Jester

Glad to read this article. Much of the news regarding recruiting at Oregon highlights perimeter players and skill position players. So much so that even given Lanning’s background, I was feeling as if the lines on both sides of the ball were being slightly overlooked. Should have know I was wrong about that, and that I should just trust that DL has things under control.

MC will be just fine at tU. You don’t have to exactly run a gauntlet loaded with trap doors and booby traps when playing in the ACC. For crying out loud, the 2021 Subway ACC Championship Game was a battle waged between college football powerhouses - Pitt and Wake Forest. Doesn’t really move the needle, does it? If you care to keep one eye on the Canes this year, I suggest keeping eyeball number two on Clemson. The Tigers saw their six-year run of manhandling the ACC come to a surprising end last season, and for the first time in long time, displayed QB play that can at best be described as “sub-par”. Will the Tigers bounce back or can MC inch the Canes closer to the glory of days gone by? Yes, I’m comfortable in overlooking the Pitt’s and Wake’s of the ACC. The Slurpers and the Mopes will certainly be using the Nov. 19 game in Death Valley as a litmus test for their head-to-head battle of words regarding the Havana Huckster. Me personally - I don’t care. I don’t have to watch. I know MC is the guy that will lend credibility to your program, and I know he’s the guy that year in and year out can get you a solid nine wins. I also know that if you aspire to greater heights, his lack of vision and creativity will be your downfall. Congrats to the Slurpers for winning the initial battle, but the ultimate glory of winning the war will belong to the Mopes.

I believe the answer is contained in one sentence of the editorial. "So much depends upon the actual photo…as some cross the line, while others are benign and symbolize the celebration that is being an Oregon Duck." I’m not sure there’s relevance in posting pictures solely of young ladies clothed in not much more than beach apparel, and I can’t believe I just typed that. In today's "I'm offended" environment, photos of that nature open to door to questions and criticism. Now, I do see significance to having cheerleaders in photos that help convey emotion during a moment of the game. Running onto the field, post-score reactions, brief interactions with fans and mascots, and sadly, even tears from heart-breaking losses can be elicit an emotion and are worthy of being captured by camera. Me personally - not offended, but I can't even begin to quantify the percentages of people that stand on either side of this discussion. In this scenario playing it safe (right or wrong) seems to be the way to go. Slightly off topic, but I want to get this out there. Yelling, screaming, clapping fans coupled with the sideline visual of waving pom-poms and dance teams heighten our viewing experience and simply add to the greatness that can only be seen in college football. When the UO support team (cheerleaders, etc.) take the field it enhances an already revved-up environment. You not only will have to deal with a football team ready to kick your a**, but now you’re going to witness support in numbers you haven’t seen. Support that’s going to push this crowd to edge and beyond. You look in the stands – all you see is green and yellow. Your focus your eyeballs to the field and sidelines hoping to find a respite from what’s going on around you but to your chagrin all you find is Oregon’s support teams gaining momentum and enthusiasm as you find that yours is waning with each passing minute. You’re in Autzen, baby. You have a front row seat to your own private hell for the next couple of hours. Do you now understand now why teams don’t want to play here? Come on, we know the answer. I’ve been referencing all those athletes other than the Oregon football team as “support team”. I think they are fabulous, and an integral part of what makes the Oregon football experience special.

If Nix really is the leader in the clubhouse, and if you truly buy in to this take (I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t), then couldn’t you also surmise that Ty & Butters just really are not that good? Perhaps my initial prediction of a four-loss regular season isn’t one to be scoffed at after all.

Mandel: Pac-12's TV numbers indicate its future might not be so dire THEATHLETIC.COM Television numbers indicate the Pac-12 isn't necessarily in a weaker position than the Big 12. Article from Mandel.

This has been a huge concern of mine from the get-go. When DL & Co. visit recruits they were able to play the PAC card. We all know it really hasn’t been the strongest card in the deck, but it could be played with enough UO peripherals to sell it. Fast forward a couple years and what is there to sell? It’s potentially a very scary time as I’m concerned we’re being relegated to the kids table.

