[Holy Crap! Rodrick Pleasant Ran the FASTEST 100 Meter in California HS History]

Playing fast takes on a different meaning with a guy this fast. World class speed at CB sounds good to me. 

 

His bio on goducks.com says that he then ran the 200 in 20.40 later that same day. 

With that type of speed I would love to watch Roderick as one of our kick return guys. 

[Athletic Dept Clearing Out Season Ticket Holders From the Ends of MKA for Men's Basketball]

I guess if I did not like the assigned seats then I would request different seats.
 

Had Blazer season tickets for years and when they moved into the Rose Garden/Moda Center the comparable seats in the transition from the Memorial Coliseum were laughable. Went from 20 rows off the floor at mid court to the top of the 300 level nose bleed section. 
 

Kept the season tickets, but called my ticket rep and upgraded the seats. Unfortunately, the seats cost much more, and the team got much worse…lol
 

 

[Top Twenty-Five College Fight Songs]

Too bad we can’t post the best parodies of fight songs, at least without some major editing. 

OSU, our pants are off to you….(not so sure why the pants are off, mooning them maybe?)

the parody quickly becomes a little offensive…funny though.

 

 

[Spring Game Thoughts?]

With the offense and defense split into two teams it is hard to come away with solid conclusions. It was a good practice game. A lot of our players got an opportunity to show the coaches what they will have to work with. 

I think the coaches saw solid play, and also areas that need attention, on both sides of the ball. 
 

I am probably more interested to see the impact this game has on our recruiting. Great weather and a solid crowd to cheer on our Ducks should create some excitement with all the recruits in Eugene his weekend. 

 

[My Spring Game Expectations: A Defense that REIGNS in Oregon]

Offense equals excitement. I hope Stein’s offense creates problems for our defense. 

 

The biggest unknowns on offense revolve around the offensive line. Will they be able to gel together and overcome the loss of leadership from last years team. 
 

Going into last year, many thought the defense was going to be our strength. This year we are hoping to see big improvements from a squad that struggled at times. There are a lot of experienced players on the defensive side of the ball, with a good mix of players from the portal, and highly touted freshman recruits.

 

Defensively, I want to see a defensive line that can stifle a running game, and collapse the pocket on passing downs. I think the defensive line is going to be the key to how successful we are this year. 
 

Offensively, I want to see them play fast and move the chains. I also am interested in seeing a passing attack that stretches the field. Should be fun to watch. 
 

 

[De-Recruiting in Div 1 Football]

On 4/28/2023 at 9:21 AM, Haywarduck said:

One way to look at it is if an academic scholarship is given and the students grades drop, they lose their scholarship. I suppose, the same is happening with athletic scholarships, if your performance drops you lose it. Transfers aren't the same, they get the full length, unless the scholarship athlete decides to move on.

From an academic standpoint college is certainly not for everyone, and high level D1 football attracts talented athletes, but many of them would never receive an academic scholarship.
 

A high percentage of non student athletes leave college without a degree. There are a lot of people that can say they have attended college, much fewer that actually graduate.

 

Student athletes are no different. They may also be academically challenged beyond their capabilities. 

 

Student athletes need even more discipline to maintain their grades than others, that is assuming that they have the goal of obtaining a degree. Some really don’t have that as their main goal.
 

All the tutoring Oregon scholarship athletes have available does not guarantee success….Unless you are a highly coveted athlete…then that story might be somewhat different…

[De-Recruiting in Div 1 Football]

I choose not to get too concerned about the transfer portal. 

 

Seems to me that if players are being “unfairly forced” to give up their scholarships by abusive coaching staffs it would become a newsworthy event, and we would find out about it through the media.
 

Until then, I can’t get overly worried about the things that I personally choose not to follow too closely. 

[Canzano: 'Dillon the Villain' Act Has Jumped the Shark That -- and Some Other Monday Thoughts]

Some players elevate their game during the playoffs. Dillon Brooks elevates his mouth.
 

While I don’t want to see robot like answers to questions during interviews, I think you probably need to shut down LeBron a few times before before we take you seriously.
 

Otherwise, you are just a bad actor on a traveling show. 

