Haywarduck

Sailer's top rating is for sale. You have to attend the camps to get the rating. I hate to say it, but lazy programs recruit from these rating services. I hope the program went more in depth than relying on the Sailer rating, bet they did. Agree there are too many failures from these rating services to provide a scholarship to a prospective student athlete. Have a competition every year and provide a scholarship to the kid who proves himself. One of my favorites was Henry Katleman who left for a scholarship after proving himself at Oregon.

I think the biggest surprise is the lack of surprises after most fans went into the season so hopeful. When you have a coach who has never been a head coach, other than a 3rd grade basketball team while in high school, you really don't know how all the dynamics are going to work out. Notre Dame hired a coach much like Lanning, no head coaching experience. They lost their first two games, the second against Marshall, at home. I think they have struggled to win the games they have won. This was the kind of start I thought we might see, some struggles. Instead we have seen every assistant make their position group better each week. We have seen a coach on the sideline cool as iced tea on a hot day. There certainly have been little things to complain about, but they have been little. Recruiting has been next level too. His transfers and recruits are working out. I personally have been surprised we haven't seen more weaknesses in Dan Lanning's preseason persona. The guy really is the real deal! The next question is what will his kryptonite going to be. Will there be a program he struggles against, one coach? Will there be a character issues he can't control, penalties, some student athletes losing their edge? Right now I am still waiting to see anything which is a flaw which can't be improved upon or, really is a flaw. That surprises me more than anything.

Bluto, if my Animal House trivia is correct, wasted 7 years because he had no credits, and a 0.00 grade point average. I doubt if Popo has no credits or a 0.00 grade point average. I don't see that he has a degree yet, so maybe he is going to outdo Bluto in all three areas? But if he is even close to Bluto's record we must remember this famous line from Bluto himself, (some questionable language, listener discretion advised!)

UCLA is 1-9 in the last ten games against the Ducks. Chip Kelly has never beaten the Ducks. How big do you think this game is to Chip Kelly? I would say this is a massive game for a guy who has the ego Chip has. Nothing could be bigger than going to Autzen and beating the Ducks, especially now. The guys team is ranked 10th. He is finally getting some respect again, and his old program could knock him off that pedestal. Last time he fell off, or jumped off the pedestal, drunk from success. 10 years ago he chose to leave Oregon close to the top of the college football world with the intention of continuing that success in the NFL. He was fired, fired again, and has struggled for the last 4 years. He has 8 awards for coaching, all of them came while he was at Oregon. The guy who wants to win this game more than anyone on either sideline is none other than Chip Kelly. Ironically the guy who will probably win this game is just focused on winning the day.

The first sentence got me, 'he would bring a tough, innovative offense after shaping Justin Herbert' WHAT!!!!!!??????

I think validation is an interesting term to use at this stage of Dan Lanning's tenure. I would use the term affirmation to describe what a win would mean for Lanning and his fans. It seems like every move Lanning makes is an affirmation of just how amazing he is seen by his fans and players. I was cautious about just how excited the fanbase was about what the new staff was going to bring. So far there has been one bump, one that should've been expected. The term redemption is, I think, an extremely accurate term when describing what a win would mean to Chip. He has been destroyed by many fans for his moves up to this point. A win would help him restore some of his prowess he once had as the Oregon Head Coach. My take is a loss won't lesson my conviction that in the end Lanning is the better coach. The road may seem short to where we want Lanning to take us, but I have a feeling there will be bumps, some unexpected. A win by Chip would be a statement, but not a validation. Proof of product is done over time, and Mr. Lanning has plenty of time to prove he is directing this program in the right direction, with the Oregon offense, and defense back to where we want, expect it. Go Ducks!

You don't sell it, you install it. It is your family and what is acceptable to you is what counts. Reminds me of what my son said one time, ok maybe a few times, 'when I'm dad I'm going to do things different.' My reply, 'I look forward to seeing that happen.' I also don't mean to minimize the difficulty of what you do. Like a parent, the tough stuff isn't often seen by those affected. You have a huge impact, positive impact on this community. The choices are yours and I will support whatever you come up with, and for the record, I wouldn't do anything different!

Player and coaches are like family, sometimes they need some tough love, but you keep it constructive. Players, coaches: The way I look at it is players and coaches are, again, like family. Would you call family, your son for example, Turnover Johnny Junior? Would you say please never play my son again? Would you use an uzi, bullets and a target when trying to describe your son, well maybe some fans, but it isn't necessary. For ex coaches: Now if family leaves, divorces your sister, all gloves are off for the buffoon, who you only use to criticize in private. As far as the McCoys from across the way who keep trying to steal your property, and offend you with everything they do, gloves are always off. We should keep it constructive, but a good laugh at the neighbors expense is all in good fun. Crazy day, just my two cents.

We have proved we can win a tough game at home. We have also proved repeatedly we can win on the road, and to a decent team. UCLA hasn't proved they can win a tough game on the road, yet. The program hasn't even been in a bowl game under CK. Their biggest away win last year was against the 4-8 dawgs and that was by 7 points. I will take the team that knows how to win at home against a team with an inflated sense of itself after mainly winning in the bubble of Westwood. I have a feeling the home crowd may not be needed, but will play a big role. We learned from going to Georgia and the bruins will learn from their loss at Autzen.

