Augduck

Well they just lost a key cog in their OL. Their starting left guard is lost for the season with an injury. No details on what sort of injury. Never like to hear this, rival or not. Aside from this, I preface this with I am not a bettor nor do I fully understand how all that works in Vegas. What I do know is Vegas has been pretty accurate this year and while lines move a bit as the game gets closer (and this one may) I sure hope Vegas is 100% accurate this time.😉

JC claims in this mailbag column today that Smith is not interviewing for the MSU job. Basically says that is not Smith's MO and the AD is keeping him (Smith) apprised of all activity related to the 2024 football schedule. Herewith JC's response to this 'mailbag' question: Q: Rumors of Jonathan Smith having a second interview with Michigan State. What? How does all go by so secretly... where are the flies on the wall? Help me here I'm spiraling out of control. Does OSU have the money to offer Smith a raise to keep him or is the writing on the wall? — @RDammeyer A: The stoics will tell you that your worry is a waste. As Epictetus said: “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” I am told by multiple sources that Oregon State has been engaged daily with Smith and believes he’s on board with the plan for 2024. Remember, OSU extended his contract last December and may do so again in the coming days. Given the pace of the season right now and his focus, I’m skeptical that serious interviews have happened. Apologies to the message-board crowd at Michigan State, but it’s just not Smith’s style. We will soon hear about OSU’s plan for the 2024 football season. Smith told me he thinks next season’s schedule is coming together nicely. The Beavers will fund the program as if its a “Power 5” operation and play a competitive schedule. If that happens as planned, they will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth. Is that enough to keep him in Corvallis? We’ll see. Oregon State has 1-on-1 meetings planning with players after this Friday’s regular-season finale vs. Oregon. I expect those will take place Saturday and Sunday. I won’t be surprised if another contract extension announcement is part of the plan. The Beavers may lose Smith eventually. If the USC or Washington jobs came open, I’d be shocked if one or both didn’t ask to interview him. The NFL may call for him someday, too. But I’m not sold that Smith would ditch his alma mater for anything that isn’t a no-brainer career move.

Actually there is a book by Rick Page entitled Hope Is Not A Strategy which focuses on sales (my line of work) that is really well written. IMHO hope is what OS has relied on for too long and it has come back to bite them in the proverbial rear end. One thing I find interesting in talking with some OS comrades is their hesitancy in acknowledging that Phil has helped them immensely. It's almost like they are embarrassed to admit they had to get help from the DUCKS. They gladly take the help ($$$$$$) but don't want to tell anyone.

I am mystified by Jayden Daniels. I get he is in the SEC and yes, I saw that he had an impressive day on Saturday. He was clearly left in the game so he could pad his stats. Bo was out after one series in the 3rd quarter. Daniels' team is not in play for the SEC title. Sure they will go to a bowl but just not seeing him as the best player in college football which is what I thought the Heisman was about.

Aidan Chiles is a very interesting one. Are there rumblings he is restless?

Not to hijack this thread and the excellent article by Charles as well as this great discussion in any way ,but JC loves to position himself as a man of the people. He loves the OS (poor us) narrative because he feels like he is advocating for the 'common man'. John has never gotten over the fact that Chip Kelly publicly called him out when the Willy Lyles stuff was going on . John is in the entertainment business and he knows it. The OS narrative fits him perfectly. I find him amusing to observe. He has certainly tried to ingratiate himself with Dan and does his best to come off like he is one of Dan's confidantes. He is not.

Nope- don't see him going to TAMU. Then again in this crazy world of college football ........

I would not be surprised to see Chip end up in the NFL as an OC. Like we have all said and agree, he hates recruiting and hates glad handing with boosters. Those are essential elements to being a head coach in the college game now. Look how good Dan is at both. And to be more candid, Mario was not great with boosters either. He could be aloof and a little too surly. I just don't get that segment of the fan base that wants Chip back. I certainly liked him and totally appreciated what he did but he is no longer a fit at Oregon. Just my opinion.

I was told this issue has been more than emphasized and discussed this week in practice.

This might seal Smith's decision to look elsewhere.

No Mario lack of preparation either. Speaking of which, it's interesting to listen to Mario's pressers at Miami. They are verbatim what he used to say here. 'Impose our will at the LOS', 'physicality', 'control the clock' ...... All the same drivel and basically the same results. Okay back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Hayward- you point out something that I have noticed the last two years. A LOT less trash talking from the DUCKS under Lanning than when Mr. Miami ran the show. It used to drive me nuts. But then again I should remember MC was the person who berated Kris Hutson on national TV. I guess Mario never heard the old moniker 'praise publicly, criticize privately'.

He and Dan are very good friends so I would expect that he we would be very effusive in his praise of Oregon.

They have Jayden Rashada who will likely play this weekend.

Actually I think he opts for an NFL OC gig. He hates to recruit.

And he did a masterful job of throwing shade at his predecessors. He clearly knew he was going to be asked and he thought about his answer in advance. It was very telling that he let the question be asked as opposed to opening the presser by saying something like 'let me address the issue on everyone's mind ....'. He very cleverly opened up talking about the game and then when the question came he took it head on. Very well done.

A&M fans/boosters are known to be demanding and have very high expectations. They are always in immediately, now mode. They won't be patient. They fail to see that program needs a complete overhaul culturally. They thought Jimbo could do that and he unfortunately failed. The coach there basically reports to a handful of boosters and the AD is merely a figure head.

This dude was one of Larry Scott's biggest enablers.

Thanks Charles for posting. Was not sure about the rules on posting stuff from behind pay walls. I have heard Dan will shut it down tonight at this presser.🤞

Behind a pay wall, John Canzano posted his weekly mailbag10 mins ago and yes, the big questions were about Dan and TAMU. John said he does not think Dan is going anywhere. He commented that he thinks Dan has clearly seen what has transpired with his predecessors who left. He also said he believes Dan realizes he is sitting in one of the best jobs in college football and wants stability for his family. John also said he thinks Dan will address it tonight in his presser.

Dan's agent is Jimmy Sexton. Jimmy is very good at playing this game because it means more $$$$$$ for Jimmy. On a separate note, Dan's presser is tonight @ 6:45. I am guessing someone will asking him (looking at you James Crepea) 😉 That's how the Auburn thing was handled.

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't get the hype that Gameday gets. I've said it before, I think the the formula is old and tired. I get the students like it but other than that I just don't don't see the big deal. I honestly think they added McAfee because they knew it was getting stale and I'm not sure that he adds anything more than bluster. My $.02 opinion.

All Dan has to do is ask Marshall Malchow about life at TAMU. There's many reasons why Malchow left and I'm sure Dan has some pretty good insights already. If Jeff Traylor gets that job then maybe Stein makes a lateral move and goes back to Texas but it's also a pretty major rebuild there and that fan base or as one of my Texas friends calls it, 'that cult' is not patient. Jimbo had a good thing going at FSU and jumped for money. Look at what that got him. As Dan says, the grass is damn green in Eugene. Hope he continues to think that.

I find it interesting that neither Canzano or Crepea have weighed in on this yet. As I said in a previous post I will not be surprised if Crepea asks Dan at his presser tomorrow night.

You gotta admit the 'Wario' moniker is epic though