Haywarduck

What he is talking about is having a growth mindset. Carol Dweck really made this popular and highlighted its effect on outcomes within individuals and groups. A person can either have a fixed mindset, I am just good and can little effect on how good I can become. The other way to look at things is I can change my outcomes with hard work and attainable goals. I think it is a brilliant move on his part to try and instill this on the team and players. This isn't innate in all people and sometimes even great talent may work hard, but don't realize how to become better. His emphasis on what did you do wrong and work toward changing it is a classic fixed verses growth mindset. The fixed mindset student athlete will just say I am not good at that, and work on what he is good at. The growth mindset student athlete looks toward what they struggle at as a challenge. The mindset of individuals is a fascinating area of study. A team full of players willing to look at their weaknesses and work on them is what makes great teams. It does speak to development of talent. You aren't just tougher than the next guy. You have to be willing to work at getting better, and that means working on weaknesses, something the elite athlete isn't always willing to do.

Great point, it may be an indication of where things have started. I expect JB to get a fair chance at the job, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. One of the most watched position competitions in a long time. Back when Justin was the back-up qb there were rumblings about how he was the most capable, but few, if anyone, knew just how capable he was. Right now we have little to go on other than pictures and conjecture. We may not even get much clarity in the spring game, but there will be ample guessing as to what is going on. I just hope we have two if not three guys who feel they are being developed and given opportunities to compete and grow. We need at least two guys who can step in and lead this team to wins and a dynamic offense, once again!

Whatever keeps Justin healthy, I am sure it doesn't stop at balloon helmets. It will be interesting how the injury bug plays out this year. Justin won the Butkus award for high school players. It would be nice to see him win it,or share it with Noah at the college level. He can then go after it at the NFL level. One step at a time, let's keep him healthy! I just hope that isn't to cover up some of these players inflated egos!

This is how legacies get into colleges, all the time. If this is shocking, then you aren't paying attention. The problem is when it is done overtly, but it is part of the admission process at any school. Being the university of spoiled children makes it too obvious.

Just an increase in gate revenue would help. D-2 and 3 teams may get more traction within their proximity with no other football competition. Their playoffs may get more tv time too. I agree they aren't going to get national or regional exposure with a Linfield-Pacific game. Lavish Larry is for hire, and maybe he can work some magic with a tv deal, but it would take some magic. I would add no one thought ESPN would work either. Who would want to watch sports 24/7? Who would want to watch football in the spring? In the south, at least, I bet a lot of people would like to get their fix of football when the shelves are bare.

If I was Marcus I would look for a good situation before I move to being the top guy. An OC who knows how to use him, good receivers, and an O-line that will protect him. I am not sure Seattle fits that bill. The problem is what team with those attributes wants a back-up to lead the team? He seems destined to finish out his career like Clemens did as a role playing back-up. Too bad he didn't find the right niche when he came into the league. Maybe, just maybe there is a spot where he can excel again? I would love to see it.

Way to think outside the box. Fall is synonymous with football, but no reason spring can't be season-II.

I have been speaking to the fact we should go to the source of talent for a while. When Igor came to Oregon I said lets go to Ukraine and find more of this guy. Maybe after the war we offer some kids who know what tough really is. Going to Senegal for talent is what basketball schools have been doing for a while. You can't teach speed, and you can teach 6' 5" 290 lb., way to go Oregon, and coach Lanning! I almost don't want practices to start. The news from Lanning is so intriguing so far real football news might be a let down. I am willing to take a chance, bring on spring ball! I have a feeling he has some good stuff for us once practices and real football starts too.

I also look for Lanning to get his guys, not just the top recruits. The reason it takes so much time for Saban and Alabama to recruit, is he studies each recruit, and does extensive research on each student athlete. I think Lanning is going to be doing this type of deep dive too. My hope is there is less dead wood on the bench, and more guys ready to step up like Bassa did last year. I mean a freshman safety stepping up to play well at LB, we need more Bassa's!

I find it amazing we are even able to ask why this weekend. It use to be I would just wish one of those guys would have us on their list, let along visit. Wasn't the old line come to Eugene, and have a buffet brunch at the Valley River Center, now it's a bit more compelling!

