HDuck

The Oregonian flipped beat coverage with Crepea moving from the Ducks to Beavis, and Ryan Clarke from Beavis to the Ducks. Perhaps not a bad thing to do periodically if you are a sports editor. Have been disappointed in Clarke's coverage so far. He does not seem to have the "inside sources" that Crepea had, and Clarke has minimal Tweets on his X account regarding Ducks athletics. Simeon Birnbaum set a new NCAA 1500 record this past weekend. Crepea would have had that on X, nothing from Clarke. That is just one example of what I'm observing so far. I don't think Fentress coverage has changed much.

"...four-loss Iowa defeated 10-2 Vanderbilt in a terrific bowl game four losses sounds like a lot but sometimes fate lays a blow Iowa in 2025 L 13-16 at Iowa St - ISU FG with 1:52 left L 15-20 vs Indiana - Hoosiers got a TD with 1:28 left L 16-18 vs Oregon - Ducks FG with 0:03 left L 21-26 at USC in a rain deluge

Ducks sweep the softball series with Washington. Huskies now 15-3 in conference...all 3 losses to the Ducks (16-2). Softball plays 8 conference opponents each season for 24 games out of the 16 B1G opponents possible. Since joining the B1G last season the Ducks are 14-0 in series wins with 2 more series on the schedule this season: Ohio State and UCLA. In addition to Ohio State, the Ducks will have not yet played Nebraska or Wisconsin in either regular season. Nebraska is currently leading the B1G at 17-1.

April 16 The season would begin on the Thursday of what is now designated Week 0. It would apply to the 2027 season. The FBS Oversight Committee today recommended the change to the DI Cabinet. Under the proposal, future FBS regular seasons would be standardized to 14 weeks, during which teams could schedule 12 games. The season would begin on the Thursday of what is now designated Week 0 and end on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Division I Cabinet would have to adopt the legislation for the proposal to become official. The D1 Cabinet is scheduled to discuss the recommendation in June. In addition to eliminating required exceptions for teams to play before the Week 1 date, a 14-week regular season annually provides two open dates, flexibility for potential changes to the postseason and preserves standalone weekends for conference championships and the Army-Navy game. Week 1 in 2027 is September 4. If Week 0 were in place for 2027, the season could begin Thursday, August 26. Oregon's past academic calendars suggest classes would begin September 27, with 5 Saturdays between August 26 and September 27. https://www.ncaa.org/news/2026/4/16/media-center-fbs-oversight-committee-recommends-standardized-start-to-regular-season.aspx

I remember he delayed his choice about 6 weeks which caused some angst among Oregon partisans. Ultimately his Final Four where Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon. His final choice was Ohio State or Michigan. This is what he said about Oregon at the time: He discounted Oregon "because it's across the country. I have a father and (high school) coaches here who can drive three hours to see me play rather than watch it on TV." Ultimately, Happy Valley was no place for a city kid either. "I don't like that place," he said of Penn State's rural location. "It's (in) the country." Because he played both football and basketball he said he didn't visit two of the four. One of the two was Oregon.

more: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skull-sessions/2026/04/162268/skull-session-terrelle-pryor-breaks-down-choosing-ohio-state-over-oregon-jimmy-sotos-becomes-a-reality-tv-star-ohio

Relative to the old Pac12, I thought any divisions should be east-west, not north-south. For example, Oregon in the east, OSU in the west, UCLA in the east, USC in the west, and so on. That would have given teams up and down the coast access to the Bay Area, L.A., and Arizona markets every season with a home or away game....which would have helped maintain ties for recruiting. Cross over games could include an annual rival matchup with the remainder rotating. I point this out solely as a mental trigger that "natural geography" isn't the only thing that should be considered when creating divisions within a conference.

