Washington Waddler

Totally agree. This has been an Oregon DL controlling the LOS by committee. The reason is simple: we’ve faced a fair number of mobile QBs, Williams most likely being at the top of the list. . And, with our rotational depth, I look to see us wearing them down in the 4th, further limiting check down time, and forcing him into obvious scramble/run situations.

Motivation is just another way of saying you want it more than the other guy. Brock has that in spades. Never underestimate the locals.

Yes, some good stuff here. Particularly liked the take of Oregon’s defense on USC’s offense: “pressure breaks pipes”.

Hope among the Trojan faithful is running unchecked, like an unbridled horse, while Riley slowly builds what he hopes will eventually become a winner. Same old same old: fans are subject to the past & future while coaches have to live in the present. But USC fans give this their own special twist which makes it very clear why they’re referred to as the University of Spoiled Children.

My personal druthers tend to agree with TD’s assessment, but I also want to think that uniform choice - especially for high profile games - is primarily calculated on Nike and AD interview responses with high school athletes regarding the Oregon uniform characteristics they prefer. Otherwise, you could easily end up looking like Maryland did a few years back.

Nice history lesson Darren! It’s an entertaining bonus to be the “little brother” that (unlike Beavis) can annoyingly out do “big brother” at his own game. Flushing the Troylets is a gift that keeps on giving.

Aaron Fentress’s mother-in-law

Thought Canzano had stopped using his magic eight ball and ouija board for advice.

How about Reggie Bush’s Heisman trophy?

Great read on how weather forced the Ducks to discover their offensive self. While you could also say an offensive identity may change every week depending on the next defense they see, the kind of confidence built against Iowa and Minnesota remains the foundation.

Where USC has shown genuine improvement is by rarely going in the troylet anymore every time they get behind in tough games. Could be headed for a 4th quarter shootout? Autzen always raises to the occasion when LaLaland rolls into town. But this time? We need to get medieval on their a#*es.

There’s just something about bucktooth rodent mascots that brings out the best in us.

I was happily surprised by the success of our offensive balance forcing a good, aggresive defense into more of a waiting game.

Before the Erickson revival, those 28 consecutive losing seasons (1971-1998) made Parker/Reser Stadium about as miserable a football environment as can be imagined. Towards the end of that string, I remember Civil Wars there almost more for the incredible number of student teams roaming the aisles in order to break-up the many fights and eject the alcohol-fueled participants. It was just different, something akin to a 36,000 seat open air road house bar.

Personally, the uniform couturiers seem to be reaching for something beyond their grasp, and now better exemplify the old MKA slogan, ‘Deep in the Woods’. When you don’t know what you’re doing anymore, good time to get back to basics: simplify.

What was I thinking when I let her superglue this to my lips for one crummy bud?

The Wave at Kinnick is something special. Seated high on the same side of the stadium as UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, we could see the excited faces of the children waving back. No MC pumping you up, no music blaring on the sound system, just quiet waving between fans and kids that seemed to go on forever.

I don’t think we are sandbagging. Responsive pacing would be closer to the truth, as in the sense of how a good boxer figures out, and then anticipates the moves of an opponent in order to defeat him with counter punches.

Glad I had my best rain gear with me. Felt a lot like November games at either Autzen or Husky Stadium through 3 quarters. The 4th dipped into new territory. Even the inebriated 18 year old Hawkeye fans in front of us were putting their shirts back on. A note on Kinnick Stadium - top flight. Hard to believe it sits 70,000 because there’s not a bad seat in the place. Great crowd - through 3 quarters my ears told me the decibel level was a cut below Autzen, but the fourth ratcheted-up to pretty close to us. Good fans!

Sandbags are used to hold the water out. Hard to do when you’re playing in the rain all the time.

Okay, I’ll play Captain Obvious (because I’m good at it?): Fandom is the finely tuned art of Provincial Tunnel Vision. In other words, what you know about the other guy (unless you have a passionate, focused expertise which I do not) is only because they threaten your guys. Anything past that is purely by accident, top ten envy, or because you put a lot of time into sports media (which I do not). When it comes to M.C., I’m no different than your average Miami fan. I wanted to believe he was as much our savior when he took over from Willie Taggart as they wanted to believe when he took over from Manny Diaz (there were probably people at Alabama who could have told us Cristobal was not head coaching material had we bothered to ask). But, that’s not how fandom works. When a coach or player is failing at another school, it’s schadenfreude; you’re just happy it’s not happening to you. But when that same coach or player transfers to your school, a page or leaf has turned in their career, and fate has brought them to the place where they’ll succeed. So, as an average fan, I’m not surprised at others knowing so little about Oregon because (unless they’ve gotten my attention) I know so little about them, or really care to. It’s my Ducks that I’m tunnel visioned on.

Rockne said when you pass there are three things that can happen, and two of them are bad. Add a third negative to that equation if a receiver is simply out of position to make a tackle, or is just plain bad at tackling.

What if, and what is: the two sides of the sports coin. If we play just half as hard as the media thinks, we win the rest of our games.

Comments like that just reaffirm what we’ve understood ever since the program started turning things around back in the 90’s: outsiders haven’t got the slightest idea what Oregon is really about.

While it’s never panic time, the bi-polar performance at quarterback is a head scratcher. I can understand off-days where QBs are just missing targets. But, repeatedly not seeing targets and just looking lost out there? At best, it’s just paying your dues, and learning what it takes to play the position. At worst? There have been moments against both Indiana and Wisconsin where Moore has reminded me of Ty Thompson. You’ve got to have some fire in your belly to overcome adversity?