Mic

If they're practicing inside because of the smoke are they going to be able to play in it? Nice hair cut, Dan.

I sure hope not debbie. I'd hate for that to occur (but it might!) because that could kill this golden goose once-and-for-all. If players start letting their teammates get hurt intentionally the NCAA would be criminal to let it to continue. And what could they do to stop it? Pay everyone, I guess. Or, out-law the NIL - and good luck with putting that genie back in the bottle. (Yeeessh, I sound like a doomsday predictor. Forgive me) GO DUCKS!

Aren't the scholarship players receiving a 1st-class education, not to mention a free look by NFL scouts and a shot at playing professionally? Aren't the 'walk-on' players (not on scholarship) still walking-on in hopes of winning one and in hopes of the same scouts seeing them play for an invite to the NFL combine? We can't have our presidents paying everybody's loans off so those paying for their education loans might just think a 'free scholarship' is pretty nice compensation for playing sports. If you think the universities are just greedy people, well, I won't argue with that, because most of these big universities have endowments that would make the richest among us blush. So why are they charging tuition at all for everyone else? You'd have to ask them. But to pay collegiate athletes to play (which, when you look at the dirty under-belly of this so-called NIL is) it smacks of greed all right. Greed on the part of everyone at the expense of amateurism which still has an important role to play in molding and shaping young lives to be better citizens of their nation. Imo, professionalism has no business in the education of our young people, from K-12 to college. None what-so-ever. I'm willing to concede you and I will not agree on this and that's fine. There are others in both camps and for equally good reasons. So be it. Go Ducks!

No, you're right DUCati855, the fans at home (esp. in Autzen) DO make a difference and I think Lanning knows it. He just doesn't want the players to think they can let up one inch. I hope to see UCLA get a few false start penalties and mix-ups on assignment due to the crowd noise which is legendary in Autzen And if/when they do, Lanning will probably acknowledge it in the post game interview (if O wins).

How do I take it? With a grain of salt. Remember, he's trying to motivate his players to play hard! A good coach wouldn't want his players thinking the fans in the stands (a little alliteration here for levity) are the difference in the game nor rely on that. I get it. The fans shouldn't feel slighted but yell for their team all the louder anyway.

Sadly, not. If our CFB programs are making so much $$ off these young men, why are they still charging tuition for the rest of the campus? If getting a scholarship to attend college virtually free isn't enough to entice and reward these young men to come play football what's that say about the value of that college education? Good Lord! How did it all come to this?

Hey! They're on a winning streak right now. One game in a row. Be respectful...

No. Just realistic. It's how the world works, unfortunately. It seems to me that if these allegations are true, the NCAA has been handed a softball to deal with this issue right here and now, to get a handle on it before it gets further out of control. We'll see.

I may have been overly concerned I suppose because I'm probably one of the few here who think UCLA will win this game. Sure hope I'm wrong! On both counts.

I thought it never rained in Autzen? ! Maybe some sun shades . (I think they can, but don't know for sure. They'll probably come prepared, tho). Or ... do they seat the recruits and family upstairs in the VIP box?

How easy can it be to hide a $ million? Especially if the 'kid' is coming from the 'hood'. (not that Dalton is). I'm beginning to suspect the NCAA doesn't really have the will or the teeth to do much about it yet.

probably, but he was close enuf - still funny

From the above article I snip this: “I believe so much in it, I believe it’s the right thing,” Harlan said of NIL. “But it’s difficult to not have an enforcement mechanism when we’re running into someone who is clearly utilizing it, in some form or fashion, as inducement. And we’re not. That’s frustrating.” I've been surprised to learn that (apparently) I am in the minority about this NIL-thing and how dangerous it is - how potentially destructive this could be to amatuer sport. The genie's out of the bottle now and there will be no going back, I know. But I refuse to believe this is a good thing for out colleges or High Schools because as certain as the sun rises in the East this is going to infect our HS sports programs as well.