Read a Sports Illustrated web column earlier today that Georgia has an "easy" schedule and should go 12-0. They will play 8 games in Georgia. 9 if they are in the SEC Championship. Road trips 780 - Arkansas 400 - Ole Miss 275 - Alabama 165 - S. Carolina

These four had transferred and demonstrates the type of talent Kelly Graves had on his roster at that time. 9-Angela Dugalic – from UCLA 24-Chance Gray – Ohio St 37-Taylor Bigby – TCU 39-Grace VanSlooten – Michigan St Of the 45 selections, 6 of the first 18 were from UCLA. Four of those 6 were transfers to UCLA. The 4 women who had played at Oregon were in the 45 total. 2 former Beavers who had transferred to UCLA and Oklahoma did not get selected - one was surprisingly Raegan Beers.

NEWS: Oregon guard Jamari Phillips is entering the transfer portal, @LeagueRDY has learned. The 6-4 sophomore and former four-star recruit has played the last two seasons for the Ducks. Native of Modesto, California. Averaged 2.7PPG this season. Portal Kwame Evans Jackson Shelstad Dezdrick Lindsay Devon Pryor JJ Frakes Wei Lin Ege Demir Jamari Phillips Efe Vatan Seniors who departed Nate Bittle Takai Simpkins Drew Carter Oleksandr Kobzystyi Miles Stewart Oregon’s current 26-27 basketball roster: Guards: Seven Spurlock (FR) - committed March 29 (decommit from ASU) Rian Gonzalez (FR, Walk On) Forwards: Sean Stewart (SR) - FR at Duke, So at Ohio St, Jr at Oregon Luke Johnson (JR, Walk On) Tajh Ariza (FR) - recruit - signed November 13 Kendre Harrison (FR) - recruit - football & basketball So, one holdover schollie guy at this point. Several programs are facing similar circumstances. Indiana entered the 2024-25 season with 11 transfers-in, 5 freshman recruits, and 1 holdover. This is going to create some interesting coaching scenarios across the nation. It won't just be Altman who will have to conduct a meet and greet to start every practice.

Well, U of Portland is 3-11 vs Ducks in basketball, and the Pilots women are 4-16. But, baseball is 18-29 and Pilots are 6-1 vs Ducks in last 7 after being 1-6 in the 7 before that. I don't think an opportunity to beat Portland State offsets being 1-6 vs UofP in the last 7? I can feel Charles discomfort through my computer screen. Show up, or get shown up. Respect every opponent. etc. etc. U of P is 1-0 vs Beavis, and will play them twice more this season: Hillsboro and Corvallis.

With just a bit under 7 minutes remaining, UCLA leads S. Carolina 67-38 in the women's final. The last team with B1G affiliation to win it was Purdue in 1999.

Northwestern fans were complaining last Saturday about the third game ending early so Oregon could make their flight connections home. "We should never have let the West Coast teams in....blah, blah." Softball standings as of Saturday morning: Washington Nebraska UCLA Oregon (USC doesn't offer softball) 2025 final standings: Oregon Nebraska UCLA If not for Pac12 legacy members, the B1G would largely be irrelevant in softball. And, the legacy B1G members probably hurt seeding for the 3 West Coast teams at the end of the regular season.

There is an interesting column today in The Athletic about UConn coach Geno Auriemma and how much emphasis he places on body language affecting how well individual players play and what he does about it. To the point of sitting his "stars" whom he assesses "aren't into it." And, making body language a part of his video game replay with his team. It's a pay-for site, so won't post a link. But, Charles comment about body language made me think of it.

"...now unlocking the East Coast..." For many people in the Central and Eastern Time Zones, Oregon might as well be Liechtenstein. They've heard of it. Seen photos of it. But, there remains a general lack of understanding about it. Applies somewhat to Washington as well. The Ducks probably remain "lucky" they got into the Big Ten, because there certainly was no ground swell among the fans of the Big's legacy programs to ask for it. It is going to be a long road of continuing to "earn respect" to overcome the negativity. IF, USC had immediately been successful it would likely be even more difficult to overcome the USC plus 3 that would have been a commonplace attitude. Oregon has to get better in basketball, and sustain a formidable position in football.

