CalBear95

The expanded playoff is going to happen. There is simply too much money at stake for it not to. If the model is all P5 conference champs get auto bids (and we all know why Sankey of the SEC wants no part of that), the headwinds the P12 faces (and they are strong indeed) should be lessened quite a bit. Donuts to dollars that is why Riley went to USC (that and the $$$ of course). He feels he can perennially vie for if not own the P12 title and when that leads to automatic bid, a ton of the recruiting liabilities go away. Oregon is in a position to take advantage of that same life line. I see real upside for the P12 in a model that isn't really all that far away.

Thanks for the clarifying comment. Yes, I meant that to read as as a future state, not a present condition that needs to be maintained or improved at the margins.

When I think about the Crossroads (admittedly borrowing from earlier post because this is spot on) Oregon football finds itself, I think 'where does Oregon take this journey that started with... That is the spirit of Oregon at its core. Special, scrappy, humble, but today, elite. My wife has, I think, the level of cynicism born of years of heartbreak. She loves the Ducks but holds back (that's what the Ducks do. Blow it.) because the heartbreak is too much. When I remember her reaction to the infamous Auburn 'roll over the tackler and keep running' it truly broke my heart. She truly hurt and that pained me almost to the point of tears. And I sense many Duck fans are at this point now. And I think there are those who want to, understandably, embrace the familiar be it the recent past or more distant. And then there are those who just want the 'natty' outcome (Urban Meyer). Urban's personality, as well as those of his ilk, are, IMHO, in direct contrast with the spirit of The Pick. The reversion to the known is more pure in its intent but I too view it as contrary to that same moment. The Pick is when it all changed. The trajectory from always getting beat down and condescended to by the hated Husky fans. I say go big but go humble. Be the P12 bully that you kinda actually like because of the good natured and passionate fans, a really adorable mascot, Puddles, and an icon beloved by all (Donald Duck). Embrace the the apex of the trajectory enabled by the Pick

The title comes from some saying in Mindfulness (I don't remember where exactly). The concept it seeks to convey is that while our emotions may be incredibly uncomfortable in the moment, letting them pass is a far better outcome than resisting them because that is the nature of suffering. In my earlier admonitions to fellow travelers on OBD to check the natural instinct to shift away from the pain, I failed to follow my own advice. I was frustrated at the volume of 'let's hire an Oregon man, Chip, what have you' and let that frustration seep into aspects of my posts. Not good and not in accordance with the rules of the road. First, the frustration is really just another form of arroagance if I am being honest with myself and - if you are in to mindfulness this will make sense - a true emphathy and equanimity fail. Nobody's opinion is more valid than anothers because we aren't talking about subjects like 'is gravity a thing?' So my apologies. But circling back to the title, I failed to sit with my own discomfort and executed the mirror image of what I was cautioning against. I think that is what is referred to as irony (as an aside, in my high school English course, the subsets of irony proved almost impossible for the teacher to land with the class, and this is before Alanis came along and really made a mess of the word). Setbacks are a gift if you see them as opportunities to learn and so I humbly apologize for veering into hyperbole when - again, irony - level headed assessment and dare I say, showing by example, would have been other, more acceptable paths. Why I am I thinking of some "Halo" post I read the other day 🙂

Mr FishDuck: Many thanks for the freindly edits to what is probably my need to mediate and come back in a bit. 🙂

I can say it only so many times and maybe that should be a clue to myself. This 'blast from the past,' 'get the band back together,' 'hire local hero from days or yore' thinking is flawed in my view. Lest any of you think I am advocating hiring a mercenary or someone who clashes with Oregon's culture I am not. My grandparents lived in Woodburn and my aunt (thier daughter) lived in Eugene on Nixon street. I spent many a summer going to the 5th Street Market and Prince Pucklers. In my early 20's I was a lost soul and spent the summer working and staying at my aunt's house. I hit up the Xenon cafe. Caught Emerald games. Haunted the High Street pub. I try and go the game when Cal comes to Autzen (and I never wear a rain coat because, well, you know). I have nothing but fond memories of my times spent there and it will always hold a special place in my heart. While I am not an alum and in no way can make the claim to any level of bond that only that type of relationship can forge, I have a love affair with Eugene. What makes the city and school special is something I would hate to see thrown on the bonfire of ambition for football dominance. So take this with how it is intended (tough love): you are better than this and I hope for the team's sake, the administration rises up and acts with its head and not some whacked out opium induced dream of how we need to 'get back to our roots.'

