Washington Waddler

Another great job DNC. Thanks! If all the ‘ifs’ surrounding Bo’s transition and ascendency to the Duck’s helm get checked-off, we might not only see Dilly’s pro-spread creating dazed and confused defenses, but a Bo free to use what may be his best weapon: his legs. A fully-engaged defense trying to cover all of our running and passing options leaves no one on Bo. His legs could create some pretty amazing explosion plays. Can’t wait!

Humor and good advice all in the same bundle. Thanks Drex, and welcome! Always a good idea to take it a step at a time and enjoy the ride; let Dan take care of Dan and just maybe he’ll pass that driver’s test!

My biggest expectation for this year compared to last is not to see the loss of focus by the coaching staff that last year failed the team - especially at the end of the season.

It also made a mess of your ‘stash

How cheerleaders are responded to in the modern age is as diverse as the fan base to which they are trying to appeal. In it’s origins, cheerleading was a male-only occupation, and directed solely at an in-person audience composed almost entirely of the student body and alumni: directors to their choir, preachers to their congregation. They were there for only one reason: to initiate the call and response (including card sections) that urged the faithful on to inspire their team. If you’ve ever listen to some ancient stadium tapes, you can really hear that unity of purpose. If you review similarly ancient student newspapers from any university of the time, the introduction of females to the art of cheerleading was pretty much viewed with the same shock that the idea of legalizing marijuana once incurred. It was the fear of redirecting the attention of the audience towards an object of desire, and away from the original purpose of cheering the team. I guess you could either call it a self-fulfilling prophecy, or just the natural path that social inclusion generally takes. Either way, when you add modern media to the mix, you’ve got the potential for the full range of human response to whatever one may desire to watch. Deal with it. We all simultaneously embrace and fear the freedom of expression guaranteed to us. I have to trust that most of us take that responsibility seriously.

Shaw may be wearing rose-tinted glasses, but his big picture analysis based on geography’s gravitational pull has merit: over time, things tend to go full circle and return to from whence they came. For my money, I think it’s premature as yet to give too much weight to the super-conference and cable tv power brokers’ ability to alter everything that stands in their way. There are quite a few parties yet to be heard from who are keeping their own council as they watch and listen to these arrogant and hubris-laden attempts to bulldoze the sacred territory and traditions of others.

This has made for great reading. Agree with him or not, DNC’s stats, analysis and conclusions brings out the best in our OBD forum. Welcome! For all the talent/personality analysis, stats, comparisons, situations, and other variables, it all seems to boil down to one question: can an old dog learn new tricks?

Because it’s the only working model I know of for this kind of sports reality, MLB’s relationship to its minor league affiliates shows that the vast majority of athletes play a supporting role to the few with any chance of ever getting to the majors. But, they are necessary, so - if they want to, and they want to - MLB makes sure they get something for doing what they love. If some form of this sickening and depressing arrangement should come to pass, I would hope that Federal and state agencies, as well as the universities, stick it to the NFL as a retroactive accounting for the way they have benefitted over the decades for a product in which they never had to invest: ie, by picking up: 1) the cost of degree completion for non-contracted athletes following there 4 to 5 years of ‘minor league’ employment, and 2) the cost of a fully-vested retirement fund, and 3) the cost of guaranteed medical for life for any employment-related injuries It’s the least they could do for pulling the strings of college ball over the years, and - along with fellow bedmates in cable tv - paving the way for what we are now facing.

Perceptive analysis David. However - to take it one step further - I’m not sure a semi-pro format would leave the NFL on the outside for long. A breach of this magnitude of college tradition would most likely tumble more dominoes including direct involvement by the pros; with a possible scenario (borrowed from MLB) where individual pro clubs (Miami Dolphins) directly sponsor play-for-pay teams (Miami Hurricanes). In some way, the pros would eventually become directly involved. They would just have to much at stake.

Interesting question. Without a doubt, a logistical nightmare beyond anything thus far imagined by the SEC or B1G. The time zone two-step alone would make you wonder if you’re not watching an episode of Star Trek. Such a move would, in the end, probably force the hand of both big boys into making raids they’d only thought about before. A new PACCBIG would likely remain on paper, and never see the playing field.

The only thing Chip’s currently caught in a bottle are the stool samples his doctor has requested.

Yes. It sort of reminds one of the feeding frenzy of opinions among weather analysts prior to landfall of a hurricane.

Yeah, we’ll all miss him. He was more than a Celtic; he was an example to us all on how to not only play the game, but to live your life. RIP Bill.