The Big Ten Lied to USC, Oregon & Washington YouTube video link from a guy who has created a brand value index, and who evaluates the last 5-year average in the Pac12 vs the 2-year average in the B1G.

And, USC doesn't have softball or they would be a perennial contender. An interesting podcast too from Ohio State country with one of the pod guys saying he just visited Tallahassee and believes Florida State is positioning themselves to enter the Big Ten in 2029 as their first priority. Sees a possible pairing with Miami, similar scenario to UW/UO. WBNS - Columbus, OHBishop & Friends March, 30, 2026Happy Monday Edition of the Program!! Beau is back so hear his vacation stories. March Madness is Undefeated. OSU Hoops loses Devin Royal. The CBJ with a slide at the worst possible time. Tiger Woods

No Dukes are left And neither are any ACC teams in either men or women Final Four.

Kissin cousins? N. Carolina led VCU by 19 in the second half, and lost in overtime 78-82 in the first round. Duke led UConn by 19 late in first half, and lost on a prayer shot 72-73. Meanwhile U Conn overcomes both God and the Devil. Women beat Notre Dame, and men beat Duke. Both in Final Four.

The current TCU roster has 3 seniors who were at Oregon: Kennedy Basham, Taylor Bigby, Maddie Scherr. Bigby and Scherr were recruited to Oregon by Campbell/Lopez. Basham: UO>ASU>TCU; Bigby UO>USC>TCU; Scherr UO>UK>TCU TCU coaches at Oregon: 2014-21 – Mark Campbell - Grave's chief assistant 2015-21 – Xavier Lopez – recruiter especially international players for Graves 2019-20 – Minyon Moore – player (transfered from USC to Oregon) TCU also has Donovyn Hunter (Medford, Oregon) who attended Oregon State. And, transfers from San Diego State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, South Dakota, Kentucky, Tex A&M

Nebraska Spring Game 2019 attendance: 86,000 2024 attendance: 60,000 2026 attendance: 27,188 Attendance for Spring 2025 was down quite a bit from prior years as college coaches have changed many aspects from game type conditions toward glorified practices. Ohio State and Michigan had about 40,000 in 2025, for example. Reportedly, Florida led the nation with about 56,000. Oregon was listed as third in the B1G with a high 30'sK at Autzen.

Toss in the women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey and the threesome may be untouched in college history?

The combination of injuries and playing in a tough conference combined for a disappointing season outcome. Level of competition shouldn't be overlooked. Ducks Elite 8 opponents 71-81 vs Michigan 66-84 vs Iowa 64-68 at Purdue 54-80 at Illinois Elite 8 in the Final AP regular season ranking 1- Duke 2- Arizona 3- Michigan 7-UConn 8-Purdue 13-Illinois 23-Tennesse NR - Iowa – was not even in others receiving votes, total 39 teams with AP votes, top 25 + 14

"I read it as “from the original 10” which allows for a non-inflated, apples to apples comparison to what happened in 1985." That's the way I read it too. IF the women's Elite 8 includes Texas and Oklahoma they would be non-legacy. Of course, they have to beat Kentucky and S. Carolina (not likely for OU). Though S. Carolina didn't join the SEC until 1991. I think the writer may have just been expressing the general Big Ten malaise in recent years has been overcome this season by old members. Didn't have to rely upon new members.

Spring “Game” calendar: Mar. 28 – Nebraska Video clip for Huskers. Allow time for camera to pan the crowd. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWby8QlEX8m/ Crowds in the past have reached 80,000 Apr. 4 - toejams Apr. 11 - Purdue Apr. 18 – Michigan Apr. 18 – Michigan St Apr. 18 – Ohio St Apr. 23 – Indiana Apr. 25 – Iowa Apr. 25 – Maryland Apr. 25 – Minnesota Apr. 25 – Oregon Apr. 25 – Penn St Apr. 30 - Wisconsin May 1 - UW May 2 - UCLA