Haywarduck

Awareness As our resident psychologist HappytobeaDuck so eloquently stated it starts with being aware. I am aware of my formula, which can offend, but I assure you I never intend to offend. My formula is to attempt to create curiosity, mostly by building off of shared awareness of something. I then try to bring in humor, so we can all have a good laugh. Laughing, for me, is a very, enlightening and healing process. Recently I tried to create curiosity towards the rules which allows this forum to work. I then tried my humor and it didn't work. It came off as mocking. I wasn't aware it came off that way until too late. I think this is where we as a group have to be able clean up what was, sometimes, not even meant to be offensive. Part of being an adult is being able to admit when we are wrong and making it right. I was wrong, even though my intention was good. The other element what MaiTaiDuck stated so well, we need to reflect on what we write, too. We need to watch what we say as it comes across to a diverse group of people. I want all those people to feel welcome and accepted, maybe not agreed with, but accepted. So going forward I will try and adhere to the wise words of Happy and MaiTai, be aware, reflect and if needed, clean it up.

If I watch the whole game, 42-28, 2, 3, 315 yds. --the winner Oregon 42-28 --the score, and the tiebreaker information needed from each of you is... --the amount of turnovers Oregon creates, 2 --the number of sacks Oregon records on the opposing team, 3 --the number of passing yards. 315 yds If I end up changing channels, all bets are off. The 3rd down conversion rate on both sides is where I will focused. If it looks like Mario is on Joe's headset I may be joining the high definition generation!

As an eternal optimist I don't think there is anything wrong with the other 3 QB's. My bet is they are doing just fine, and their development by Moorhead has kept them at Oregon, along with an amazing sales job by the previous coach. I think something was wrong here, and what was wrong has left. Mario wanted exactly what we have seen on the field. Moorhead gave him exactly what he asked for and did it very well. My hope is he gets even more out of AB with the ability to innovate, some trick plays. My hope also extends to the idea he will be willing to highlight his back-ups, Moorhead's guys if needed. This is the million dollar question, or 80 million dollar question, which may begin to be answered tonight. Will we see a different dynamic out of a Moorhead offense without oversight? I think this will be the big question both programs will be watching over the next couple years. Was Mario the micromanager, with an over riding conservative bent, along with an extreme deficit in offensive play calling ability? Miami bet big he is actually a genius just waiting for even more talent. My bet is the talent is there, just waiting for the coaches to turn it loose. Should be fun to turn the first page on answering that question, I hope!

Chip use to create the greatest show in football, now just the greatest no show. A crowning moment to his latest chapter.

The only thing I would add is if that mule could have talked, he would have convinced everyone he was already over in the 70 acre pasture, just waiting for everyone else. Not sure I have seen or read a better description of the mule miami bought.

I want to be clear, I have already said my good byes to the Cristobal era, it's over. What are you looking for in tonight’s matchup, as we say goodbye to the Cristobal regime and move towards a new era of Oregon football? The new era is on the bench, but I want to see execution and some trick plays. I have seen Moorhead get creative in the past, and I would like to see Joe give us a show. That would bring in the new era very nicely. As has been stated, if I see too many 3 and outs, with predictable play calling I may just turn off the tv, and wait until next year to see the new era. If it really does look like Cristoball, then I won't watch. I hope the student athletes get to have fun, and play to their potential, if so it will be a good game.

Interestingly I fired my son from mowing my lawn and told him to get a job. I totally agree constructive criticism and tough love are an important element of mentorship. The problem I see is we don't know all that is going into the mowing of the lawn in the Oregon Football Program. All we know is a young man is doing his best. We don't have to like it, nor do we have to pay for it. The real problem is Cristobal hired him, trained him and gave him the mower that really seems to be the defective component. Justin could have mowed the lawn in half the time if Cristobal had let him use the lawnmower he could handle. Did we criticize Justin because he wasn't allowed to do what he could? I just see the criticism as misplaced, not over the top.

I have never tried to change anyone, but I am continually trying to shift people. I don't completely agree those traits control them, that is an excuse. A wily question, statement, or shared experience can do the trick to bring on that awareness. Agree the ability to control is limited when booze is added. That is why Charles ask that you not drink and post.

I like the statement, Madden was lucky he found football, and football was even luckier he found it! That is a life well lived, you find what you were suppose to do and you make it better. In Maddens case, much better!

Amazingly many Mallard Ducks winter in Texas. True fact, a Duck will never go to Florida, and you'll definitely never see a Duck in Miami! This leads to the lesson, if a duck comes to Oregon, he isn't a Duck, and will always return to Florida!

Interesting take and I think it came down to what Mario wanted to see on the field. He wanted a tough, run first qb. The youth on this team wants to pass first and run second. I would be shocked if one of our qb's followed Mario to Miami. They may transfer, but unless they really drank the kool-aid, they aren't following Mario. Mario didn't want to see a throwing qb learn on the field. He had a hard enough time letting an elite NFL level talent qb throw the ball under his system. He brought in AB, knowing what his skill set was. AB was Cristobal's guy all the way. Moorhead then got all he could out of him. The youth on this team, in my opinion, are begging for the chance to compete. They are excited about what is next, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

You mean like, 'BAM!', he's gone? Man I love that guy and how he brought emotion to football. What a life, a Duck for those in the know, and a great man!

