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Mudslide
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Posts posted by Mudslide
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On 10/15/2022 at 3:55 PM, Charles Fischer said:
This is a real "fork-in-the-road" year for Kelly Graves as a coach. I believe one of our writers will elaborate in the future...
This is a bit off subject. But how in hell does Graves do that with his fingers??!! 'Taint natural.
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On 10/24/2022 at 3:05 PM, Joe F said:
If Bo leaves next year, I bet Tyler Van Dyke will probably be in the Portal.
But TVD cannot run. He has amassed a TOTAL of 23 yards rushing in his three years at the U. He's a passer and a good one. But he doesn't run...which is integral to the Ducks' offense. If he does head to the portal (smart of him), it won't be to Oregon.
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Fine show. This one is definitely worth a watch.
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Oregon
31-24
3
4
255
The two best run defenses in the PAC. Lots of time off clock, but lots of passing, too. It's gotta be a really high scoring game...or a mishmash of runs, drips, and errors. Rain. I'm going with the latter.
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On 10/21/2022 at 12:21 PM, Alan said:
Sometimes my dry sense of humor fails to register. My intent here was certainly not to praise UCLA for not stealing, but rather to indict them for stealing yet again, this time the lazy and unoriginal stealing of Cal's mascot.
I was making fun of UCLA by saying that they struck "Bears" off their list of mascot choices, but then they considered a bunch of other names that were all bears--Grizzlies, Kodiaks, Polar Bears, Yogi--and finally "Bruins." Yes, UCLA copied and stole again. That's what they always do.
The funniest part of the quote from Fred Cozens is that it mirrors the satiric scenario that I described in UCLA's selection of their us-too mascot.
Aw...I know. I was just trying to find an intro into (apparently not as humorous as I hoped) "recording" of Cozens and his/their record against "stiff" competition.
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More hilarity is afoot. Many thanks for another delightfully funny article, Alan. But I have two further comments.
First:
I’m not an advocate of “Northwest nice.” But that’s only when it comes to things like love and war. And as we all know, football may as well be war, with terminology like “blitz,” “aerial attack,” “defensive line,” “long bomb,” and “Let’s annihilate those depraved and deranged Washington Huskies.”
Indeed. Spoken like a divorced man. How about the football as "love" part? How about (just the G-rated versions) "cover", "stemming", "crush", "pass", "sack", or to include my wife's personal favorite, "split end"? I know, that last one is not spawned by love. But I hear it every day.
Second:
“Bruins.” It was the first and only time in UCLA history that they did not copy and steal from Cal.
Having attended Cal, I take exception with your forgiveness on this single point. We have the recording! The first "coach" and Athletic Director at UCLA, Fred Cozens, said...and I quote..."Since we cannot think of a name for the school, let's call ourselves the 'Little Bears'". Someone, the brightest person on Cozen's staff then said, "Hey, aren't those called "Bruins"...little European bears?". Well, whadoyaknow?! The school had a, er, non-copied beginning at ... something.
Second and a Half:
And speaking of beginning...Uckla was continually "crushed" by none other than Occidental College or Cal Tech and the like for many years. Still are, me thinks. Now THAT'S love.
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We have been debating the NIL changes in collegiate sports for many months now. Nothing has changed in the effect of NIL, the NCAA's lack of control over it, the universities' understanding of the impact of it, or even our business/fiscal or sociological arguments for and against the damn thing. And ultimately what? Nothing. Nothing has changed. The U.S. Constitution is what it is and the courts will (or should...another story) provide the sideline boundaries for who does what to whom and when during the play of this NIL game.
For me, the ONLY entity with any control over what happens with the NIL program is the fan. With feet, fingers, funds and affection, when the fan takes leave from enjoying the sport and what it becomes, then and only then will amateur sports return to campus. And I also believe that pay for NIL (PfP...let's call it what it is) will go the way of the AFL...smaller fish subsumed in a larger tank of professional sports. It's already begun, by the way. The "super conferences" are becoming a reality. Soon, I foresee super-super conferences subsuming the best (paid) teams as hundreds of schools drop by the fan and fun relevance wayside.
I, for one, will cheer that day. It's all personal preference, of course. I stopped watching professional sports years ago when greed and hundreds of millions were paid to players and billions of dollars paid out to teams aggravated my sense of worth from giving them any attention, or even a single dime of my hard earned, every-day-Joe's salary. Collegiate sports is going there.
Charles has suggested that we still have a couple of years to enjoy college sports in much the same way we always have. I've come to agree. But, as in seemingly all things in this society, change is occurring at warp speed. Before long, I'll be taking my rooting interests to true amateur/club sports. I'm thinking rugby might a good replacement. Player inducements usually range in the 6-pack area. That is...until NIL from breweries screw that sport up, too. LOL.
