Washington Waddler

Plus, he’d also get to add an eye patch to his wardrobe.

I’m not one for excuse making, but I can’t quite get past the feeling that duhOSU was motivated not only by two losses in a row to us, plus the twin Rose Bowl trophies of CFP quarterfinal & (for them) the ‘real’ B1G championship, but by being the default representative of the traditional Big Ten members looking to see this west coast upstart put in its place for having made a mockery of their long, proud tradition in only one season.

The thing I like best about this coming championship is how Ohio State has worked themselves into the unquestionable role of favorite. They are now like Oregon sitting at 13-0 with nothing but themselves to look at in the mirror. No more Ducks or SEC losses to churn the bile. Norte Dame, on the other hand, is an underdog wild card, a team and program that is truly feeling it for the first time in 37 years. That sort of pent-up and unleashed motivation can make for a very unpredictable game. On paper, the Irish probably have no case for being on the same field with the Buckeyes. On paper.

Presser? Maybe the guy meant Sark couldn’t handle the media. Looked to me like the game came down to two plays decided by a quarterback that could run, and a quarterback that couldn’t.

Have to agree with all the outrage. All the spurious logic and questionable legality that allows the Beavers to get something for nothing has gotten so bad the only comparison I can think of is Colin Firth’s description of his singing voice as, “somewhere between a drunken apology and a plumbing problem.”

It’s no secret that one of the hardest things for coaching staffs (let alone fans) to detect is the emotional, psychological readiness of 80+ college athletes just before they step onto the field for real. But, once it starts, nothing determines the outcome of a game more than that team will and determination generated by those mind/body forces. There are just too many past bowl game examples where huge underdogs were victorious to question that. The mental focus prep tool box of coaching is bottomless: self-focus; grow each day; a painful loss; disrespect; backs against the wall; legacy; the faceless enemy of you against you - whatever it takes to motivate, and keep from sliding into whatever state of unreadiness is out there waiting. But, try as they may, there are no guarantees that preparation will lead to outcome. Oregon-Ohio State #2? Ohio State-Michigan? It’s what drives people crazy. But, also makes college ball one of the best things out there.

The most important part of this observation is not found in fan reaction or the differing results, but in the fact that it occurred. I think it was Pele who said something to the effect that success isn’t measured by how many wins you get, but by how you respond the week after a loss. If you could say there’s a tragedy (and there really isn’t) in the Ducks loss to Ohio State, it is that there is no opportunity to rectify and redeem when it’s the final game to the season. If there was a subtext to this game (and those are always just excuses), it was that - for the Buckeyes - the title of the game as a CFP Quarter Final was just a smoke screen. For them, the game was for the real B1G Championship, and redemption of a proud team and league tradition.

I tend to take the long view when it comes to in-state ‘anything’, because you can never really make those things go away; if ignored, they just tend to go dormant until the time is right to reappear. It really doesn’t matter whether you want in-state things to go away. They can’t.

I’m emerald green with envy!

A Wow moment for me will always be the 1980 Reggie Ogburn-led 34-10 beat down of Don James’ 13th ranked Huskies in Seattle.

A very tired Duck from doing push-ups.

What’s that sucking sound heard throughout Duckdom? Sound advice: BREATHE! It’s hard to hold your breath for a whole week.

At times it's a cliche that’s easy to overlook, but it does all really start in the trenches. Find the answer there, and the run game starts putting more pressure and creating doubt in the LBs and Safeties which is key to creating explosion plays.

Tend to agree with those who suggest it’s a first week work in progress. The recruiting/transfer/NIL process is to a point where you have to say Dan’s stamp is upon this group. But, identity and team character are funny things. You have to develop them in real time. Time to wave good-bye to expectations, and get down to work.

“Its always been my dream”, as the excuse offered by athletes to forego education and go pro. Beaver Believer . . . Have to add that what produces most of these annoying cliches are the same stupid, uninspired questions from the media season after season.

Forest for the trees? Perhaps, but without the forest there are no trees. It seems to all come down to the beholder. Exhibit A: it’s like cartm25’s example of what he found interesting and others didn’t. Forum article posts are like your lawn; it’s up to you to do the weeding. Otherwise, someone is forced to make a subjective decision about what you like. For now, I think we’re best off keeping the forest.

True - lots of times because nobody was sitting behind us to complain.

Aside from the unethical exploitation of their national megaphones revealing how truly provincial they are, it’s just downright hilarious that we should believe guys from Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama when all they’re trying to do is set-up a fall guy that will inspire the teams they really think will win it all. Time to go media deaf dumb and blind and just play football.

Had the same issue. Went the email route with B1G+ customer service and they got it done. A night and day difference in responsiveness and attitude between them and what we’ve left behind.

Husky fans, like their mascot, would likely be classified by the B1G as a controlled substance. They’d only be allowed into stadiums if they agreed to be locked in kennels far enough away from other fans that their woofing (irritant) could not be heard.

Pete fits the current SC mantra: live in the past to give hope to the future.

As expected, all credit for Bo’s amazing production is being ascribed to Bronco coaching by NFL and Denver media pundits. It’s like Stein said in his post practice interview, Bo learned how to get the ball to his playmakers fast: TDs over moonshots. As he said, hard lesson for QBs to accept, but Bo did, and the Broncos are now reaping the rewards of that development.

It doesn’t take long to understand why not to share useful information equally with media and opposing programs. I like to watch the post-practice blurbs just to see the controlled smile on Lanning’s face which suggests a man caught somewhere between a blind date gone south, and a guy who hasn’t seen the head in over four hours.

My wife and I had a great time at Neyland Stadium in 2010 (especially since we won). Nice, hospitable folks, and great fans. Hate to see any of them getting sidetracked by an in-house blow-hard trying to preach to the choir. Head down that road, and it’s like Dan said, your own ice cream cone is melting while you’re lusting after ours.

In particular, Penix to Odunze, Polk or McMillan