The question I have is, what can we, fairly, compare fan emotions to? Based on that understanding, what is the corollary? Fans emotions toward players can be like our emotions toward our children. I have a son who is extremely gifted and another who, I would like to call, delayed athletically. I equate how I view my two sons with how I view the duck players. I think, on FishDuck, this can be justified. We don't criticize the players, just their play. What is the outcome of this emotional attachment? If we look at the players as we would, should our children then we can accept their limitations. We can revel in the small victories and even losses as we know and appreciate they are growing. We can also constructively criticize, hopefully with a positive outcome. What if we ramp up the emotions on the players, like to a little league parent level, and have even more emotional connection towards the football players. We then become less accepting of their limitations, struggles and just look toward outcomes. The process is lost and we just focus on did we win or lose. Their failures directly affect us and we act out based on those outcomes. The first outlook leads to a healthy fan outcome, win or lose. The second outlook is a truly zero sum game where winning is the only thing important, not a healthy outlook. Does anyone else look at being a fan like this? Maybe I am just getting too philosophical about something we should just react to.

I would argue the standard should be a dynamic level where the players and opponent should be taken into consideration. Is the standard always going to be Mariota or Herbert? Is the standard always going to be 11-12 wins, without any consideration for the schedule? As an athlete who was never elite, but tried harder than most, I had to look beyond did I win, or what place did I get. I looked at how did I perform based on what I brought to the race, competition. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost, but I always left it all at the competition, both mentally and physically. I would then be very critical about my performance. The only way to get better is an honest look at what was possible, how could I improve. Even this didn't stop me from being satisfied with the outcome, win or lose. The standard should really be based on honest effort and development, not some standard that is unattainable. With this in consideration, I applaud Anthony Brown, and Moorhead. I won't get into the rest of the staff, moving forward with my same green glasses! I love my Ducks and want to see if they can bring the magic tomorrow! I will edit this and say this is what makes Fishduck an awesome place. We can disagree and make our case without demeaning the other points of view. I completely disagree with some of the outlooks, but can respect and understand them. We are all great Duck fans, and bring a diverse set of experiences, mentalities, biases, and that is ok!

I completely agree, a competitive situation needs criticism, critical analysis and adjustments. Caring is more than criticism though. I'm just saying, a healthy outlook, also needs realism. The reality is Anthony Brown and Moorhead did a lot with what they had. I am going to head into this game with that outlook. I will also agree, if this Cristoball, was to continue, I would be more than questioning purchasing the hot air sandwich, with baloney as the only meat choice.

Darren you summarize the bowl blues extremely well. We live in an era where the whole bowl concept is under attack, and the past isn't winning. I have to go back to believing our Oregon Ducks are going to rise up. I always expect this to happen, whether it is this game or the next. It is just my DNA which the University of Oregon helped change. I think they call it an epigenetic change. Some of my DNA has been turned on while other parts not. The parts which have been turned on respond to the idea those left in Oregon uniforms can rise up and beat an Oklahoma in a bowl game. This is something decades ago we could only dream of as an opportunity. I again dream of this as an opportunity, and one we will take advantage of and win. This is why I will tune and watch with hope, but tempered expectations. The hope will override any doubt, at least for a while.

This article comes across, I think accurately, as a testament to how good of an OC Moorhead is. Anthony Brown's statistics and the outcomes are pretty impressive. I don't think anyone would argue he is an NFL talent, but Moorhead has schemed and coached him up to be a very serviceable qb. I would also add Anthony Brown has been a warrior for the Oregon Football Program. He has put extreme effort in, while putting his body at risk. A guy with two reconstructed knees running the ball fearlessly should be more than applauded. My recent post about Oregon Fans being a little spoiled I think resonates when you consider the outcome AB and Moorhead have achieved. While we expect and want much more, those two have gotten as much out of each other as possible. Much like Alliotti's detractors back in the day, you have to step back and appreciate what has been done. Anthony Brown, along with Moorhead have persevered in the face of adversity, and produced a pretty good season. We can only hope Moorhead has also been grooming and developing our young qb's just as well. There is a saying many children know, it goes: 'you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.' Many Oregon fans, myself included, would do well to reflect on this.

This is staggering when you consider what this team would be with these players. Just Flowe and Brown at LB would be an amazing upgrade, but these players are fighting on, well done! The definition of resiliency and a focus on problem solving, rather than excuse making, and just quiting. Some programs have just made excuses and quit, not Oregon!

Captaincane, basically it comes down to showing your hand, not just talking about what you have in your hand. Mario is the ultimate talker, you would think he has a royal flush on every hand. As stated at the start of this thread, Mario's hand wasn't a royal flush. He was hiding cards to make it look like he had the nice hand, maybe that is the way it is played in Miami and he will thrive. Miami has promised a stadium, never going to happen. Oregon is building an even better indoor practice facility, you can count on it happening. Mario said he and his family were in love with Eugene, just hot air. He is saying all the right things in Miami, sounds like the same hot air act. Your program has bought into this card trick act. We want nothing to do with card tricks anymore, best of luck.

Interesting that the illness Mario's mother had, which seemed to be serious, and he had to fly back to Miami has never been discussed since. I never liked the look of it, and it is starting to smell bad too.

Interesting contrast to the article on the dawgs attempts to hire from the NFL. When Oregon calls the phone gets answered, and they take the job. Not just talented NFL coaches, but coaches with west coast connections, who can recruit, well done!

Interesting article and statement about Mario's wandering eye. Details of Herbstreit asking Cristobal about UM job in October: ‘Is That a Possibility?’ by Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald

UtahDuck, Bottomline never compare an Oregon coach, player or really anything to something at Washington. It just doesn't go well. I have to admit you did make some good points though.

Alabama went from focusing on the RB, Derick Henry, had Kamara transfer, to joining the qb focused club. It is no longer good enough to have a great RB, you need somebody who can throw it. Mario's focus on a running qb isn't a sustainable plan. He looks to still be focused on this plan with the qb he recruited and the way he talks. Mario never moved from the bama of old. We need to see the Ducks go back to recruiting and developing NFL worthy qb's. I look forward to this progression to the mean. The recent mean would be a huge improvement.