Andy Ludwig (aka Dudwig)

[Tjack]

Remember when disgruntled Duck fans referred to our ex-offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig as ‘Dudwig’?  Like the ugly girl picked on in grade school who became a beauty queen in her late teens, Ludwig has morphed into a renowned OC for the Utes.  His play calling yesterday eve vs SC was stellar.  A no name backup at QB looking at times like Mahomes, occasional wildcat that sliced the Trojan D, a two way DB who was MVP of both offense and defense.  From an offensive standpoint it wii be an interesting matchup between Ludwig, the grizzled vet, vs new kid on the block, Will Stein.

[kirklandduck]

I don't recall Ludwig being particularly bad as OC for Oregon when Scott Frost left.  It was more the program starting to fall apart under Mark Helfrich in that last year is what I distinctly remember.  

[Charles Fischer]

On 10/22/2023 at 1:21 PM, kirklandduck said:

I don't recall Ludwig being particularly bad as OC for Oregon when Scott Frost left.

Oh, I do.  Everybody was screaming from the stands the plays in advance....

 

Not that I would notice that kind of thing...

[Steven A]

Gotta remember, that was sc's D and Larry was the smart Stooge.

 

But he does a lot with presumably less.

[DrJacksPlaidPants]

On 10/22/2023 at 4:21 PM, kirklandduck said:

I don't recall Ludwig being particularly bad as OC for Oregon when Scott Frost left.  It was more the program starting to fall apart under Mark Helfrich in that last year is what I distinctly remember.  

Matt Lubick was the OC after Frost left. Ludwig was OC from 2002-2004. I don’t remember the Ducks offense being too terrible during that era. They beat some good teams back then and had a pretty good game against Michigan in 2003 if I don’t remember correctly. Not so much against WSU, though. I can see why they canned him after 2004. No bowl game that year.

[kirklandduck]

On 10/22/2023 at 2:45 PM, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

Matt Lubick was the OC after Frost left. Ludwig was OC from 2002-2004. I don’t remember the Ducks offense being too terrible during that era. They beat some good teams back then and had a pretty good game against Michigan in 2003 if I don’t remember correctly. Not so much against WSU, though. I can see why they canned him after 2004. No bowl game that year.

Ah those last names are so similar I mixed them up 

[AnotherOD]

I always thought it was "Dull-wig"?

 

In Oregon lore, I believe Ludwig is most remembered as the guy who drove Mike Bellotti to hire Gary Crowton and bring in a version of the spread offense, which eventually led to Chip Kelly after Crowton left after two years for LSU (where he was OC for the 2007 NC team that many thought Oregon was headed to face prior to Dixon's injury).

 

I don't recall Ludwig being completely terrible as OC at Oregon, just a bit young then (came to Oregon at age 38 with five years of experience as OC at Cal Poly and Fresno State), with offenses that didn't match the previous generally very successful Tedford years.

 

 

Bellotti and Tedford had led Oregon under a more traditional "pro style" offense to national average in points scored:

 

1998: 7th (8-4)

1999: 11th (9-3)

2000: 47th (10-2)

2001: 20th (11-1)

 

After Tedford (and Harrington) left Oregon, Ludwig came in continuing the "pro style" approach (inheriting Jason Fife and a young Kellen Clemens) and went (points scored):

 

2002: 76th (7-6)

2003: 70th (8-5)

2004: 63rd (5-6)

 

That 5-6 in 2004 proves especially poor as Oregon starts the season losing at home to an Indiana team that finishes 3-8; and, doesn't end up beating a team with a winning record and misses a bowl -- and ends up being Bellotti's only losing season at Oregon.

 

But Crowton comes in, Oregon goes 10-2 (losing in the regular season only to then #1 USC), Clemens looks great as a senior before being lost for the season after 8 games, and Oregon finishes AP #12 finishing #12 in the nation in scoring.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2023 by AnotherOD