in first year or two, then transfer somewhere with a real chance to win a championship, and get more cash.
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Our Favorite Plays of the Oregon Ducks’ Season
For me the entire Utah game us one if my favorite memories. That has always been one tough place to play, and Whittingham has always been a tough out. But we played an entire game of total control. I loved it.
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Bitter Beaver: Oregon is to Blame for Oregon State's Decline
Few are honest enough to admit their problems are their own doing. Even fewer are educated enough on the issue to be logical or enlightened. A casual perusal of the past 20+ years will show Beaver football less then desirable for anyone not already attached to black and orange. Even now their wild attempts to save the Pac are fruitless. Adding MWC teams won't encourage tv $$ to appear. It will still be mwc teams. Put a ring on a pig, it's still just bacon. One other thought about keeping civil war game, it helps appearances. The court case, the Oregon legislature, public opinion are all areas where we want to be careful not to burn bridges. Maybe Rob Mullens is being crazy like a fox. As for the game itself, I see it becoming a rather one sided affair. A group of 5 school with 2 and 3☆ players vs a power 5(4) school with 80% blue-chip studs. So bring it on. A 40+ point beatdown every year, I could get use to that.
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Duck Fan Choice: Would You Rather...?
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.
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The Pain of Being a Superfan
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!
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Caleb Williams Skipping Bowl Game
No surprise. Good riddance. This means he must be leaving for pro. Wonder who USuC picks (pays) out of the portal.
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Is It Really A Deboer Problem?
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.
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Oregon coach Lanning Previews Fiesta Bowl, Bo Nix Will Play
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.
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Who Will QB the Ducks in Fiesta Bowl?
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?
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FSU Fans Are Incensed
Sorry for the rant...but I do feel better now. Txs. 😉
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FSU Fans Are Incensed
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!
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Gag...We DID Have a Winner to the OBD Prediction Contest...
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.
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Heartbreak for the Ducks in Vegas
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!
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Predictions About Bad Calls for Final PAC-12 Game?
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.
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Cam Ward Hits The Transfer Portal
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