Great stats to substantiate your take! Dilly coached Bo when he had those stats. Bo would be clobbered on here with his freshman, sophomore stats. Is Ty just doing what Bo would have? Also agree it would be nice to see Butters get a shot. It might do both of the back-ups good. I will say I hope the fans don't crucify him if he doesn't look all world in garbage time. It is amazing when a starter struggles everyone loves the back-up. When the starter is good everyone worries about the back-up and no one measures up. Kind of predictable emotional response patterns. I just hope the coaches and the players keep their heads down while plowing ahead. We are lucky to have Bo, and we need to develop our back-ups.

I think the bruins kryptonite might be a big road game. The dawgs were shown to be a fraud once they hit the road, not a surprise. USC has struggled on the road. Utah also has had a hard time on the road. I would bet sc and ucla will struggle with their next games, on the road. I will guarantee Autzen won't be a fun place to play, and it won't be an empty stadium like they are use to. It will be loud, hostile, might even be cold, and yes, wet! I can hear the bruin players already, 'how can you play football with all that noise, and it is cold, this isn't fun!'

It is interesting we are crowning Bo with, he has 'it,' while he was told for years he didn't have it. We now are saying Ty doesn't have 'it' before he has even started a game. I think the staff is very wise to have a third year guy ready to go next year as very few freshman are ready to lead a program out of high school. If Bo doesn't come back do we chase off Ty and Butters and sign another transfer to help Moore? We don't hate you Charles, just disagree, and trust Lanning will have a plan that just might include Ty and Butters.

Just wait until he has his guys, and that stadium built only 9 miles away. Wait, they have to wait, they signed him for $80 million and 10 years.

Kellen Clemens looked like anything but a star when he stepped on the field. Dennis Dixon had one great year and looked mediocre the rest of the time. I will agree to disagree on this one. Ty has been sent in for clean up duty. DJU looked terrible last year, and is leading his team to the top of the rankings. Robby Ashford couldn't even break the top 4 within this group and has started for Auburn. I could go on. Also I trust these coaches more than the previous coaches and they are playing him. I love it when I disagree with Charles, because it seldom happens, but is a healthy sign.

Don't do what Arizona did. I suppose that works for a lot of things.

I give Mario a lot of credit, and feel bad about being right up to this point. I am grateful for how he set up the program for the success we see now. I just know we wouldn't be seeing what we see now, and am grateful for that too! I am ready to move on from predictions of his demise. I am full of passion for the Ducks we have now. I suppose I was just pissed, and missed our Ducks of old and now we have them again. I am complete, once more!

Bo Nix is getting ready to lead a team to a win. The difference with Ty is he is getting ready to lead mop up time. I would agree he isn't getting up for that opportunity. I do wonder what Ty would look like if he was getting ready to start. I also wonder what Ty would be like if he was put in needing to perform to save a game. Right now I will agree he doesn't look good getting ready to lead mop up time. He needs to up his readiness for whatever comes his way, because he doesn't know what that will be. When he looks like he does I, like many, wonder what Butters might look like.

I would say Nix is a more skilled version of Tim Tebow. If Tebow can win the Heisman then there is no reason Bo can't. I will add there was no way Tebow wins if Dixon had stayed healthy!

The tough thing for a young team to do is stay in the top 10. There is something about young men reaching that level. This is why I think the game after UCLA may be the trap game. CAL, and playing at Berkley might be the trip point of the season. So far Coach Lanning has these young men building and getting better. The question is when and if they pause, ponder their greatness, and have somebody make their season with a win. Or can Dan Lanning pull off a miracle first season? I tend to think the whole ranking thing might just be, like the cover of SI, the kryptonite for this young team. High rankings get other teams to really shoot for you, and it sometimes sets up young athletes to finally let their guard down.

Your most interesting observation was the reference to our next opponent. A 'Chip Kelly Era performance,' putting the game away early. I would say we actually have a Dr. Doom in the booth. An evil genius who opponents have no chance against. Our Super Villain is Dr. Dilly Doom and UCLA has Chip Luthor CEO of ChipCorp. Fortunately we have Superman as our Head Coach. Luthor has no chance, as Dr. Dilly and our Boy Wonder who is acting like Superman will annihilate the evil traitor from down south. We will welcome Chip Luthor back to Smallville October 22nd. Our legion of superheroes will be ready!

Great article, and writing. I have a feeling this one might sum up todays experience for the Arizona fans.

--the winner, Oregon --the score 45-38 --the amount of turnovers Oregon creates 2 --the number of sacks Oregon records on the opposing team 6 --the number of passing yards by the Ducks. 359 yds.

He isn't a student, he is an employee. The guy has earned a raise, especially if you look at what other programs have done under new coaches, or really any metric other than a grading system. I always hated the grading system we use in most situations. A student starts out with an A and then works their way down, based on mistakes, then they get even more conservative so they don't make mistakes. Lanning has made some mistakes, but he has learned and improved. So far he is probably the greatest employee we have had as the leader of this program. The guy deserves a raise and to be treated as the boss, leader of the program, and I am extremely grateful he is our coach.

Interesting thing about the beavs is as I have matured, and grown in understanding programs I have been able appreciate and support the beavs when they aren't playing the Ducks. The beavs program and their fans seem to move in the opposite direction. Growing up it seemed they were much more understanding and even supportive of our Ducks. Now the adults I know can't stand the Ducks, at all. They want our Ducks to lose every game, won't wear green even on St. Paddy's Day. Not sure what that says about either program nor their fans, but that is what I see.

The beauty of a dog is they will always love you no matter how tough things get. We may not love you the same way, but we definitely respect you and your opinion. Keep them coming and love that dog, and your Ducks!