Grandpa Duck

The following partial description of committee procedure is from the NCAA website: "What will the committee use to rank teams? From the CFP website: "The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable." How does the voting process work?According to the CFP website, it begins like this: "Each committee member will create a list of the 30 teams he or she believes to be the best in the country, in no particular order. Teams listed by three or more members will remain under consideration. At the conclusion of any round, other teams can be added to the group of teams under consideration by a vote of three or more members." You can read about each step here. There's more. If you're interested search "College football playoff committee rules."

The all-white uniforms give me a feeling of confidence. When I was about thirteen I joined the junior firefighters because the local fire department had two regulation pool tables above the truck garage. The game we played was called “eight ball”. Of the fifteen numbered balls, 1-7 balls are solid colored, and 9-16 have a stripe around the ball with white on each side of the stripe. The eight ball is black. After the break the first shooter could pick between the solids (called stars) and the striped balls. Another name for the game was Stars and Stripes. The game was won by making all seven of your chosen balls, then making the black eight ball. It took us several turns to get to shoot at the eight ball, and usually not get that black ball in on the first try, or even the second. When I was fifteen the fire department put one of their pool tables up for sale and my Dad bought it. We kids knew our Dad had a misspent youth, poker, pool and so forth. All of that ended when he started dating Mom. But, there were stories that he was the county pool champion and occasionally some old guy would remark about his exploits at pool. He had the marble-topped table installed in the large room over the garage and had it leveled and completely refurbished with new bumpers, pockets and felt. Then Dad gathered my three older brothers for a game. Maybe I should say for a display of his skill. I was just watching while Dad would spin the cue ball off his target ball into position for his next shot, planning at least two, and sometimes three shots ahead. He would shoot, reach for the chalk and be moving into position for his next shot while the balls were still rolling. Always getting just the right amount of chalk on the tip of his cue stick. He could make that white ball dance around the felt. One evening I challenged Dad to play eight ball and after losing several games I asked him why it was so difficult for me to make the eight ball. He said: “Michael, when you look at something, what you see is the reflection of light. The color black doesn’t reflect much light.” So when I see OBD garbed in black I expect that the QB will miss seeing a few wide open receivers. Much easier to see them in white, or even bright yellow. Chrome?

Thank you, Annie. Very informative.

Dante was sacked by two players blitzing on the first play of the game. He was sacked five more times and Indiana players hit him, sometimes in a manner that should have drawn a flag for roughing the passer, several more times. He got up limping at least twice. Those sacks and hits came at him really fast. Somewhere in the preparation for this game our coaching staff let Dante down. Yes, game experience is important, but blitzing schemes can be duplicated in practice, probably are, but obviously our coaches either did not anticipate what Cig planned, or, on our defensive side, don't know enough to prepare properly.

As to Franklin turning down potential jobs, most coaching contracts with a buy-out clause require that the coach continue to look for work and payment received during the contract term go to the former employer to offset the buy-out.

Don’t look now, but 4-1 USC is thumping 4-1 Michigan 31 to 13. And, they are big, fast and highly skilled.

Recruiting for the offensive line is simple. You just need to find fleet-of-foot 300+ pound guys who are among the highest IQ on the team.

UCLA leads 31-7 with four minutes left in 3rd quarter. Play calling is very good.

UCLA is off to a good start vs. Michigan State. Neuheisel calling a fake punt and going for on 4th and one from the 4 yd line. 17-7.

Ducks win 31-17 2 turnovers 3 sacks 272 yds passing

You make an excellent point, 2002duck. There is not enough excitement in Matt Court and greater student attendance could be the “ticket” to providing it.

The only opinions that matter are those of 17 and 18 year old high school players who have top talent and skills at football.

Annie said: "Early in the year when the weather is warm/dry enough we can all wear the color of the week easily. But when it gets cold and/or rainy, that's different. I don't have jackets in all the possible colors, so I do my best, wearing yellow under whatever outwear I need for the game." On Saturday the best "outerwear" may well be a yellow rain slicker. I'll be wearing my Duck sweats while doing my recliner exercises.

. . . what is the moisture that is predicted for Saturday to be called? Accuweather says it will start raining in Eugene tomorrow, continue at 75% possibility on Friday and 70% on Saturday and Sunday. If the prediction occurs, how will it impact play on the field? Will the Ducks fine record on ball security go south? How about running backs and receivers footing? OBD have been spending more time on the Autzen turf because of reconstruction of the practice fields, so just maybe the wetness will provide an advantage for those wearing green, yellow, or a combination of the two, or who knows what colors.

Thank you for a really fun read, Darren. Especially enjoyed all of the subtopics.

I may have missed other discussions about the B1G Network. For me, with Comcast channel 726, B1G Network is a good source of Duck commentary. The program B1G Today has a blurb on Saturday’s game with Indiana that is very good. They point out that Mendoza, Indiana QB, played in Autzen two seasons ago for Cal, so he will not be surprised. Program runs again at 8:00 PM PDT.

