Haywarduck

I think many of the data points up to this point seem to confirm our bias, thinking. We wonder if we are right, and seek information which confirms those beliefs. It seems Mario is making it easy on us, for now. I will say it isn't over, but Mario is struggling out of the gate, but an $80 million struggle, not too bad.

I do think this statement is spot on, 'there is going to be a rebirth.' Jon also points out the SEC commissioner is in charge of that rebirth, and he says 'what could go wrong?'

The guiding principle has to be putting the student in front of the athlete in college football, as stated in the article. If the decision making process going forward is to benefit the students then this disaster can be mitigated. For too long the NCAA, the coaches and really the fans have benefited more than the student athletes. The athlete had become a tool to make lots of money for the entities involved, and create great joy for the fans. The NIL we are seeing is a reaction to that equation. The equation is changing to where the athlete benefits more. The problem is they are really only benefiting financially, short term. Somehow the formula needs to create a way the student benefits as they leave the school better prepared for the life ahead. I think one of the secrets of the Oregon Football Program has been the Jacqua Center and the rehabilitation facilities. Students are impressed and parents impressed and it hits a parent right where they are with their child. We, as a program, need to continue to be right where the parent and student is. If we take care of the student and parents concerns better than other programs the athletes will come and the program will benefit. One thing we can not do is focus more on the athlete than the student going forward. Oregon will benefit from leading on this issue, and those who go the opposite direction may benefit in the short term, but they will lose in the long run. We need to play the long game on this one.

It is interesting coach's would come to Oregon under slick, Mario and Dan Lanning, but not for Mario at Miami. Something has shifted, and it doesn't smell right. The odor coming out of that $80 million dollar package is starting to make one wonder.

And I hope Mr. Dye stays on for the ride.

Wow, now you got me thinking about betting! Green Bay at Lambeau seems like a slam dunk. Bitter cold and windy, seems like a bit of an advantage. I also like the Rams, but there is the Brady factor. My heart pulls me towards Cincinnati, but that wouldn't be a smart bet. I suppose I should just ask my wife which uniforms she likes. Seems like the best scientific method from what I know.

My take, it is only for entertainment value. If it doesn't add to the entertainment, there is no value. This is a great take if one wants to take on betting, but as was stated about the NIL, money is the root of all evil, and it is at least a path there.

I appreciate what he has done for the Oregon Football Program so far. Whatever his choice, it won't take anything away from the past. We all have to make touch choices, which benefit ourselves most, good for him. I hope it works out for him in the end.

Develop!

I have no doubt there is a double standard, but it doesn't mean either side should cross that line. I am glad a coach can't act like Bobby Knight use to.

This is the first indicator to confirm our bias. I expect more to come, but maybe this will be the one that pushes Mario to wake up and realize this weakness. We all wanted to believe Mario would wake up, have that aha moment, but we never saw it. Miami better hope this next OC isn't the desperate idiot Charles seems to think is destined for the job. My bet is he just raises up Mastro to the OC position. Mastro already knows the drill and seems to be in lock step with the Mario program. In that scenario if they get the big bruiser NFL RB it just might be enough to fool the hurricane faithful at least as long as many of us were hoodwinked into maintaining our hopes and dreams for Mario's era. I tend to think it will be the culture problem down in Miami he will have a problem with. The kids from the big cities will have much less patience for his sales pitch, bait and switch act. Mario fell into a perfect situation at Oregon, he won't have that anymore.

Seems like there is a plethora of untapped potential in Texas. Many program pulling the lower talent out of that state and having great success, go Dan go!

Action does speak louder than words. A picture also speaks louder than words, what does this mean?

Money making money is a beautiful thing. People obsessing over making money is an ugly thing. If a young person can understand the importance of the first and the problems of the second they will be way ahead of the game. The game of money is just that, you have to learn to play it too. The goal of everyone should be to have money making money, and be able to step away from focusing on individually making money. I am not talking about getting to the point where SS just gives you a check. I find it amazing this lesson isn't taught more explicitly. It is an absolute, you will work for money until money starts working for you, pretty simple.

