SmithRiverDuck

Well, here's a crazy thought (and I've thought this for a couple of games now). The Ducks need a loss. I believe that for the Ducks to make their deepest possible run in the NCAA Tournament they'll need to lose once before it starts. So, tonight I decided that the best loss they could have before it starts is a loss in the B1G championship game. Of course, I don't want OBD to ever lose. But that reality doesn't exist. The only other choice would be a loss to the dirty Dawgs this weekend. A B1G tournament championship with a loss to Ewe Dub is palpable, but I don't know if it's preferable. Tough choice there. Obviously, the season ends on the highest note with the Ducks playing in the biggest tournament game possible. Earlier this season, after big wins against Alabama and A&M there was talk about a potential final four appearance. Then after five straight losses there was talk about potentially missing the tournament altogether. I guess what I'm saying is I don't believe in a 16 or whatever winning streak to end the season. But I can certainly believe in a six or eight game streak to end the season.

I've said it before. I'll say it again. Dana Altman is one of the top basketball coaches in the country. The only reason he's not already in the hall of fame is because the guys that have done what he has done coached at powerhouses. He's been at Creighton and Oregon. The guys on the floor aren't doing it like he's coached them. That's why he says it's up to them to figure it out. He ALWAYS takes responsibility for losses, saying the team wasn't coached good enough. He never throws his players under the bus, a la Cronin. Although, FUCLA is currently tearing it up, so what do I know? I do feel like Altman has been let down by his players for a few years. Although, he did choose them. Frank Kepnang's presence is sorely missed I believe and would have made a difference. I'd gladly trade Evans and Cook to get Frank back. When the Ducks were beating the likes of Alabama and A&M, people were commenting that Shelstead was far past Prichard at their common states of development. I disagreed with that then and I strongly disagree now. I don't believe Shelstead will EVER be the winner and leader that Pritchard is. Shelstead is Richardson with more energy. I don't foresee the Ducks having much success until he's gone, unfortunately. I'm kinda hoping they got Jeff Bassa to lead the players only meeting the other day as I don't see anyone on the basketball team that could have done it. They don't have a leader. Maybe that's the problem.

And for some strange reason, my mind immediately went, "Holy crap! Art Schlichter?!" It wasn't. It was J.T. Barrett, whom I barely remember. So I would have a hard time with the whole "legend" thing.

I would think that PSU (eastern version) is using plenty of the film from the game against the redheaded cheese heads. It's true that Wisconsin had an excellent defensive game plan. But being the eighth game, as has been discussed above, and having the SECOND most intimidating crowd in the B1G also played a large roll in that game. Luckily, we jumped around and I don't think it'll be as helpful as PU State thinks. Speaking of jumping around. Can the Ducks vs Them video series win an Emmy? Oscar? Something? They are so awesome! Absolute marketing gold! Here's how effective they are: The theme for the Michigan game was Gladiator with the thumbs down sign being prevalent. Fast forward to the video of the Wisconsin game while we are losing, and a lot of their crowd are doing the thumbs down sign. It ain't just us Ducks watching these videos!

Huh. He must have watched Mario choke a, I mean, coach a game.

Lanning: Hey Coach. I called for some advice. What do you think about me taking an NFL job. Saban: Oh Dan. Don't do it. You have it better right now than you would ever have it in the NFL.

He ought to hire Charlie Weiss as OC. That way they can also have a decided schematic advantage.

The two most dominating looking teams right now are Oregon and Georgia, only when they play Alabama.

