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NJDuck
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Posts posted by NJDuck
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The Pac-12 Conference has gone stealth in the last few days. My spider senses are tingling. There’s a lot of outside noise, but the conference has tightened the inner circle.
• It could be that the conference wants Monday’s joint statement of unity to do the talking. The Pac-12 was annoyed at some erroneous reports and misinformation that was clouding the space.
• A consultant who works closely behind the scenes with schools and conferences all over the country told me this week that “only about 50 percent” of what we see reported is accurate.
Regardless of whether it’s the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC or Big 12… “that 50 percent figure holds up across the board,” per the source. It’s why you have to be careful with what you read and why I’m committed to giving you sourced, in-depth reporting and commentary that you can’t get anywhere else here.
Canzano stated that neither CBS or Turner networks were ever seriously involved. He expect's ESPN/Amazon to end up with Pac-12's media rights.
Canzano: Big 12 talks with Fresno State while Pac-12 plots
WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM
A few things for your Friday...-
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In a 35-minute interview, Yormark talked about the Big 12’s media rights deal, what he values in potential expansion candidates, and his conference’s ongoing spat with the Pac-12.
He also talked about the Super Bowl, the value of college basketball and the early departure of Texas and Oklahoma from his conference, among other topics.
Canzano: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark sounds off
WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM
Exclusive interview on "Canzano & Wilner: The Podcast" -
"The Pac-12 Conference issued a written statement from its 10 remaining presidents and chancellors on Monday.
It read:"
“The 10 Pac-12 universities look forward to consummating successful media rights deal(s) in the very near future. Based upon positive conversations with multiple potential media rights partners over the past weeks, we remain highly confident in our future growth and success as a conference and united in our commitment to one another.”
"The statement amounts to a curious public-relations punch from the 10 conference stakeholders, designed to combat some criticism and uncertainty unearthed last week by a variety of media outlets."
"One Pac-12 source said: “Some of the media narrative on that is not accurate.”
Canzano: Pac-12 punches back with statement on unity
WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM
Conference says it's "highly confident" in future growth. -
Can't wait to see Will Stein's offense in action with Bo Nix as the QB! Especially with all the RPOs in the mix.
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From what I found on SMU's endowment. This site states their endowment is 2.1 billion dollars. They are ranked number 72 amongst universities nationally in education.
Dallas/Ft. Worth market is very good. Agree with Charles about Utah. Will SMU joining the Pac12 become an upside for the University and the conference as a whole down the road? Hard to say with TCU sharing the same market.
Southern Methodist University - College Confidential
WWW.COLLEGECONFIDENTIAL.COM
Southern Methodist University Data, Ratings and Rankingshttps://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/smu-3613
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Jaxson Jones is blowing up on the recruiting trail, but he’s locked in with the Ducks.
A former Washington commit who quickly flipped to Oregon after a visit to Eugene, Jones told Ducks Digest’s Max Torres that he’s firmly committed to Oregon as part of the 2024 class. He plans to sign during the Early Signing Period in December and enroll early.
Fast-rising Oregon edge rusher commit re-affirms pledge to Ducks
SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM
One of Oregon's 2024 commits re-affirmed his pledge to the Ducks on Saturday.-
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The Oregon Ducks are staying active on the recruiting trail, and they got good news this past week, landing among the top schools for one of the top safeties in the northeast.
4-star Jaylen McClain, the No. 21 safety and No. 242 overall player in the 2024 class recently cut his recruiting list down to 10 schools, with the Ducks listed among teams like Georgia, Michigan, USC, Penn State, and several others.
Oregon Recruiting: 4-star Jaylen McClain puts Oregon among top schools
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
4-star safety Jaylen McClain lists Ducks among top schools -
Kel'el Ware showing better play after benching two weeks ago
247SPORTS.COM
Dana Altman has been consistent in his messaging all year about star freshman Kel'el Ware. He's commented the need to get Ware to play with more energy and consistency game to -
Oregon Football: Which transfer has biggest impact on Ducks in 2023
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
The Ducks have added some of the top transfers in the nation this offseason. Which ones will have the biggest impact in 2023? -
Losers of three straight, the Ducks (14-9, 5-7) can't take many more losses. With six Pac-12 games remaining, Graves believes the team would need to win three or four of them to ensure an at-large berth in next month's NCAA Tournament.
Graves conveyed that standing to the team prior to practices this week. The Ducks have dug themselves a hole, but can still dig themselves out, he believes.
"I think it's important to know that we're still in a position to get there. We've got to win some games, and to do that we've got to play with more of a sense of urgency. I think it's still something that is attainable," Graves said of reaching the tournament field.
247SPORTS.COM
Kelly Graves: 'The level of urgency right now is 10 out of 10' -
The Washington State Legislature is knee-deep in a 105-day legislative session. Lawmakers are currently on day No. 32, discussing matters such as agriculture, technology, business, education and other topics.