I received the message of Spencer’s passing this morning while I was in a work-related video conference. I had to turn my camera off as tears began to well in my eyes. I was saddened not by the loss of a player but for the loss of promising young man’s life. I then read a story regarding the broken home in which he grew up, of the older brother who had the courage to say, “I will raise you”, and later, along with his wife, Alicia, would become Spencer’s legal guardians. This heightened my sense of sorrow for those who played such an integral part of Spencer’s life. It also demonstrates the tremendous fortitude of our beloved TE to not be sidelined by life’s hurdles but to confront them and conquer. And from all accounts, he did it with a smile. My thoughts and prayers go out to Spencer’s family, his friends, his teammates, and to all Ducknation. Folks, we lost one of our guys…and it hurts.

Would we all feel better if the cumulative score between UU & UO wasn’t 76-17? Injuries considered; I don’t think the Ducks fielded a team loaded with talent. Our primary offensive weapon at RB was a 3* player, and we saw what the NFL thought of OBD’s players during draft time – Diddly-squat, poo. So, what did we expect? We played for the conference championship and got beat by a highly inspired, very good football team. Also, we received a little fools gold in tOSU game courtesy of DC, Kerry Combs. Dude was demoted after the Ducks game due to giving-up 200+ yards rushing in consecutive games while not even flinching to make any defensive adjustments. Following the first two games, tOSU didn’t give up numbers close to those until they went to Meeshigan to play Captain Khaki and the 3-Yards in a Cloud of Dust Roughriders Nov. 27th (granted, CK’s bunch did run wild). As far as MC lying about his intended moves during the end of his tenure, what was he supposed to say? “Hey Mario, any truth to the rumor you’re headed to Coral Gables?” “Absolutely. Why wouldn’t I. My compensation will be delivered by Brinks, it’s my alma mater, it gets me closer to my ailing mother, and quite frankly...it’s my dream job.” Of course, he’s not going to say this. He’s going to stand behind an exceptionally decorated podium, deny and deflect as best he can, and short-answer his way through an uncomfortable press-conference. Now, his internal monologue will be in over-drive, and he’ll probably be envisioning maiming the unsuspecting questioner, but he’ll suck it up and flash that 80-million-dollar grin. Not so different from many others who have been in a similar position. BTW, I think tU will fair quite well in the current ACC. Isn’t part of the reason Clemson shines so bright due to the conference’s supporting cast being so incredibly dim? Did you guys watch Uiagalelei last year? More Pics. than TD’s while completing 55% of his passes. Thought it was even uglier than the numbers reflect. Miami’s QB situation is much better, and I believe MC will dial back the passing governor just a bit. Yes, I’m taking for granted that even MC can garner an improved football acumen.

…And while we are pondering, I’m also learning more than I should be regarding conference politics and money matters. I find myself visiting forums and reading news columns specific to other schools to get their take on recent affairs. I’m linking you to a piece from ‘The News&Observer’ out of North Carolina. UNC fans feel every bit as much in a pickle as we do. What I kindly ask is for someone to provide an explanation on the reference (in the article) to the number, “six”. Read the piece, and you’ll see what I mean. Is “six” an arbitrary speculative number, or does it hold weight? I haven’t seen or heard reference to this anywhere but in this article. If it’s just speculative, it doesn’t read that way to me. Then again, I think I’m saturated at this point and need to remove myself from information (fact or fiction) for a little while. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article263209858.html

Lots of comments from the sports world stating this is more-than-likely bogus reporting. It's a sad commentary of our times when anything, regardless of how little sense it may make, is believable.

Source: Virginia, North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson in Talks to Join SEC SWIMSWAM.COM A source told SwimSwam that Virginia, UNC, FSU, and Clemson are negotiating to join the SEC as ESPN attempts to void their 20-year...

