Desert Duck

Here's what I know for certain... It would not be 49-3

"#AGTG I an blessed to receive an offer from the University of Oregon" Kid... you'll be 100x more bless if you accept the offer.

Oregon 48-24 3 4 288 Cal scored 13 points... against Colorado 2 weeks ago. They only scored 21 points against the Huskies last week, and everyone is putting up big points against the Puppies (Arizona put up 39 points on UW two weeks ago). Cal averaged 15 points per game against Notre Dame, WSU, CO, & UW. I just don't see them scoring much against our D. But it will be a perfect football weather day (69 & sunny), so I'm giving them 24 points. Plus, we'll be putting in a lot of backup players late in Q3, and most of Q4.

But Mullen's did listen to Joey & Co. Apparently, he put the full-court press on Wilcox (yes, another misplaced sports metaphor), made multiple offers, and Justin thankfully said no both times. I think the Gawds of college football have smiled on Oregon several times over the last few years. First, there's the fact that Florida came calling not once, but thankfully twice, to relieve us of Sunshine State heavy-duty anchor/baggage. Then, Justin said no to the Ducks. Followed by Lanning saying yes.

What a great article. I've never read Goodman's stuff before but based on this piece, he is an excellent writer. Loved this comment: "Think about it this way, all you Bo Nix truthers out there living in the world and walking into glass doors. If Nix is playing with Pac-12 players, then shouldn’t that make him worse?" In other words, if the Pac-12 stinks so badly, logically, Pac-12 receivers would have to be subpar too. So why, post-game one, is Bo completing passes at a rate of 75%, has a 17-1 TD to INT ratio, and has the 6th-best QBR rating in college football? Goodman poses a great question. I'll be honest, in June when Darren Perkins wrote the FishDuck article titled, "Is Bo Winning the Heisman a Total Pipe Dream," I thought Darren might have been hitting a different kind of a "Pipe." But here we are nearly five months later, and there is all kinds of talk -- way beyond just us Duck fans -- about Bo as a realistic Heisman candidate. I now find myself bowing down a bit to the "Prophet Darrin." Nix and Herbert are reminding me of each other in that they prove that the wrong coaches and program can pretty much destroy a great player, but that great coaches will elevate and free them to rise to almost unbelievable levels. Cristobal nearly destroyed Justin, until Cristobal virtually had no other hope of winning than to finally take the reins and chains off the kid in the Pac-12 Championship, and the Rose Bowl. Lanning & Dillingham, along with Prophet Darrin, saw the real Bo Nix, lightyears before I did. I hope the kids show up tomorrow in gorgeous Strawberry Canyon relaxed, and ready to have fun. It looks like it's going to be about 69 degrees and sunny. Perfect football weather, and perfect QB weather. GO DUCKS.

Goodman is angry... and understandably so. But it's great to see how much respect, understanding, and appreciation he has for Bo He is angry, but he's directing his anger in the proper direction: At the Auburn program and those in charge.

If 49-3 doesn't provide at least a reasonable amount of inspiration, along a modicum of humility, all season long, I don't know what will.

We owe Florida a serious debt of gratitude... first for coming for Taggert, and then for coming for Cristobal.

"Cal a Legit Trap Game?" No. But I will say, if you're looking to go to a road game, Strawberry Canyon is a great place to do it.

"Was the Onside Kick === The Pick?" No.

I don't think we're playoff bound or an elite team. But they're playing very good football... in the Pac-12. Maybe in another year or two, we will again be elite. But unfortunately, it looks like we're going to have to go to the transfer portal again for another quarterback next year.

"Is It Possible for Ducks to Reach CFB Playoffs?" Maybe. But what I do know for sure is that we play @ Cal next week.

And once again, I thank the gawds of football that Miami came calling when they did.

I don't think I've ever seen that. Ever.

Miami fans: "How much is MCs buyout?"

Just an all around excellent game. So impressive. And there's nothing wrong with giving up 30 points to UCLA, which is the least number of points they scored all season. They average 40 ppg, Great coaching.

"Do you think the coaches read our posts?" I hear the Oregon coaches check out FishDuck everyday to read our stellar suggestions 😉

David - I'm thinking that special teams read your article, got motivated and said... "We've got to step things up!" 😉

This Lee Corso interview is really wonderful. He seems like such a kind and generous human being -- with an absolutely fabulous sense of humor. Obviously, Lee has slowed down, but when he has time to speak, it all still comes to him. The pistons are all still firing, albeit, a little bit slower. Thanks for posting this video. It put a huge smile on my face, and his comments regarding Chip Kelly are utterly hilarious.

It's true that it never rains in Autzen Stadium, but as the old song says, "It pours... Man it pours." This should be a great game with Oregon coming out on top. With the weather today, it will likely come down to whoever can hang onto the ball. Turnovers are certain to play a big factor today. I'm glad for Chip Kelly and the success he is finally having again. I will be forever grateful for the ride he led us on for those four exceptional consecutive years, and the way he changed the face of college football forever. Those were very heady times for our program -- and under Lanning, I think they may be coming back (and what a difference six or so weeks make)! However, today, I hope we kick the ever loving stuff out of Kelly and send him back to Westwood with his tail between his legs 🙂 .

Great article, David. As most of us know, special teams often are the difference between winning and losing football games. The good news to me is that while our special teams are recovering from the Cristobal era, they are are not making big mistakes, and have not made any critical mistakes. However, the one highly critical special teams position that is almost always overlooked, is the long snapper. But it’s such a critical position that today, a large percentage of D1 schools now scholarship this position. Most coaches wised up over the last 20 years or so and now realize that a single mistimed, or misplaced snap, can create one of the most chaotic sequences in football, one that could easily cost a team the game. These guys are beyond unsung here’s, and the only time anyone usually learns their name, is the one out of a hundred snaps that go arwy. Now, let’s add water, and the football suddenly weighs two to three times heavier. This position of timing and skill takes on a whole new world… and those ‘little’ 7’ or 14’ snaps, while making sure that the laces arriving in the receivers hands exactly the way he needs them, can get very interesting and exciting very fast. So, I just want give a shout out, appreciation, and some love to the long snappers out there. For nearly all long snappers, one of their goals is that we actually do not know their names. They have an almost nearly thankless, yet utterly critical role, in which failure is not an option.

My prediction is that I completely stink at predicting football games. Nevertheless... Oregon 38-35 2 (it's gonna be a very wet ball) 1 215 yds

"first time I've ever typed that in my life." But you know that you've been wanting to root for Ducks for a long time. 😉

Pac-12 refs and their special way of doing things.

How is it possible for Pac-12 refs to regularly be so bad.