DUCKED

Wow! That’s a lot of information. Let us know when he commits.

“Relegated to the kids’ table.” That’s exactly where it feels like the PAC-12 is headed.

Nice observation, and if that comes to pass, it does not bode well for schools like Oregon State and Washington State.

With those numbers wouldn’t it have made more sense to stick around for another year?

Agree with you on just about everything……except the Stanford game. Sadly, I think it did define the Ducks’ season……underperforming against relatively weak competition.

I didn’t see Herbert and Mariota, both 3-stars, on the list, but several great Duck players were unheralded, including Jeff Maehl, one of the most reliable receivers in Duck history. A short list of other overachievers: Byrd. 969 Chung. UR Thurmond. 671 Hill. 576 Swinson. 509 Dorlus. 836 Unger. 616 Forsyth. 465 Williams. 425

The Ducks’ second game is at home against Eastern Washington, which I am assuming they will win.

Covering against Georgia would be a totally acceptable way to start the season. But if the Ducks expect to contend for a spot in the playoffs — a win over BYU at home is an absolute must. If a playoff berth is the ultimate goal the entire Pac-12 season becomes irrelevant if the Ducks start the season 1-2. So, my pick for the most important game is BYU.

Is that first team all-Pac-12, and NBA draft pick Isaiah Mobley?

I’m thinking B1G is the way to go……but only if Oregon is voted a full share of the media windfall, which is estimated at $1 billion. Taking that position, however, just might prevent the Ducks from getting an invite. The Pac-12-Big 12 merger would be the second option.

It’s clear nobody at Fox or ESPN has read Chesterson’s Fence.

Although I’m a relative newbie, having joined in Oct 2021, and sporadic poster, I nevertheless check in with the forum pretty much every morning. If you are a Duck fan it’s the best place to get up to date information and analysis from so many talented thinkers and writers. And what impresses most is the way Charles has established a monitoring system that assures the site remains civil, which in and of itself is an amazing accomplishment. Charles plays no favorites…..even to those he has friendships with. If you break the rules you will hear about it…….continue and you will be suspended or banned. FishDuck is the only site I’m on, but I know what occurs on other sites and I want no part of it. Thanks Charles. I know this is a labor of love for you, but I also realize you put in tons of work. It is much appreciated.

A voice of reason. Doubling Lanning’s pay before he has coached a game? Ridiculous. We know he can recruit….now let’s see if he can coach.

Somebody once said “follow the money,” a very astute observation. The next week should be very interesting. In the current climate, if you snooze, you lose.

Very good point……

We really don’t know how successful Lanning will be as a head coach. We know he was an excellent defensive coordinator at Georgia and is an outstanding recruiter. That much is clear. But so was Cristobal (an offensive line coach) before he got the Ducks’ head job. And look how that turned out. He recruited a bunch of 4-star players, and a few 5-stars……and coached them down. But Lanning will be a first time head coach, and never has had the responsibility of overseeing an entire program. There will be growing pains, of course, and that it to be expected. But I’m with everyone else on this board….very much looking forward to the new season and a new regime, and hope that Lanning turns out to be the “homerun” hire that he appears to be.

Portugal.

He just signed with Pitt.

Blocking is such an important part of a tight end’s skill set. Perhaps Webb’s lack of playing time has more to do with that than catching passes. Just a thought.

LSU with Burrow.....And: Ohio State with Fields Oklahoma with Mayfield and Murray Utah with Rising And now USC with Caleb Williams It definitely works if you pick the right guy'

Missed that!

Even more recently: Andre Ware Gino Torretta Danny Weurffel Chris Weinke Troy Smith Tim Tebow …. and the list goes on

“The players like it and that trumps any argument.” I definitely agree, but it’s not just the players. People from all over the country would talk about the Ducks’ uniforms and the uniforms became perhaps the catalyst in Oregon becoming a “cool” school, which of course attracts recruits as well as non athletes. Even now there are press releases prior to games telling us what the Ducks will be wearing on Saturday. Cool uniforms have become part of Oregon’s identity. Having said that, I have to admit that sometimes the uniforms make me shake my head, as in “What were they thinking?”

My top 5: Whittingham Riley Shaw Kelly Smith

Of course we wouldn't have a problem if Lanning was doing the same thing. As far I know, no rules have been broken. And the insinuation that tampering was involved may or may not be true, but there is myriad ways to tamper and stay within accepted guidelines. All these top players know each other from camps and all-star games and I'm sure the recruiting among players is rampant. And then of course you have the "representatives" wooing players with the promise of big NIL bucks, and that is only going to become more prevalent........until the NCAA funds a way to reign it in. Lincoln Riley is smart. He has used the portal very effectively in the hope of turning things around at USC in year one. USC has big bucks, and with Riley taking over those big money donors are no longer reluctant to open their wallets. Oregon, fortunately, is able to compete with the big spenders. The rivalry is heating up once again and that's good for the Ducks, Trojans, and perhaps most of all the Pac-12.