Completely agree with this sentiment. You never know, hopefully things are kicking-in for Ty as he received a heap of praise for his performance at the Manning Passing Academy. Would love to see him being worthy of earning the starting job at some point during the season.

I’ve watched a lot of high-level high school QB play, viewed a ton of tape, and I find this guy to be as intriguing a prospect as any. I’ve listed just three takeaways from viewing his work (link below). 1. He’s comfortable throwing into tight windows. Look at his ball placement! We’ve all watched film of 4-5 star QB’s completing deep balls to guys commonly 5-10 yards (typical high school throwing windows) behind athletically disadvantaged DB’s, but to watch a highlight reel featuring this degree of precision passing from someone this young is atypical. 2. Pocket awareness. Very comfortable sliding in the pocket while keeping his eyes down-field. Much of the linked highlight reel does not feature him standing tall with time to scan the field for wide open targets. He instinctively has the awareness to keep plays alive. 3. Quick release. He snaps it with confidence. He can throw heat and he can throw with touch. Also, has the arm talent to adjust his angle of delivery The fact that he was named the SI All-American Elite 11 MVP just confirms others (others that count) view Dante in the same light that I do. I did not beat the drum for ANY of the other potential Duck QB’s that have been discussed during the entire recruiting process. Tennessee, have fun with Nico, I don’t think he’s quite as advertised. Miami, Jaden’s a player but I’m not going out of my way for his all-around skill set. Dante is the guy I’d go the mat for. Given the perception a couple weeks back that Oregon was the frontrunner to have this young man on campus makes it imperative for the Ducks to close the deal. If they can’t, then comes the question. Was it NIL or was it the current PAC unrest? I don’t think any of us want to play the speculation game. So, let’s all make like Robert De Niro’s character in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and make sure we’re in sync with positive ju-ju when decision time comes. If good things happen when you make a particular dish – get cookin’. If your world is at peace when the kids are out of the house – call the neighbors and tell them they’re getting company. I don’t care what you must do but when Dante’s ready to pull a hat out of a bag we need to have our collective ju-ju in phase for that hat to show that beautiful “O”.

My dumba** had to look that one up. I'm headin' over to the Fusky forum for a little bit! 5-10 minutes of reading their posts will make me feel whole again.

If you can answer this question, perhaps I can help you with yours. Why is it that while I'm indulging in the tossing back of a few barley sodas tonight at the Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino in York, PA (over 2.5k miles from Eugene), I will see Oregon sportswear, and would heavily wager there’s not a hint of Ok. State (York to Stillwater approx. 1.2k miles) gear on the premises? After reading CalBear95’s comment again, I see that my thoughts on this evening's festivities support Cal’s primary point which is focusing on branding. Pretty sure Oregon doesn’t have too many rivals when it comes to branding a product.

You’re right, rden, and we will probably continue to mock and ridicule him until a more worthy target becomes available. If you have thoughts of who the lucky contestant(s) may be, please share. Mario is just one of a couple persons/teams that are essentially our escape from meaningful discussion. It’s like wanting to watch Talladega Nights instead of a thought-provoking documentary. Sometimes you just need to be silly, take a respite from reality, and just have fun poking at low-hanging fruit. It’s somewhat childish and non-productive but my day is filled with responsibility and unfortunately for Mario (like he really cares what we think. Lol.) he’s a key member of the “Low-Hanging Fruit Super-squad”. He’s (Mario) got company though. Look, there’s Lincoln Riley right now wearing cardinal colored spandex clam-diggers and…is that a crown of thorns? Wow, he’s got issues. In truth, I think we all (ok…not all, but close to it) have expressed our sincere gratitude for having Mario in Eugene. His hard work shined the light back on this program, and no one can question his tireless drive when it comes to pursuing top-notch athletes. The transition from Mario to Dan was in no small part made easier by Oregon’s rebuilt reputation which has Mario’s fingerprints (like it or not) all over it. Oregon is once again attractive (And there goes USC & UCLA. Dammit!). Perhaps our jabs at Mario should really be viewed as back-handed compliments. If the fanbase truly thought Mario failed in all facets of being a head coach, they wouldn’t be feeling so betrayed by his departure. If he was across-the-board, average – “O.k., see ya.” Nothing more would be said. BTW, I gave your comment a thumbs-up cuz I sense where you’re coming from, and for very cleverly tying-in a Titanic reference. Can’t believe they didn’t make a Part II. Cheers

