Among other things he says he has not interviewed or had formal contact with BSU about their HC job.

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SCOTT LEIGHTMAN: Welcome to the 2021 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. We're excited to have media day. That means the game week is officially upon us. The matchup is going to be a great one between No. 25 Oregon and No. 10 Iowa State, the first-ever meeting between the teams, which is something we in Bowl Season love to host, matchups we don't normally get during the season. Oregon is 4-2 this year and an exciting ballclub. They didn't play a full suite of games, but we know they're a talented team, and excited to be joined by Coach Mario Cristobal.

Coach, please go ahead, and welcome. We are interested in how your week has gone as you lead into game week here, coming to Arizona in a few days.

COACH CRISTOBAL: Thank you for having me on. Appreciate everybody being on here this morning. Hope everybody had a great holiday, great Christmas, and what not. We spent the week preparing, just like we would a regular game week and practiced up until Saturday. We had a couple of days, Christmas Eve and Christmas, where it was light work and meetings, and also kind of a Christmas atmosphere over here, because we did stay in town just to protect our guys and follow protocol.

And we resumed practice on Saturday as well. And we're in our regular game week right now and are scheduled to have a big practice this morning, our typical Tuesday practice.

The guys understand the opportunity and the challenge and are excited about it. Enthused to get after it today. And with that being said, open to questions.

Q. Coach, I was just wondering, how is the overall health of your team heading into this game?

COACH CRISTOBAL: We're about where we were for our last game that we played. I think at this time of year, they're going to be nicked up a little bit. We feel that we're in good physical shape in terms of our conditioning. We feel like we're about as healthy as we have been throughout the course of the year. Not perfect but, at the same time, very capable. So we feel good about it.

Q. Mario, they've played 11 games. You've played six. Is there a benefit either way? You obviously haven't gone through the rigors of a full season. They've gotten the experience. Do you think there's benefits for both sides of that?

COACH CRISTOBAL: I always feel the more games you can play, the better. There is no substitute for having that experience. There's no substitute for things like experience and preparation. But do I lean on that or think or say that's an advantage? I mean, I see it more as they've had the opportunity. Very happy for any team, any conference that was able to play more games.

But in terms of us, we feel that the games we've had has given us the amount of experience, time, and preparation to continue to get better and be prepared for this challenge we have on Saturday. So we feel good about where we're at. Q. Mario, wanted to see if there's an update and determination on C.J. [Verdell] and also wanted to confirm if Sala (Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu) is unavailable and, if so, what that means at right tackle with [Jayson] Jones and Dawson [Jaramillo].

COACH CRISTOBAL: As of right now, we're hopeful that those guys are going to be playing. We've certainly been practicing and getting some reps. Later in the week, we'll determine exactly where they are. But as of right now, we feel those guys have a chance to play.

Q. Coach, this is kind of -- it's a different year across the board, but what is it like for this Bowl Season, where it's not your typical bowl year? I don't know if you're treating it exactly like a normal game. But you're traveling down. You don't have all the festivities that usually go with it.

COACH CRISTOBAL: I think we've turned our focus into what a blessing the opportunity this season has granted us, really. You hear so much. And all you hear about 2020 is how it's been so rough and the challenges. We all understand that. But we also, I think, have got to focus on the fact that we have been blessed with opportunity and we have a chance to be a shining light for a lot of people that love the game of college football and to do it in a healthy manner.

And to get the opportunity to play on a national stage, on as big of a game as you could imagine in the Fiesta Bowl, that's all we see it as. The focus is completely on the fact that it is a blessing and an opportunity and our guys are chomping at the bit. They can't wait to get there.

Q. As you've seen on film, what's one of the challenges that this Iowa State team will give you on Saturday?

COACH CRISTOBAL: There's a number of them. I'm, by nature, an offensive line coach, so I’ve spent a lot of time on that side of the ball but, of course, have to jump around with my obligations as a head coach.

What stands out is the physicality of their team overall, and that physicality is matched by talent. Sometimes teams are one or the other. They try to find ways to compensate.

Iowa State is a complete football team. They knock you back at the line of scrimmage, their front seven. They play in sync. They understand their techniques. They're extremely fundamental. They're technically sound. They come out of their hips. They play with great leverage and get their hands inside on you. They control blockers. They strike blockers. They cover you. They've got great eye discipline. You don't see them in getting caught with poor eye discipline and giving up few explosive plays. When they strike, they get there with intention to make you feel that they're a physical football team.