[Oregon Ducks Football: 3 Things to Watch for in the Spring Game]

Traeshon Holdon was dismissed, then definitely reinstated, after more facts of the incident that he was involved in were released. 
 

This team is talented. Realistically, for the Ducks to contend for a playoff spot they will need to stay healthy, and have a defense that probably ranks in at least the top 20. 
 

It is going to be a QB shoot out to get to our conference championship. Contenders for the championship game will need defenses that are solid in pass protection, and can pressure the QB often. 
 

 

[Can Thompson Re-Write His Story This Spring?]

On 4/24/2023 at 4:24 PM, Utki said:

Are there examples of someone repeatedly performing poorly that then turns into an above-average contributor? 

Perhaps Danny O’Neil.
 

Performing poorly might be a bad characterization of his play, not sure I want to throw him under the bus. Initially he certainly wasn’t instilling fear to any opposing defenses. His QB rating started out relatively low, and by his third season he was definitely above average. 
 

 

[Kind of Stunned by the Spring Game Planning?]

I am very impressed with the recruiting efforts. Having these players in at the same time generates excitement and momentum. We won’t be able to get all these players, but all of them should go home impressed with Oregon.

 

Telling recruits that the your goal is to build a National Championship team is rather hollow if you aren’t getting the top players to at least visit. Getting the top recruits to visit at the same time certainly makes it look like you are on the right track.

 

I also applaud the former players that make time and take the effort to return to Oregon. As an Oregon Alum and huge fan of our Ducks, I love it. This can only help Dan Lanning and his staff recruit the future stars of Oregon. 
 

It also looks like the weather this Saturday will ALSO feature an appearance of the sun….

[Can Thompson Re-Write His Story This Spring?]

I would love to see Ty thrive at QB for Oregon. At this level, you want a QB that thrives in the moment. Ty has not demonstrated that he can play at this level. However, not every QB thrives when thrust onto the stage. 
 

Herbert is always a good example. His first start as a true freshman was a lopsided loss at home against the Puppies. His first pass was an interception, and the score got lopsided very quickly. However, after that first pass interception, you could tell that he had the talent needed to play at this level. 
 

With Bo Nix starting, it will require Ty to have positive results any time he takes the field. I hope he thrives in his moments. 

 

[Whoa. The Rumor About Penny Knight...Phil's Wife?]

I was a student at Oregon when baseball was eliminated. That was probably around 1980.
 

Phil and Penny Knight made a huge donation to Oregon athletics which helped to build the Matthew Knight arena. If I remember correctly baseball returned to Oregon shortly after that donation was made to the athletic department.
 

Phil and Penny Knight’s generosity to the University of Oregon has reshaped the University. The return of baseball may very well have been a special request from Penny Knight.

 

If it was her request, then somebody made sure it happened.
 

I kind of like the idea that Phil would make a few extra phone calls to make sure that life at home was happy. 

 

[The 2023 College Football Power Index (FPI) is Out]

The PAC 12 will be very competitive this year. It will not be a cake walk for anyone to get to the PAC 12 Championship.
 

They are crowning the Trojan boys as the top team. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
 

It gives me a good reason to cheer for almost any team that plays against them. Autzen will be the place to be on 11/11/23. Oh my, that is also Veteran’s day.

[Pac-12 Academic Rankings]

Interesting rankings. 

 

While a degree from a prestigious University is an outstanding accomplishment, the combination of intelligence and work ethic towards one’s endeavors will always be the most reliable measuring stick of a person’s potential success. 
 

There are far too many people that have paid an enormous amount of money for graduate degrees thinking that the degree alone would pave the way to their future success. 

[What Does Coach Stein Mean by “Plays Are Overrated”?]

It will be interesting to watch Stein settle into the OC job at Oregon. He has a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and he probably needs to put up a lot of points just to keep from being criticized because of that fact. 
 

There are questions that will need to be answered about Stein.
 

Can he duplicate his previous success while having a talented Senior QB like Bo Nix?

Will his offensive scheme get the ball into the hands of our talented players successfully?
Can he develop young QB talent for the future?

Can he recruit and attract QB talent to Oregon?

 
Only time will tell. 

