Grandpa Duck

The defense was very good. Graves uses his bench liberally, so that players can go hard, and then rest. During the second half there were several steals that led to layups. Definitely a year where the best offensive strategy is a good defense. probably the worst officiated game at college level I have seen.

David, when comparing year to year statistics there is an assumption that, in the case of the offense, the opponents’ defenses from one year to the next are a constant. Obviously they are not. They are not even the same opponents. And even where there are the same teams, their schedules, their players, and quality of play from game to game can change drastically. Thanks for a thought provoking article. Change is a big part of what makes sports fascinating.

I suspect that OBD and Washington have reduced income because they take a reduced TV revenue from the B1G.

I recognize that folks are unhappy about the settlement money going to WSU and OS, but when I see a B1G football championship and today’s men BB win vs. tOSU and women BB vs Penn State, the process of getting to where we are was worth whatever it cost. Oregon fans are so much better off enjoying where we are than we were two years ago in the PAC-12 it isn’t even close. Part of this great basketball day for the Ducks is the names of the teams we beat.

This year OBD beat Penn State in the B1G championship game in Indianapolis.

Obviously it was not a “path to the championship game.”

Penn State wins 24-17 2 turnovers 1sack 247 yards passing

Ohio State wins 45-13 3 turnovers 4 sacks 326 yards passing

I am inclined to say that there is no substitute for players who are bigger, stronger and faster. But OBD won several games this year, including one in October against tOSU, with players who were not! Obviously, today was not one of those days when the smaller, weaker and slower players prevailed. I too suspect that there may be a disease rampaging through our team. We did win the second half. But when you take the most productive receiver in the October game, Stewart, off the field at game time, the impact is more than physical.

So I should know better than to rag on the guy and cause him to make a good touchdown grab.

When the tight end has hands of steel not much focus on him is necessary. At least this evening his capability to catch the ball is suspect.

OBD WIN! 38-20 1 turnover 3 sacks 323 passing yds

Oh what fun, it is to see, the tide give up the ball. Three turnovers in ten plays.

In the 1960's and 1970's we. would get our guitars and gather to sing folk and rock songs. One of them, by Three Dog Night, titled "Joy to the World" (not the Christmas Carol) opened with the line: "Jeremiah was a Bull Frog . . ." Re-watching the ending of the tOSU game at Autzen and the pass interference call on Jeremiah Smith reminded me of that line, and the behaviors I have seen by real bull frogs in ponds. Those frogs are very territorial and control their area to garner all the nearby insects that they eat for themselves. Then today on B1G Network I heard Smith interviewed at the Rose Bowl and he said that the offensive interference call near the end of the game "was nonsense", and he sort of said it under his breath, but clear enough for me to hear on my TV, "nonsense." He also said that the Duck defender, Nikko Reed, "had been holding him." So, since the B1G network had been running the game as an Oregon Classic I recorded it and looked at the ending, several times. Here's how it went. The previous play, ball on the 28 yd. line, tOSU QB Howard threw toward Smith on the right sideline at about the two. The pass was too high, but Smith went up for it and Nikko Reed went with him, undercut him and Smith fell to the ground, near Reed. The announcer said: "This time Smith was well covered." As he got up Smith turned his head, seemingly saying something to Reed. The next play Smith runs straight at Reed, makes contact at the 23 yd. line and while turning out toward the sideline pushes Reed backward five yards, and makes the catch, unimpeded, at the 21, falling out of bounds. The play by play announcer says, as the action is happening: "Second and ten, Howard (indicating the snap to the QB), Smith, got separation, and a flag is down. May have been contact, Nikko Reed was definitely pushed backward." He actually utters the "got separation" before the flag come out. The official makes the call of pass interference and the play by play guy says: "A freshman mistake." The color announcer chuckles and says: "I mean, his strength got the best of him on that play. Created separation for himself, extended his arms and this (the penalty) backed them up out of field goal range." Neither announcer questioned the call in any way. Reed never initiated any contact on the play. Smith went right at him with the obvious purpose of pushing Reed off balance, which he did. He was clearly protecting what he considered to be his territory. Unfortunately for tOSU, the football field with rules about pass interference was not a frog pond.

Tez was effusive in his praise for Dante Moore! Also spoke confidently about team preparation for Wednesday afternoon.