5 hours ago, The Kamikaze Kid said:

If it makes you feel better Gat, 2008 was also when your Gators beat out Ducks in the elite eight on the way to their basketball championship.

That was our best run since winning it all in 1939 until our final four in 2017. Yes we’re thirsty for another one of those trophies as well!

That was a very good Ducks team..I remember you guys and Butler giving us the hardest times during that two year run. Many forget that Donovan had a long stretch 2001-2005 where he couldn't get out of the first weekend.

9 hours ago, Desert Duck said:

I think Oregon has a great chance to not win one title, but multiple titles.

For more than five decades, I've been hoping for our Ducks to just win one title in Football or Basketball (heck, even baseball would kinda work for me).

Just one title before I die (and multiple would work too). Frankly, I just don't think that's too much to ask. 😂🤔😉

I would like to live in an alternate timeline where Auburn missed that kick in the 2010 Title game and Oregon wins it. That's 15 years ago!! Auburn fans are crying about their long long stretch, heck Alabama is complaining about five years. I think that once you get that first taste you will desire a second and a third.

But I do hope you guys win one why Phil is still around. I hope you and all my Duck friends here live to see a few ( as long as it isn't at the Gators expense).

To me 2008 feels like two lifetimes ago. I've been lucky enough to see Florida win titles in 3 of the biggest college sports in my lifetime.

19 hours ago, kirklandduck said:

Well they finally pulled away in the last quarter (not as impressive as it sounds). Reading through the game thread on a certain Fuskies fan site it grew to over 300 comments with the vast majority gnashing their teeth and freaking out. The most recent ones were doing mental gymnastics about how the Puppies actually "dominated" the game...riiiiiiiiiight.

They dominated if you want to say outscoring a Mountain West team 14-0 in the fourth quarter is dominant. They certainly looked better than their little brothers in Pullman who barely hung on to beat the Idaho Vandals 13-10.

*I realize Oregon struggled with that same team last year, but to me there's some weird magic regarding Oregon and teams from Idaho. Washington State isn't going undefeated and head into the playffs as the number one seed. They could win the PAC Who this year though. Oregon State looks terrible.

With Alabama losing it's fourth game vs an unranked opponent under DeBoer in the first game of his second season, he has already matched the amount of times Saban lost to an unranked opponent during 17 years. It got me thinking about dynasties and how eventually they all end. The Patriots and Crimson Tide both won 6 championships in eras that weren't meant to allow it. Salary cap, walk on and scholarship reductions plus draft slots were meant to keep programs from dominating like Bear Bryant, Chuck Knoll, or Tom Landry did.

But during our lifetime we have seen two dynasties under two men that shouldn't have happened. In baseball you don't even have runs anymore like the Yankees in the 90's or in the NBA with Michael and the Bulls. We've seen the Dodgers win a couple, the Warriors won four and in the NHL we've had the Kings, Blackhawks, Lightning and Panthers win multiple times or back to backs. But nothing like the 80's Islanders or 90's Red Wings.

But in football we had the Crimson Tide and Patriots run dynasties concurrently. Will we see another team take that title in college football? Can the Chiefs continue on their trek to get Patrick to match Tom? I think the Chiefs dynasty is over, but I could be wrong. I don't think I'm wrong with the Crimson Tide being done though. The majestic whale has finally been caught by Ahab. There is no bigfoot or dragon out there.

In the NFL you have the Chiefs, Eagles, Bills, Ravens, Commanders, Bengals and Rams as potential multi championship winners imo. Mostly because of young QBs or great young coaches that can win another Super Bowl.

In college it's obvious to put Ohio State up there as they just won a title, they have a young coach that now has a title and recruits very well. But who else? Texas? Notre Dame? Georgia would be the other obvious choice as Kirby has two titles and runs his program like Saban. But I'm looking for new blood. I'm looking at a program led by a guy in his late thirties that learned under Kirby. I'm looking at Moby Dick to become Moby Duck. I think Oregon has a great chance to not win one title, but multiple titles. Perhaps we won't have another six title dynasty, but Oregon can have a Clemson type run.

Washington was a trendy pick to beat Ohio State. Who's betting that line now?

Oregon should never schedule a team from Idaho ever again. Night and day difference from last year vs the Vandals.

38 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Maybe he meant 'Rolled?' I think both Ds are that good.

They use that word a'lot in Bama land. I don't think they even know what their name means. In what world is an Elephant called Crimson Tide? "Roll Tide!!!"