According to KPNW radio this morning SI magazine reporting that a Utah official says one college team (Alabama implied) has offered TE Dalton Kincaid a $ million buckeroos to transfer. If you didn't see the game last Saturday evening , Kincaid had 16 catches (1 TD) in an incredible demonstration on how not to cover a TE, by USC. It was the Rising-Dalton show for most of the 2nd Half. A $ million to transfer! Who says collegiate football isn't heading towards 'minor league' status for the NFL? Except I don't remember reading about minor league ball players getting a $ million. Nick Saban might have a lot of 'splainin' to do. If true, what should happen to Saban, if anything? Where's this all headed? (How much should Oregon 'demand' for Bo Nx?)

I'm going to give you my unvarnished honest opinion and say "I don't know but I have little confidence in Lupoi's ability to match wits with Chip, even if Chip were having a very bad day. I've made no bones about how I feel about Lupoi and why. It's THE biggest reason I will probably pick UCLA to win this game (sorry everyone) not because O can't score (they will) but I don't know if Lupoi has a clue on how to stop and offense like we're about to see Chip unleash Saturday. If I were Chip I'd be salivating over this one. I hope to Almighty Heaven I'm wrong and I have to eat these words Sunday morning!

I wonder. Would Chip go back to the NFL again if, after getting UCLA to a national power (if he does) another flailing offensive team (like Denver) came calling?

Here's a thought: what's the chances guys like Steve Greatwood start becoming 'roving analysts', hired-gun style, moving in and out of various programs to help bring teams up to speed and performance - then moving on to another? If this sounds crazy just remember, none of us foresaw the transfer portal like it is today, nor the coaching carousel like it is, not the NIL phenomena either.

Here's a question for you football brainiacs out there: of the Heisman list how many are transfers, RB's or QB's? Might that be a negative for Nix?

Imagine how O would do with this guy back in the fold doing his thing? Or, at least assisting. They're already very good!

Said Charles above: As my ol' favorite Viking Coach Bud Grant once said when asked what it takes to be a winning coach? "You need a good wife, and good huntin' dog, and a good quarterback. And not in that order...." That's a great quote, C. Bud was probably the best HC to never win a Super Bowl. But his teams played in a few!

I'm thinking that even if O makes it to the Pac-12 Championship game he's here for the duration of his contract. But ... Yep. Loyalty in the CFB seems to be in a death spiral right now - coaches and players. If he leaves it will likely be for a much bigger program (SEC, B1G as you mention) otherwise he'd be moving laterally. It won't be for >$$ with Phil Knight around. My guess is he'd be more likely to be lured away by the NFL. There seem to be more young head coaches there now than i can ever remember. The fact that it doesn't look like he's developing a QB to replace Nix doesn't necessarily follow they aren't. We're left to observe things from outside the program. Also, O might be looking forward to this 5-star QB coming; (he's 'committed' - but that's no guarantee). I guess O will cross that bridge when they come to it. Best to enjoy the moment and the successes while we still can.

I don't know hardly a friend of mine (Duck fans) that didn't wish Kelly had either stayed put at Oregon or that he would have come back when the opportunity arose. That said, he didn't and finally (!) Oregon has another head coach that might be just as exciting and just as successful anyway and none of us (my friends nor I) want to see Lanning traded for Chip. Not yet, anyway. But sadly, lurking in the background is the very real likelihood that if Lanning has the measure of success we all hope for either another larger, more prestigious school (or the NFL) will swoop in and take him away just like Chip. If/when that happens would Oregon ever seek to offer Chip the job back again and would Chip even consider it? Impossible to know but I think probably not on both counts. It's the one thing I dislike most about the CFB - the endless turntable of coaches (and now players too) as teams change lineups like uniform combinations.

One thing for sure, it ought to be a doozy. Couldn't imagine a better, more fitting setting for this to happen, nor for Game Day to be anywhere else. GO DUCKS!

Great memories in this Pac series. When UCLA goes to the B1G there will be fewer of these to look forward to unless O & UCLA make the decision to play one of their ooc games together. That's highly doubtful, tho.

Personally, I don't see how it couldn't make a big impression. I remember the look on my grandson's face when he walked into the stadium for the first time. He was 16 and had never been to a collegiate game before, much less one in a facility like Autzen. I'm sure he will remember it for a long time.