Scott...info?

Thanks,

Corey

Not official yet, but not surprising

Whats the chance the Ducks are looking at Gundy and/or Fedora?

Corey

Woke up early and started thinking.

Wonder what people think would be the best defensive coaches we could get to improve that side of the ball. I did a bit of digging (not much....more like scooping with a garden trowel) and came up with what I think could be a very respectable (and productive) group of D coaches:

DL: Ikaika Malloe - Currently the DL coach at Utah State. Has one of the top DLs for sacks the past few years. Coaches a very sound, but very aggressive front and, coming from Utah State, is used to recruiting to schools that don't have "THE" in front of their name. Also, being of Polynesian descent, he could help us reopen that pipeline we used to have to the Islands as well as open a new one to the Poly community in the western states in general.

LB: Osia Lewis - Currently the LB coach at Vanderbilt. Has coached at several top colleges and has turned out strong units everywhere. He's considered a terrific teacher, mentor, communicator and motivator and likes aggressive, hard-hitting units. A graduate of Oregon State, he would be familiar with recruiting to (and in) this part of the country. Also, coaching at Vanderbilt, he's used to recruiting at the top end of the GPA curve, too.

DB: John Neal - Currently the DB coach at Oregon. Has a real good resume, has commitments from a fine crop of young DBs and has shown he can turn out NFL quality DBs. With improved work by the front seven, he's shown his players can do very well in pass coverage and run support, too. AND, he's already familiar with our recruiting needs & strengths.

DC: If Herman goes to Texas and doesn't take Orlando along, I'd like to see Oregon try to snag him. He's an aggressive DC who doesn't expect the offense to outscore his own shortcomings and he's got recruiting connections in Texas as well as the SouthEast.

Anyway...just a bit of mind play. What do the rest of you think?

From what I can tell, the UO coaches and team members are still in contact with Serra sprinter Jasmin Reed. .....and from the best that I can also tell, Jasmin and Rancho Cucamonga's Thomas Graham are at the very least close friends....if not sweethearts

I am surprised that Jasmin hasn't announced already that she is going to Oregon. It appeared to be her favorite visit. The good news is that she hasn't announced that she is going to another school either. I'm wondering if this is going to be a package deal...wherever they end up.

Aren't they just adorable! :
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/800221997649137665/eQr7RFHK.jpg

For this year's Civil War it will be Brandon, Tom and me covering the action. Tom of course will be down on the field to bring his award-nominated sports photography to the site. Brandon and I will be commenting and analyzing our way through the game on the official game thread then of course down on the field for interviews with coaches and players afterwards.

Keeping fingers crossed for no rain as we will once again, for our fifth Reser visit, be in the outside overflow media area. Corvallis.

Let the shuffling of the cards begin...

So very Happy for Ed today, truly deserves this chance...one of the really great guys in this profession!

Here are my answers to the same questions Mike answered. So half of it I already put out in a different format.

A.J. answers Civil War questions of OSU

Its now being reported by ES(ec)PN that Herman is close to a deal with LSU.

Just reporting this for anyone who may be on the Herman train such as myself.

Scott's thoughtful, if not soul searching essay identifies the true essence of coaching and why Helfrich is far more accountable than wins and losses.

The issues he raises with respect to player violence, secrecy in suppressing these, rock bottom academics....all are symptomatic of a regime in need of a radical shake up, assuming the truth of the allegations.

This provocative piece has shaken any comfort I may have had...or hope...that another year of Helfrich is deserved simply because he has a great offensive mind. That concept is frankly made offensive in itself.

We've been rationalizing change or no change on the surficial expediency of turning things around quickly to regain our footing in the win column and how long it would take for a new coaching staff to bring it back. We should rather focus on how long it would take for the present staff to regain it's own respectability, top to bottom, and in more respects than wins and losses.

http://www.goducks.com/news/2016/11/25/decorated-class-of-11-joins-oregon-track-and-field.aspx

As usually happens there are a couple of surprises. The big one is Kenyan Susan Ejore. She is a JC All American. Ejore is an outstanding cross country addition, and will probably compete in track in the 5 and 10k.

There is another men's thrower on the list in Austin Glynn from Onalaska Wisconsin. He is a good addition to the class in the discus. Austin ranks 18th in the nation in the high school class of 2017 in the event.

However, no matter their rankings...high or moderate....these athletes are all now members of the most exclusive ranking of all....They are Oregon Duck Track and Field Commits...and that makes them all top ranked in my book!

I caught up with the OSU Rivals publisher Mike Singer to get an OSU perspective on tomorrow's Civil War.

BEL: Civil War

Justin is not very effusive with his answers but here he is heading into the OSU game.