Texas out gained Ohio State by a hundred yards. The difference in the game was Texas failed to score on two RedZone trips. I would've liked to see how Sayin would've fared if he needed to throw more down field. Ryan Day used the same playbook that cost him the game vs Michigan last year, except this time Ohio State didn't turn the ball over.

On 8/29/2025 at 8:29 AM, Charles Fischer said:

I was surprised when he decided to take that job, because he does have a tougher job in Lincoln, than a ton of other places. To answer your question...no, I do not think Nebraska will come back, as there are too many more attractive options for a college player, IMHO.

BTW GatOrlando....you have been a fantastic poster here. Somebody suggested that you have been the OBD member of the month, and I say, "naw."

Best of the Summer!

Visiting this board during the Summer made the off-season football withdrawal hurt less Charles. Interacting with with great fans that don't speak silly things is refreshing. Good luck to your Ducks today.

Oh boy.... Pawlll is going to be upset on Monday. He said Texas was going to roll.

Is Arch overrated or is the Ohio State defense that good?

Orange is the new black Charles. It's hard to believe that Leavitt was once a hot coaching prospect after the 2007 season. One where he led USF to number two in the country at one point. Jim had to run that program out of a makeshift trailer as USF had the same facilities as that fake high school in Ohio called Bishop Sycamore.

I remember seeing kids wearing Nebraska jerseys in school when I was a little lad in the 90's. I remember seeing names like Favre and Aikman and thinking " What's a Favre or what does Aikman mean?" I thought they misspelled Favor and Ache Man. This was before I became a football fan, really sports in general.

But Nebraska jerseys were prevalent nation wide. There were kids in Florida wearing Husker gear. I saw Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State to go along with Florida, FSU and Miami. I also distinctly remember seeing those old colorful Starter 90's jackets when I'd visit family up north. Those things had personality man. Seems like everything is bland and homogenous today. That's one of the reasons why I liked watching Oregon because they weren't afraid of being bold.

But back to Nebraska and what many have said, they don't have that large following nationwide anymore. I still see a few Husker shorts out here in Arizona, but they are dwarfed by Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State. Those folks are spread out everywhere and those Buckeye fans will do that OH-IO randomly when there's a large contingent. I do a polite golf clap and congratulate them for knowing how to spell. I'll tell you they weren't doing much of that in the 2006 BCS Title game though😂

This question could be asked about many programs like USC, Miami, or even Florida. But those three have several built in advantages and it's a matter of if not when imo. Like Michigan, Texas or Notre Dame.

But Nebraska has no home recruiting base, and the truth is kids nationwide have never known Nebraska to be what people over thirty have seen. The Huskers dominated with a mix of their weight program, walk on monsters and the ability to stack guys on the depth chart. Their option offense was also nearly impossible to stop with the monsters on their line. The defense was black shirt nasty and they rolled teams with more speed like Texas, Oklahoma or Florida. They ran Peyton Manning out during his last Volunteer start in the Orange Bowl, and to me they were the true 1997 champions.

Since they got blown out in consecutive games to end the 2001 season it seems like they've just lost their place. First they fired alum Frank Solich after 2003 and hired Bill Callahan. He completely changed the culture and it didn't work. After that it was hot head Pelini, but for all his negatives he did keep them at nine wins.

They tried going back to the Callihan system with longtime Oregon State coach Mike Riley and that started their ten year stretch of no bowl game participation. After that they tried to emulate Michigan and hire their golden boy Scott Frost. A guy who led UCF to their best two years ever. Nebraska fans were so happy, but then the games happened.... Frost is now a man seen as a lazy pariah.

Matt Rhule has been at the helm for three years now. If he fails by Nebraska standards this year, he might be on the hot seat.

My question is what should Nebraska be expected to achieve? Will they ever get into the B1G hierarchy? Can they make a playoff? Can they make a run like Notre Dame did last year?

B1G and SEC want new states. I seriously doubt FSU or Miami gets into the SEC. My best guess is FSU goes B1G and Miami goes to the Big 12 or they stay and become the centerpiece of a depleted ACC.

Clemson isn't close to AAU status, so maybe the SEC brings them in despite having South Carolina. Virginia and North Carolina want to be in the SEC and they are in states without a SEC member. Duke brings nothing to football, it's a small private school. I would go out and get ASU if I were B1G to help the western teams like previously mentioned.

