The Thud Of My Heart.

[Ktmguy2018]

I have purposefully stayed away from reading anything about that last game because it was hard for me to believe that our season ended with such disappointment.  There will be much debate from many of us, the national media, and analysts who pontificate why all the conference champions lost and what effect the seeding, bye-week, and moon phases played on the games.  I've already heard Joel Klatt say that even if Dan Lanning takes the high road, he (Klatt) won't and said that what happened to Oregon in seeding was a travesty.

 

Charles has already talked a little about the feelings after the game and maybe this post could go there, but I made my own.

 

What I can tell you is this.  I felt a significant "Thud" in my heart for this team.   I was one of those people who firmly believed that this was THE YEAR that Oregon climbed to the top of that elusive mountain.  It seemed like everything was there.  Yes, we saw cracks at times, but I never lost faith that this team was built different and would always be ready to play.  There seemed to be a mental toughness to this team that was different than previous championship runs.  The talent level was there, the desire was there, the resolve was there.

 

I know this forum is for all sports, not just football.  But I am a football guy.  Yes, I like basketball, but I am I don't carve out time in my day to watch the games.  I follow baseball only a little and monitor the track standings.  I am a season ticket holder for football for a reason.  Maybe it's just me but I don't really care right now where the basketball teams are ranked.  I don't care what the outlook for other sports may be at this time.  

 

This was supposed to be our year.  Undefeated and Big10 champions told me that.  My head knows the loss doesn't take away those things, but I can't help and look back at what was accomplished and just say "Really?  That's it?  We are done?"  There was one, ONE, undefeated team left at the end of the season.  Yet, we are no longer playing.  I understand everything as to why; we lost when it mattered.  

 

Someone please tell me how I can get that message through to my heart.  Right now, it isn't listening to me.

Edited January 3 by Ktmguy2018

[Triphibius]

Two points, one specific, the other general. 

 

First point. Where will Oregon ever find another receiver like Tez Johnson? Well, there is only one Tez, but note the following news item from 24/7 sports. 

 

•  Oregon signee Dakorien Moore takes Under Armour All-America Game MVP honors

 

Second, DL is still a young coach. He is bright, he recruits players well, he has brought in effective offensive coaches, and I think he is generally a good motivator. 

I do think he has some growing to do both as a game coach and as a long-term strategist. 

I think he intends to stay at Oregon. He is good, and will get better. 

I would not bet against him. 

 

 

[The Kamikaze Kid]

We were a little late tuning in as we were fixated on the thrilling over time game that ASU lost. By the time we tuned in, OBD were already down 0-7 with less than two minutes gone. I was like oh man, it's already over and it was. I never expected a Lanning team come out and look like that in any bowl. Disappointing is an understatement.

[Charles Fischer]

I get it.  Completely crushed.

 

But I am a loyal fan no matter what, and I do believe in Lanning over the long term.  But he has been the master at having the team mentally ready, and this performance was so....not the norm for a team of his.

 

I was surprised at that as much as losing as we did.  This is going to take a while to get over, but I will still be here and keeping up with Our Beloved Ducks. 

 

It could be worse....just ask Beavis...

 

[bbmichaels]

I think back to early in the season and what our expectations were following the very suspect performances in the first two games. I was thinking at least 2-3 losses at that point.

 

Then they beat OSU, but by a single point, at home, with a flukey ending. Yes, OBD left points on the board, but OSU had things too. Following that game would you have taken OBD to beat OSU on a neutral field, or to win more than 3-4 out of 10 games against them? I wouldn't have.

 

The rest of the season played out the way it did, with both teams showing cracks at times. I think it was encouraging that none of the SEC teams looked amazing this year, but all the while OSU was lurking out there.

 

OBD wasn't the best team this year. It is what it is. I think winning it all in a given year takes talent and coaching, but also some luck. We've made great strides in recent years on the first piece. Lanning seems to have things looking good on the second. One of these years soon, the third will find us.

 

Losing in a given year is heartbreaking, but worse is when the whole thing crashes down, like it did to UW last year. Here's to hoping that's not on the horizon for us. As long as it's not, we'll have our magical season. Give it time.

[cartm25]

I'm with you @Ktmguy2018, I only really watch/care about college football.

 

So this was a downer.

 

My 7 yo boy, who's only just now starting to sit for an extended period of time to watch the games, turned to me and asked, "Daddy, are the Ducks going to win?"

 

It was 34-0 when he asked, and I had to explain to him that most likely not, and that the Ducks don't always win every game, but you just keep rooting for them.

 

I was fuming inside while having to give this "measured, calm" dad/life lesson to my son, LOL.

 

In a weird way, the beating was so thorough and quick that there wasn't enough time to build sufficient hope to be shattered. It was slack-jawed "shock" more than anything.

 

Ultimately, I'm happy that Dan Lanning is head coach and obsessed with winning, and that the Ducks got a LOT of national attention this year and made the playoff.

 

Most years for all teams will end without a championship.

 

The Ducks 2024 season is about the best possible outcome without winning the championship.

 

Future is bright!

[Just Ducky]

I guess when your team is 72nd in the nation in rushing playing against the number one defense in the country and expecting to win the game is a bit of a reach. But on the other hand winning 13 games without a top 10 defense is a major accomplishment.

 

Hope our team is much better at running the ball next year.

 

Go s

[Annie]

There are things in life that you never really get over. The deep despair will go away, but the sadness will linger.

 

Can't change the past, but we can look ahead. Right now I am eager for spring practices to start and to watch the spring game.That won't erase the RB loss, but it will help me to move forward.

 

(It helps that, at heart, I am an optimist.)

[30Duck]

I was right there with everybody else. "This Duck team is different" than the others who went for the Natty. I still say 2007 was the best chance. I saw the D making the stops when needed. Lanning was playing Chess, he completely outcoached Day the game at Autzen. 

 

I still think, based on the season, Gabriel should have received the Heisman, unless Tyler Warren or Cam Skattebo were nominated.

 

Up to, and on Dec.31, I went to bed thinking about Tez and the other receivers running free all over the Rose Bowl, Gabriel finding them, or taking off & moving the chains. Unfortunately, all to soon it was obvious that wasn't happening. I live and breathe the Ducks, especially football. 

 

But, I'm not as crushed this time like I was before. In the Auburn game, the Ducks really could have won that one. Injuries, player disqualifications, those two dropped passes, by Stanford and Nelson, were huge against Ohio State. But this time, Oregon was done. I'm remembering very little about it. 

[Mike West]

Yeah,

 

I stopped watching very early.  It was obvious five minutes into the game.  Ohio State got the rout they expected in October. I so wanted to shut up Buckeye fans.  But I'm rooting for them because I happen to really like Ryan Day.  I hope he gets that stupid monkey off his back 

 

As to OBD, it was not only a bad look, but poor timing.  I think OSU still wins if we had played them later. I would hope OBD were better prepared. But alas, I'm backing DL till the end of time.  He has way more upside than flaws.  If he never gives us a title, I believe he gets us to a title game for sure.

 

So many things have to go right to win a title.  We've got robbed for sure and that 2010 steal will always tick me off.  Yet, I'm damn near certain we have the right guy to pull off what many blue blood programs don't want: an Oregon Duck football title.

 

We are reigning B1G champs.  I sure didn't see that happening this year.  So the embarrassment doesn't sting as much for me.  The lessons learned this year are all that matter now