Grandpa Duck

Duck women looked very tired to me yesterday. That was their 8th game in 22 days. The UConn game on a Monday, rescheduled ASU last Tuesday, then failed charter on Thursday, plus late departure Friday for Tucson all contributed to reduced playing time. Pao Pao and Sabally both are not in great physical shape because of injuries. Another make-up at WSU Tuesday is not going to bode well for Beaver double this weekend.

Unfortunately, of late, getting the ball to the bigs too often results in a turnover.

It's really very simple. TV producers chase the greatest number of viewers. You have to be reasonably intelligent to understand and follow football. Any fool can watch and understand NASCAR. There are far fewer smart people in the world than dumb people. I was first introduced to this principle when I acquired a 25% interest in a local radio station in Coos Bay. At the time the Marshfield Pirates, the local team, was a power in football. I spoke with the manager about the importance of our broadcasts of the Marshfield games, and paying to get competent announcers. She explained that the station, with a Rock format, lost listeners during the football broadcast. I questioned that. She got out the file with our latest ratings. I was wrong. Way wrong. Those of us who follow sports have an exaggerated view of its importance to the general public. Yes, the Super Bowl is high up there. Other football, not so great. And most other sports, not great either. And posting messages on a college football board? Well, let's just say we are a unique group.

This video of coaches, Player Personnell Don Johnson and Chief of Staff Marshall M . . . . is must see for every serious Duck Fan. Want to know about Oregon Football prospects for the next several years, watch this video. Yes, it's 2 hrs 17 minutes plus. Worth every second of it. Make the time to do it. You will not be sorry.

When they pass the ball a lot, the offense looks great. When they dribble a lot, not so much. REgardless, they're fun to watch.

I wondered if maybe the cost of living was a factor. Checked it out. Not that bad. Maybe a bit above average, but not much. Never been there. Not going.

Yesterday the Duck women moved the ball well. There were several fast-break baskets off steals, and much more passing than dribbling, with passes finding open shots. The first four field goals were lay-ins, and the next two were threes. They have lots of weapons. Defense was stifling. They are fun to watch. Graves substituted freely, going to the deep bench to rest players for the coming three games in six days., the first at home vs. ASU and then to Arizona and ASU away. Hopefully they will keep the win-streak going.

When Lanning first appeared as a prospect I was far more interested in the performance of the Georgia defense than in his recruiting record. Oregon, by its recent history, is not a difficult program for coaches cannot recruit players. Frost's issues recruinting to Oregon were probably the same as his issues recruiting to Nebraska. Yes, it helps that Lanning has a good recruiting record. But if he can't coach, don't we end up where we were last year?

Questions for Jon and Hayward. Do either of you think there will be another opportunity for the Pac-12 to expand to the east? If “yes” when will that be, or put another way, what circumstances need to come about that cause those midwestern schools to want to hook up with us? And, just why is a bigger number of teams in a conference necessarily better? Hare’s my take. Those of us on the beautiful west coast are at a great disadvantage because the earth rotates from west to east. That puts us three hours behind, not only game starting times, but news story deadlines, fan viewing stamina and TV network scheduling priorities. it’s not just that our games are played later, it is that people in the east are doing other things when our teams get on the field. The vast majority of them have finished with football for the day when our games are getting underway. Whereas my Saturday football viewing gets going with the last hour or so of game day, recorded and fast-forward through commercials. Then an SEC game at 9 a.m. and at least one other during commercials. I’m usually awake for the PAC-12 4:30 game, but admittedly I tend to doze off a bit during the 7:30 game. If my own conference can’t hold my attention for a full Saturday, how are we ever going to entice schools in earlier time zones to play away games on our late game schedule? To me, speculation on would have, could have, and should have regarding conference realignments are about as productive as figuring out how to reverse the earth’s rotation. Also, the optimal number of teams in a conference is 10, with every team playing every other team every year.

Time was when Duck fans envied the UW Tyee Club.

Phillipina is a treat to watch. Great attitude and the upside is in the clouds. Her free-throws at 13/18 is a percentage of 72%, better than the team average of 70.5%. Endyia is 16/17. Whenever I see missed free throws I think of the Blazer announcer, Bill Schonely: "You've got to make your free throws!" One of the most astute and yet obvious basketball comments. "Rip City".

It makes no sense to try to convince Pittman to be a Duck after he made his move. When someone wants to go, fill the slot with a player who wants to be in the program. That exchange is always an upgrade.

Haven't ever had an elite WR at Oregon? Bobby Moore, AKA Ahmad Rashad, was most certainly elite in the NFL (I know he mostly play RB as a Duck, but he was a WR as a Soph.). As this ancient old brain recalls, Moore/Rashad was moved to RB because we really didn't have an RB as good as him when he was a Junior.

