Haywarduck

Agree it is a mentality, but it also takes a special kind of talent and extremely savvy coaching. Hearing about Odunze's NFL combine tryout made me realize he truly was one of the difference makers on that team. It takes a few guys who just don't give up, and have elite talent. Sometimes you recruit those guys, but often that is a culture you develop. It also takes a coach who knows how to call those big games. Not sure if Lanning is there yet, but it seems he has the ability to get there. All these elements are what makes a program truly elite like Alabama has been for a while or the Longhorn program over the past 15 years. The line between elite, and looking like you should be elite is a fine one, but I think Lanning is going to step over that line soon.

There is a lot of blame to go around for the destruction of the once mighty conference of champions. The elitist presidents, who bought into the Harvard grad running the conference into the ground are high on the list. I'm stuck longing for what was, and have a hard time wrapping my head around the future. I suppose my view is pretty myopic, but that is how I can continue stomach what has and is going on. We each have an outlook, and way of morning this sad, IMHO, stage in college athletics. I can respect everyones points of view, but have decided to just focus on the good, and that mainly includes our Ducks. The rest is just noise, and I have too much noise in my life already! I can just go wow about my Ducks if I tune the rest out, my way, not everyone's way.

I blame Rob Mullens, you don't walk away from a poker table while money is on the table. You may see a better table across the way, but you don't forget to close out. We can blame the beavs, and the cougs all we want, but they are just playing the hand left them by rest of the conference of chumps. From hiring Larry, to leaving with all that money on the table there is a lot to be angry at. I don't blame anyone but the man in the mirror. I look at what we could have, should have done and just shake my head. Time to move on, and hopefully make better decisions going forward, but that is questionable too. My bet if somebody did something like this in the corporate, real world, they wouldn't have a job.

What is also amazing is how the Lanning branch became a tree and sent off a branch after one year. Not only has Lanning proven to be an elite recruiter, and coach, but he also knows how to pick assistants. The Lanning tree may become one of the more impressive elements of his coaching history at Oregon. To become a first time head coach and create a group of assistants as he did was astounding when you really contemplate it. Not only did he have to pick assistants, but he also had to convince them to come to an unproven system. He then excelled and had an assistant hired as a D-1 coach. There are so many elements needed to become a successful head coach and Lanning is checking all the boxes. I would say picking, getting assistants is an under appreciated attribute, but Lanning excels here.

Track is the foundation of athletic achievement at Oregon. Football is the glamour sport many think of today as Oregon sports, but Track and Field is who Oregon is in Athletics and it should stay that way. One of my favorite states is Hawaii, and many think of surfing when they go to and visit Hawaii. Surfing isn't the sport in Hawaii, it is paddling, paddling anything, but mostly the outrigger. I look at Oregon Athletics the same way. Many observe our football team, now, as the flagship sport, I don't. Track and Field should always be the sport that defines Oregon and assists football to greatness. This is why I have harped for a longtime about getting speed back on the football team. Oregon football isn't Oregon football without speed, and track speed. Lanning seems to get this and speed will be the way we get to a title, IMHO!

Simple answer to the Nike Field question is that it is called The Rich Brooks Field and that should never change! I do wonder why there isn't any football facility named after Bellotti, but maybe that is in the works, or will be addressed at some point. Bellotti, like Casanova, was coach, AD and did a lot for the Oregon Football Program. What I would like to see is the stadium being renamed after Dan Lanning. If he can bring a National Championship in the coming years that wouldn't be out of the question. You may see Knight's name of things around campus, but I don't think we actually see Phil Knights name on anything. His way of doing things is to name things after others, and if Lanning can bring a National title to the football program and continue is unrelenting commitment to Oregon that just might be the way PK shows his appreciation. My impression is Phil doesn't want his name on anything, not his style. He doesn't need his name on anything, doesn't want it, would rather give than receive.

There are many percieved problems with what is going on, but what we are seeing is progress. What is progress, a movement toward a destination, a destination even further from what we are comfortable with. This isn't just football, it is everywhere. I just think this is just another step where many of us, myself included, are saying get off my lawn. From social media, to the Tesla truck, to college football, to many other things I don't like the direction things are going. Problem is there going that direction no matter what I do. I have come to the conclusion those in charge, and those younger than me are just going to have to live with it. I just have to tolerate it, and be happy with what I have. I can tolerate it, and am happy with what I have. Doesn't mean I don't sometimes wanna say.....

I had lunch with Franz Weber, great downhiller, and speed skier. He told the story of breaking the speed record which was a classic story of struggle and fear. He said once you reached about 98 mph your skis shook so hard everyone backed off and that was the record for a long time. One day he said screw it I am just going to see what is on the other side of all this noise. Turns out on the other side of chaos was floating in the air, peacefulness. He shattered the record and led others to do the same. I also remember Ngata coming to Oregon and seeing Olshansky lifting weights, and new that Igor would help lead him to a new level. I wonder which player will be the leader to reach a new level in the Oregon program. These guys are coming in as boys, full of potential. Somebody is going to break through to a new level, who will it be? All the coach stuff is great, but the real growth of the team will come from within the dynamic of the players.

