Haywarduck

Can't look at Ryan Day in the same light as Urban Meyer, since he lost to MariØ at home. I think Michigan rules this rivalry and tosu fades under Day. I think Riley at sc is soft too, and there will be teams who punch his team in the mouth and they won't respond. Miami moving up to 30, maybe. Seeing the dawgs ahead of our Ducks makes me wanna......

When USC asks to get back into the Pac.

What is less than obvious to many is that when you put yourself out there and compete, you lose sometimes. The other end is when you sit behind a computer and do nothing, you never lose, but you also never win, therefore you are just a deadbeat, see above examples. Lanning and Co. are competing everyday and are very comfortable with losing, because they are just getting better with each victory and loss. They are also winning more and more. What they are building is the exact opposite, a winner. It is stunning when you see fanatics like the above examples. They obviously have never learned the actual process of becoming the best you can be. There is a lot of losing, and you learn from it each time. I love when Lanning loses, because it shows he is in the hunt, and more often than not he will win. Lanning is actually the ultimate competitor. I agree with Charles the process Lanning is taking us through is the right one. I'm grateful he has created a place where that process can be objectively observed, critically analyzed, respected and celebrated.

Sounds like Miami's commitment to football. Lots of talk, some pretty pictures, but little action. The construction phase in Compton will be very disruptive, and I suppose that is why there is just ink at this point. Same with Miami, little can be done on that small campus. I do wonder if the John McKay Football Center will now be next to the Robinson Facility. Will they name both facilities after Oregon Alumni? They do seem to have an obsession about Oregon! Their success, most often, comes from following Oregon. Oregon, on the other hand, has talked about a new practice facility, has some amazing pictures, and are working on getting it done asap.

As far as the whole Saudi thing, I don't get mad, just not something I would do. Those who make those type of morality decisions have to live with it. I can live with mine. As far as the risk on BTC, still a risk, but not necessarily a moral one. In my opinion buying BTC isn't investing it is putting money on a gamble. I do that at times for fun when the lottery gets huge, kind of a fun way to spend $2, but probably wouldn't want to win. I will say as big time college football grows, I will grow away if it gets too messy. There is something grand about a student athlete competing, and becoming someone stronger while building something bigger than themselves, a team. If it gets to the point where the teams are just uniforms, and the players just using them to try make more money, I'm out. That is what has happened to the NBA and most professional sports. At this point in my life I would rather watch water struggle on its way to the ocean, mountains try to reach for the sky. I am still curious about what I can do as I age too. Seeing selfish individuals fight over the dollar, not so much.

Nike doesn't use forced labor. I could say a lot more, but will leave it at Go Ducks!

We had the highest rated linebacker crew a few years ago, and production, not so much. I am as excited as anyone, but will wait for the production. I will say Troy Franklin is the real deal. He has proven himself an elite Oregon receiver, all-time, in my book. The rest of the guys are going to have to prove it. I have lots of enthusiasm, but believe the accolades shouldn't come before the accomplishments. Recievers are like movies, some seem like they should be box office hits, but actually flop. Others, like Jeff Maehl, seem like they really shouldn't be that good, but become box office blockbusters. I will also say Tez Johnson, in the spring game, was like watching a movie preview I don't want to miss. I hope the full release is as exciting as that preview!

The problem with Penn State, is it is almost 3,000 miles away. The other programs are also too far. I think the biggest problem with playing a tough schedule is travel. The other element the SEC has down, having more patsy opponents midseason. These are college kids who are away from home, have academic demands, and travel is extremely disruptive. This also may be why a senior qb, like Nix, may have a monster year. He probably has just a couple fun classes, and can completely focus on football. Freshman on up to 4th year seniors have a lot on their plate to deal with. Against the spoiled children we have a winning record over the last decades, not afraid of them, or others, just the travel. Agree after Lanning gets done building the program we can write our own ticket with the revenue angle taken care of in the Pac. The Oregon Football Program is playing the long game, the LA schools the short game. I have a feeling their short game is going to fail, gonna miss the putt, when traveling.

Lanning understands the advantage, can execute the process of leverage it, and likes to win both on and off the field. On a pure recruiting rating Lanning gets 5*. We have had other guys who had parts of the recruiting formula down, but Lanning hits all the buttons. The IMG of college football is a good comparison to what has been built on campus. This extends to most sports, track is second to none, basketball too with the support facilities. Not sure what other sports are positioned like football, but the Oregon machine does it right. And is being built! As soon as others think they may have caught up, they haven't.

Love the dawgs being favored, there is no where but down to go.

I think there is also touring campuses and programs to network for a possible transfer. If a parent is smart they have the kids take as many tours and network with coaches and players. Why not make connections while you are a free agent. I can respect the kid who knows exactly where he wants to go, and it all works out. I can also see how kids, in this day and age, want to keep options open while building relationships. Coaches leave, superstars get signed for your position. I would counsel my kid to take the trips, be honest, and build those connections, strengthen your social skills.

