DrJacksPlaidPants

Currently, my goals are to see the Daytona 500, the U.S. Open and the Masters. The U.S. Open is in my hometown in 2 years, so that should happen barring any sudden changes. Other than that, I’ve been to Autzen and Texas Stadium. I saw the Zags play in Chapel Hill, NC a couple of years ago and have been to a few of their games at the MAC in Spokane. I also saw the Midnight Sun baseball game up in Fairbanks, AK back in 2011 and I highly recommend it. I’m pretty satisfied so far, but if I ever visit Boston in the Fall then I would like to visit Fenway..

I can’t find a team on this list who hasn’t “jumped the shark” at least once by copying Oregon’s style of wearing alternate uniforms. It’s a proven formula for getting the kids’ attention, so why not do it.

I like the idea of the occasional throwback uniform. My only question is why haven’t the Ducks gone back to the uniforms that started the insanity? I also want to know what happened to the “mallard head” helmets that were specially painted. They were the talk of college football back in the day and I haven’t seen them in over a decade. Word on the street is there was a “disagreement” with the company that painted them.

I always suspected he was a husky fan.

I think it depends on the city/town where they coach. Mario, Chip, etc. live in places where crime is migratory. They can’t just pick a nice neighborhood and expect that crime will stay in the bad areas. It comes looking for them, so they have to pick neighborhoods with extra security. On the other hand, when Mike Leach coached in Pullman he would walk 2 miles to work every day. He lived in a nice neighborhood with newer homes, but they were far from lavish. He’s kind of a different guy, though. I would imagine most head coaches live in some sort of gated community. Many of them probably live in a golf community or on a lake somewhere. If I was Dan Lanning I would buy or build a place out near Walterville or Leaburg with McKenzie River access. However, Oregon would probably lose a lot of games because I would spend my spare time slinging my rod.

Back when The U was winning championships the players weren’t concerned with having nice facilities. They came from nothing and busted their tails just to get the chance to play college football. Kids in general had a pretty good work ethic back then, but those players from S. Florida were especially hard core. To them, playing in the Orange Bowl on Saturday was a big deal. I used to love watching the Canes back then. They were like the Dallas Cowboys. People either loved them or they despised them. I liked their style because, as a high school kid, I thought they were cool. These days, the kids are different. They want to be catered to and they love shiny objects. They also come from high school programs that have pretty nice facilities. Mario will get the players because he’s an outstanding recruiter. If he can get the facilities then Miami will be a top destination once again. Like you, I think they win a couple of national championships again. However, I don’t the Mario will be the guy that gets it done. Here’s why. The new boosters/investors aren’t going to be patient with him. If he doesn’t at least win a national championship in his first 4 years he’s going to get the Manny treatment. Mario has no excuses. He has a top staff and his roster will be loaded. It’s not that he’s a bad coach, it’s that he has unrealistic expectations placed upon him. He’s an average game manager who will have to beat the likes of Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, etc. to win it all. College football is becoming more and more like the NFL. There is basically free agency for players and they get paid now. Also, coaches are on a short leash. Big contracts are for championships not 10-2 seasons. Canes fans/boosters won’t expect anything less. If I had to predict the future I would say the guy who follows Mario will win a national championship. By then, the AD will find a guy who can do it all and Miami will have the facilities in place (except for maybe the stadium) to attract a top coach.

This is a great post. How many NFL free agents have you seen who left their teams for more money but didn’t produce. This was likely due to them having to adapt to a different system. Some players thrive in a certain system, but are average performers in other systems. It all comes down to fit. I think that’s why we’re seeing so much movement.

There aren’t very many homes in the upper-middle class price range in S. Florida. The market for those homes is pretty cut-throat. There is probably more inventory available for folks who are worth eight figures. With his salary he should probably live in a community with a heavy security posture anyway. Homes with that cost and size are typically located in neighborhoods with controlled access. I can understand why he bought that home.