Love it, Lanning didn't just come in with some stupid catch phrase, or slogan like 'do something.' He has sprouted many sayings organically like 'the grass is damn green in Eugene.' We now see 'The climb' and any number of great inspirational lines these coaches are feeding the players. My favorite is still 'so what now what,' but I have a feeling Lanning has something just about everyday that is classic. Offseason is where games are won and lost, love the post!

I will always remember young qb from Burns who threw a perfect pass in his first attempt. The problem was it was perfectly thrown to a linebacker. Many in the stands that day wrote him off, but the young man never quit. Actually I take that back, he did quit after 11 season in the NFL. We should judge, but never give up on our young qb's, and maybe, just maybe they won't either.

I would say Oregon doesn't follow, nor does it necessarily lead, we innovate, which drives others to follow. One thing we don't do is follow and imitate so I completely agree we shouldn't follow the sophomoric wave. I could definitely see something like the Hawkeye Wave, a beautiful tribute to something meaningful. That is innovative and has meaning, something right up Oregon's playbook. Until Oregon comes up with an innovative way to make the wave better, we don't do it! Happy Valentines to all of the women who frequent this site, and to the guys, don't forget it is Valentines!

He was an upgrade, but it would have taken a miracle worker to get us out of the jam Lavish Larry had us in. A miracle and then.....

I personally love the feathers look, and would love to see a more holistic uniform incorporating more feathers. I am no designer, but it would seem someone could have the helmet feathers all the way down to the shoes with a feather theme that works. I mean if we can do a pretty much complete eggshell look we can do a better job with feathers. Reason being is we are going to fly into the future, not lay anymore eggs!

Let me give a little history here, having the jail blazers wasn't better than none at all. The best thing that could happen to the Blazers is to put the ownership we have now behind us. I do hope the blazers can get the spark they had back in '77, that would be something. Until the Paul Allen era is completely behind us I have little interest in the blazers. Bring in Phil Knight, new ownership, an Oregon vision, and I will start paying attention again.

I have lived in Utah and in some towns phone books there is only a few last names, just saying. I lived there back when there were phone books. As far as Brandon and Gatlin they grew up in different towns, but I suspect there is some connection. Mormons have very large families, and I have much respect for the religion, and the missions these young people go on. This is the third Bair from Idaho, don't forget Stetson. Stetson played for the Ducks back in the day!

Brilliant, been saying for a long time they should adopt the soccer type of subdivisions. If a team, program drops they drop out of the top division, those who are competitive move up, and you have competition. That kind of movement already happened with the cougs and beavs not making the cut to any meaningful conference. It also happened to the buffs, and Arizona schools. Creating divisions like you propose would only codify something that already happens in the real world. Now how do you create a functioning NCAA, that is the tough part.

Stars and fanfare are great, but the rubber meats the road in games and with how he ends up. I think with two more years, and the experience he will have on a mission the guy will be the kind of leader every team needs. Also it will be critical where he is sent on his mission. If he spends most of his time in some far away underdeveloped country then his fitness may suffer. I will say whatever fitness is lost he will gain in character. One thing guaranteed is Lanning will be here when he gets done, and his place on the team and on the track will be waiting for him. Best of luck to this young man with 5* potential.

Beat out Michigan and speed is back in a big way! https://www.si.com/college/oregon/recruiting/gatlin-bair-nations-top-uncommitted-recruit-chooses-oregon

Who do you see making an impact? Jacobs seems to be the guy that a lot is expected of. There are also some speedy guys who seem to have what Coach is looking for. What does everyone see happening at this position which hasn't before, and who will make that difference?

Amazing stuff, but I have to say I just love football and.........

Back there it isn't the rule of law, it's the rule of Aww Shucks! And the secret handshake, of course.

I came on here looking for that quote, take the points. Could have been the Lions coming down the field to tie it up, now they are down 10 trying for a miracle. Dan are you watching?

In this era there will always be transfers from the weak to the strong. Agree we should be careful about culture issues, but Lanning is the man as far as building team culture. I am very impressed with how he uses this roster and the continuity of effort and output. What I am most curious about is the impact on the program of a new coach, and all the transfers in the position group. We have had some decent talent in the backfield, but the output has sometimes waned. Will this position group become a larger strength of the program going forward? Has Lanning fixed this position group? As we all know having a first round draft pick back there didn't fix it. Having depth didn't fix it. Will these moves fix this important part of the defense?

I thought college initiation hazing rituals were frowned upon? I guess the BIG college football fraternities hazing practices are alive and well. We better take them like a man this year or we might get it worse next year. 'Thank you may I have another, I mean 8 straight!' 'Also thank you for giving us a week off before we take it out on the dawgs!'

Harbaugh was gone as soon as he won the title. A guy like that already had his next move, just had to figure out the specifics. This is awesome news as Justin can now do what Dan was never able to, get the ring. I would say within the next 3 years Chargers are going to win the Big Bowl. We win because we get Bair, and that is a game changer. Truly elite speed changes the game like it did back in Chips days. Lanning is bringing in speed on both sides of the ball and that is a dream come true for me. This is a great day for Oregon sports, thank you Chargers!