I have seen many people chase money, for money's sake. Most often it doesn't end well. I would put the move the LA schools did in the same category. The move was poorly thought out, and based mostly on just wanting more. That type of thinking is more often than not the norm, too often anymore.

Committed is like a cat on a leash. The leash is the signed letter, and the leash only works as long as the cat wants it too. Once off the leash no one knows where it will go, and it may not end up anywhere good. Although they thought the next spot was going to be much better. I will say with the competition we have at some positions these recruits better be ready to work, and have the talent to lay it on the line. I can see some positions, like receiver, where some guys may want to go to a school where the battles for playing time aren't so tough.

Dual birthdays, a bit younger, but you have me on the wisdom front, Happy Birthday.

Just invest in the Vanguard Total Oregon ETF. It has been returning about 20% per year since inception, definitely outpacing its' peers. Better to bundle all the Oregon assets rather than hold onto just one. Oregon has proven over and over it can turn losers into winners, and then you want to dump them when they leave. Buy the ETF and then sit back and enjoy those who stick around. You could probably crank up the return by going short those who leave, and stay long on those who come and stay.

Another defensive highlight, which we hopefully see more of this season!

I can only imagine with all this NIL money this will become a bigger issue. Imagine if Cliff wasn't just in a rented Nissan, but a Dodge Charger. He also may have been able to afford more pot, and the famous line, 'we smoked it all" never would have happened. How fast would have Cliff been driving in a car made to go fast? I say we throw no stones, it just a matter of time.

Love how Georgia go a commitment from a student athlete who had no stars, no info on the kid. Rivals now has him at 4*, but if you like a kid who cares about the star rating. Way to go Locklyn and A Big Duck Welcome to young Mr. Riggs. We look forward to Puddles doing many pushups after you put 6 on the scoreboard!

Freaking excited, thanks!

It's also interesting the mentality student athletes brings with them to the program. Some come with the idea they have already made it. They got the scholarship, and earned the many benefits. It seemed like Justin Flowe fell into this category. From what I heard about his campus behavior, he enjoyed the 5*accolades. His on field output backed that feedback up. Others look at it as an opportunity, but don't fully understand what it is going to take to start, and meet the ultimate goal of reaching their true potential. These kids end up, many years from now having big regrets. They become the Uncle Ricos of the world. The last student athlete comes into the program like Haloti did. He saw the competition in the weight room, Igor killing it, and knew the was what he needed to reach his potential. They strive, and never let up the whole time they are in the program. I have a feeling we will see less of the born with elite mentality sticking around, few Uncle Ricos able to stick around, and a culture where competition is rewarded. This is where having Lanning around for at least 4 years or longer is critical. I see all the indicators we are headed in the right direction, we just need the time, and a few on field leaders who can help take us to the next level.

Two things Lanning is after, size and speed. This guy has the size we are after. You can't teach size like that, nor can you teach speed. I just hope he understand the work it will take to start on the OL at Oregon. Being an elite high school recruit is all about having potential, which doesn't always translate to talent at the next levels without effort, and a special focus. I hope this guy has it! My take is Conerly will be the secret sauce for the success of the O-line moving forward. A guy that talented leading the way with how you become elite can't be underestimated. The three things Oregon needs are talent, coaching and mentoring at every position. Conerly and Jackson provide the mentoring element at the O-line. The development of mentoring at every position is something to watch too.

Dilly coached a 5* coaches kid up. Pick a 3* kid nobody knows about and coach him up to a Heisman, and then you have my attention. Helfrich was one hell of a qb coach, when that was his job. I also think Stein has a pretty easy job this season as long as Nix stays healthy. The big test happens if Nix goes down, and when Nix leaves. I hope Stein is half the qb coach Helfrich was, and probably still is.

Marcus had, has some pretty good wheels, but not sub 11. He is still on his high school top ten in long jump, and having a physical specimen at qb helps. I will say the most important muscle for the qb is the one between his ears. The decision making, processing speed of a qb is the key ingredient, and one not easily measured. Also the leadership ability, which Nix seems to have in spades. Hopefully our back-ups can glean some of Nix's knowledge and wisdom on being a qb at the college level. As much as most of us loved Dilly he had no college playing experience, none at qb. Stein brings that knowledge, and hopefully can be a better qb whisperer for our back-ups.

When you have a self anointed, preeminent special teams recruiting evaluation business stating one of their camp kids is the best take it with a grain of salt. Chris Sailer Kicking brings in kids for one day camps for $355, then another 'invitational camp' for $655 all the while touting their connections to all D1 programs in the nation. I have faith in Lannings ability to evaluate talent. I only hope he isn't relying on a this guy with a stopwatch, like the parents in the background are. By the way Rivals doesn't even rate kickers. The 5* rating is a mirage, and something bought, more than earned, my two cents. Sadly, this is true.

Right now the dawgs trajectory is going.............. at best