LADuck

Buzby .... Coach great show but you are missing it ... KT just suited up and is going to play 4th quarter because he feels he owes it to his teammates!

Lot of understandable talk about our QB play but our D isn't exactly going to make many highlight reels. They have not mentioned that we are also basically out of players on the DL.

The Bama game was tough will admit but have to say 9.5 points a game in SEC is impressive.

Here is a positive thought ... with 8:38 left in 3rd quarter our D has given up in points what it would take Georgia just about 4 games in the SEC to surrender. Things will get better!

Like how announcers are pretending that this is still a game. I don't think we can put this all on AB. It is a team game and unfortunately we are so short of what this team was meant to be on opening day from both defensive and offense that we just are not competitive. That said let's let the backup play because this game is over and might as well see what he can do.

Anybody know how many of our opening day starters are actually playing in this game? This is the modern state of football and it is ugly for our Ducks. Absolutely decimated by injuries, transfers, opt outs, quitters, etc. Even with decent QB play the team on the field is not a top 40 football team with what we have left to put out there. Lots of work to be done here and hope our new coach can get it done because this is one level below the level of really not very good. Could you imagine if you actually spent money to go to this game?

Times sure have changed ... both Head Coaches gone so strange. I get life has changed but makes me miss parts of the days of Rich Brooks and Mike Bellotti. Could you imagine when we got the Rose Bowl against Penn State if Coach Brooks was no show .... if he said "sorry got new job ... can't make it!"

Too many players not in tonight we unfortunately lose somewhere in neighborhood of 38 to 21 ... hope I am wrong and we get a win.

Friend of mine is a High School baseball coach and told me about how the team banquets have evolved. He finally gave into today's parents and basically has an award for every player on the team. Most inspirational player that played less than 20 innings during the season for example. Not real but you get the idea. It is crazy and funny at the same time. Everyone's a winner!

I would like to see AB have a great game and lead the Ducks to a win. Always liked this quote from John Wooden: “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.” From watching AB play and listening to various interviews I believe he is giving his all for his team. His teammates seem to agree and in my book if he is doing the best he is capable of he is a winner. He has taken a lot of heat and it would be nice to see him finish strong.

Saw the name Barry Switzer mentioned above and was reminded of a story. A peer of mine was recruited by Barry back in the day. A big part of his pitch was that he would get free tickets to the games that he could sell to make some extra money on the side among other "perks." According to my friend Coach Switzer never once talked about an education and his mother felt like it was because they were black. She said to her son "that man will never set foot in this house again." Her son went on to play for USC got an education and has had a very successful business career.

I don't like the idea of players that are capable of playing watching from the sidelines. In my opinion when you are part of a team you should fulfill your commitment until the end of the season. If you aren't going to contribute to the effort on the field you should get a drink and some popcorn to enjoy from your seat in the stands. When the game is over you can drop into the locker room and say hello to your old teammates.

Players leaving and recruits dropping is tough to watch as we don't like seeing all of that talent leaving. Trying to look at it from a longer term positive view I think this change is going to be good for the Ducks. It reminds me of the Jerry Jellison (UCLA Professor) J Curve of change. We are in the three range now and it may be likely that next year we are in the four range. Ultimately though I think this new staff with better coaching and equally strong recruiting brings the team to the desired five section of the curve to playoff appearances (and maybe a NC). Merry Christmas Duck Fans!

This is a great site for those of us that follow the Ducks as a hobby or maybe closer to an obsession...lol. It is fun to discuss and analyze the different scenarios and make projections as to how our favorite team is going to develop. Plus, it is a great distraction when I am on a boring virtual meeting and supposed to be paying attention during a 60 minute meeting that could be covered in 10 minutes. However, on this one it is pretty basic. Hopefully we have hired a good coach that believes in fairness and giving each kid an equal opportunity. We don't need any of the "favorites" getting the job out of friendship or loyalty. This isn't the Little League All Star Team where the son of the coach is automatically the starting shortstop. Whoever gives the team the best chance of winning should be on the field. If the player that initially gets the nod doesn't perform then option two is the next move. I have a feeling we are going to see a reenergized Duck team on the field next year and good things are ahead. Happy Holidays to my fellow Duck fans and alum.