Notre Dame? Old question, old answer. Until it's forced upon them, they aren't changing. Too many financial and scheduling advantages to join a conference with heavyweights.

We could have three playoff rematches from week zero and a GO5 Eliminator.

The time to be in Arizona is Fall and Winter. Fisch is a Gator graduate, until that job comes open I don't see Jebidiah going anywhere.

16 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Thanks, ND. The tables have turned, and it's great to see Bama, Texas, and Ole Miss having to visit Athens this season. Between UGA's road schedule and Oregon playing eight B1G opponents in a row without a break, the schedules seem easier, but aren't easy, especially for your Dawgs, than last season.

The CBB Committee's Quad System gives a team the same credit for a road win against a Quad 2 opponent as it does for a Quad 1 home win. So, home versus road wins are factored in. But bye weeks are not, as a week or two off in season is unique to football.

The CFB Committee uses SportsSource Analytics as its source for strength of schedule (SOS) and strength of record, supposedly at least. Boise State's SOS last season did not qualify for its No. 9 seed. At least I hope not, because if it did, send out an SOS on SportsSource. The CFB committee's use of any and every metric has been hidden from the public. Will this change in 2025?

Before moving to nine conference games, unless he received 'inside information' from the CFB committee concerning possible programming changes to the metric and how the committee intends to use it, Greg Sankey would accept verbal assurances from the same group that arguably disadvantaged 3-loss SEC teams last season.

I did note Commissioner Sankey's admonition to the committee that the SEC will be watching to see how the committee ranks and seeds this season. The problem with this is that the broadcast agreement with ESPN requires that any change to the PO format has to be agreed to by December 1, 2025. The committee's final 2025 ranking and the consequent PO seeding happen on December 7, 2025.

Of course, the December 1st date could be extended, but if the PO is to expand, ESPN has to have time to sell advertising for a new 2026 additional game format.

There are undercurrents here, including the SEC understandably being paid more money by ESPN to play nine conference games, and quite possibly back-channel discussions with Tony Petitti? Sankey has noted that the 5-11 PO model is the SEC's preferred format, but nothing has been agreed to between the Power 2.

Go Dawgs! I cannot believe Texas is getting all of the SEC champ love and not the Georgia team that gutted out a title last season, defeating Texas twice in the process, and I hope that the Dawgs will have receivers in 2025 who hopefully have 'good hands' and not hands of Teflon.

There's an easy answer to your last question Jon. Arch Manning is the prodigy, the consensus next big thing. Many feel like Texas would've been better with Manning starting last year. Georgia is heading into this year with Mike Bobo calling plays and Gunner Stockton taking the snaps. Most feel that Stockton is a major downgrade from Carson Beck.

So with Texas you have Sark and Manning to go along with a defense that gave that Ohio State juggernaut fits. In Georgia you have Kirby and that defense which will be great, but Stockton is seen as a ?.

I think that Georgia is still king until Texas proves they can take that crown. Georgia beat Texas twice last year, including an overtime affair where Stockton came in for Beck and composed the winning score.

Both will make the playoff anyway, it's just a matter of who gets the bye. It might be more beneficial to host a playoff game over getting that bye until the format changes anyway. I know that bye didn't do Georgia or Oregon any favors last year. Meanwhile Texas and Penn State got to the semis with pretty sweet draws imo.

I heard on one of those YouTube podcasts "The Monty Show" that there is talk of a twenty team format. According to him the SEC was only holding the nine game card was because they wanted the B1G to agree to their preferred format and by acting like going to nine games was a huge sacrifice that the B1G got a huge win.

But others have said Sankey folded. I'm kind of over hearing about realignment and CFP negotiations. Football is officially back! Iowa State won a Big Twelve top 25 showdown vs Kansas State in Ireland. UNLV which is a trendy G05 playoff team is in a twenty four to twenty four point deadlock with Idaho State. Playoff implications in week zero?

18 minutes ago, Charles Fischer said:

This is not about improvement or suggestions for personal growth from a woman; my point was....some women are not happy inside, and no matter what you do--it will not ever be enough to make her happy. I thought I was alone in this at one time, and since have seen hundreds of accounts written about a similar experience.

Since you have not experienced a woman who could not be pleased, (as millions of men have had to deal with) then I'm am glad that you have not had that, and had a fulfilling experience instead. I once believed as you did...

No need to debate this, as we can have different opinions based upon our experiences.

