latracey

I'm hearing Lanning all over the place. I really think this is the guy. He fits the bill of a hit it out of the park hire. Georgia's defensive coordinator. Oh my! Wouldn't it be something if they could get Joe Brady as offensive coordinator?

Everybody seems to be going home. That might be a trend to carefully look at.

While I predicted Chip when this whole shooting match began, the more I hear and read, the more I think he's going to stay put at UCLA. Coaching hires are a great chance for wily coaches to up their deal with their current employer, and Chip is nothing if not wily; plus Sexton, his agent, is about as wily as they come. Chip knows what living in Eugene is like, and life for a man with means in Southern California is pretty sweet. Head coach at the University of Oregon is life in a fish bowl; head coach at UCLA, not so much. He has struggled to get UCLA where he wants them, and 8 wins and counting tells me he is making good and steady progress. While some of the UCLA faithful are dissatisfied, there is nothing like another place courting your guy to make you truly appreciate what you have. I think Chip loved his time here, and has a true appreciation for Oregon's facilities and resources, but I think his final word to Mullens will be thanks, but no thanks. While rumor has it that Oregon is willing to pay their next coach a king's ransom, money isn't going to buy anyone on the wish list. I am almost certain Mario wouldn't have left for any other program than Miami. Most of the great coaches have spent years, and a fair amount of blood, sweat, and tears to build their programs. They love where they live and they love their players and their staffs; and they know that money can't buy you that kind of love.

I understand the need for rule number 34 stating that there be no false information regarding the coaching hire. I'm truly hoping that the rule isn't relevant very often, and that Oregon will be successful in hiring a coach who will decide to stay around for a while and finish what they start. I understand the disrespect associated with posting information that a person posts knowing full well it was completely fabricated by them. There is a big gray area, however, as it applies to someone who, in good faith, posts information they got from a seemingly reliable source. We, all of us, have our perhaps unique sources of information that have been dependable for us over the long run. That said, this is 2021 and the internet is completely out of control with regard to what is actual and accurate information and what nothing more than someone's opinion; or even worse, a diabolical attempt to report misinformation. The frustration for actual doctors, scientists, and learned people is palpable. What I love about this site is that there is an extraordinary effort to be respectful, and that people here make an effort to honestly honor each others' opinions. I've been everywhere man, and there is nothing quite like this anywhere. I've seen wrong information posted with good intentions or an attempt at humor, but I haven't seen much in the way of purposeful attempts to steer people in the wrong direction. My hat is off to you Mr. FishDuck, and to the moderators here. It's obvious we all love our Ducks, but it's also obvious that we also have a good measure of love for each other and the thoughts of others here. Kudos !!

Heck. Why WOULDN'T Rob Mullens and Phil Knight interview Lane Kiffin? Chip Kelly is there for the taking, he knows the ropes, and I think he'd do a great job at Oregon... But why not shoot for the stars?

According to a tweet just posted by John Canzano, Oregon hasn't made their final decision yet. Behind what he is calling "Door Number 1" is an NFL candidate and a college coach mystery candidate. Behind "Door Number 2" is Kelly and Wilcox. That all said, I originally said that I had heard it was going to be Chip Kelly, and I think when it's all said and done, it is going to be Chip Kelly.

The word floated by Canzano last night was that Kiffin was off of the table. Word has it that Canzano has an in with Phil Knight, and that Phil Knight doesn't like Kiffin. Take it for what it's worth because the buzz out there is so loud right now that it's hard to know which end is up. It's strange, however. Kiffin has leaked that he's interested. He is one of the best offensive minds in college football today, and he is perhaps the only name on the list who would easily be able to go toe to toe with Lincoln Riley on the recruiting trail. He is exactly the kind of big, splashy hire that would make the major waves I'd think Oregon wants to make. Why isn't Kiffin getting any Love from the people who are calling the shots?

You hit the nail on the head Hayward pertaining to my real problem with Cristobal. A testament to his great recruiting was his ability to be a great salesman, but his words rang hollow when put to the test. So much of what he said in his interviews was filled with the blather of coach speak with very little substance. There was most definitely a narrative he was trying to create. How many noticed some of the same ideals and platitudes being rehashed for the eager Miami supporters at his acceptance speech the other day? I'm sure it brought tears to the eyes of some, but I had the feeling that I'd heard it all before. He always talked about the "real relationships" he had with his players, but I've seen a lot that's come out from players and parents of players since he left that suggest that he was less than honest about the things he promised them. A "real relationship" can only truly happen if you have a real relationship with The Truth.

Swinney is not out of the question, but I'm under the impression that he is deeply rooted in the life he has at Clemson. The article is correct, however. "Game done changed". In a world driven by the mighty dollar where mighty dollars are no barrier, anything seems possible. I could be wrong, Lord knows I am a lot, but I have a funny feeling we are about to witness something along the lines of extraordinary with Oregon's next coaching hire. After all, the game done changed.

https://twitter.com/johncanzanobft/status/1468801309356675072?s=21 According to John Canzano, Oregon just asked for permission to interview Justin Wilcox. This is just CRAZY!!!! I don't know what else to tell you...

https://twitter.com/johncanzanobft/status/1468801309356675072?s=21 According to Canzano, Oregon just asked for permission to interview Justin Wilcox.

"Oregon is not currently pursuing Justin Wilcox as a potential head coaching candidate. The Ducks are aiming high in this search, particularly for coaches who have playoff or title game experience." The quote from a tweet above says the Ducks are specifically targeting coaches who have playoff or title game experience. Hmmm... Are we talking about Urban Meyer here? Noooooooooooooooooo !

