Haywarduck

Best of luck to the young man!

There are so many things the Oregon machine does which many react in the 'off my lawn' mentality. I find it is kind of funny, especially when they begin to change their ways, and begin to better understand the 'why.' The uniforms Oregon puts out there is probably the number one shrewdest move. Most of us 'older' crowd just want us to go back to the original, at least one game a season. The machine knows this fires up the student athletes and attracts recruits. Within the uniforms there is also the shoes. Most don't even understand the significance of the Oregon branded Nike shoes the uniforms come with. Kids love, and I mean love these shoes, obsess about them. Then there is the billboard, and once again many say it is just to push Bo as a Heisman candidate. What a waist of money, flaunting of money. What they don't see is exactly as the article articulated. This is a hugely effective marketing ploy for recruits and our brand. It's not the first time a writer understood the branding job Oregon was doing, and it won't be the last. The L.A. billboard battles that brought on Oregon’s invasion of USC territory THEATHLETIC.COM What has become a spirited turf war in fertile recruiting territory started with Oregon's marketing effort in '02 that irked USC's wideouts.

Agree Deboer is very good coach, and that isn't all he has to do. Sounds like a coach we had, who was given a very good team, set of coaches and thought he was gods gift to coaching. Without recruiting a coach is sitting on a two legged stool. They are bound to fall off and end up somewhere else, often on their hind end. My bet it is only a matter of time for the school which has had 9 coaches over the last 20 years.

Come on guys their 2024 class is one place ahead of Appalachian State, and App State is a darn good team. Also as the 55th ranked program they are average, and there is nothing wrong with average, unless you want to be competitive.

Reminds me of our program a couple decades ago. Much respect for how they play, how they recruit, and develop young men. Kyle W is the real deal, much like Bellotti was.

I think transfers are great, love this years Ducks, think they will go undefeated until proven otherwise. I just get why some alumni, who played for, fought for, and overachieved were and are skeptical, and I can respect that. I get that those two sentences are completely different and conflicting opinions. I actually love when my brain and others can do that, and it is a trait getting pretty rare in this day and age. Most of the time I see someones opinion, others who align with ones opinion, and the only other opinion is the wrong opinion. Fortunately that isn't needed on this site. There are a few reasons why this program has been so successful. One of them is the loyalty, another is innovation, and lastly one guy who has taken us up a notch and wants us to get to the top. I agree none of those reasons have anything to do with Joey making personnel decisions, or Schwartz making predictions.

Agree, but still remember the photo of Joey meeting Lanning for the first time. Joey's body language screamed, you're an outsider and have no idea how to win here. Lanning embraced that skepticism and is showing the non-believers he both cares about Oregon and knows how to win on and off the field. I think Shwartz is doing about the same thing. I can understand both of these legends emotional distrust. I suppose this is why are a very good financial advisor. It is all about the data, and emotions just get in the way. I would say a football team isn't just about the numbers, it is about the culture, and that is what I want to see built and sustained. There are plenty of talent full teams who disappoint. I agree with the idea that culture will come from the Oregon guys. For the longterm it will rely on the Matayo's not the Burch's, that I agree with Shwartz on.

I think there is, rightly, some skepticism about how big an impact a transfer is going to have on the culture of a team, therefore the outcomes. Gonzo came to Oregon and was an elite talent, but didn't elevate the play around him too much. There is something about a home grown talent who both shows how it is done at a school and demands it of others. That kind of character makes the difference between longterm winning, dominant programs and flash in the pan programs that win some, but lose head scratchers. It sounds like Conerly, Franklin, Bassa, Dorlus and now Matayo are setting that standard. If we don't have a dominant season this will be why, we don't quite have the culture set. I will agree the athletes are potentially there, but will they rise up to meet that potential, especially a guy like Burch. He could be a game wrecker, but what will he do to the culture, that isn't certain. Back when we had the Joey's, the Justins, and Troy Dye's we knew the team would rise up to meet any challenge, these guys demanded it and got it out of everyone. We don't know what the dynamic is with the guys we have brought in. I also think there is a lot of pride within the alumni at Oregon. A guy like Schwartz, or even Joey when he talked to a non-Oregon guy like Lanning were skeptical about how the team would be without long-term ties to Oregon's program. These guys saw what a 4 year or more commitment at Oregon could and did create. I agree we live in new times, and also believe this season has all the makings of a great Oregon team. The difference is it is transfers who make up a majority of the starters. This creates a whole new dynamic which some are skeptical about and others just plain don't believe. I am, like always, a believer we will win all of our games. At the same time I can understand the skeptics. I can also respect those skeptics as it comes from pride, and first hand experience about how tough it is to get it done.