True . I haven't gone through that luckily, I do have buddies who have and they laugh at me when I say it's gonna be okay. I am an optimist at heart, probably naive at worst. I had an old guy tell me when I asked him advice about women and he told me that no man has the book on them. As I've gotten older I've found that to be true.

How the heck did I get myself into this discussion? 😂 Oh yeah Herbert, Tebow and relationship talk. To get back on track though, Herbert has a lot of money in the bank. I hope he protects that wealth.

I remember watching hard knocks several years ago and one of the things they had was a financial planner for the rookies. The average NFL career lasts less than three years, and most of those guys aren't making generational wealth on their first contract.

14 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

In the Manosphere, we refer to it as the "White Knight" trap that so many men fall into.

Regardless of gender--you can only find happiness and healing within yourself, or find it by yourself. We cannot change others...

Two trains of thought on that. First is you need to be secure and happy with who you are as a person. If you don't like you, it's near impossible to think others will.

Second and more importantly to back up what I feel at least. Finding someone else that is genuinely interested in enriching your life is what makes you organically wanting to make them happier as well. Don't be a fake. Be honest with your loves and your distastes. Be open to feedback on your own behavior. I've found that there are legitimate things I can improve about myself. I think a human being who thinks they are already beyond compare is destined to find they are repugnant.

Me, I'm someone who loves my alone time. I don't like huge crowds and some times I just need my space. I'm open and honest about that, but I do like having friends around sometime. I've found my personal space and sanity compromised at times, but then there are those moments I wouldn't trade for anything. Memories are with me that I'll carry for life. I don't regret a second of it, good or bad. Some of my best memories come from putting a smile on a depressed friends face, or surprising a significant other. I didn't do it to get something or make them think higher of me. I just liked seeing them smile. That was truly a lasting memory.

Companionship can be found with a dog, cat, turtle, friend or maybe chat gpt. Maybe some never need that connection to something. I'm no counselor and it's none of my business, but we all walk this path and we all travel it a little differently.

I remember when Tim Tebow was being courted by Katy Perry. I was concerned that Tim would've dipped his toes in that world like Eli Manning did with Brittany Spears during his Ole Miss days. Tim stayed off that path and is now happily married to a nice woman whose name I don't know. It's best to keep your personal life as personal as possible imo.

As any married or committed person would likely tell you, and as a man I can tell you that when your wife/fiance/girlfriend is happy, you'll be much happier.

On 8/18/2025 at 6:06 AM, OregonDucks said:

My issue is the inconsistency and lack of transparency.

The NCAA should have clear and consistent penalties for the severity of the infraction applied equally across all member institutions (take the college team name/mascot out of the equation).

Would Texas have received the death penalty, if it did what SMU did? Alabama? Ohio State? Notre Dame? USC?

They all should've, but the world isn't fair. I'm okay with that because I never expected Michigan to lose it's title. I did expect a postseason ban for at least a year though. But that didn't happen, there weren't even any show clauses to my knowledge.

On 8/18/2025 at 11:07 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Good call on Cambridge, Gat. The Cambridge Blue did boat-race Oxford in this season's 196th edition of The Boat Race. 😁

However, Cambridge trails Oxford 81-88-1 in a series that is barely getting started. 🤔Perhaps Cambridge is the Ohio State of the top universities?

Michigan leads The Ohio State University in Rhodes Scholarship winners, 30 to 9. I'm reasonably certain that back in the day, Jim Harbaugh matriculated from Michigan to the NFL, having to Show Cause with his playing ability to the Chicago Bears and not his scholastic skills to Oxford deans.

PS - Bowdoin College has produced 22 Rhodes scholars 😎. (I wasn't on the very, very, exponentially long, let alone the short list 🤪.) So, the Polar Bears can tell Brutus to hit the Rhodes!

Go Gators! Take the wind out of the Hurricanes! And OBD, Round up Bob's Cats!

Jon you overwhelm me with your research sir. I do have an off topic story about how people over in the UK didn't understand how we are obsessed with how our sports teams perform at "University". They equate extended education as nothing more than a tool to get a higher profession.

I asked a couple jokingly who was the national champion in tiddly winks and I got the dryest stares you could imagine. I felt like I had just been in the Sahara for a month straight.

As far as the Ducks go, I've heard this might be the last year for your annual "Civil War". I imagine the Beavers will try and keep that series going, but I don't see the benefit of it being home and home to the Ducks. Maybe a 2 for 1?