After reading reports on Klemm makes you wonder about his ethics and regard for the well being of the players. With all of the options out there hard to believe we couldn't come up with a better option.

Watching these Duck games in the super nice but boring Matt Court makes me miss the energy of Mac Court. Those bleachers were definitely not comfortable but it sure was a much better environment to watch a game. It appears most of the seats around the court tonight were filled with middle age fans that don't seem to be that into the game. Miss the days of the Pitt Crew and even the "normal students" having fun and making noise. On a good night the fans could get the baskets shaking! I randomly played golf with Darrick Martin some years ago (nice guy) and he told me he said to Coach Harrick something close to "it's hard to shoot free throws when the basket is moving." He said the coaches reply was "try shooting with one eye shut!" LOL Looking back at it going to Mac Court was some of the most fun I ever had going to sporting events. I remember being there in 1984 when the Ducks beat the Bruins and you would have thought we were playing for a National Championship. At one point in the game Don Monson got pissed at the effort of the starters and took them all out at the same time (might not have all been starters but I won't that get in the way of the story). Anyway, some things are lost never to come back and the energy of Mac Court is unfortunately one of those things

Sometimes MC statements sounded like this ... “In the garden, growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.”

Very similar career stats to Anthony Brown. Can't hurt to have additional competition and maybe Nix will find easier pickings in the PAC 12. I guess it does send a positive message that he wants to reconnect with Dillingham.

Sad how the landscape has changed to the current situation. Coaches paid way too much to pretend they care about the players and as soon as more money is waved in front of them they hit the road. All to win a ESPN hyped "Natty" that in the big picture really doesn't matter. With NIL how are smaller market teams supposed to compete? Let's just call it what it is and make college sports the minor league of the NFL and pay the players.

Guessing reason that GA was willing to pay him $1.8M is that he is somebody in the elite category of their profession. Like that he is young and will come in fired up with plenty of energy. Smart and can recruit. Nice combination. I am in on this hire. I think we upgraded.

There are plenty of rough areas in Southern Cal for sure but UCLA is in West Los Angeles which is better neighborhood. Also, UCLA is one of the highest ranked Universities in the country. Oregon gets roughly 30,000 applicants each year while UCLA gets well over 100,000. Lots of people want to go there. Plus, average temp in the 70's is a good pull and the campus is nice. Look at Bruin basketball. They have plenty of top notch talent and recruiting at high levels. Oregon does have superior facilities to offer and for many the pull of a true college town is attractive.

Sure hate to go backwards with the recruiting but understandable to me that some of these recruits are disappointed. MC has the gift of gab and his pitches must have painted a rosy picture of the future. What sounded like a coach fully committed to winning a NC at Oregon turns out really be closer to the pitch of a used car salesman selling a 2005 Kia Rio. On a side note my SC friends down here in LA sure feel like the tables have turned. I probably had it coming as I have been highlighting the recruiting disparities between the Ducks and Trojans for the last several months. Now they get an A+ coaching hire and we are TBD. Ouch!

Definitely part of their education. My wife will often comment about how nice a salesperson is and that she likes them. Several of these salespeople have been trying to rip us off with either bad deals or unneeded repairs. I remind her of course they are nice they are selling you stuff! I have been around salespeople all of my working life and know that many will say whatever it takes to get you to say yes. These kids have learned that Mario is no different than most salespeople and he got what he wanted so time to move on down the road. Sad but reality.

He has been pulling in talent at very high levels and looks like a few more top recruits coming in before signing day. When and if he hops on the train to Miami the class will take a hit and Riley will scoop in on that action. Ouch! One thing I have not heard mentioned is Cristobal's pretty wife may be telling him she really wants to get back to Miami and enjoy the warm weather and that $8M a year. The wife is a big factor regarding happiness.

I am not wearing a halo either but try to show some loyalty to family, friends, and my work. I understand the desire to think of "self-interest" first but that sure seems like a pretty shallow way to live. I would have a hard time recruiting somebody to my company by selling them on how committed I am to the future only to say goodbye on my way out the door as they are coming in to work. It would probably look even worse if there were transcripts of the pitches these coaches make to potential recruits in which they highlight family, teamwork, and achieving goals together....lol...no fine print in their presentations that say "until a better offer comes around!"