So I watched the game again, and reviewed the stats. My perception about rebounds was just flat wrong, 36-34, UConn. But they had more opportunities because the Ducks shot better (for those wondering what that means, there is no reboud when the ball goes in the basket and Oregon made a higher percentage of their shots and took two more shots). The most significant stat was turnovers, Ducks 12, UConn 19, and the ensuing points off turnovers, where the Ducks led by 12. There were three times Duck players went to the floor to gain possession from the Huskies, once leading to a held ball with the arrow favoring the Ducks and the other two both led to almost immediate Duck buckets. And, the Ducks were 9 of 24 beyond the three-point line and the Huskies only 3 of 18. Announcers said that UConn is not know as a three point shooting team. Today they had little choice but to shoot from out there because the Duck "D" kept them from getting the ball inside and many of their threes were just to beat the shot clock. Ultimately, this game was won by outstanding defense, particularly our four tallest women, Sabally, 6'5", Prince 6'7", Phillipina Kyei, 6'8" who had a significant block as time ran out at half, and the almost unrecognized Kylee Watson, 6'5". Watson takes up a lot of space in the paint, moves well and quickly. In a game like today, where the officials are letting the women play and bounce off one another, she shines bright. Lots of touches on the ball that don't show in the stats. Twice in the game Kelly Graves went with a small line-up, at the beginning of both halves. He did not stay that way long either time because it did not work. Our taller women dominated on the UConn end of the court. Paopao led with 22 points followed by Prince with 14. Both of these players and Sabally have had extended time away with injuries, so the team is just now beginning to work well together. Ten players scored. My feeling for the rest of the season is that if our taller players stay healthy the Duck women are going to cause a lot of teams a lot of problems. The whole team works hard the entire time they're on the court. Really fun to watch. Chick hoops? Hardley. If you are not watching the Duck women play basketball, you should try it. You'll like it!

It was really fun to be there with my beloved spouse, Jan, an inveterate women's BB fan. When we first started watching Duck Women play, way back when Bev Smith was leading the charge, guys would sneer at me saying "Chick Hoops?" I replied: "They play a game I can relate to"; meaning on the floor, rather than in the air. The 30-Duck comment above about Kamikaze Kids is what was actually happening. I counted three UConn turnovers where Duck players went to the floor and came up with the ball. Yes, UConn was down two of their stars, Paige Brueckers (she of the NIL million $$$ endorsements, mostly from Gatorade) was dressed down but in a full leg brace and not running. Christyn Williams was out with Covid. Also Frosh Guard Azzi Fudd is out with an injury. All three of those players are 5'11" Guards. UConn started three other guards, including regular Nika Muhl and Salem Oregon's Evina Westbrook of similar height. It wasn't Guard play that made the difference. The Ducks won this game with hustle, rotating 10 players and getting boards. Only one of the Ducks' tallest players started, Nyara Sabally, 6'5, going against a UConn lineup with Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Dorka Juhasz, both 6'5". With the Ducks down 10-0, Graves brought in 6'7" Sedona Prince and the turn around began. Using a classic zone breaker with high and low post led to threes by Sydney Parish and Sabally. The Ducks fought back to 6 second mark where Te-Hina Paopao was fouled on a drive and hit both free throws to take a 15-14 lead at the quarter break that was never relinquished. To me the big difference was on the boards, especially on the defensive end. Our big players blocked out the UConn bigs so that our guards could crash and get the rebound. Well, my wife is chomping at the bit to watch the recorded game so I'll go share that experience and come back with more comments after the stats are published. I want to see just how much they support my impression of the board play.

Knute Rockne, All American. Ronald Regan played George Gipp, who from his hospitable bed urged: “Win one for the Gipper!” After shedding tears (I was about age eight) I quit football movies.

Thoughts that come to mind are: "rotten apple in a barrel", distraction, undependable. I hope that this program can do much better and get off on a route that leads to young men getting a degree. This guy is just looking for a place where he can redeem himself for an entry to the NFL that is probably not there for him today. People that are mean to women have no place in the Duck program IMHO. And if you think I am jumpping to a conclusion about being mean to women, "felony" domestic violence does not mean something else than that. OK, Charles, if this violates a rule about speaking ill of a player my defense is that he is not there yet.

The basic rule for job hunting is "Never leave the good job you have until you're sure you have a better one tied down." As far as I know, there are no limits on coaches recruiting from another team's roster. Dye may already have his next slot in place. Another possibility is that Dye has not been able to secure a NIL from any Oregon backers, so he is opening his talents up to the highest bidder. We don't know where CFB is headed, much less where it's going to be as early as next fall.

"The story and theater in the Alabama-Georgia match up was Saban and Kirby, master vs former pupil." Yes, that is the story that was told. The story I saw on my TV screen was Bulldog defensive players in the 'Bama backfield chasing a Heisman Trophy winner until he was totally worn out. Anybody who thinks Lanning was not the major contributor to the win Monday evening was not watching the game I saw.

Nike will hire them to do what? I know a person, highly qualified worker who has held some fine jobs and does hold one now. 20-25 years ago this person wanted very much to work for Nike, and applied for several jobs. Got some interviews, but was never hired. It is really competitive to get a job there.

I figured Lanning was not in the post game because he was out of there. Watched the whole thing and did not see him. Of course in my aged condition, who knows?

Holding Alabama to 18 points, five attempted field goals (one blocked) and a single TD is an accomplishment few DC’s get to savor. should encourage a few big bodies to train as Ducks!

Outstanding article. Very informative learning experience. If you have not read it, take a few minutes to do so before the game. I will read it again, then, to refresh my memory.

Alabama wins 33 - 27, 204 yds rushing 248 yds passing 1 T O 2 sacks

Charles, do it all the time! Big smiling emoji here.