I just saw a tweet that said Wilcox is also not in the mix for the U of O coaching vacancy. I also saw a tweet that announced that Bryan "B Mac" McClendon has accepted a position on Cristobal's Miami football staff. My question is: Does B Mac accepting the position with Miami cancel out his being interim Head Coach for Oregon in the Alamo Bowl?

I've also heard that Oregon has told their leading recruits who they are targeting, and the recruits are impressed to the point of remaining solid with Oregon. Could it be Urban Meyer? I hope not, although I've heard Phil likes him. That man is the Devil incarnate, in my humble opinion. Please NOT Urban Meyer!

If I'm getting the scenario from my above post right, it reads something like this: Kiffin is interested in the Oregon opening so he contacts Canzano for assistance getting hooked up with the people at Oregon who matter. Phil, however, doesn't like Kiffin and just says NO! And THAT is why Canzano is tweeting that Kiffin is out of the mix. All trains must first go through that all important station up in Beaverton.

You want confusing? Wrap your mind around this:

Well... Canzano says it's NOT Kiffin and Canzano definitely has some inside connections. Rumors out of Mississippi are saying Kiffin will be announced as Oregon's new head coach on Friday. Anyone feeling the deja vu ?!

I totally agree with you Jon, and I love the big picture perspective you bring here. I also truly believe that this coaching hire for Oregon is all about them demonstrating the "size of their sack". I think that's especially true where Phil Knight is concerned. The University of Oregon is Nike's flagship college football team. Kiffin is all about the size of the stage, the glory, and the money. He's also probably the best offensive mind in college football right now. As you say, this is MUST do for Oregon if there is any chance of success, and those rumors that always seem to be true are saying that Kiffin is definitely interested. Before, I was hearing from eyes and ears on the inside that Chip was the man, but it seems clear to me now that Oregon has moved beyond that. I don't think Phil would sign off on Chip given their past history. I now have a feeling that Lane Kiffin is going to be coming to Lane County. It's going to happen.

The eyes of the college football nation are focused on Oregon and how Mullens/Knight are going to respond to having Cristobal smuggled out. They need a big time hire to show the world that Oregon is up to answering the call and plans to continue being a factor in college football's brave new world where money is no barrier. My spidy senses are telling me that Phil Knight is completely on board with a big, stunning, flashy hire to show these johnny come lately nou-veau rich billionaire boosters of the college football world how the old guard big boys play the game. As I told people who were questioning whether Miami could afford what looks to be close to 30 million dollars to hire Cristobal away, big money to you and me is chump change for these guys. When it comes to big, splashy, sexy, "let's make a statement to the college football world about what our name brand is truly all about" coaching hires, Lane Kiffin is hard to beat. Given that the price seems open ended, I'd rather see Aranda or Campbell, but a Kiffin hire might be the big-time statement Oregon feels like it needs to make for this hire.

I also thought that trying to have the hire by Friday was both interesting and good news. They have to stop the exodus of players and recruits, and having your coach hired by that ESP deadline is pretty critical. The thing about the current round of coaching carousel 2021is how much money is being thrown around. I know these billionaire boosters have deep pockets, but the amount of money paid for Cristobal's new contract, buying out his Oregon contract, and paying off Manny Diaz simply boggles my mind. It seems like Oregon has the spotlight brightly focused on them and this coaching vacancy. It feels like Oregon believes they have to hit this one completely out of the park. They have to make a hire that tells the college football world that Oregon plans to continue being relevant. I also feel like Phil's checkbook is as open as can be in support seeing something really, really big happen here. Time will tell, and the good news is that it looks like the curtains will go up at some point on Friday. This really is getting interesting !

Sorry Charles. It will never happen again. I will immediately read the rules again. I really appreciate this forum. It's by far the best Duck forum in my humble opinion and I'm not a rule breaker by nature.

I'm with you all of the way Steven A on Urban Meyer. He is the antithesis of everything I think a decent person, much less the coach of my Beloved Ducks, should be.

"It sounds like a good chunk of Oregon's recruiting department are going to stay at Oregon, which is a good sign. I do expect Alex Mirabal and Aaron Feld to follow Cristobal after the bowl game." This is exciting news to me. Oregon's recruiting department obviously knows how to recruit really, really well. They are the ones who have the developed relationships with the current commits, and if Oregon can land a guy like say Lane Kiffin, I'd guess a lot of those wavering commits would stay with Oregon. I was expecting a lot than Mirabal and Feld to follow Cristobal.

Kiffin or Aranda. The Matt Prehm coaching update article I just posted on the forum says dependable sources have it that Kiffin is actually interested in the Oregon job. He is the kind of hot coaching commodity right now that I can see going head to head on the recruiting trail with Lincoln Riley. He'd be a grand slam if Mullens could get him. Aranda is obviously a great coach. He seems rooted in at Baylor, but there is a reason why he hasn't signed the contract they have drawn up for him. He isn't as flashy/sexy as Kiffin, but he might fit in better with the hard hat blue collar Oregon mentality. He'd be another grand slam.

Lane Kiffin?! That's an intriguing person to be interested in the Oregon job. Like Matt said in his article, he definitely checks a lot of the Rob Mullen's boxes, and I'd guess that Phil Knight would be happy to sign off on him as well. Given that he just signed a contract with Ole Miss, I thought he would be out of the running, but maybe not. Apparently, a signed contract doesn't legally bind you to a job as long as a pursuer can afford the buyout.