Looked like in the first instance the short yardage pass to the outside was open, but they needed more yardage. The second play the first down was inside where the DB was so the choice was the quick pass. Great stuff, and nice to know there is some creativity in short yardage situations. This one should be easy to see, and say, 'that's the empty diamond qb draw RPO.' Thanks Coach Boles I'll feel like a genius.

Kind of exciting to hear about special teams play. Punts booming, coach saying something about punting, punters ('catastrophes'), what! Also players catching kicks! I am about beside myself with drool! Finally a comment about a RB against a DB, just wow! I expect some reporting allowed on who is wearing helmet padding in the next report, I can feel it! Hopefully my sarcasm doesn't meet the definition to be deleted, as it is all I can do with what Lanning is giving us. I also truly appreciate all the Pennsylvania does with bringing this to us. As can be seen, I actually do read most all of it, and wouldn't miss it, JUST WANT MORE COACH LANNING!

I quoted this before, but the future is already here, we just don't recognize it yet. Is Notre Dame the model all will follow? If so every team value is negotiated, which would further the competition? It does seem like we need to have programs like Oregon able to get more money than a WSU, Rutgers. We put more money in and have had more success, bring in more tv money . I definitely would think some kind of hybrid program will come to fruition. Maybe divisions like in euro soccer where you earn your way to the elite level, and nobody is sacred. If you lose too often, too many years, you're out. A beav program can rise up to the elite level. I can also agree some type of commissioner or control system needs to be in place. The NFL has controls, and the billionaires agree to it because they know if there was no commissioner they would all be broke, spend all their money on players. Right now we are headed in the direction of an uncontrolled NFL, no holds barred to build teams, programs. An answer will arise, and it may be already out there!

Let's just tell it like it is. There are no real conferences anymore. We have media run groupings of college football programs which enhance their bottomline. I agree with the Kkid, next step is getting rid of the dead weight. We live in a new world of college football where we can cheer for our program, but there will be no more real conferences. The good news is we can still hate the dawgs, spoiled children and have a chance to beat them every year. The rivalry games will live on. Winning the conference will only be big this year. So let's get it done and win the Pac-12 and put it to bed the right way, Oregon on top!

I would think the defense is at an advantage against their own offense. If anything it is a great challenge for the offense to succeed against a defense who knows you very well. What I would love to hear is how the backup qb's are developing. Maybe we hear about how some freshman are coming along, but nothing. Lanning seems to adhere to the idea the the only advantage to disclosing anything goes to the opponent. I get it when we open with Georgia, but against Portland State! It also didn't seem to help too much against Georgia, but the stonewall continues.

As the Pac-12 comes to an end it is about who dominates at the end. It is only fitting that Oregon should win out and walk away with the Pac-12. We have been the dominant program in the recent history, and there would be no better way to show that then to come away as Pac-12 champ. I want to have revenge on the dawgs and the beavs, but there is much more at stake then just beating a couple programs.

Dorlus is the real deal. He was voted 2nd team All PAC-12 and our defense was poor. This means, to me, the league saw how good he was on a challenged D-line. This also means Taki isn't the real deal. We should count on limited minutes for the guy. I also like Popo, and if he stays healthy he could have a monster year. Popo needs to have the endurance to take most of the minutes at NT, or this will be a weak spot. NT is one spot we need to steal a game wrecker next year. The rest of the defense seems to be filled up with transfers who will either play out, or we may have a defense with some question marks after games. I think we will turn the corner, just wondering how sharp of a turn we will make, hopefully all the way to full steam ahead!

Maybe the beav game was on Dilly and his focus on the devil, but Nix has to be able to beat the beavs, or any rival. I also think Stein needs to show he can develop a qb, and have him ready for the NFL. Stein needs to show he can finish the job of developing a qb, and get one, or more ready for the college level. This is the standard at Oregon I expect. Agree Stein needs to help stop Ty's head from spinning after all he has been through, or hatch Novasad into a serviceable qb quick.

The two things I am looking at this season and next are the qb situation and how the team travels. These two items will drive recruiting and the program. First off Nix has to stay on track or improve. We then need to see the next guy step up. If not then the Oregon qb magic isn't there and that drives the program. From Marcus to Justin, and before, Oregon has been a qb school. Stein needs to polish Nix and have the next guy ready. If this doesn't happen the Oregon brand gets damaged and the desire of tv to broadcast, and recruits wanting to come wains. We need to have excellent qb play going forward. The other item is to play on the road with energy and a comfort level few programs have. The game in Lubbock, then Seattle and finally SLC will be huge tests where we need to meet and exceed expectations. If we don't show strength on the road this season, next season will be brutal. If you look at what the BIG did to UCLA and SC's 2024 schedule I bet they do the same to Oregon. Next season will be even more travel, and the program will suffer if we don't show strength on the road. If we lose on the road this will be used against us in recruiting. It can be a strength with the exposure, but losing doesn't help anything. We need to show we can thump TT and others and make our future road trips look doable. If not the whole BIG thing might not be all everyone is thinking it will be. I say we will be fine and recruiting under Lanning will continue to exceed expectations. I will be looking to see if these two items also exceed expectations, because without it we have a pretty big headwind going forward even Lanning might have a little stutter step with.