@latracey I don't mean to pick on you as I am only grabbing one example of the same themes I am seeing on OBD. You just did a really excellent job of summing them up in a few sentences. To me, these sentiments all read like textbook examples of rationalization. You are talking yourselves into this being at all a good idea when, I suspect, deep down, you kinda know it isn't. None of Oregon's past coaches have been Nick Saban so when you start latching onto the past, it is a red flag. There is a line in Michael Clayton that captures this perfectly. The context is the head of the firm talking to Michael Clayton about the past: And if it's nostalgia? "Oh boy you should've seen me when I was a D.A. back in Queens." Let me give you a serious piece of advice. Leave it there. God forbid you're not as good as you remember because I've seen that happen too.

God no! Please don't hire Chip Kelly. Don't even talk to the man. He's yesterday's news. Why is the program panicking like this??? Stuff like this probably scares away good candidates because - if this is at all true - it looks like (and actually is) the administration is thrashing around wildly in a massive, irrational panic. Would you want to work with a group of folks that can't keep their head when the going gets tough? These people are supposedly smart business people but I have to say, if stories like this are at all true, it is amazing they got as far as they did. This type of behavior is the hallmark of really bad management. Running back to the familiar rather than lean into the discomfort of what is possible greatness. Yeah, I'm bitter.

THIS. I get it folks, I really do. Twice burned. I would be shocked if there weren't a strong pull to have a guarantee (as much as that is possible in this business) you won't be again. And indulging that instinct will get you killed (metaphorically speaking). It is panicked overreation. After 2 years of the 'he'll never leave us' saftey blanket soothes the pain of today, the 'why are we stuck in mediocrity when...' voices will kick back in. As they should. There is a reason Wilcox was never in consideration for an open role this time around and it isn't because he's a 'diamond in the rough' all of these foolish programs can't see. He isn't Russell Wilson with a third round pick. He's Garder Minshew: a feel good story with some flashes of talent but who will never likely be more than a valuable back up. I know you all love the man for what he did for you back in the Gang Green days but let those memories stay where they belong. In the fond and rose colored storied yarn of Oregon's ascent from also-ran in this great conference of ours.

I hear your point and largely agree with one minor edit. Let's say I were to characterize 'self-interest' as 'mercenary.' That is probably too strong a characterization to your theme but I don't view it as really that far off either. While we all may want to self-reflect and check our 'self-righteousness' at the door - if I might couch it as such, I give a blanket exemption to the players on this action. The players are the product and are exploited mercilessly while the system is awash in obscene amounts of money [NIL begins to rectify this asymmetry but we're a ways away from even getting close to balance]. So, if the transfer portal is how they get some modicum of that value back, I wish them nothing but the best.

I can appreciate that concern but I see a difference between wanting to raise the bar on a hire versus a view that would be consistent with some perception of superiority stemming from arrogance a la many among Ivy League grads who probably got in on the strength of being a legacy. I'm am not turning my nose up at Wilcox because he doesn't have some pedigree or whatever. He's simply way too much of a stretch for a program that has no reason to take that level of risk. Winning with class and in a highly ethical manner is min bar. On this I think we can all agree. But an elite coach or a coach who is good and can become elite aren't in contrast with this core principal. Wanting somebody who is really good at their job isn't mutually exclusive with finding someone who fits in with Oregon's historic and present culture and values. I hear your point as suggesting or perhaps outright saying they are which I hope isn't the case.

But it is isn't it? Maybe not overtly and certainly not the whole argument as there has to be something other than that. But it's there for sure. I hope this point doesn't read as either judgmental or dismissive. I think we all want the best outcome and I have nothing but respect and belief that drives your passion on this issue. I just think the aversion for this 'just following my heart' scenario is - understandably - leading to an over rotation and subsequent interest in a coach who would otherwise never hit Mullens' radar any day of the week. Again, my POV. If others also think I am way off/making a straw man argument, open to feedback.

Here is one article that may not prove he's 100% out but, I think, it answers the thrust of your question: https://footballscoop.com/news/the-parable-that-told-chris-petersen-he-was-right-to-walk-away I'll go back to my question: but for his status as an alum, can any people advocating for him to take the reins at Oregon provide a data driven view he should be in the top 3-5 candidates considered? I get the 'infectious passion' argument. But passion doesn't a coach make just as being an awesome recruiter doesn't either. There has not been a coach since Tedford that has succeeded at Cal so I am not insensitive to Wilcox's challenges (the typically Berkeley's gonna Berkeley response to just about anything) But why take the risk? 'At least he won't abandon us like the last two coaches?' That's playing off your back foot. I'm not Mullens so nobody has to justify their perspective on this to me or anyone else for that matter. But I just don't get the argument Jonathan Smith has OSU on the rise because he is a really good coach.