So it's a B-? Just glad you weren't turned on by the smell comment. Check back in with you guys in another month. L8R All

Let’s take a moment to really delve into what’s transpiring here instead of the “tug-at-my-heartstrings” nonsense that’s being portrayed. BTW, Goofball, if you’re going to wear the mask, please don’t treat it like a chinstrap. But there’s a reason for this which will be detailed by item #3 below. I’ve always said that an opportunistic leader can turn a disaster into a win. As a matter of fact, they hope for a near-catastrophic event so they can jump into action and save the day. “Look Mom, no cape.” Crissy obviously believes in this philosophy as well. But, unlike me, I imagine he’s the kind of guy that has assembled a “how-to” field guide for taking advantage of situations when persons are in compromising positions. Just for the sake of argument, let’s title Crissy’s field guide ‘Duping the Public Into Thinking I Care During Moments of Crisis’. I know, it’s a lengthy title and NOT one befitting of public adoration, but nonetheless, it does call it as it is. His (Crissy’s) guide would have to be step-by-step which would mimic the authors absence of imagination, void of real sentence structure mirroring the lack of cohesiveness displayed between he and his coaching staff and laced with over-the-top hyperbole to mask what the author knows to be – hollow promises. I imagine it looks a little like this. Duping the Public Into Thinking I Care During Moments of Crisis 1. Setting the scene. Pay careful attention during photo op. (PO) to display a background which will paint a distressing picture of the intended target. 2. Appropriate attire. Make sure that I’m donning the latest “U” apparel as provided by Adidas. Most importantly, the target MUST be clothed in no less than a total 400 square inches of Adidas product – preferably orange & green. Exception: One can not force a 4th degree burn patient to simply slip a hoodie over his head. 3. Posture. Make sure my entire face is on display, so it’s conveyed with undeniable clarity that the target before me is the most important person in the world. Target must be facing forward and displaying the “U” symbol or be in physical contact with myself. When possible, bend 90 degrees at the elbow(s) and flex without holding my breath. Chicks dig it and it makes me look virile - like Putin. 4. Cozy-up. Go out of your way to get to a parent. Console, nod your head, maintain eye contact and repeat “I have nothing but your son’s best interest at heart” no less than five times. If they tear up, suck it up, and give them a hug. Even if they smell bad. 5. Closing Act. Call John Ruiz @ 1-305…. wait, dang-it, I almost gave the part about offering a scholarship with NIL money away AGAIN! Maybe the Ducks fans were right. I’m just not that smart. Pretty sure the offer was forthcoming, but when that tibia went snap The Cuban Missile Crissy went into action. Any good recruiter worth his salt would have done the exact same thing. He’ll not only get this kid, but this little media circus does nothing but put the “U” (of all places) out there in the most positive of light. I can see the annoying glow of dayglo orange neon now – “Come to Miami. We have the coach that cares.” Barf. Well played Crissy. Well played. Side Note: Haven’t posted in a while. I was in a little dust-up when escorting an unruly group from a local establishment and received a gift in the middle of my back for my trouble which put me down for a little. Think I’m still a little cantankerous from that event – hence my not-so-nice post. My apologies.