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After going 2-1 in Maui they answer some questions.

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The UConn tip has been moved to 1:45 and we will be watching with you and commenting here on this thread. Can the Ducks make it two in a row? We shall soon see!

Caught up with Coach Lubick to talk about the Civil War.

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Very similar to Washington State Game.

Anyone hearing that there is definitely a group of players who decided to put their combine/draft chances ahead of team goals somewhere around the middle of the season?

Depressing, if true.

Big game for the Ducks today at 1:30 PST on ESPN2.

UO vs UConn game notes

(has anyone ever seen a bright, sunny night?)

Anyway...I woke up at o'dark thirty and had nothing better to do after fixing the coffee and letting the dogs out, so I read a bunch of Oregon football message boards. LOTS of people calling for the firing of Helfrich and his staff. Lots of people moaning about how they can't coach. Lots of people giving lots of reasons for why they want him terminated. Lots of people repeating reasons others gave as if that made them more powerful.

Well, being a BIT of a contrarian...I started thinking. Why are they all down on him - I mean, besides the clearly obvious part about him not being named Chip and not (somehow) doing the impossible and winning the National Championship every year? Well, many of those "Lots" told me why...It's because we are Oregon and we don't lose games. (I must have missed that memo, I guess.)

Ok...that made me think even more. We lost to Nebraska by three. We lost to Colorado by three. We lost to California by three (in double overtime). We have one of the greenest (not talking colors of unis) teams around. We've had key units decimated by injuries and found our senior leadership morphing into freshmen and sophomores making the plays. We have 4 wins so far this year with those three games in the loss column in a quintessential "rebuilding" year....and all this is being held over Helfrich's head.

We had a kid that overestimated his own abilities make poor decisions on extra points vs. Nebraska. If we convert 2 of those, we win. Somehow, that is laid at the feet of the Head Coach.

We had our QB throw the absolute worst fade route (which was open) he has EVER thrown and got it intercepted vs Colorado. Somehow that is laid at the feet of the Head Coach.

We had our Freshman QB throw a rope at our WR (who was open) and the LB make a great play to intercept the pass in double overtime vs.Cal. Somehow THAT is laid at the feet of the Head Coach.

Three games. All decided (one way or the other) by plays made or not made by the guys on the field. Convert 2 more XPs vs Nebraska, throw the fade correctly (or even close to it) against Colorado and put a little more air under the throw at California and we're going for win #8 against OSU and people are looking at our injuries, suspensions, dismissals, etc. and saying what a TERRIFIC job our staff did in what was obviously a rebuilding year.

Three games - the outcome of each hinging upon performance by players, but being hung around the neck of the Head Coach like an albatross as a reason for firing him. Firing him - a head coach that (with a record-setting, nausea-inducing defense the last season and carrying over into this) came into this year AVERAGING 11 wins per year.

There are LOTS of coaches who go their entire careers and NEVER have an 11 win season; but, we have one (count them...it doesn't take many fingers) season where we fall back into the pack (for very clear and definite reasons that were clear and definite BEFORE the season started)...and people pick up pitchforks, light torches and scream at the rooftops to fire the Head Coach.

I thought about that, re-read some of the message boards, and figured, "Either some of these posters know NOTHING about what they're saying, or they're certifiable." I was pretty sure which side I'd lay my money on (although, with some, I might hedge my bet and put money on both sides). I just hope our powers-that-be in the AD know more than the average fan.

I have GOT to find something better to do when I wake up early!

with Malaota, Kamatule, and Mafileo all done, are there any other DT recruits they are chasing? Pili? Anyone else?

247 reports this San Francisco City OL has an Oregon offer. Check out the HUDL film on this guy, 6-6, 295, has a mean streak.

In this weekly feature on Rivals.com, we take a look at the weekend’s standout performances from both college and pro football, and pick one player from each star rankings group to spotlight.

This week's former 4-star is Oregon WR Darren Carrington. Here's the section on him:

As a recruit: Carrington had his share of Power Five offers but despite being from San Diego, he was overlooked by both USC and UCLA. He committed to Oregon during the summer prior to his senior year and stuck with the Ducks despite a late flirtation with Arizona State.

What he did this weekend: It’s been a season to forget for the Ducks, but Carrington made the game-winning catch in the school’s 30-28 upset victory over then-No. 12 ranked Utah. Carrington hauled in a 17-yard pass with two seconds left on the clock that was initially ruled incomplete before being overturned and ruled a touchdown. The roller coaster play sums Carrington’s career, which has included stellar play but also off-field issues. His four-star ranking appears to be spot on and he’s likely to get a shot at the NFL down the road.

You can read the complete article here.