They will not talk Pac-12 Conference football, I’ve learned. Plus, more on George Kliavkoff's visit to SMU.
Canzano: Bill to marry Washington and WSU makes a U-turn
WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM
Plus, more on George Kliavkoff's visit to SMU. -
"What would Knight have done at the deadline if he owned the Blazers?
Hold up.
Wrong question.
What wouldn’t Knight have done?
LeBron was growing antsy in Los Angeles. Durant was on the trading block. Who else? What else? Anyone think the entrepreneur who built the largest global sports brand in history would have been content to sit still — whispering — while the league roared around him?"
Canzano: Best Trail Blazers trade involves Phil Knight
WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM
My wish for the NBA Trade deadline.-
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"You can feel the buzz starting to grow where moviegoers and sports lovers overlap. When you take a subject that contains arguably the greatest basketball player to ever live — Michael Jordan — and the most famous sports apparel brand in the history of the world — Nike — you’ve got sports fans excited. Then you put actors like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, and Viola Davis on the big screen to depict that subject matter?
Now you’ve got a movie."
WATCH: Trailer drops for ‘AIR’ movie about Phil Knight, Michael Jordan
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
The first trailer for ‘AIR,’ a movie about Phil Knight and Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan has officially dropped.-
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Oregon lands in top seven for blue-chip 2024 wideout from Texas
SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM
Oregon has landed in the top seven for one of the best wideouts in the 2024 class. -
On 2/8/2023 at 10:45 PM, Mike West said:
Apparently, Research draws hundreds of millions of dollars to the degree the sports aspect is overlooked.
If that is the case, it explains why the conference hasn't been as concerned about it's football or basketball reputation. Research income dwarfs athletic income.
They should look at UNLV. Las Vegas is growing. turning into a sports mega city. Also, "UNLV achieves its goal of Tier 1 research university status several years ahead of schedule."
UNLV achieves its goal of Tier 1 research university status several years ahead of schedule – The Nevada Independent
THENEVADAINDEPENDENT.COM
UNLV had been explicit since at least 2013 about its goal of getting on the list, which includes the top 2.5 percent of higher education institutions. In 2010, it was designated as Tier 2, or an institution...
THENEVADAINDEPENDENT.COM
UNLV had been explicit since at least 2013 about its goal of getting on the list, which includes the top 2.5 percent of higher education institutions. In 2010, it was designated as Tier 2, or an institution...-
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On 2/8/2023 at 3:06 PM, Charles Fischer said:
When writers cite this stuff--it is the media metric being used, but it is WRONG. That same metric shows a very low media market in Oregon, yet the Ducks are No. 7 in the world for global fans. The metric used for SMU is the Dallas market, when there are NOT 3 million people watching Mustang football, otherwise the 32K stadium would be a lot larger.
This use of media market size is deceptive and inaccurate to me on both sides of the spectrum as I've demonstrated.
That is what I like about Tony Altimore's information. Showing where the Ducks are sitting with our national fanbase. Our brand is growing each year, like Charles pointed out, not just nationally, but world wide. Go Ducks!
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Oregon entered the 2023 cycle hoping to shore up its cornerback room. The final result was an undoubted success as the school's signing list includes the top two cornerbacks on the west coast in four-stars Rodrick Pleasant of Gardena (Cali.) and Daylen Austin of Long Beach (Cali.).
Both players hail from Southern California, drawing some similarities to the Ducks' 2017 signing haul when they also went in to the Los Angeles area to pull the area's two top corners in Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham. Lenoir and Graham went on to become multiple year starters next to each other and to enjoy NFL careers.
Greg Biggins, a 247Sports national recruiting analyst, sees the similarities between the cornerback pairings, and believes the Austin and Pleasant combo could achieve something similar during their times at Oregon with both possessing NFL upside.
247SPORTS.COM
Greg Biggins thinks Ducks may have something special with Daylen Austin and Rodrick Pleasant-
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SDSU and SMU under the spotlight.
When USC and UCLA left the Pac-12 Conference last summer, they took a whopping 6.7 million Southern California television households with them.
George Kliavkoff appears motivated to replace that divot. The Pac-12 has been in communication with San Diego State. Kliavkoff, the conference commissioner, is reportedly headed to Dallas to talk with SMU on Wednesday.
What you need to know:
• The Pac-12 is on a mission to replace the football inventory lost by the UCLA/USC defection to the Big Ten. That’s 23 combined football games and a pile of men’s basketball games.
• Adding San Diego State would get the Pac-12 back into Southern California and regain 1.13 million television households.
• Kliavkoff met in December with officials at San Diego State, a conference source told me. A 45-minute meeting between the sides took place in the time around Oregon’s Dec. 28 appearance in the Holiday Bowl, I’m told.
