Don't agree with his analysis that if the Pac-12 had stayed together he would have had to leave to become part of a BIG or SEC program. Winning the Pac-12 would have gotten him to the playoffs. Traveling all over the nation playing in the BIG is going to be tougher.

 

Oregon recruited extremely well, and compete at a high level in the Pac-12. Oregon will continue to recruit well, but how well they travel and win in the BIG is yet to be determined.

 

Thinking the move to the BIG is better, especially as compared to a continued PAC-12 just doesn't add up to me. We have the money, could get the recruits, didn't need to add the travel to get the playoffs as they expand. 

 

I don't like the Ducks traveling to Indiana, then Michigan, and then Wisconsin as the season drags on next year. I also don't like the Ducks traveling to Pennsylvania and then New Jersey on consecutive weeks the next year. It is what it is, but not the schedule I would compare favorably to a Pac-12 conference schedule.

 

The one thing I do like is closing the season out playing the dawgs in 2024 and 2025. I also want us to close out 2023 the same way, and a win!

Oregon is a great destination for a coach, look at the commitment that has been made to top notch facilities and the pursuit of excellence.

 

However, it seems so unreal to watch the PAC implode. Not too sure it will really register until the start of next year. Unfortunately, Otegon was forced to make a decision that most did not want to make.

 

Moving to the BIG is more $$$$, and better exposure to a national audience, which benefits recruiting. The downside is the travel and late season weather in some of these states for football.
 

All the other sports that Oregon competes in are a scheduling nightmare for a student/athlete.

 

Nothing like a 4 to 5 hour flight followed by a 1 or 2 hour bus ride in winter conditions to be in peak condition to play 40 minutes of basketball. 
 

Beware of those that make money their main focus when making decisions, such as, in this case blowing up the PAC 12 in the pursuit of making “the bottom line” appear more attractive…(that is you ucla)

 

Foggy, and blurred lenses are common for those that go down this path. 

On 11/15/2023 at 1:25 PM, Haywarduck said:

Don't agree with his analysis that if the Pac-12 had stayed together he would have had to leave to become part of a BIG or SEC program. Winning the Pac-12 would have gotten him to the playoffs. Traveling all over the nation playing in the BIG is going to be tougher.

 

Oregon recruited extremely well, and compete at a high level in the Pac-12. Oregon will continue to recruit well, but how well they travel and win in the BIG is yet to be determined.

 

Thinking the move to the BIG is better, especially as compared to a continued PAC-12 just doesn't add up to me. We have the money, could get the recruits, didn't need to add the travel to get the playoffs as they expand. 

 

I don't like the Ducks traveling to Indiana, then Michigan, and then Wisconsin as the season drags on next year. I also don't like the Ducks traveling to Pennsylvania and then New Jersey on consecutive weeks the next year. It is what it is, but not the schedule I would compare favorably to a Pac-12 conference schedule.

 

The one thing I do like is closing the season out playing the dawgs in 2024 and 2025. I also want us to close out 2023 the same way, and a win!

I have no problem with the football team traveling. Piece of cake. The players are young men. Think they would rather play Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State or ASU, Cal, and Stanford.

 

Ann Arbor for what will be a must-watch CFB game is 922 miles farther than Eugene to Tempe. That's less than 90 minutes in the air.

 

Dan and the training staff will have the Central and Eastern time zone travel figured out. 

 

And the players Oregon recruits all believe they will be in the NFL where this kind of travel is routine.

 

Even trips to Maryland and Rutgers will be shown, at worst, on the Big 10 Network. The BTN is closing in on 70M subscribers. 

 

The money to travel will ease a bit in 6 years when Oregon becomes a full B1G member. The conference has done a great job of making certain that after coast-to-coast travel, a team will have a home game or a bye week after going not three but two time zones away.

 

Being a member of the Power 2 even with being a junior partner for 6 years is far better than rolling the dice with Amazon. OREGON will be featured CFB TV and in sight of top-drawer recruits.

 

And next season the stud QBs who have lifted the Pac-12 this season for the most part will be out of eligibility.

 

Puddles is in the Power 2 money. Far better than what could have been a Pac-9 plus SDS, SMU, and a player to be named later. Far better than being in a conference with vapid leadership.

@Drake, you nailed it when you said “All the other sports that Oregon competes in are a scheduling nightmare for a student/athlete.

 

Nothing like a 4 to 5 hour flight followed by a 1 or 2 hour bus ride in winter conditions to be in peak condition to play 40 minutes of basketball. “

 

In addition to that, add in the men’s and women’s teams in basketball, track and field, cross country, baseball, softball, lacrosse, golf, gymnastics, volleyball, swimming, etc.

 

The throw in the fact that some of those teams play multiple games in a week!
 

 I think we will see the student athletes spending the majority of their time on the road, and the travel budget is going to go exponential with the price of fuel doing what it is doing.

 

It makes me wonder how long football can sustain it.

I agree with Hayward, changing to the BIG is going to be tough on all the sports, although less so on football. It's going to be a killer for basketball in particular. So much travel in the winter months. All the travel will impact how competitive the teams can be. I know football seems to be the only thing that matters, but I feel all the sports will lose. Hopefully, something can come along the future that will be better because I don't think this was the answer.