Not one of MC’s finer moments. I’m sure most of you have told someone, “Know your audience.” This outburst clearly demonstrates MC sadly doesn’t know his. My guess is that the memo for understanding how to get the attention of today’s youth was buried under Miami real estate listings along with a copy of Phillip Brooks’ book, ‘Forward Pass: The Play That Saved Football’. Damn shame he didn’t find time to read that. There have been societal advancements since the days of frequent facemask grabbing (Sorry Jimbo), name-calling, and intentional demeaning behaviors. And here’s where the “adults” in the room have lost the advantage – today’s young folks are aware of this. Sorry, but they are just better informed than we were as youths. Great timing. My 21-year-old just walked in. I played the video for him, and our brief question / answer sessions went as follows: Jester: So, what do you think? Smarter Offspring (SO): That’s just disrespectful. He can yell at me, but not like that. Particularly the part where he tried to belly-up to me. Disrespectful. Jester: What do you think Hutson’s thinking? SO: Did what I would have done. Just stood there and took it. Inside I guarantee he feels nothing but disrespect. He made his point after a couple seconds, and I was fine with that. Jester: In the long run, is Hutson better off for receiving a tongue-lashing like this? SO: No. You don’t show respect, you don’t get respect. Mario can kiss my a**. There you have it. Nothing wraps-up a discussion like a bum smooch. Like it or not, today’s game is filled with NIL, transfers, and plenty of respect. I’m not sure when Aretha’s signature tune became so paramount with the today’s youth, but I do know to reach (and keep) the modern-day player coaches need to carefully toe-the-line between constructive criticism and acting as if they’re being possessed by the ghost of Woody Hayes. R-E-S-P-E-C-T has got my musical juices flowing, so here’s another R&B/Soul tune that I’ve thoughtfully selected just for the Havana Huckster. Hit the Road Jack!

Glad you posted this! Last night I was thinking of updating the troops on Payton's contributions during the game. Gone are the days of blowing a whistle for carrying and palming the ball, but those infractions wouldn't have affected PP anyway. There is mention of Payton's bloodied practice hands, but no mention as to the size of those mitts. That young man has some massive meat hooks that permit to control the rock the way he does. It was fun to watch him develop at Oregon, and it's a joy to watch him succeed in the NBA.

Who didn’t know this was coming? Saban has been waiting for the proper forum to drop this whammy on A&M, and when he felt the time was right, he pounced. His comments were not off-the-cuff. What he said was well thought out in a very calculated, Uncle Nick fashion. I’ll go so far as to say he was also aware of the degree to which this would upset his easily offended, emotional, understudy. He just tossed a big old lure in front of Jimbo and he bit. In addition, he had the foresight to know he would have to issue an apology. This is playing out just like a court room drama where the attorney does something he knows will be inadmissible but he does it anyway knowing it will leave an indelible image on members of the jury. Here’s a simplified glimpse into Nick’s internal monologue leading up to the assault: Get an audience and toss A&M under the bus while playing my “woe is me” card (I do this a lot), issue fake apology (Oh...I’ve done this before) after Fisher gets crazy (Inevitable), and make sure the lasting stain from this isn’t that I struck again, but that A&M HAS BOUGHT THEIR ENTIRE TEAM. I find the whole thing rather humorous as both participants are looking like whiners in this premeditated, first degree verbal incident. Maybe if you take the side of either coach it says a little bit about what kind of whine you like? The Saban whine is direct, authoritative, and concludes with you asking yourself, “Is this guy asking me to pity him?” Never has a man accomplished so much while insisting he’s been railroaded so often. The Fisher whine is always defensive, on the brink of tears, and leaves you asking yourself, “Why do I really want to punch this guy in the face?” I’ve decided I will be adding a Warholesque collection of pouty-face Fisher pop art pics in my man cave. The only thing more amusing than Crying Jordan is Crying Fisher. C’mon SEC East. Time to join the fun being had by your brethren in the West.

In regard to the Oregon question, Canzano's wording was far more emotionally driven than Harlan's response. A guy (Canzano) that puts together back-to-back sentences saying the win "was an absolute ambush" followed-up by "cathartic moment for the fan base", was just beggin' for a zinger of a response. I don't know Harlan from Adam, but he sounds like a pretty cool customer.

