Haywarduck

And so the new exits begin. This is much like the last slick episode, not good. Expect the transfer portal announcement to begin soon if we don't hire soon, and make it a good one, who can make these players believe!

This is where the silliness comes into play, and isn't just confined to this little part. A football stadium costs billions, in Miami, not sure how many but a hefty percentage of Ruiz's fortune. Building something like this is something Ruiz has no experience at. It also takes years, if not decades to get done. This is a pie in the sky promise idea. It may happen, the idea it will happen under Mario's watch is remote at best. For now he will be driving 20 plus miles to play their home games. I'll take Autzen over any stadium in the country, call me a homer, I don't care!

The fog which was over the program is clearing. There was a reason we didn't adjust for the second game against Utah, and didn't execute well, the program was falling apart internally. There is a reason Moorhead was in negotiations with Akron and left for zip, Mario was leaving. Kudos to the fans and players for the beavs game, the coaches weren't fully there, but they won anyway. I fully expect a lot more drama with transfers, coaching changes, and recruit movement over the next weeks, months. I don't think I even want to be 2,000 miles away from San Antonio watching the game against Oklahoma. The program is in a mess, much bigger than I imagined hours, and days ago. Mullens might want to step away from the game, at least consider it. I have a hard time really understanding Mario's part in this, don't judge I suppose is the mantra, but sadly it isn't a pretty picture he leaves with, if so.....

I am sure there is truth to this. The idea this all came about in a short period is naive. This was an alumni power grab, and the craziness of it speaks to this scenario. Too bad Mario decided to be part of it. I get wanting to go to Miami, it is his home, but this looks bad in the short term, longterm not set, but also doesn't look good. There is a couple patterns set in Miami, and Mario will have to fight them both. Best of luck with that.

I am pretty sure it was the 2 timeouts he called, the play calling was never in doubt.

It would set up a pretty interesting sc game, Kiffin would love to stick it to the spoiled children. This would undoubtedly play into his decision, and add some fun to the game.

I will agree with that one, pretty sure Kiffin keeps most of his stuff in a moving van!

Not sure that is going to help too much, but I too hope for clarity and soon! It is like Christmas and we have a secret Santa game going on with high stakes!

I have to say I trust those in charge of negotiating with Cristobal, great move pulling the contract, and now picking the next guy if needed. I think much like on Christmas morning, we are going to be left to ask....... And then we say how much we love the present, and some will just shrug.

All I can say is you knock on doors and ask. It is the same for Bohn at sc and Cristobal at Oregon, you just never know who is going to say yes. The secret sauce may be saying PK is interested in you coaching at Oregon, but it will take knocking on multiple doors like the Altman search. The difference with the football coaching hire is if we don't hire soon, Cristobal's departure will impact the Ducks more like sanctions than just a coach leaving. Without a coach the portal will be more active. Opposing players will reaching out to our elite talent telling them to come to their school, it happens. Our 4* and 5* talent will be gutted, and we will be left with a core of hardcore Ducks, but the talent will be more like the 80's. Then there is recruiting, what elite recruit isn't on the fence with multiple schools on the edge pulling them in? Without Cristobal this recruiting class will fall apart. We will be a school without a recruiting class, and this will hurt us for years to come. This is why we hired from within the last time somebody from Florida left us in a similar situation. Time is of the essence, the Alamo Bowl isn't what I am worried about it. It is the toilet bowl we would be headed for after the impact of this slick 2 act. I think PK understands this and is on it so I won't ponder too much, but Aranda is A1 for me. The main item to remember about Aranda was this was his first year as a head coach, ever. He was a DC and had all the attributes we see now. That is where we may have to look too, who is going to be the next Aranda type coach, and it will happen at Oregon. All of this listing coaches may not come to fruition, it may just be another Dave Aranda, Chip Kelly type character nobody is sure about, but has the it factor. I hope we find that type of guy, soon, because the guys on our lists having been hit up multiple times and the Pac-12 isn't too attractive right now.

I don't blame people for acting out of their own self interest and agree we all do it. It would be in my self interest to cut off people in traffic and to rip people off in business short term. It is the way we act when we do things in our own self interest that matters. Slick and Mario are showing their inner instincts, and psyche with the negotiations we have seen I don't think Mario's instincts are too bad at all. I don't think he deserves too many attacks or any on his character. He is pulled toward his home, his mom may have been his braking point. He may have missed a precious amount of time in her life. Slick on the other hand showed his unethical side. I don't want to get into it, but his self interest exposed something I am glad we didn't have to install into the program. While I agree we all act in our self interest, it is how we do it that matters. I see it every day and I am sure everyone else does too.