1. We got pushed around for at least the first quarter and really, most of the first half. 2. I've never coached football. As Sgt. Schultz would say, "I know nothink!" But I would've gone for it on the longer 4th down attempt. A chance to stretch the field and you're on their side of the 50. And I would've kicked the field goal on the short attempt to make OSUSUC (that's my new akronym) have to score a touchdown at the end. 3. There was championship play by both teams. 4. Both Chip Kelly, Will Stein and every OC in the country seem to like to run it up the middle at really inopportune times. I think it's mostly to set up the next play. But, too often the next play is EXACTLY what the opposing team is expecting. 5. "I know NOTHINK!" 6. I say two nasty defenses tonight. Oregon's defense has been nasty since almost day one. It was my first experience with, "That school slightly south's) defense tonight. Nasty/salty.........You know what I'm sayin'. 7. Speaking of defense: DJ should have considered it. It's OBVIOUSLY the Ugaleilei's strongpoint. 7a: That was an interception. 7b: The rip-away fumble was mind blowing. It made me think that I can't believe we won that game without Burch. But we did. 7c: Ya know, the "royal" we. 8. This is a defensive team that has enough stars on offense to overcome other defensive teams. 9. Defenses win championships. This old cliche is nonetheless true. During the dominant SEC run it has been been true and is apparently true in this year's B1G. One stat I noticed today was Oregon's 17.something PPG was 9th (NINTH!!!) in the B1G. As bigly as our offense needs to be in the second half of the season, our defense has to be bigglier. 10. Ryan Day (who apparently pees sitting down according to Game Day signs) made the last mistake. Personally, I'd assign 50% of that blame to the OSU quarterback, but: Stellar, championship, awesome play by both sides of the ball by each teams. Easily the best two teams in the B1G this season. 11. As the celebratory inebriation takes over, this final thought: Game Day from Eugene is the best. I didn't rise till 7am and missed the Duck's "Fly" entrance during the 6am hour. But from 7am and the Sauphia Lanning cancer story through Kaitlin Olson picks recalling having her fake ID taken at Renny's and losing her virginity here, "Sorry dad." And the "oafy" (spot on, by the way) McAfee ripping off his shirt and leading the crowd in a rendition of Shout. The greatest Game Day Episode ever! Dang, I forgot to mention the seafood and the po'boys! The po'boys got Saban interested and I'm sure he's seen the best po'boys! IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A DUCK!!

But didn't kick one that would have made the Nuts score a touchdown at the end instead of being able to get a FG and made my angina throught the roof. But yeah, I'm nitpicking at this point. Monday morning quarterbacking. Hind-sighting. And, frankly, a bit drinky at this point...........

The reason I feel lucky that OBD won the game is because both teams played great. Both teams had self-inflicted mistakes (coaching and playing). Both teams had good and bad luck things happen to them (the interception that wasn't). We had a good neighborhood crowd in our tavern tonight. That might have meant there were twelve of us if you take into account today's crowd size bragging strategies. Someone said, with too much time on the clock for my comfort, "Maybe they'll make a mistake and the time will run out." My brain thankfully asked me not to call my good friend an idiot for their wishful thinking. Lo and behold that's exactly what happened. They had certainly been within field goal attempt range. But I don't mind throwing out all the luck stuff. That's hocus pocus, right? The amount of incredible play is what sticks out. What was laid out all over the field. By both teams. On the other hand, there's three things I've always felt had to happen for championship teams: Stellar play. Not being decimated by injuries, and.............well, a little luck.

Todd Blackledge has always been biased against the Ducks. He played for one of the "real" blue bloods (Penn St.). He's always considered Oregon, "New money". I wasn't very happy when the game started and he was "commentating". There's obviously a reason that he's not on ABC anymore. I can't believe it's because anyone else wants to hear him. He's as big a hack as Gary Danielson.

Darn!! Forgot about the part where I thought that in this crazy world we live in there has never been a better time to have benefactor such that as Uncle Phil. I might have one more point as well, but as I mentioned before I've been drinking. Basically, since that double OT loss to Creighton. Not only because I thought we would've had a decent chance against Tennessee (Texas bothered me), but who the heck wouldn't want to see Dante against that Purdue guy? Ok, that's it. I'm going to beddy bye........

It's been a hard divorce. Don't remember the movie much but it's been a Kramer v. Kramer. Once all intentions were announced, entrenchments were made and no one has moved. It's WWl all over again. But, whatyougonna do? Fuggetaboutit! Just trying to get all the dialects down amongst our now, nation-length conference brethren......... Seriously, we could've ended up a "trailer trash" custody battle between Fresno and Boise (sorry to use Fresno I actually like them). In the end, everyone involved has done what's best in their own interests. For years, the likes of Florida State were willing to let the Wake Forests of the world ride their coat tails, much like the bark rats and that other one was allowed to in the Pac. Because there was enough money to go around. Now that there's not it's everyone for themselves. Like all divorces we will now mostly co-habitat with our new step-brothers and sisters. At certain "holiday events" (March Madness and other celebrations) we will awkwardly interact with our exes, while maintaining complete decorum. After all, We're amongst the upper crust. We ain't "trailer trash". (disclaimer: This post is made with the utmost cynical humility possible. And even if it ain't, I may have been drinking at the time.)

I was rooting hard for Oakland. Potential Cinderellas dropped like flies today. We'll have to see if anyone wants to wear the glass slipper tomorrow.