Interesting question, Alex. I would answer : “Who is the best coach in Oregon football history?” with a lawyerly question of my own: “What yardstick is used for measuring?” If we google the list of Oregon football coaches we can readily find each coach with their percentage of wins. We discover that way back in 1894 Cal Young had a winning percentage of 1.000 %. By that measure, Cal is undoubtedly the best of all Oregon football coaches. However, he coached only one game. Going on down the list, Hugo Bezdek’s win rate was 0.721% from 1913-1917. Hugo was also a great player for the Webfoots (the former Duck mascot name). Chip Kelly tops the win percentage at 0.868%. Dan Lanning is close behind at 0.854%. Based on your projections of what Lanning will do in the future, he will surpass Kelly in this category. So, Lanning will top the list, at least for a while. Because of my extremely advanced age I have an advantage over most others in evaluating more recent history in that I actually watched the team coached by Jim Aiken in 1950 and every Duck team since. Aiken moved OBD from the single wing to the “T” formation. He also took an end named Norman Van Brocklin and made him his quarterback. For those who don’t know who Norm was, Google him. I would argue that those two decisions have probably more to do with where the Ducks are today than any other coaching decision. I knew the next coach, Len Casanova, personally. Len led the Ducks from 1951 through 1966 and brought what most think is the West Coast offense to Oregon. Yes, before Bill Walsh’s Stanford teams the Ducks were already playing the offense Walsh is given credit for. It was really fun to watch back when the Ducks were running plays out of formations other teams were not running. But Cas coached in Hayward field and did not have Phil Knight’s shoulders to elevate him above the rest of college football. However, Cas’ teams planted the seeds for Autzen stadium. Rich Brooks wins the endurance trophy, 1977-1994. He gets credit for having the courage to hire Mike Bellotti away from a head coaching position at Chico State, and then to step up to AD so that Bellotti could become head coach. Bellotti was an offensive genius for his time. Mike brought with him Nick Aliotti for defense. Together they produced some great teams. Interestingly they were player teammates at Cal Davis. Like Brooks before him, Bellotti had the courage and foresight to hire Chip Kelly and then step aside so that Chip could take over and do his magic with a style of football other teams did not play or know how to defend. So, with all this history I find it impossible to say who the “best” Oregon coach is, because, it depends on too many factors that have changed through the years. Undoubtedly, right today, Lanning is the best at navigating the player transfer portal. I say that not to be farcical, because, obviously, no previous coach had the advantage of picking players from a farm team up the valley, for example. I say it to make a point. You simply cannot compare Dan Lanning to Jim Aiken because the coaching environment of today is totally different for Lanning from what it was for Aiken from 1947-50. This I know for sure. Oregon has had some great football innovators leading their teams over the years. Many of them, like Lanning, knew how to hire and manage a staff, Bellotti in particular. But, Mike was not very good at firing staff members who didn’t work out. Many Duck coaches could see what a player could become with good coaching. None of them had the advantages Lanning had from day one in terms of program recognition, facilities and financial support. And, none of them had the broad experience Lanning brought to Oregon, along with his notebook of the people he wanted to have around him. A notebook that I suspect is adding names like Will Stein all the time. Nobody does it by themself. Lanning is the best at assembling all the pieces it takes to win college football games in the ever-changing scene coaches face today.

, . . . the thread titled "2025 B1G Info, Predictions, Etc." has an article about the progression of Nix, Gabriel and Moore while at OBD, written by Sports Illustrated's Lily Crane titled "How Dan Lanning's Transformed Several Transfer Quarterbacks' NFL Trajectory". Well worth your time to find and read. Here's a small sample of what Ms. Crane had to say: Bo Nix Season Before Oregon: 61 percent completion, 2,294 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 12 sacks, 57 carries, 168 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 6-7 record\ Final Season At Oregon: 77.4 percent completion, 4,508 passing yards, 45 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, five sacks, 54 carries, 234 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 12-2 record Dillon GabrielSeason Before Oregon: 69.3 percent completion, 3,660 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns , six interceptions, 17 sacks, 93 carries, 373 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 10-3 record Final Season At Oregon: 72.9 percent completion, 3,857 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 21 sacks, 75 carries, 149 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 13-1 record Dante MooreSeason Before Oregon: 53.5 percent completion, 1,610 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 25 sacks, 45 carries, -84 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns, 5-4 record Oregon Ducks (2025; five games): 74.6 percent completion, 1,210 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 sack, 24 carries, 122 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns, 5-0 record

I am reminded of a short story I read in high school some 71 plus years ago about a fellow who sold his soul to the devil. Didn't turn out too great for him. This deal is being promoted by people who will make a commission off the sale. I'm reasonably positive that the best interests of Duck fans are not at the top of their list of goals. Right now, college football and college athletics in general are in a constant state of change. Not a time to put your feet in concrete for the next 20 years.

Thanks, OregonDucks. That Joel Klatt interview on the Herd was well worth the listen.

Since posting above, I read the article attached at the top of this thread as well as an article on 247. The latter says Hughes has not indicated that he wants to transfer and quotes Lanning as saying he wants to keep him.

Not sure, but I suspect that it’s not as simple as saying “I am going to transfer.” He needs to have a place to go that wants and needs him. If I recall correctly, lots of young players put their names in the portal and there are no takers.

I noticed Lanning talking to Tosh a lot during the game.

Our receivers are the most sure-handed group ever. Nice to have Lowe back.

I think our defense exerted maximum effort for three plus quarters and then were just worn out. Thieneman’s interception saved the defense from what may have been an embarrassing 2nd OT. Dante’s avoidance of a sack to hit Bryant for the winning TD was beautiful!