On the flip side, besides the personnel, besides having the best back in college football, it's complemented by a great quarterback and a great system with this monstrous-looking tight ends that master offensive line physicality, that get in multiple sets, misplaced personnel, shifts and motions and complemented by big speed, big, big speed and explosive guys outside.

So, look, when you have a team like that, that has so many things, your fundamentals, your technique, your rules, your eye discipline, and then playing extremely high-level communicating on a down-by-down basis. All of those things come into play.

You have to play your best, and you have to play a complete football game. Because if you do, if you do allow for kinks and chinks in your processes, you'll get exposed. That's why preparation continues to get better as the year goes on, but the approach of our players being so thorough with what they've been doing. They're well aware of the football team we're playing out there.

Bowl week festivities revolving around the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl officially began Tuesday morning.

During a normal year, both teams, the media and fans would already be at the bowl site enjoying everything a New Years Six game has to offer.

In this case, the warmth of the Arizona desert and the marquee pomp and circumstance of a major match-up like the Ducks and No. 10 Iowa State.

But nothing has been normal about this year and there’s certainly nothing normal about the bowl experience of this year’s Fiesta Bowl.

Or any other bowl for that matter.

Typically Media Day is held in a lavish ballroom with a beautifully designed dais in a five star hotel that’s packed with a room full of television cameras and reporters. And let’s not forget the delicious table of breakfast goodies, juices, coffees and teas.

Not so this year.

In the year of Covid-19, the bowl experience is limp with enthusiasm, quite dull and lacking everything a bowl game is for everyone involved.

At 7:30 am ( PST ) Tuesday morning, Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and several of his key players took to Zoom to meet the media to talk about the biggest game of this crazy, wacky shortened season.

To a person, and they all agreed, nothings been normal about this year’s bowl experience while also sharing the disappointment of not being able to enjoy a full game week at the host site.

What remained normal though was the significant respect the Ducks have for their Big 12 opponent Iowa State.

“They have monstrous looking tight ends that match their offensive lines physicality that get in multiple sets, misplaced personnel, shifts and motions and complimented by big speed and explosive guys outside” said Cristobal.

“When you have a team like that, that has so many things, your fundamentals, technique, your rules, your eye discipline,…and then playing at an extremely high level, communicating on a down by down basis, all those things come into play.

You have to play your best and you have to play a complete football game because if you do allow for kinks and chinks in your processes you’ll get exposed and our guys understand that.”

On Wednesday, Oregon offensive coordinator and a group of Duck offensive players will meet the media, also via zoom.

Interesting guy. Great that he stepped up after Breeze and Holland opted out. He was on the 4x100 for his HS track team. He must be one of the fastest guys on the team.

So I was on the phone tonight discussing the Boise State job and Harsin's name came up and I came up with this thought:

Auburn went to the Miss America pageant thinking they would take home Miss America - instead they left with the coat check girl.

You're welcome!

Big game today tipping off in about 10 minutes. The details with lineups and records here.

I'll be adding notes and extremely clever comments here during the game.

Doubt any of these would happen though the Ducks were involved with Victory Vaka.

Didn't get a chance to see the game over here but Herbert set the new record for TD passes by a rookie QB at 28 in the second quarter of the game and led another game winning drive, scoring the decider himself. 28 isn't a bad number any QB this season, or most. He still has one more game to play.

Sounds like they abound, in the NFL anyway. Maybe that's the best path for him if he wants to coach again.

I chatted with the CB/S Juco JaDarrius Perkins this afternoon. He tells me he is still very much considering the Ducks. Said Coach Cristobal and he have talked every day since his decommitment. So the Ducks still definitely want him.

There is a chance he becomes one of those rare few who decommits then re-commits. It is not unheard of. Seven McGee is an example, and now he is all Duck about to sign.

Been away from board for a while . . . but was wondering if any of the draft eligible upperclassmen have opted out of bowl participation?

@ramsuer dont know if you’ve seen this or not, but it’s pretty cool.

https://youtube.com/channel/UC1CUrp3kHY7bgsf9JyOEgNw

Little update. I had to dig a little deeper than normal because I do not have a ton of contacts within Boise State program; but some friends with whom I played college ball were able to get me a contact and this is what I have heard.