I think “outsiders” would suggest that Oregon just take solace in winning the North, be content with nine or ten-win seasons, continue smacking around our purple punching bag to the north, and just shut-up and be satisfied with winning our fair share of football games. Just for fun we’ll throw in the occasional bowl victory here and there. There ya go, lil’ Fella. Nah. We rode in the slow lane long enough. Sure, we usually reached our destination, but the trips were becoming tedious with little hope of exciting future adventures. Luckily, the ride wasn’t so long that we started losing passengers. Duck nation remains strong. I whole-heartedly agree with Haywarduck’s perspective on success being measured by a process vs. just an outcome. We’re fortunate in that a winning culture has been established in Eugene and that a complete do-over is not in order to take the next step, but I’ll be watching to see if the required paradigm change can be embraced permitting UO to become elite. DL sat smack in the center of the mixing bowl that contained all the perfect ingredients to be a world class winner while at GA. Yes, the 2021 Bulldogs were extremely talented. But they also were very disciplined and played with a cohesiveness that stemmed from simply caring for one another. Kirby and his staff cultivated an environment whereupon players seized the responsibility of being accountable for their own actions and for keeping one another in check. I saw an interview with the tight-knit GA linebacking corps where these guys were able to complete one another’s sentences. Don’t be fooled into thinking unity (on and off the field) didn’t play a role in GA netting a Natty. To me a successful season can be measured by a couple things. First. How much buy-in does the team have in the ingredients DL brings to Eugene? If the answer is a lot, we’ll see it in the form of less pre-snap and post-play penalties, better on-the-field communication, and how about just “acting like we’ve been there before.” Sounds inane but those components can reflect heavily on the scoreboard. Play for your brother, gentlemen. Second. Will the ‘Explosion Plays’ pronouncement come to fruition? This is what is synonymous with Duck football and what we’re eager to see. The last couple years the broadcast hype teams have had to feign interest in promoting UO games. Let’s change that. I want Oregon football to once again nationally be Must See TV. I’m not worried about the overall record as the talent on this team will carry them to a respectable record. Dubs and a rejuvenated atmosphere will accompany ticking the checkboxes of the two things I mentioned.

It sure felt as if his own confidence and (coaches) faith in his abilities waned the more he played. I really didn’t care for the way the staff handled him. It gave me a sense that the players were treated with a “one-size-fits-all” approach, and that shouldn’t be the case – particularly at the QB position. I do recall saying to myself on many occasions, “Why do they keep putting him (Tyler) in third and obvious passing situations?" Then again, I also recall Oregon fans clamoring for Anthony Brown to play due to Tyler’s lack of production. At the time, AB was more efficient at moving the offense. As far as moving on from Ty & Butters is concerned, I’d do it in a heartbeat if someone can demonstrate they are more worthy of earning the position. One thing that’s disconcerting with Ty’s pick-6 in the spring game was how similar it was to his pick against Colorado last season. Both were 12-yard pass plays, thrown late, and behind the intended receiver. At least in the CO game we could see that the pocket wasn’t completely clean. Ty’s 1 of 6 against FBS opponents for 5 yards and a pick. It’s tough to chisel his name in granite as a starter at Oregon with what we’ve seen in his limited action. Even though it doesn’t sound like it, I’m really pulling for him as I’d like to see all this athletic ability everyone’s talking about pay off for the Ducks. The biggest long term question I have about Butters is, “What is his ceiling?” This is part a Lanning problem, albeit a good one. DL has quickly shown us his ability to recruit top-notch players. 5-star guys like Jaden Rashada paying the Ducks a visit may become the norm in Eugene. I like a lot of what we saw from JB, but where does he athletically top out in relation to some of the shiny new toys that are coming to town. So, no one really knows if Ty or JB can be the answer. I think the consensus is that they are filling QB slots #2 & #3 at present, just as they should be. But these guys need to remain diligent and continue to improve because the young talented gunslingers are knocking at the door.

I'll take it!