@HaywarduckYour perspective assumes each coach took over comparable situations. They did not. Wilcox inherited Sonny Dykes' talent which was not that bad. They could not play D which was a large part of what drove Wilcox's hiring. He has since completely strangled Cal's offense. Also, he recruits in California for a major university. That is by no means a wash with OSU's fan support. In fact, it's a materially differentiated advantage. If you switched roles, I wager Smith would be far outpacing Wilcox. Wilcox simply hasn't proven he can coach at a high level. There is no bias in his being ex-Oregon. The bias is completely the other direction. Simple thought exercise to help remove confirmation bias: if Wilcox had not played at Oregon, how many here would be advocating Mullens poach him from Cal? Almost certainly none. And for good reason.

Notre Dame was in the Playoffs in 2018 and 2020. While they got hammered (and for the record, I think ND is overrated most years and coasts on being a blue blood brand and a media desire to see them as a top 6 team no matter what) not many teams can say that. They also recruit really well. If that is the "nothing" in the Duck's future, that would likely be a fate many here would take.

This a little unfair. The Pac12 bowl options really fall off after the Rose because most of the other premier bowls are tied with east coast and midwest conferences. In this and other ways (e.g., time zone) the P12 has always been at a bit of a disadvantage.

OK, I know I just wrote a post admonishing those who are aiming too low for the reality of where the program is today and can easily be but this may be a wee bit too much in the other direction. Love the passion and pride though. Better this than the alternative (I grew up a UCLA BB fan as my dad was a Physics professor and Applied Mathematician there. That fan base has zero issue of keeping their expectations where they should be despite all of the east coast haters...and now they are back where they should be).

Petersoe lost his fire and is, by his own admission, done. This is mentioned many times but it seems to be a recurring theme among many posts. Chip's day has come and gone. He can't beat the SEC teams and the game has caught up to him. Innovative guy but no longer the disrupter he once was. Hiring Wilcox is a move that feels like an overreaction to the 'I want to go home to X' issue. "I know, we hire our own 'home is here' guy." Wilcox is a middle of the road coach. He very likely isn't as bad as his record at Cal but he has zero business even being in the consideration set for Oregon. Maybe I just see things differently because I am not a Duck alum. Oregon is a premier destination and should and can demand an elite coach. You know who is a much better coach than Justin Wilcox? Jonathan Smith. That guy can flat out coach and is dealing with probably less than Wilcox. To quote my wife, I say this because I care about you: you are letting sentimentality and a bit of an irrational inferiority complex (with a bit of not wanting to have your heart ripped out yet again and see the program continually suffer this way) push you to shoot far below your level. You guys are a top 15/20 program. Believe in that and demand the best not retreads, burnouts or nostalgia.

Also, when the east coast pundits start talking about the C level targets the Ducks should target for 'reasons' I am going to be in a huff. In their minds Oregon = an MSU or Iowa State. Not that I should be in a kerfuffle because it is just the way that bias works and it is a waste of emotional energy. But sometimes knowing a thing is different than being able to do that thing.

I'd call Dave Aranda right now. Maybe he is staying at Baylor but he has not yet signed an agreement and he has a lot of west coast ties. I''m glad it is finally over but I also feel some sadness and definite anger. Oregon is just getting shafted over and over again. Regardless of who they hire next, this guts the Ducks in the upcoming signing period and sets the program back yet again. This program is far too good, its facilities so superior, its commitment to the team's success so total, and its resources so seemingly endless that this repeated outcome feels both totally unwarranted as well as baffling.

That logic also suggests Oregon should go hard after David Shaw who's only skills seem to be beating Oregon and embarrassing the P12 on the national stage. It also brings Grinch into play. Point is, some teams play others better than others. Yes, Cal hasn't provided all the support Wilcox could use but his QBs are always terrible. And as we've seen, that really hobbles an offense and in turn wastes a defense. Who knows? I just think the Ducks would be hiring below the reality of the quality of their program.

That's a fair point. What are odds MC is even at the mic?

Over/under on the number of seconds it takes for the first and most obvious question?

@C J I was joshing about Cal's broader commitment to sports. It's almost as if the administration takes a perverse level of pride in their apathy. Nobody is ever going to confuse us with a powerhouse on sports that capture the attention of most of the population. So no worries.

@Southwest Duck is en flic in my opinion w/r/t the Wilcox assessment. My (100% empathetic) belief is this is a lot of sentimentality overriding dispassionate assessment. Peterson is fried and I would caution people getting any serious attachment to that notion. To his credit he knows it and isn't setting up some school to hire him only to have him churn out in 2-3 years. As to @C J comment...ouch! 🙂 I mean, yeah, we're bad but I think unless we resurrect the corpse of Phoebe Hearst, we (oddly) just don't have the crazy wealth to compete. Also, we are more constrained by academics than other highly rated public universities. Not sure why but I think this gives support to the 'rip' sentiment. That said, rowing and rugby are hugely supported sports. Cal and UW are bitter rivals in crew and both programs are always in the mix for a national title. That isn't moving the hype needle but we do care about some sports...