- First, this is all complicated by the reality that BSU is without an athletic director at the moment.
- Avalos interviewed for the job (via Zoom call) yesterday and the people at Boise were very impressed with his plan, his detail, and his vision for the future of the program.
- From what I have been able to gather from those sources, Avalos was not the number one guy heading into the process, but his interview really opened the minds during and after the interview.
- He was not offered a job; there are still other candidates who will get a chance to sell their own vision.
- The top guy is Jeff Choate (Montana State head coach). He is scheduled to interview today and, if he impressed, then there is a very good chance he gets the job and brings most of his MSU staff with him.
- Kellen Moore is an intriguing option, some people feel he wants out of Dallas (Jerry Jones), but he is also close to potential NFL head coach opportunities, and there is a sense inside BSU that he will not pursue the BSU spot.
- BSU may look to Zak Hill, but the only way that happens is if BSU decides that they don't want to hire a defensive minded coach, AND Moore and Choate turn them down.
- Smart money is on Choate right now.
- Having said that, some folks at Oregon told me that if Avalos gets an offer, he will take it.

All I have for now. Stay tuned as this could go down quickly.

They not only need to play him more, but also get him the ball more. I didn't watch any of last night's game, but in the parts I saw of a couple others it just looks like 5 guys playing 1 on 1. Not sure what other rookies are up to, but Pritchard off to a great start. Pritchard and Herbert for ROY!

From Adam Gorney's article posted 12/26 the transfer portal is alive and well. A couple of OL guys that have entered it, and I'd like to know if there is any interest from UO staff, are Bryce Hudson and Doug Nester. Hudson has 4 yrs to play 3 and is very versatile, plays OT, OG, C, and would fit CMC's criteria of versatility.

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The other OL I'm curious about is Doug Nester, an OG, who has 4 to play 3 as well and who at one time was a commit to tOSU, which indicates to me he could be a high impact guy.

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Given CMC's penchant for OL and it seems we're depleted at that position group based upon the play of the OL in 2020. I do realize the OL was all new, but it seems if we could get a couple of high impact OL that could contribute in 2021 and could substantially increase the depth in the OL room.

Brown or Shough?

I saw on the TOS an interview with Cristabol where he was asked a question about the QB room. He spent the first 35 seconds talking about Cale Millens specials team play. Most coaches would never do this. This is why parents, and players, love and respect the guy. This leads me to reasons

1) Cristabol and staff work harder and kick everyones ass on the recruiting trail ( this is by far the thing that stings other coaches the most)

2) Cristabols usually wins the game on the field as well. This will be getting worse for opposing programs starting next season

3) He does not hide his joy when he wins. He is giddy and jumping around, celebrating with his players.

4) He talks about culture and how he does things, implying that others don't have the same culture or do things as well ( they mostly don't)

5) He says things like " Next years recruting class will be even better". In other words, get used to it coaches, we are just getting started

I understand. If Cristabol was the Huskies coach , I'm pretty sure most of us would hate the guy. He is confident as hell without being too cocky. The thing is, when the Ducks continue to win the Pac 12 without getting many players on the all conference teams, its only going to show one thing. Talent being equal, or even having less talent, Cristabol wins the Pac 12. Recruits and parents understand he is the best guy to play for in the Pac 12. If he can win without the best talent, he will dominate when he does have the best talent.

Some potentially good news on this front as Perkins could be recommitting soon. Nothing definitive. The Oregon staff never stopped recruiting him and he never elimanated Oregon when he de-committed.

This has gone back and forth as the family really, really wanted him to stay close to home; but he was not feeling Mississippi State so there was the possibility of a late addition of Ole Miss (and that is still on the table, FWIW), but Perkins has that spot in him that always wanted to be at Oregon and his strength of conviction may have been enough to convince family that his initial choice was the right one. The feeling was that having someone close and miserable was not the best recipe.

So, keep an eye out because my Mississippi State folks are saying that they are hearing good news might come Oregon's way here.

I missed his opener but saw all of this one.
He looked like he belonged on the court during meaningful minutes. He hit a couple of twos and would have two threes, except he stepped on the sideline for one of them.

Defense was not bad. Hard to evaluate NBA performance but he isn't in over his head by any means. Boston lost big because they couldn't put the ball in the hole for most of the 4th Q and the Nets couldn't miss from three point land, some of them deep shots.