He is still under contract, and Miami is still on the hook for pay the payoff. PK isn't stupid, he knew what he was doing, what he was offering, and then where it was going. Cristobal, like Toketee said, is usually a step behind, sadly.

It didn't make sense a guy like PK would wait and let Cristobal do that little dance. Good for PK, I applaud the move, well done. Cristobal just burned a big bridge, and maybe learned a lesson. My other bet is PK is going to make sure we end up better than what we saw under Cristobal. He is on it now and probably before Cristobal pulled the little move he made. That is the way that level of business is done, Go Ducks! The New Oregon Football Program is on its way!

What I have been afraid of for a while with the Oregon program is an elitist attitude to become predominant. Oregon isn't an elitist program never was, never should become that way. We are a program which stands up for integrity, and this is why Charles argument was so persuasive to me. We do need to embrace whoever is chosen, much like we did with Dana Altman. Many were calling for all the elite coaches and guaranteed titles. That isn't the Oregon way, and our radar is broad, not narrow and we don't take into consideration any, at leasts. We will hire, make someone better, we will get better, and grow from it. Unfortunately Marios positive impact may be mostly destroyed, but we will persevere.

Great article, and throttled my enthusiasm for Justin Wilcox. He may have been a Duck, but he has lost his feathers, and can no longer fly up and see a grander viewpoint while seeing right from wrong, I suppose.

Post of the day, and agree 100%. I admit I am confused, that confusion has led to frustration, and anger at times. I can only imagine the emotions Mario is having. He is a good man, deserves our respect and over time I hope we can better understand.

That isn't the argument, but nice attempt to frame it that way, and not the way it should be played.

And Mario will be back at for the second time FIU by the time the stadium is built. This whole story is almost comical when you consider all the characters. Almost the carbon copy coach is fired to hire Cristobal. Good for Cristobal for getting the dream slick was given, and more money this time, well done!

I think another perspective we should all take is we have no input on who will be hired. We can vent and proselytize, but it doesn't make one person more right than the other. I will make my make my basic points. We need somebody from the west coast, knows the west coast, wants to be here, isn't just talking the talk. We also need somebody who has shown they can be successful as a head coach, and not limit ourselves to who can win a national championship, those are a rare bird. Our program has shown we make coaches better, we just need to find a coach who truly appreciates what we bring, not just what they would bring! The big question is who is going to be the next great Oregon Head Football Coach, and nobody knows! We can talk about what we want and why, but each of our opinions is worth ink it is written in, wait there is no ink.

You make some good points. I would just add I would be happy with the hire and hope others would give him a chance if he was hired. Oregon has a way of making great coaches out of nobody's, Mario was just a good recruiter, and is now in line to make bank. I also don't want to see us reach out to another coach, in desperation, who will then just leave like the last two. Maybe we had something magical with Bellotti, but a west coast guy who likes the area is a must for me. We shouldn't be desperate, but time is of the essence and the clock is ticking. I also admit I would find it more acceptable hiring a qualified Oregon alumni, rather than somebody from Florida or any school without a west coast connection. I will own that bias. I would also add one of the reasons Smith is doing so well at OSU is he is from OSU, can sell the magic of OSU. Wilcox could do the same at Oregon.

Ok let's really look at that. I tend to think Cal and OSU are pretty comparable, both tough schools to win at, little support. The beavs probably have more fan support, but CAL is a draw academically, climate wise, and just closer to athletes. Wilcox has been at Cal one more year. He has one more winning year than Jonathan. He also has two bowl appearances and a win in a bowl game. Jonathan hasn't been to a bowl nor won one as a coach. If there is a inferiority complex it is thinking an Oregon guy can't lead the Oregon program. We don't need some superstar coach, who looks upon Oregon as a huge paycheck, stepping stone, and a place to leave on fire. When I saw Brian Kelly try and throw the southern accent it made me think of Cristobal trying to sell us on knowing Oregon, loving Oregon, just an effort. We need somebody who knows Oregon, Mario didn't know Oregon, he sold us on the idea he loved Oregon, but he didn't. There is a guy who grew up close to Autzen bleeds green and yellow and would be a great coach. He isn't just from Oregon, was a great assistant and could be a good coach. I liked the idea of Helfrich, but he wasn't a great coach and look at what he did with far less than Wilcox would inherit. If people want Jonathan Smith then we should definitely want Justin. Anyone think Jonathan could do better at Oregon than he is at osu? Same can be said of Justin, and I believe a lot better. We have a support system which gives him just about anything he needs to succeed. The same will be given to the next coach, lets try and make sure the next guy doesn't just burn it all down when he gets an itch.

We should certainly aim higher than Florida on the map!

Agree, but first let's get somebody on the job of finding a capable coach to clean up this mess!

Classy move, players first! Again I give him some credit, credit due.