Spring football is like seeing the crocus's bloom. They are an indication of what is to come, but also tell us there is a lot of work to be done to before we get a full, well manicured team in the ground performing to expectations. At qb I want to see if the coaches put out and engineer more than a manager. The previous coaching staff seemed to want a qb who would manage what was called from the sideline, and then changed from the sideline. The qb was suppose to limit himself to exactly what was called, as was the rb. My question, does the new coaching staff want a commander out on the field who does more than wait for calls and install a predictable offense. Are we, again, going to have a qb who finagles wins, and bamboozles defenses while exciting the crowd? On defense I want to see what the Bassa's can do. Are we going to have players, again who just want to play football and excel wherever we put them. A return to the Troy Dye players who bring a passion and intelligence to our defense is what I want to see. The havoc meter should rise, but I also want to see the passion and intelligence meter rise on defense. This should also be complemented with a more disciplined squad, an extremely important element. I will also look for the coaching identity change. No longer do I want to see a clueless coach who merely exudes intensity and strength. I want to see stoic intelligence on the sideline. There should definitely be passion, but that passion should be towards execution and savvy play on the field. No longer do I want to worry about the end of the game, or critical junctures. I want to again look toward what does our coach have up his sleeve, and the opposing team on their heals while they await the coming bombardment of well thought out, executed play calling. It will be the old Ducks, but just done better!

Maybe a cologne could be made of that smell, ok, maybe not. I would by the candle with that smell to help recreate some memories.

Something was wrong with the guy, hope he gets better soon!

Sadly real news and newspapers are becoming dinosaurs. I am surprised he lasted this long at the sinking ship named The Oregonian. If he can figure out how to stay alive in the new world of supposed news and newsmakers, good for him. Not a world for the faint of heart, nor one I follow.

I, thankfully, don't live in that society. I don't see it here, nor where I travel. I do agree there is far too little critical thinking on many peoples part, but I stay away from that crowd, or discussion.

If we signed all three (4), it would be an epic weekend. If we just sign the brother, not so much. Agree about transfers, motivation is a critical question with these guys. If they are just looking for another place which will solve all their problems then a transfer isn't a good catch. A senior trying to be highlighted for the NFL Draft, not too bad if he is a team player. If Agude wants to be a disruptive force on national tv against Georgia to start the season, bring him on! If I was selling Agude on Oregon that is what I would be selling, and then see his reaction and hear his plan.

Sometimes kids just talk and what they say doesn't necessarily line up with what they do or have done. Pundits are always trying to connect the dots where they shouldn't be connected and making predictions. When a football player says, 'it has been a long day' after a short amount of effort things start to line up in the wrong way. Either Thibs is a shrewd dude and is playing the crowd or he is blind to how he is coming off to those that matter. Putting down others to elevate oneselve is never a solid thing to do. When he put down a southern education he was offending a majority of the NFL players. I wonder about how he was raised when a kid does this type of stuff, just not a smart move in public or private. There is talking smack about an opponent, but that wasn't what he did. Now complaining about how long the day is when the day is about as short as he will see in the NFL is questionable. All the NFL guys can see is talent at the combine. There are few indicators of effort they will see on the field, but Thibs decided to provide a juicy tidbit, strike two in my book. Love the kid, but his education is, evidently, not over.

Agree Richardson is who he is, and mainly he is a Duck for life, love the guy!

If I was coach I would say if you can't make over 60% you have to shoot granny style. That may put some effort into a skill that reflects the overall game we see on the court like nothing else. Sadly the game has become dunks and 3 point shots with little focus on the other skills.

Love it, Brooks started at the same age and they named the field after him. Let's see Lanning get the stadium renamed after him! Make yourself legendary at Oregon Dan!

He better shoot better than 61% from the charity line or I would seldom even take him off the bench. If you can't make free throws, you are a small role player, should be the mantra next year.

I completely agree a player can be made or broken by the team, position one is drafted at. When a defensive end is surrounded by mediocre talent he can be silenced by double teams, and TE's, taking a crack at him as they release off the line. This can also shorten a career which I think we have seen with many players who get injured. When a DE, or really just about any position player has talent around him the one on one opens him up to creating the statistics he will be measured by and the super bowl wins. So if he is taken high on the draft board the pundits may be proven right by his mediocre statistics on a poor team. If he is drafted lower and has support he may look like a steal. In the end I hope he is taken lower in the draft so he can show what he can do. The quandary of the draft process. Do you want to be drafted early for a little extra short term cash, the short term notoriety, or drop, and be put in a place where you can excel as a pro? I will answer that by saying you certainly never want to get drafted by the Lions. Look at Matthew Stafford, a very good qb who could have been just another good qb. Fortunately he was traded and is now on his way to be considered one of the greats. At least he has more than all the records for a losing team and one fill in pro bowl appearance. The curse of being a top draft pick!

I heard they mostly used dynamite and nets.

History is on Dana's side. The free throw shooting average for a team almost always speaks loudly about a team. For this years Ducks the volume is 11 when you look at the free throw shooting. They call it free, and these Ducks won't even work on what is free.