Meanwhile....I'm still on board. GO DUCKS!
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I think it's safe to assume that vanilla packages with odd shifts will be employed by the Ducks. I'm no expert, but I think the 4-2-5 is rather standard fare against spread style offenses. DTR and his receivers are really in sync with their safe stems. I'd like to see some disruption of the intermediate routes. (And yep Gonzo has to control Bobo. Come on...what kind of name is BOBO?! Maybe Gonzo should rag on the name all game long.) So the Ducks' 3-3-5 is in order...hopefully with a few surprises out of that formation.
But Charbonnet is another sort of bird. He can wreck a solid back-end defense with his catches and runs with handoffs, tosses, flares, and screens. Frankly, over the course of the game, I'm more worried about him than the receivers. Of course, I'm STILL worried about the receivers...just not as much as the back. He, and to a lesser extent DTR, is the key to beating the dynamic blitzing that Lupoi will occasionally send.Still, call me Mr. Sunshine. the Ducks' prolific offense will prevail with a win by 17.
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I agree with Charles. The Rodents pass the eye test with pretty good speed and solid tackling. From my brief viewing of their games, they seem to play a lot less zone than OBD (SO FAR!) along with a more blitzing/attacking D. Keeping in mind that we have a reasonably young secondary, and defense as a whole, I look for constant improvement from Lupoi's guys. On the other hand, the Beapers have an entire upper class starting D...with one exception, a sophomore.
With added game time and continued development, added complexity of plays, and with these great teacher-coaches that OBD have, we should see dynamic improvement from the beginning to season's end. The Ducks should have a complete defensive playbook to choose from by the time we roll into Potato Salad Field. So yes, the Spud Growers have a decent D...but I'm not concerned about the events of November 26...other than will my wife like her 39th wedding anniversary gift!
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Another great piece from inside the bizarre mind of Alan. Many thanks for always picking up my mornings, Alan. Really funny stuff, filled with guffaws. And the coffee in my sinuses will be great to drink later.
I do take exception with one comment, however. You have besmirched the good name of the U.S. Marine Corp by tying them to Martin Jarmond. Instead of "Jarhead, I actually prefer the more descriptive "Jarmount". But this may not be a G-rated appellation.
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The article is behind a paywall. Perhaps you could summarize for us....
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On 10/10/2022 at 11:12 AM, GeotechDuck said:
Maybe Tyler Van Dyke will be available after this year
TVD has MINUS 15 yards rushing this season. As good as he is throwing the ball, I don't see this sort of qb in a Dilly offense.
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I, too, have seen the "deer in the headlight" look on Ty's face as he approaches the LOS...as well as after plays. To me, it has failure and insecurity written all over it. But perhaps I (and others) are a bit mistaken by his engagement...or seeming lack thereof. Too soon to judge?
I looked at this youtube video following his commitment to Oregon. Ty is never going to be confused with Mr. Personality. His persona on screen is exactly like his actions on the field. He is reserved, quiet, and if truth be told, a little boring. If that is a good attribute for a D1 qb I have no idea. But it seems to be his way of approaching the world and the tasks it offers him. Are we being fair to him by questioning his mental preparedness for the play? I don't know for certain, but I think he deserves a better shot at proving himself before we wish him off to the corn fields.
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Oregon
56-31
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3
333
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I understand there is a nearby Canid population up north that quite enjoys sniffing Dung Beetle Footprints.
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....and WSU is the first team out in the AP poll.
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On 10/3/2022 at 8:05 AM, DazeNconfused said:
I'm not impressed with Ty so far this year -- I'm less impressed with the coaching scheme to develop him in garbage time.
It's obvious when we bring in TY teams are thinking we are going to run the ball or throw a easy screen pass to get him going. They are going to play up and be more aggressive on defense because they expect we aren't running the full play book
If you're in on offense you mentally feel the offense is being throttled down. That has a mental effect on the whole execution level.
Then Dilly is running lateral or straight ahead into a defense that is expecting it. The plays aren't going anywhere. We also have had hod throw that Mario style 3-5yard cross on third down in front of the sticks for two picks.
I would have a 180-degree approach with TY and the team in garage time.
Making big time throws like outs to the opposite field or mid-range crosses is what TY needs to be able to do if he is going to ever be QB1. So, I'd have him come out throwing those passe against the defense that is expecting screens and handoffs.
TY ever being QB1 and holding the job comes down to making those reads and big-time throws -- game plan for the offense to get him reps doing that when he comes in. I don't care how good we run the ball, throw screens of 5-yard crosses with TY in garbage time - that's not what he needs to do to be QB1someday.