I get Chip’s attitude of mind over matter, but when has less time to sleep or just relax ever been equal to more time for the same?

Very good article. Thanks PD. As Smart says, nothings different come Nov 7th, and the coaching flexibility and mental agility Dana shows during game time helps me to understand why he is one of those who has made the adjustment to these new realities.

It almost has to be additional BB fans when both UCLA and Duke show up that high.

Right out of the gate, what a recruiting statement to make by the new coach! Go Ducks!

Sorry, we’re not allowed to talk about pol*tics.

It had it’s moments, but I never was much of a fan of ‘The Odd Couple’.

All this seems to do is move us closer to proving that baseball remains America’s pastime; at least as the default structural model for team sports. Some evolving form of the NFL as the Big Dance with the SEC and B1G in the AAA role followed by lesser FBS and FCS conferences filling out the AA and A leagues seems to be as predestined as USC and UCLA trying to run away from Oregon. I dunno. It would appear that bi-lateral dualism is what we unavoidably are: the beauty of multi-faceted college sport reduced to two sides: American and National. If and when, once pay for play becomes a settled, contractural reality, they’ll work out the details that provide some descending, reimbursement NIL-based pyramid structure ending with a federally mandated non-revenue/Title IX stipend that keeps those ‘other sports’ afloat. I know it sounds like sour grapes, but when I read how Warren gloats that there’s two types of people in the world regarding change, it makes me think of all those decades it took the Big 10 to implement the PAC’s offensive strategy. Change is never fun when you’re the one having to do it. Well, it’s not a done deal, but the clock sure seems to be ticking.

At this point, this whole CFB conference muscle-flexing orchestrated by ESPN and Fox feels like a pale imitation of a Wall Street merger/acquisition/take-over scenario being played out in a sandbox by rank amateurs. These are not companies being snatched up; it is the manipulation of cultural, educational traditions and kids. Both are worth infinitely more than dollars and cents. At this point, as Jordan pointed out in his article, all they are doing is creating uncertain futures and ulcers. There is a bigger picture. Play their game. Make the survival responses you must to the impulsive power plays by puppet conferences as the media giants pull there strings. Hopefully, in a few years, we may all find out if the bottom line of media corporations is where we want to park these things we love. Business as usual is not the future I would choose for them.

Great contribution(s) DNC! For me, the stats just confirm what the eyes sense. He’s just got a presence back there that the good ones have.

Right now I’d give Butterfield the edge simply because he is use to being viewed as someone who must earn whatever he gets. That helps develop mental focus, flexibility and maturity, all of which have been fuzzy fields for Ty because of being hamstrung as the heir apparent. He can grow out of that, but it demands losing any idea of being the chosen one. De-recruit.

Excellent take Darren. Appreciate the dispassionate effort which I find exceedingly hard to muster, especially when it comes to the Trojans. But I’ll grit my teeth, and give it a try. What I see that USC’s move has done is to psychologically infuse the program with a complete sense of renewal by shedding the skin of a stalled and stale past, and replacing that with a shiny new sense of anticipation and eager excitement for an as yet to be written adventure free of PAC 12 chains. You couldn’t script a Hollywood ending any better; like watching Richard Dreyfuss departing earth by waving good-bye to all his old friends as he steps into the unknown embraced by all his new ones. How long this type of mental up-grade is good for is anyone’s guess. Usually, it’s success dependent. Admittedly, my take is highly subjective, a bit tongue-in-cheek, and more interested in what creates momentum than the nuts and bolts of a program’s foundation. But - when evaluating Troyland - never underestimate the power of positive thinking. Make-overs are as much a daily past time as trying to remember your latest mantra. One cautionary note: in regards to how quickly USC will ascend to the promised land; their leap resembles that of Nebraska, who - like the Trojans - were growing desperate to regain their glory days, and feeling stale and stuck in a P5 conference they perceived as beginning to flat line. Since moving to the B1G, Nebraska has gone 40-43 for 8th place, and that’s without the additional baggage of a greater time zone challenge or being perceived as a traditional Rose Bowl enemy.

Agree. But, it helps us to better see the real playing field. It’s a defining issue because it’s devisive. How you view it all depends on which side of the fence your on. For fans, it would dramatically and tragically alter what we love. But, for those playing the game - in addition to a college education - it could turn college football into a AAA minor league system that pays the majority of players for 4 or 5 years who will never see the big show. I seriously doubt that is what players have always secretly wanted, but it sure seems to be on their radar these days.