HappyToBeADuck

Going to be fun watching this new chapter of the Oregon football story unfold.. IMHO, as a greybeard it is easier to be patient with the common learning curve of new young coaches. For the younger forum members the tremendous success in the 21st century is all they know. The standard is set higher thus fan expectations are thru the roof. I may have missed a few high notes but prior to the season of the KW interception this program was dismal, lean and without much hope. Simply disappointing. The Independance Bowl was almost unobtainable. Not anymore..... Congrats to our new coach. Lay the foundation for your vision. We all hope your vision brings Penny, Phil and us fans that first Natty. Looking forward to some SEC type football success.

This hire has all the makings of a step up...... Yes.. The high flying, high scoring SEC teams barely put up a whimper against Lannings defense. Better players, probably. Coached up better, probably. Now that probably is the HC of the Oregon Ducks. I can tell all of you from listening to Seattle's sports talk and my little puppy friends that they were gloating over Oregons demise.. Smiles and smirks no more...... See you on the field next fall.

Good, bad or indifferent we are all going to find out. Can't wait...... Lanning comes from a line of head coaches who let their coaches do their job. That's a step up. The talent on this team, the talent from the recruits and portal lend to continued on field success. Great leadership from coaches can tie it all together. GO DUCKS........

Congratulations to the new Duck Head Coach. Very exciting. New start, fresh beginnings. You have some seasoned youngsters that need to be coached up to the next level. Give them the love and direction they need Save the recruiting class as best you can. And bring a few Sec D line monsters from the South with you. Go Ducks ......

Whether this hire happens or does not happen, this is good news. RM, PK and others are looking for the right fit, the right hire Lanning has a positive upside. This interview is a step up from the proven commodities of Chip and Justin. Not because of what Lanning has done, yet. But what Chip and Justin have done. ( I am not judging Chip on the 46-7 record. IHe had every opportunity to get it done at UCLA. He didn't, proof is in the pudding. Let's keep climbing the ladder, reaching higher and higher. Do not settle for proven, above average. Hire for vision, work ethic and someone who can build a team. A team of coaches and players who want the promise land at Oregon. Not someone who lays their head on their pillow at night dreaming of the promise land somewhere else.

Well now, lots of smoke, yet no fire or hire. Top choice candidates are usually those who are employed. Some already near or at the top. These are usually not people who jump on a whim. They talk to their people especially the wife. They use their common sense and make a plan. That's what this program needs. Someone who can plan and execute.

I guess, just like on this forum, everyone is entitled to have an opinion. And then express it. Pretty common that academics and athletics don't usually meet where the rubber hits the road. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for the Hurricanes. MC and high dollar boosters touched down a Level 5 Tornado. Those familiar know tornadoes strike with no warning. You look at the threatening sky above but don't know the when and where. Those Miami fans are used too all the advance warnings of a hurricane. Days to plan ahead. Get ready. Hec they even know the name of what's gonna hit em..... Based upon the carnage MC left behind with the timing fleeing coaches and no forward planning for a replacement. I am guessing? Level 5..... Now it's up to RM, PK and others to mitigate the damage. Nervous, agitated and banned to my in home office (man cave) I await the damage control announcement. It's great to be a Duck......

Please, give me some of that type of coaching. Give me a D minded HC. 80% of that Defense would dominate the P12. Until MC, Oregon offense accidently put 40 plus points on the board.... For multiple years...

I am in on Lanning. Lanning has the chops to recruit the big, bad SEC defensive players. Coach em up to not just compete but dominate in the SEC. Put aside what happened against Bama. That just shows how great Saban is as a HC. Looking forward to that rematch in the Natty. It will give us a chance to see if Lanning can make the necessary adjustments. Get his players ready for a rematch. You know, like how our one foot out the door coaching staff did against Utah in a high level rematch. Wait, my mistake, the Oregon coaches evidently had both feet out the door......

Thanks to all for doing your best to keep this forum updated. Rumor or no rumor, I certainly hope that every top level coach or assistant coach is a candidate for the Duck HC opening. Whether NFL, collegiate, active or retired. Cast a wide net from the top names down to who? Find a coach who wants this job and recognizes this is a top 10 job. Coaches who have played or coached at the level the Oregon Duck program aspires to reach and win. Lanning meets that type of criteria. Especially recruiting and coaching those monsters front 7 players from the south. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about that. Looking forward to the search ending with a new Oregon HC. Based upon the comments this week on this site, it's safe to say... The Forum members are going to lose what's left of their minds....

For what ever my opinion is worth. MC is to blame. After 4 years the Oregon culture was his. HIS.... It appears he was mentally threatened by his staff. Does anyone see where MC put Oregon first. He pit the blood, sweat and tears in. But not for Oregon. But for Mario. All his work paid off for MC. He's wearing Hurricane gear.

Well said. The new HC, staff, players and fans will have one thing in common..... All Oregon Ducks...... The fun part of sports is that it's the same game but each game unfolds differently. Hopefully exciting. Honestly, the last 2 seasons, the games were not always fun to watch. Predictable, not exciting. Nail-biting games against 1-10 or 3-9 teams. Not really entertaining.. Looking forward to the new staff, new players and supporting the young men who stay........ Go Ducks.....