• Adding SMU would bring the DFW market with it. That’s 2.96 million TV homes.
• SMU + San Diego State = 4.1 million combined TV households. That will be attractive to media partners. But after the dust settles, the Pac-12 would still have ~2.6 million fewer television homes than it did before the departures of USC/UCLA.
Canzano's listing of Oregon and Portland's market is a portion size of what Oregon's brand brings overall. Oregon comes in at number 7 overall drawing fanbase viewing. This is a great study by Tony Altimore analyzing the 130 FBS fan bases. Interesting total fanbase estimates for each conference, Pac 12 sits at 23.5 million while the Big12 is 11.6 million Good Read:
Where are the Oregon Ducks in study of largest college football fan bases? | Ducks Wire
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
The Ducks have one of the biggest fan bases in the nation. But where do they stack up among the most beloved teams in college football? -
Pac-12 Football: Schools that make sense for potential expansion
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
A report from @Brett_McMurphy shows George Kliavkoff could be looking to expand the Pac-12. Here are some candidates for potential expansion. -
247SPORTS.COM
How Adrian Klemm's departure impacts Oregon in the short and long term -
"News came out on Monday morning that the Oregon Ducks were losing offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, who was heading to the NFL and accepting a job with the New
England Patriots. It is undoubtedly a great move for Klemm, and the right step in his career, but it also leaves Dan Lanning and the Ducks in a tough spot when it comes to filling out that spot on the coaching staff in an expedient fashion that has the team ready to roll when spring football comes around in a month.
Fortunately for Oregon, this coaching move comes after the recruiting cycle has closed, and well before the next transfer portal window opens. Once the Ducks do make a hire, they will have 15 practices to get everyone on the same page in the offensive trenches and head into the season hoping to boast one of the top lines in the nation once again."
Of course this is the beginning of buzz surrounding list of candidates. I am sure more to come.
Oregon Football: Potential coaches to replace OL coach Adrian Klemm
DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM
Where do the Ducks turn to replace Adrian Klemm? We’ve got a list of 10 candidates with notable Oregon connections that might make sense. -
Familiar name us Duck fans know:
"We’ve said the ’25 QB class in California is a strong one and another signal caller we’re high on early is Vista Murrieta’s (Calif.) Akili Smith Jr.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. Smith’s father Akili Smith was a JUCO all-American out of San Diego (Calif.) Grossmont back in 1996 before playing two years for Oregon and earning All-American honors for the Ducks in ’98.
Smith was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the ’99 Draft with the 3rd overall pick. He’s now coaching quarterbacks and his son has made huge strides in the last year.
We’ve been watching Smith Jr. since middle school and like where his game is trending. He’s a big quarterback and looks all of 6-5, 200 pounds and has a huge arm.
He has worked hard to tighten his release and looks a lot more fluid as a passer. He’s still growing in to his body but can already make a lot of college level throws and it’s exciting to see where his game could be at by the time he’s a senior year.
On the recruiting front, Smith saw his stock soar in January with new offers coming in from Michigan, Miami, Oregon and San Diego State. He already previous offers from Arizona, Cal and Fresno State.
The offer from the Ducks obviously meant a lot to him."
247SPORTS.COM
We’ve said the ’25 QB class in California is a strong one and another signal caller we’re high on early is Vista Murrieta’s (Calif.) Akili Smith
247SPORTS.COM
Greg Biggins breaks down what could make 2025 QB prospect Akili Smith Jr. special-
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"Laguna Beach (Calif.) junior tight end Ryner Swanson visited Oregon two weeks ago and the Ducks made a huge impression.
Swanson is among the region’s top tight end prospects. At 6-4, 230 pounds, he has an ideal tight end frame with plenty of room to fill out.
He's a fluid athlete and a natural pass catcher and has been very productive the last two seasons. As a sophomore, he caught 45 balls for 586 yards and eight touchdowns and nearly doubled those numbers this past season."
247SPORTS.COM
Laguna Beach (Calif.) junior tight end Ryner Swanson visited Oregon two weeks ago and the Ducks made a huge impression.
Pac 12 Media Deal Losing More Ground
in Our Beloved Ducks
If you get past all that is being said, even Dennis Dodd is saying most likely ESPN/Amazon will be who the Pac'12 will sign a media deal with. This is also what Canzano is saying. CBS/Turner were never ever serious contenders. Sad to understand though why the Pac12's ineptness to make crucial decisions at the most opportunistic time is beyond reasoning. But it is what it is at this point. Hopefully soon will know what that media deal will wind up being.
No matter what happens with the Pac-12, I am trusting Oregon along with Phil Knight will make the best decision for Oregon moving forward.
Will the Pac-12 break up? Where each team would go if league disintegrates over media rights deal