[Bo Nix for Heisman in 2023]

We all know what needs to happen.

 

The Ducks and USC will both need to be unbeaten for their regular season game. The Trojan boys get off to a seemingly insurmountable lead on national TV. 
 

Bo Nix methodically brings the team back in the late 3rd and 4th while Caleb Williams throws a costly interception late in the game. Oregon wins by 7. 
 

At 12 -0, Oregon then beats an 11 -1 USC team in the PAC 12 championship game. Bo gets the Heisman invite. 
 

 

[Is Oregon’s OC Selling “Bird-Bombs” to Recruits?]

A veteran QB that has his sights on getting the most out of his last year in college, coupled with the new OC that had a prolific passing attack at his last stop. 

With solid talent at receiver, and at RB, I believe Stein slides into the role of the new young OC at a pretty good time. Toss in some decent luck staying healthy as a team, and we have the ingredients for an exciting season of football. 

Whatever he is telling the recruits, I hope the on field results exceeds many of our expectations. 

 

[A Master List of All the Mistakes the PAC Has Made in the Past 15 Years]

Almost all of the mistakes can be attributed to Larry Scott, and the decision makers who allowed him to keep his job as long as he did. 
 

Owning the PAC 12 network, then allowing ESPN and Fox to broadcast the premium PAC 12 football games, makes zero business sense if you are trying to increase the value of property that you own. 
 

 

[Oregon Ducks Football: Nix’s Shot at the Heisman]

When we watched MM win the Heisman the Ducks offense was a scoring machine. The offense averaged over 45 points and opponents around 24 points. Games against lesser opponents were over by halftime and MM was sitting on the bench for much of the 2nd half.
 

For Nix to be a legit Heisman contender, his passing efficiency, total touchdowns, and the team’s average score will need to be amongst the highest in the nation.
 

A high scoring offense will draw the needed attention.

 

However, I also agree that Nix would need help from the defense. With the quality QBs in the PAC 12, the defense will need to improve. Otherwise, Nix’s Heisman campaign doesn’t gain very much traction. 
 

 

[Are the Oregon Ducks in Danger of Losing Dana Altman?]

For Oregon, going to the NIT is like the football team going to El Paso for a bowl game. There is a huge base of alums and fans in Portland. I know a lot of them were watching from home. 
 

Filling the seats for the NIT home game matchup perhaps is directly due to a lack of promotion in both Eugene, and Portland areas. If that is the case, then I fully understand why Altman is fired up. 
 

Love the team, but not the drive down and back. I also am not flying to EL Paso for a bowl game anymore. 

[Coach Will Stein: Insight Into His Coaching Philosophy]

Coach Stein has one of the better QBs in the country available to him to run his offense. Nix coming back is huge and Stein’s offense should put numbers on the scoreboard. 
 

Since we don’t have the “neutral site” game with the National Champions to break in the new coach this season, Stein, and the new OL gets one game, and subsequent film review to work out some of the inevitable kinks. 

Be nice to have Nix, receivers, and our RBs put up some big numbers this season. That would definitely attract the attention of the top recruits in those positions. 
 

Look forward to the Spring game. 

 

[Does B1G Have A Viable Strategy For UCLA And USC. . . Or Not?]

I know that I would enjoy watching this move backfire on the LA schools.

[Will Stein: Oregon’s New OC and Miracle-Maker?]

While it would have been nice if our coaching staff held up longer than 1 year, at least there isn’t going to be a complete overhaul of the offense. 
 

Stein has a chance to make a name for himself at Oregon. Adjusting the offense to the players that are available, who knew? That idea seems simple, but there are many coaches that do not adjust very well. 
 

The adjustments I will be interested in seeing are when the offense struggles. Can he make some of the adjustments needed to neutralize a defense that has the upper hand?  If he can make those types of adjustments, and recruit, then we have a very good one on our sidelines. 

Overall, I am optimistic about Stein making a name for himself. 

 

[Report: Ducks to Hire Mike Cavanaugh as Assistant OL Coach/Offensive Analyst]

Certainly increases the cumulative years of experience on our staff. 
 

Between he and A’lique Terry, close to 40 years of coaching experience.   ; )