Thanks for the explanation. Never stopped to think about the actual down side to the portal. On the surface the transfer portal was like a gift. A gift wrapped pretty with a fancy bow. Can't wait to see inside......... We have all received gifts that were a disappointment. Given with the best intentions but still a let down... I agree some rule changes are in order. Beware to all student athletes. What's inside may disappoint.

IMHO If it's gonna be Chip, give him a three year contract. $10 million a year. Pay his OC and DC big money. Big bonuses for CFP and Natty appearances. Chip can salvage some of this class, then fill in with the portal. HE DOES NOT NEED TO RECRUIT. The players are here now. Just need a few more pieces, good coaching, scheme and pit up 50. Gives Oregon and CK 3 years to groom new head coach. Gives PK a potential fast track coach.

Don't despair fellow Duck faithful. This hire will take time and due diligence. RM and PK have heard it all, seen it all and may be a bit gun shy. Top coaches are high pitch salesman. Decision makers have to wade thru the coach speak. Separate the fluff from the substance. All this week I have been holding dinner training meetings. 5 to 10 people each session. I ask questions, listen to answers then use my 43 years experience to separate the big talkers from those with substance. My clients pay me for my decisions on staff members. Its no different for RM. Give him time forum members.... Good things come to those who wait.

If it's flashy and a big dollar contract then PK is involved. Phil wants it fast, fun and right now....... PK will open the vault for the right hire. Mr. Right Now coaches Kelly....... Kiffen..... ???... If it's just an above average hire then RM made the call. Mr Bring Home to Parents coaches Sitaki...... Wilcox......?????..... RM must be careful to not offend or alienate PK. Or he will be unemployed. Fun stuff. Honey where are the Tums?

Maybe the biggest deciding factor is what PK wants. The talent could be on the roster now to get to the Natty. Chip can salvage 75% of this great class and then fill in with the portal. Creating a 3 year window at the Natty. With Chip doing little recruiting. Just schemes, coaching up players and putting up 50 per game. It's in his wheel house. Ask USC, Bruins topped 60. If PK is impatient the new coach may very well be Chip. Give him a 3 year, 10 million a season contact. Pay $2 million plus for DC and AC. With CFP and Natty appearances give all staff big bonus rewards. Still less money than the near $100 million he would have spent on MC and his flock of fleeing coaches. Gives Oregon and CK three years to groom the next coach. But doesn't trap us for a decade. And PK can get a Natty and get there ahead of MC. Don't think that rejection by MC doesn't stick in PK's craw.

Now that we are moving toward the 5th day of the search it makes me wonder even more: How did Miami and SC make their hires in less than 48 hours of coach supposedly being informed? Great decisions, great contracts and great searches take time. Well I am just a naive country bumping. What do I know. I know coach speak BS. Please no on Kelly......

Someone who learned from his mistakes. Didn't SDSU beat Utah, more than our current fleeing coaching staff, did. ....... This either snacks of desperation or RM is conducting a thorough search. Remember he said his phone was blowing up with interest.

Longshot to me are just long shots If it makes PK happy to reach for the moon? Well he has earned that right Out of those on the list, Lane Kiffin. Spend time on interviews of serious candidates. Their is no best candidate for this job. It's who has the chops to recognize where the Duck program is now. The experience and plan to take it where it should go I am glad I don't have to make this decision. I am an easy Mark for sales pitches. I prefer track record and substance. Someone who let's their record speak for itself...... David Shaw type of person....

FWIW: My Father and younger brother were on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. We found no commonality only anger .. . .. My Father was a special man. My baby brother grew to become a fine man and community leader.... However we found commonality in sports, all sports. Each opinion or view point was welcome. No harsh words or anger. Simply expression of what we felt as a game unfolded. I miss my departed Father but baby brother and I still talk sports. Though 800 mile apart. All the family has joined in because it was safe to express your opinion. I found a safe haven when I discovered this forum. My posts are way to long, my opinions antiquated and often, boring. But I feel safe.... I will always do my best to support all posts as long as you follow my Mother's Golden Rule...... If you don't have something nice to say about a person, don't say it at all. Dad simplified it. .. Son you might want to rethink what you just said Charles, moderators, writers, posters and readers......thanks and Happy Holidays.

Welcome Duck023. This is definitely a safe haven for a Duck fan. Post often and know people will agree and some will disagree. It's what family does.......

Well its just gonna be a cluster for awhile. Inevitable under these circumstances. As many have said, on this site ... Let's get this hire right. Remember to the new coach and his incoming staff, this type of chaos and recruiting scramble are...... Business as usual. The nature of their profession.

Facilities (The very best) + Administration (Fully Supportive) + Fans (The very best) + Boosters (The very best, invested) + Players (Near or at 50% threshold) + Coach (?????????) Listening to the Dan Patrick show, they were saying Oregon is a top coaching destination. Let's get this one right........

Great stories men. Playing and attending games where you could smell the dirt and grass. And when coaches stayed put until 3 seasons after they should have fired.