You’re only as good as your last performance. The scouts probably saw something that concerned them in the Utah game(s).

AB got signed by Baltimore. I must say I was surprised by that news.

I know Lewis was 1-3, but he wasn’t as wild as he used to be. His first Miss was just outside the upright. His Miss from 53 was accurate, but short. He’s just not a deep threat. I heard Boyle, the WSU transfer has a strong leg, but he isn’t on the roster. Is he supposed to be coming in the Fall?

It’s fun to trash talk SC but they’re going to be really good in a very short time. Riley is a great offensive mind and recruiter. He is also no stranger to coaching in a pressure cooker. OU fans are as demanding as SC fans. Future Oregon/SC games should be prime time games.

I hear you. I’m so bad I have to get my ball retriever re-gripped after every round.

Watch the QB1 season where Rattler was featured. He spews toxicity. I think that playing in the SEC will be a humbling experience for him and it will likely highlight many more of his character flaws.

If Doug Brenner is going to get $100M for years being taken off of his life the he owes me $50M for having to sit through the 2016 Alamo Bowl and watch him single-handedly blow a 31 point lead. Yes, it was all his fault that I aged 20 years that night. I’m sorry, but Jeff Lockie started every play from the squatted position while picking the ball up off the turf. It’s hard to read a defense, set your feet, and then throw an accurate pass in those conditions.

This is also OT, but Highland Park HS has quite a notable alumni base. Clayton Kershaw, Angie Harmon, Jayne Mansfield and John Hinckley Jr. to name a few.

Good recruiters know what kids want. They want to be treated like kings, they want the best gear and facilities, and they want championships. But, most of all, they want to go to the NFL. The NFL is the biggest driving force behind the transfer portal mayhem. Everybody wants to start because it brings exposure. Exposure brings scouts. Right now, the SEC schools can sell that. So can Oregon. That’s why Mario got highly ranked classes. The new staff has to be able to coach their players up well enough to get them draft worthy. The exposure will come because of the Oregon brand and winning tradition. However, it could all go away very quickly like we saw with Helfrich. If coaching, recruiting or scheme falters then exposure, winning and brand will follow.

Roy Williams was happy to let Butch Davis take the fall for the academic misconduct that ran rampant through the UNC athletic program. He got canned and they vacated his wins for two seasons. I already lumped Roy Williams in with the likes of Pitino, Carroll, etc. as his players were just as guilty. Butch was the sacrificial lamb.

When I see the investigations then I’ll change my tune on Oregon, Gonzaga and Villanova. As far as football goes, Chip cheated and we’re lucky we didn’t get hit harder.

You’re correct. He cheated and it worked for him because he won a national championship. Just like John Calipari, Rick Pitino, Roy Williams, Pete Carroll and Barry Switzer. He wouldn’t even have the team he has now if not for the NCAA slow rolling their investigation.

I stand by my assessment of his attitude toward coaching ethics. Kansas was 4 for 14 on layup attempts in the first half. If they make their high percentage shots they don’t have to come back.

DAT had the ability to change direction without losing speed (se WSU TD in 2011). That’s what made him so difficult to defend. However, his burst from standing still to full speed was something to behold. His 91 yard TD against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl is still a thing of beauty.

Bill Self is another scumbag who can’t seem to follow the rules, so it’s a showdown between two schools with a rich history of fraud. The only coach in the Final Four with any ethics is Jay Wright. Maybe one day Altman and Few (Duck alumn) will make it back and return some class to the championship weekend. And yes, I know Mark Few has had his personal issues with his DWI. I still think he’s an ethical coach. Also, it’s well known about Coach K’s cheating, but Grant Hill came from a very prominent family. His parents could have afforded to buy him a very nice car. I can’t imagine his dad letting him accept a car for playing for Duke.

Some say this Glaucoma guy refereed in the Super Bowl. Niners fans sure think so.

He’s going to soil himself if he ever hooks into a sturgeon. He’s going to have to hit the lower Willamette for one of those, though.