Florida is still hated by Hurricane fans because that same proposition was made by Steve Spurrier back in the day. Those touchy Hurricane fans still hold it against the Gators to this day. In some ways they hate us more than they hate FSU.

Here's hoping both the Ducks and Gators send little brother back to their respective holes with memorable losses.

3 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

I can understand why you and other don’t like/respect Jim Harbaugh (JH).

However, as a Ducks and Niners fan, I believe he is one of the best football coaches in the game. He has won everywhere he has been, including Stanford. JH brought the Niners to the brink of the Super Bowl championship. Hopefully he can help Justin Herbert win one with the Chargers.

However, JH has a very abrasive personality and is extremely competitive (I used to love watching the hate between him and Pete Carroll LOL). I don’t doubt that he knowingly cheated but it was probably just a matter of time before he wore out his welcome in Michigan.

I have no personal distaste for the man. I do find him to be hypocritical when he complains about how certain programs don't follow the rules when it comes to the etiquette of football. This is a guy who broke covid rules multiple times, got suspended but said it was nothing. Coach you got suspended because you didn't respect the rules laid forward.

It wasn't for a cheeseburger or a sleepover. It was impermissible contact during covid.

I'm not even in the camp that wanted Michigan to lose their title or have it stripped from John's resume. I respect the job he did at Stanford, San Francisco, and now LAC. But he also has to own his losses and the rules he broke.

Most Michigan fans refuse to accept that their golden boy cheated. But boy did they want him gone after the 2020 season. It's clear something needed changing. He made those changes and it worked out for all those and most importantly for Jim.

But to me he isn't a bastion of college etiquette and Michigan isn't above suspicious behavior seen at such lower institutions as anybody but big blue. Seriously those people think they're like Harvard or Yale. It's a great public school, a public ivy even. But you aren't royalty, you aren't Cambridge University for Heavens sake.

Tony really wants that play in weekend, I think that's the carrot he's eyeing. Plus he pitched an annual B1G vs SEC in season agreement like there is in basketball. As a viewer I could go for that. We might even get that Oregon vs Alabama matchup everyone wanted in the 2010's.

3 hours ago, Mike West said:

Well,

When you and I again are about as good as Michigan's QBs were last year, you're going to lose five games. It is ironic however, that they did beat Ohio State and Alabama again after losing five games.

I believe we all know Michigan was just better than everyone they played in 2023. Way better. Besides, the controversy started the beginning of that season, so Michigan wasn't stealing signs. They were just beating people up. As in dismantling the thought they were cheaters. They lined up, kicked butt, and left no doubt. Not hard when they returned so much talent and experience.

The time to have punished Michigan was in 2023. They deserved it immediately. I don't believe that would have changed results on the field though. I think they would have run up the score to prove a point. They were that good. It's time to honor their accomplishments in my opinion. They were pariahs, and they still took care of business. I respect a team that handles their business under such scrutiny.

I respect the players. I'll even give a clap for Sherrone Moore a clap for standing in there and keeping that team together.

Who I won't ever celebrate is John Harbaugh. He is a guy who claims he does everything by the book. He claims to love Michigan. But he is a guy who couldn't get the job done, he was on the verge of being fired and was caught and suspended several times but never once admitted his faults. What does he do after running away from his greatest rival in 2020? He finds a more creative way to cheat, and he knew one day the truth would come out so he puts feelers out to numerous NFL teams for three years. Those three years just so happen to be his best three years, and he's getting closer each time to breaking through. His players Tstay after the heartbreaking loss to TCU for one last ride, Jim is still trying to get a job.

Finally he breaks through after serving two different suspensions. He gets Michigan that title and rides off into the NFL. What has he said about the Stallions situation? Nothing. He makes a brief statement about doing things the right way and Michigan people buy it with a smile. They claim he did nothing wrong.

Looking at his actions and all the evidence tells a different story. I'm not telling Michigan fans to not celebrate the title. That would be hypocritical as I still celebrate the 2006 and 2008 titles under Urban Meyer. Those squads were full of questionable players that we all know of. There were cover-ups from the top down, but there were also people who were genuinely good people and players who I'm still celebrating as just great guys and gals who made that time special. But Urban did scummy things and the people who did those terrible things and got away with it deserved punishment.

What Michigan did wasn't criminal, but it was cheating. There was lying and what did the conspirators get? They got everything they wanted. Not a great lesson to college kids.