This is just a huge year. Even the most ardent track fans will be ready for a rest by the time the season is over. For the University of Oregon it could be a year to rival even the best in our long and storied history. This is what is in store in 2016 for track and field:

The NCAA Indoor season with Oregon's men and women's teams ranked near the top of the country.

The World Indoor Championships in Portland

The NCAA outdoor season with the Ducks likely Pac 12 Champions, and strong contenders for winning team titles at the NCAAs in Eugene.

As always the top US professional meet, The Pre , held in Eugene

The Olympic Trials will be in Eugene. There will be lots of Ducks and Duck alumni competing to make the US team.

Then the year concludes with the Olympics in Rio, where hopefully we will be watching many of the Ducks that we were able to follow throughout the college and professional season.

Get the popcorn ready.

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Mostly today's version of Flock Talk is about recruiting... just a debrief and look forward... but go through to the end because I also take a look at the Michigan situation where and the OL who was kicked to the curb. I guess Harbaugh was too busy with pajama parties to even talk to the kid personally.

Flock Talk: Winds of Change

Cam Rising

http://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2016/01/oregon_ducks_assistant_coach_d.html

Just caught up after tape delaying by 30 mins. got to defend the home turf, at the very least.

Oregonian re staff visits in P Town.

http://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2016/01/oregon_ducks_coaches_mark_helf.html

Reported by Go Ducks

Ted Miller in one of my favorite sports writers, not only for his wordsmithing, but his insights. In an ESPN post, yesterday, he summarizes his concerns over PAC 12 decline. In doing so he sites the reasons why: including coaching and personnel changes, changes in offensive and defensive theory and a seeming decline while the SEC and B1G prevail.

The article is thought provoking, as is his probable intent because he's a PAC 12 guy. But it is a worthwhile read as we enter a 2016 season where much has been changing in our conference, while we were, are obsessing in Duckville.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/...-stability-pac-12-has-issues-on-and-off-field

Login to view embedded media Heading right into Michigan's back yard

Hunter Rison

Took a look at Brady Hoke's whirlwind hire and recruiting efforts today.

High Impact: Hoke Flying High

Darren's sister, DiJonai, recently made the McDonald's All Star Game [the best 24 high school players in the nation]. In her jr. year DiJonai averaged 27.4 ppg and 21.1 rebounds. And she has a 4.0 gpa. Guess where she's going? Stanford.

Darren and DiJonai's father, Darren Sr., played 8 seasons in the NFL, as a safety and kick returner, and played in 2 Super Bowls.

Katie Rainsberger has been named the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the year.
She will attend Oregon next year. She carries a 4.49 weighted GPA......
I think that she qualifies as a 5 star!

Michigan pulled his offer. He was the last guy to commit to...Brady Hoke. I wonder if Greatwood will make a move for him.

While the ship may have sailed for the middle Mayden (they have an older Brother at Rice), things are still quite serious with Jalen.

Yost traveled down to Texas to check out Jalen and some of his teammates do off-season workouts at Sachse and let the Sachse OC know that he was extremely impressed. Also in the session were WRs 2018 Drue Jackson, 2017 Nate Shelton, 2017 Nicholas Alexander, power back 2017 Kelon Wilson.

According to an article that just read on 247, Wayne Kirby said in an interview that he was offered tonight by Oregon. He will visit this weekend. He plans to visit Utah the following weekend.

How do you read this one? Obviously they are going after him. If he goes to Utah the following week, his spot might get filled. If there are only six spots remaining, you never know how long before the class fills up.

Mike Morris puts this in terms that even I can mostly understand:

http://fishduck.com/2016/01/coachs-comments-brady-hoke-brings-the-4-3-defense-whats-up-with-that/

I am very interested in this player. It sounds like UO is still in it for him. I wonder if this is the long distance player that was a "silent" commit?

Some cool pics of it to check out

2015 Duck Bike

So, I composed some thoughts about the whirlwind of the last week or so. I am just going to link to my blog rather than put the lengthy thoughts down here.


Balancing Act

Will be making $400k the first year, bumped to $700k the last two. Seems like a pretty good deal for both sides.

RG details Hoke deal

Here is a look at what's left for the other units on offense 2016.

Offense II: What's left?