Washington Waddler

The thing about Bo is you can’t buy the kind of determined focus he seems to be putting on display to turn his career around. When a quarterback refuses to accept anything short of the goals they’ve set for themself, it becomes an invaluable team asset.

When has Pullman ever not been a trap game? Even when they’re favored, they never seem to lose touch with that disrespected, ‘little engine that could’ mentality. Pullman has always been, and will always be a place to just grind it out and take care of business.

Schadenfreude

Deboer is an interesting offensive study. His masking, pre-snap motion packages coupled with an excellent OL and nicely tuned, productive quarterback and receiving corp get the ball quickly and efficiently to where they want it, thereby limiting the effectiveness of opposing front sevens. Admittedly, MSU’s DBs looked B1G lost in their attempt to solve yet another west coast passing puzzle. It will be interesting to observe how the hydrant whizzer’s passing attack fairs down the road with the availability of more film room tape, and having to face better DB groups more accustom to the targeting strategies of west coast air raid offenses. Deboer is a bit of an unknown right now. That won’t last long because he’s got everyone’s attention now.

I think the ONLY way we’ll ever know what Ty’s ceiling is, is to toss him in the fire and see what he’s made of. Whether or not that ever happens is up to the fates. Or, maybe he was born to live his football life waiting in the wings? In the meantime, he just has the look of a very immature kid whose stuck in the blaze of his own high school headlights without the slightest idea of how to live up to the hype he created with his own god-given talent. And, there is no way around it when your inner confidence doesn’t mesh with what people see in you, short of learning to swim the hard way. So, somebody, please, care for the kid enough to shove him in the deep end?

Reminds me a bit of those Alabama fans coming out the woodwork to cheer for us against Auburn. You’re just their latest needle with which to annoy their real target.

My feelings towards the purple pound puppies remain the same, but I have to acknowledge that there is a whole new mood to the world of college football out there now, and they - along with little brother to the north - are feeling it, and can’t wait to leap over the old, and into this new landscape to grab whatever it has to offer. My advice to myself? Suspend judgement. Let go of the past. Expect the unexpected. The greatest danger to OBD? Living, dwelling on, and trying to recreate our past success. That’s what finally drove USC over the edge. It’s a whole new world.

Charles, Groucho Marx had some good advice for what you have to deal with — “If the garbage man calls, tell him we don’t want any.”

True, but the coaches have bolstered youth with portal experience, especially at running back, wide receiver and corner. Bowers was one of my favorite players last year period. Your youth is as intimidating as ours, if not more so. How has Georgia played the portal? Is Kirby in love with it like some, or just as a needs be option?

You’re on to something David, and your comparisons are at the heart of it. Programs like ours that have grown out of being a ‘who we are’, rather than a ‘where we are’ must, as a result, succeed or fail based on adhering to that hard earned identity. Failing to do so, and we become lost. So, being a ‘who you are’ is a process. It requires coaches, players and fans to wake-up every morning and remind themselves of what it means to be a Duck. We know and feel what it is, but it’s fragile. It requires focused care, and a willing dedication to that vision in order to turn it into reality. ‘Who we are’s’ must create themselves on the periphery of wealth. ‘Where we are’s’ wallow at the center of that wealth. Our identity was established on, and grew from that reality. Because you came from being a have not, you had to try harder, learning that it demands working together (like ducks inflight?) and daring to fail: risk reaching for it. We can see the beginnings of that dedicated vision with Rich, and it’s fruition with Chip and Mark. They took that aggressive, willingness to risk to win, and turned it into an identity that has magnetized and inspired countless high school athletes from all over the country. They couldn’t wait to become part of the O. But, coaches who fail to grasp our origins (our identity) can lapse into habits created from being part of a ‘where we are’ culture. ‘Where we are’s’ tend to rely upon their wealth doing the work for them. And because they’re wealthy, they are conservative and don’t like to risk losing that wealth. Sound like anyone we know? Great programs require talent. But, they also require hard work and a willingness to risk it all to win. And, holding that together and making it work (the glue) is knowing who you are. We’re Ducks. We fly!

No, good drugs!

Top drawer strategizing Joshua. Thanks. Even with predictable Georgia, I’d like to see our defense expecting the unexpected. All the talk and focus on stopping their run game can set up their tight ends. Bennett may have problems when he’s forced to throw, but he won’t when it’s a designed play intended to surprise. Another advantage the Ducks have is the more mobile quarterback. While we don’t want to see Nix plowing into their D on option keepers, he could be the difference when necessary to keep our offense on the field in a tight game.

There’s a pretty big difference between walking into a locker room for the first time as a green-behind-the-ears freshman, and as a welcomed, seasoned veteran from a hated rival. Would be surprised if that feel good validation hadn’t greased all the wheels.

I’ll go with two picks. The receiver who works the hardest to create chemistry with his quarterback, and the running back who takes his O line out for milkshakes the most often.

An essential aspect of any great recruiter is the ability to connect with the most fundamental, psychological need of a teenage athlete: the safe passage from one home to another. The shiny tools of that pitch (a top program; the right fit; the chance to play right away; etc) are the lure, but the promise of good parenting, and the need to feel at home are the bedrock. Mario has that in spades. Where Mario has failed thus far is by not moving past the protective role and taking off the training wheels. At some point the best head coaches know they’ve got to relinquish control and let their players succeed or fail; let them grow up. So far, Mario has been afraid to let go of those reins.

Agree with HD and 30D. Mario started out like a full measure, but end up a half - if that. All you have to do is look at what AB is doing now to understand how he was as under-utilized as Justin.

Partial to the Coliseum and Rose Bowl where we kick ass.

Taking nothing away from Carter’s obvious strength and skill, IMO, the OL facing him in the video utterly lacked in good foot work and a strategy in how to use that to his advantage. All he needed was an additional 1/2 second to change that play, but instead played right into Carter’s arm move.

They’re foolish if they aren’t. They didn’t get to where they are by ignoring details. Kirby believes in playing by his last name; not in being stupidly smug.

Insecurity is the core definition for lots of football fan: they focus on the things that make them feel confidant, and ignore the rest. In that regard, Georgia is no different from Idaho State, or any place else. We got our share too. Toot the horn.

Like USC, Nebraska has gone way past the point of desperation in grasping for any remnant of their glory years. The Troylets’ latest B1G lunge is not available to them since they’d already played that card. Now it feels like they’re trying to embrace some form of a ‘do or die’ mentality reminiscent of an earlier age’s self-disregard in pursuit of toughness. I’m still a Frost fan. Satisfying that fan base? I feel for him.

You gotta do what you gotta do. We’re just glad you do!

Memory from 2008 Holiday Bowl. Sitting next to some Cowboy fans following JJ’s 70+ yard TD scamper. One of them turned to me and said, “Y’all not only got some good running backs, they also got the coolest names.” Oh what a feeling, thanks JJ!

Yup. Same old, same old. Uni prezes, chancellors, regents, boards of trustees , the whole pile of them: pay attention to what I say, not what I do. As always, follow the $$$.

That Dawg don’t hunt. But it’s damn good at whining. And they call us childish . . Here’s to another generation never to see more than two puppy wins!