Eric, amazing article, and I look forward to better understanding all you wrote as the Lanning era progresses. For now I can agree completely with the last sentence you wrote. The defense that Coach Lanning looks to implement with the Oregon Ducks looks to be one that prioritizes speed and aggressiveness; something I’m sure will be a major hit with everyone in Autzen, except the opposing offenses.

A lazy natural can also kill the culture of a team. Paying players or really anyone who has a passion for what they do can also destroy that drive. A team which just focus's on getting the elite talent also doesn't lead to greatness. The best example of a lazy natural is Allen Iverson. He seldom wanted to practice and his teams suffered, and he never reached the pinnacle. Every player has an impact on the team and a player who doesn't have to try as hard as the others just demoralizes the rest of the team. This kind of dynamic can drain a team, especially one where the elite isn't the norm, and can't be put in it's place when underperforming. Another phenomenum is the fact monetizing a passion can kill the passion. When a child or really anyone does something out of passion, is intrinsically motivated, and you overload external motivators you often kill the harmony that drove that spirit. This is where a focus on merely competing at the NIL game will ultimately destroy a program. The intrinsic motivation is the one you want to cultivate, not infect with an overwhelming external force. Lastly Oregon's recent focus on winning the recruiting battle as an end all was also a dead end. Recruiting is one part of an equation, a qualitative equation, but it is only a part. It is easy to quantify so it is easy to get excited about it. Too much emphasis and you become Texas, or SC. The culture of the team is critical and having players come to a team which highlights their recruiting chops just leads to underperformance once they hit the field. We need a renewed emphasis on creating talent, and teamwork, really a synergy of effort from a group of players. The emphasis should be on building towards greatness, not being great or getting great individually. Everyone is important and everything is significant. I love the idea we can recruit at the elite level, but the elite level is so much more than just signing the recruit. Becoming exceptional as a team involves everyone building each other, and the team coming first. I actually think this is why the ex-players recently spoke out, that is the Oregon way, and it was lost under Mario.

Why should he, might as well be wined and dined until spring ball. There aren't any rules on portal life, right? Recruiting visit limits are out the portal, I mean door, and he is just a free agent testing it all out. He is just living the portal dream life! I mean what school wouldn't have him come and do a walk through? Until he is sick of it why should he make a decision. He is just paving the path of those high interest recruits thinking of entering the portal of the future.

Talent meeting development means entertainment. I look forward to this story evolving into part of the legend of the new Oregon offense. We had talent meet little development and a void on entertainment. It is part of our past, time to move onward!

It is certainly easy to get apocalyptic as many did when the radio came about and it was the end of everything. Then tv was certainly the end of it all. Now the phone is definitely the end of this generation. While I can see the negatives of the NIL and the portal it is just another step in the long line of the good and bad fighting it out. I just hope Oregon can finds its way to stay on the right side of what is best for these amazing young people I see out there. We have done a very good job of doing the right thing so far. I have to trust Oregon will stay on the right side, and the end won't come anywhere close to Eugene and OBD! I do think bad will take down some of the programs out there, at least temporarily.

Get of my lawn college football!

When a kid is making 50k a year with free room and board what incentive does he have to work hard. Most kids need something to work towards, a carrot out there they have to keep reaching for. The only thing they will be reaching for is the phone to call dominos to deliver pizza and wings. Whoever is selling kegerators, and delivers kegs is going to be one of the big beneficiaries. The Texas A@M experiment is destined to self destruct. My prediction is the programs who focus on academic help while helping kids become successful longterm will win out at this game in the end. Right now it looks like whoever spends the most is going to win. I don't think the final outcome has been seen yet.

A guy who is 3 years past high school and has freshman eligibility, not too bad. I would imagine our new O-line coach has had, or will have a pretty good conversation with Logan. A 20+ year old freshman is either a bust, or somebody you want to keep in the program! The O-line is a critical component of any team and I hope we can continue the strength at this position.

One of the smartest, most successful guys I know said, you don't so much as invent things, you just find the smartest way to do something and do it better. I am not sure buying student athletes is the smartest way to do it. I have said it before, I think you will create a jail blazers team gone bad. It is a great way to bring talent to a college. I am not sure it is the solution to creating the best team, or group of talented players.

Maybe it isn't musical chairs?

I think the Lanning machine might have hit second gear. Now lets pop the clutch and put it in third and keep accelerate until signing day!