Let TY work down the field and see what he can do. He might take his lumps, but does he get better for it and learn? Plus, the players will be more focused on making big plays and not feel like we have throttled down. If TY hits a couple good throws the lateral runs, screes and slants can be mixed in and go.
They got TY almost running a Mario scheme in garbage time. He isn't looking good, I don't know how that type pf scheme is going to improve him, and I can't tell how and if he is improving.
There is the possibility that the coaches know TT is not capable of accurately reading coverages and making the throws you suggest. I don't know if that is true...but either you trust the coaches and their schemes, or you do not. I do.
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On 10/2/2022 at 7:48 PM, chrisjenn99 said:
I preferred Ashford over the two that stayed. While he has his issues, at least he is making plays on the field.
^ This.
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I watched the game twice. It truly was a horribly officiated game. Our only hope is that coaches start filing complaints and calling for reviews at the league office. It's painfully obvious that the head of officials is not doing his job well, at all.
What happened to the Training that was imposed on all refs because of these mismanaged games from last season?!
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Oregon
35-13
2 TO
3 Sacks
292 passing yards.
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"Stanford, and this can be confirmed by any Cal fan, is an aggregate of nothing but fetid air blowing through the scraggly needles of a decaying redwood tree."
Here is a little story from my Cal-Berkeley days.
Just before the Cal-Stanford game, several of my Cal acquaintances bought 100 mice. They painted the mice with blue and gold paint. (Please say a prayer for the miscreants and forgive them, not for their great humor but for their lack of best form.) The boys took these pesky rodents and released them at the Ferd's Taj...er, Student Center. They left a huge note saying something like, "Hey Cardinal Farmers, Cal gives you the 'bird', too. Good luck finding all 200 mice!" These Cal dudes the proceeded to pull every fire alarm in the building.Now, I don't necessarily agree with these juvenile antics...mostly because I'm 77. But at the time, I appropriately laughed my a$$ off.
Another GREAT (pardon the caps, Alan) article from Sir Alan.
Post Script
I later met a Stanford grad, the founder and owner of Coleman Industries (Coleman lanterns, etc.) at a restaurant bar in San "Don't call it Frisco" Francisco. (San Francisco, AKA "The City!" Uh huh. Anyway, Mr. Coleman was quite a nice fellow and he admitted that no one is allowed to fail at Stanford. They basically pay for their degree. (USC anyone?)
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On 9/23/2022 at 2:50 PM, CountryProf said:
I actually grew up in the Willamette Valley for 16 years before my dad was transferred to Southern California and I ended up going to UCLA. Long story short, it's a lot easier to be nostalgic about growing up in the Willamette Valley than it is to be nostalgic about living in Los Angeles for 4 years. I would root for UCLA in the past ( and sometimes USC, where my dad graduated from) when they weren't playing the Ducks or the Beavers. But since USC and UCLA decided to covertly betray tradition for profit by announcing they're switching conferences......... no quarter, no prisoners!
I went to Cal and SDSU...and I would never cheer for them to win BECAUSE I went there. Both are crappy schools with perennially crappy football programs. But Cal also helped me despise, Ugly Stinky Crap, too. (After all, their stadium is a toilet bowl.) Don't you love the word "crap"?
You might ask, "Mudslide, if you didn't like those schools, why did you go?" Because they were willing to subsidize my scholarly ability to call them "crap" with crappy scholarships.
Go Beavs, I guess (but...ugh...crap).
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Bettors flock to Oregon State after sportsbook's initial line favors USC by nearly two touchdowns
WWW.ESPN.COM
Caesars Sportsbook opened USC as a 13.5-point favorite for Saturday's game against Oregon State. Minutes later... -
On 9/23/2022 at 8:12 AM, Mudslide said:
Hilarious, informative, timely, dripping with delicious sarcasm... another quality piece from you, Alex. My good man, your stuff is terrific. Nay, may I say Pulitzer worthy?! (Of course it isn't. It isn't political enough. But one can dream.)
Keep 'em coming, sir. Palease.
LOL...who the he!! is Alex?! Sorry Alan! But great job.
A Sad Reflection: We Could’ve Had Justin Wilcox
in Our Beloved Ducks
Posted · Edited by Mudslide
It may be irrelevant. Or it may not. But out of too-much-time-on-my-hands curiosity, and also because I'm a name kinda guy, I looked up the meaning of the name, Wilcox. Here is what Ancestry.com had to say about the Wilcox family history...
English (Yorkshire Lancashire and Flintshire): variant of Wilcock with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s. This form of the surname [Wilcox] is based on the pronunciation. Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022
One doesn't require a dictionary to decipher those key words. Maybe Mullens has an Ancestry membership. Or maybe, it was an amazing prescience by Mullens of what Wilcox might bring to the Ducks, no? Hmmm.....