Love it, adversity is when you can tell if there is resilience, integrity and all the most important traits you look for. It is easy to be tough, give extra effort, make hard decision when everything is going right. When the tide turns that is when you see who doesn't have it, and it isn't always pretty. If he gave this speech to his team then they were given a good lesson. Now will it take or will the team be full of, from my yesterday post, a bunch of Uncle Rico's?

Maybe somebody can help me with the situation. It was Oregon against either ucla, or usc and our 3* O-lineman was going against the opposing teams 5* D-lineman on a critical down. The O-lineman said or did something which he knew was going to set off the undisciplined lineman and was able to help Oregon get a 1st down. I still remember the replay of our O-lineman with his hands up, smiling as the D-lineman shoved him. The outcome 15 yds, and a first down. The other outcome, in the end the Oregon lineman ended up in the NFL, the LA kid telling stories like Uncle Rico. Colorado is just going to be another Uncle Rico producer, like too many LA university kids.

I like the Puddle Porter, best drank by the Pounder!

Two problems I noticed, both come down to discipline. The simple issue is 'Prime' implying any fight needs to be supported by all. The battle which footbal is, needs to be a team effort, we can all agree. The stupid choice of fighting another team member or opponent can't be condoned. This shouldn't be something to follow. There is a huge difference, and any well coached team will take advantage of that mistaken lesson, lack of discipline, all day. The other problem is it looked like the Colorado players were still a bunch of high school players bodies out there. There might have been talent on that field, but it didn't look like it had been developed with offseason training. Those guys looked tiny! The team Lanning is putting together will have more discipline, and has shown more discipline in the offseason. The trait of discipline, and the lack of it, will haunt the program going forward, from what I saw. 'Prime' had so much talent he didn't need discipline. These kids and most student athletes need discipline, that is the kryptonite of Colorado, and any program 'Prime' is involved in.

Sounds good and seems to have a little more to it than just SPARQ scores. I remember a few guys who came to Oregon with off the chart SPARQ scores, but never amounted to much. I would say the guy who still has question marks is Devon, but his numbers are off the chart. Can our freaks, freakout the season is the question? Burch and Dorlus are NFL level talents who just need to put together solid seasons. If they do then they are writing themselves some nice checks at the next level. Devon could develop into a force, if his numbers can be added up to output. Is he a SPARQ type high score guy or is he a football freak, that is the question.

In this day and age it is all about finding a scapegoat, placing blame. Most people just want to look back and attack. What is harder to do is to look forward, and really understand all the moving parts effecting the now. Right now we have some very big upsides to our football program. I can see that the money will be nice. There are also some things we should be cautious about. Both LA schools in 2024 have 4 games across the country, one each on the east coast. No team travels that far well. There is a reason the SEC schools don't travel, often or even ever. The BIGs top programs (Michigan and Ohio State controlled) both play in LA at the end of the season, otherwise stay in the midwest. This favors the power players in the BIG. We will be getting better money, but will pay a huge price. I am not sure too many are focused on this issue. Seeing Oregon, and the old Pac schools struggle with their 3-4 straight game across the country may get old. We may be, again, lamenting the decision the heads of our schools made. All is not sunshine and rainbows, and the future is just going to be more money and greater exposure. I certainly hope the athletic department is focused on the impact travel will have on our student athletes. The academics still needs to be a priority. Their ability to be resilient after 4 weeks of business travel in a row needs to be considered. Anyone go on across the country business 4 weeks in a row? Most people choose jobs that don't demand this. They may even take a lesser paying job. I don't see this as a recruiting plus, but maybe I am alone in this view. A shot from one of my favorite movies I think is appropriate.

The once constant in life is change. Way to embrace the past and look forward to the future, not as easy as you make it look. You must be channeling the Ducks leaving the Pac-12. The future will be bright for both the Ducks, and you!

The presidents dropped the ball, and I agree they have no idea how to play with a ball. The ball was put in play by the new landscape, field where capitalism rules and traditions have little purpose. This is where I like the historic structure analogy. I don't think we fully appreciate the Pac-12 and what was built from. Ironically it started as the Big-5, then the Pacific Coast Conference. It went from 8, then 10 and finally to 12 as the Pac-12. I agree there are some great things about joining the BIG, but bottomline it was a mistake to mismanage this great conference the way it was. Much like any beautiful thing of value, we often are distracted by the shiny new thing until we fully realize what we had. We have to move on, but I won't forget!