I know Brock Thomas didn’t quite finish the comeback (he would have if we would just kicked extra points), but seeing a hometown amateur athlete come in to potentially become a hero is why I fell in love with college football.

I miss watching amateur student athletes playing with nothing to lose for the love of the game. The ones who know they’ll never go pro and are playing their last football of their lives.

The 2026 Ducks will go down as definitive proof that it takes a lot more than one of the most expensive football rosters in the country loaded with 4/5 star talent to field a good football team.

Give me Brock Thomas and other players and coaches who are there for the love of the game.

It is what it is. Now is where real players play for pride and real coaches coach out of pride. Let’s get to 4-2.

P.S. I have no idea if Brock gets some NIL, but I’m sure it’s not much.

I think Brock Thomas has earned the start against Nebraska

I agree with your title and what I hate is waiting for so freaking long to see a change.

I really thought Lanning was going to stick with DR and three more picks.

I was really hoping for OT and part of that was to let Brock get his moment in the sun.

Brock gets NIL money. Everyone on the roster does.

I was thinking Brock Thomas halfway through the second quarter.

guys (gals),

we are going to be ok. Lanning and company have hit an extraordinary speed bump. He has already proven he can adjust under duress. This is a project that he will grow from, and he has shown me he has incredible poise despite the massive pressure he faces to perform at the highest elite level against some pretty damn good coaches and their staffs.

He has achieved so much in so little time we have been spoiled. Whomever he starts, and however he attacks this challenge, know that this crises will pass and time will tell how far we climb as a program. We may not reach the pinnacle this year, or any other. Being in the elite circle of contenders is fine for me. It takes an incredible amount of luck and fortune to win a title.

Look at Cristobal. He is only a few years ahead in terms of experience( and he doesn't have a title either despite some "natural" advantages we have to overcome). It takes time. It took Rich Brooks 20 years. Remember that. We went from an Indiana universe to an Oregon Universe with a blend of different styles and approaches. And we are in the group despite our current challenges. This year is a lesson we must be patient and thankful. We have been able to talk about earning our first title for nearly 20 years. Dozens of programs will never have the opportunity we have.

No reason to panic. It will all work out the way it is supposed to,

Brock Thomas was 11 for 15 with 156 yards in one quarter!

2 hours ago, Santa Rosa Duck said:

Brock Thomas was 11 for 15 with 156 yards in one quarter!

A prevent defense will allow those types of numbers but he was competent. The only thing is he couldn't make the big throw to Dak that would have won the game, he doesn't have the arm strength. I was actually thinking Smith should have gone in the last drive to throw some bombs, but maybe we never would never have gotten past our own 30.

Team. A Team is not young men reaching out with one hand to hopefully make an exciting catch and appear on Sports Center. Not a defensive end rushing out of his lane to make an exciting Sports Center Tackle. Fundamentals are a part of everything in our lives. Ego is not. You may have the most Expensive 5 Star athletes, the Best of the Best, but without 'that' special atmosphere, you will Never have a Team. This is not the Jim Brown era, not High School where one young man can dominate-well, RARELY. There are so many excellent players and coaches. We have a Great bunch of athletes, many wonderful human beings as well. Just my opinion, but if our Coaches can Coach for the Team, can Trust these young men and Truly Lead them as a TEAM, these Ducks can be awesome.

Think back to Mike and Nick days. Those guys must have been amazing to do what they did with the talent level they had. Hey, ALL these guys at this stage of the game are pretty Damn Good Athletes! We are close, I hope.

Big THANK YOU to everyone that contributes to all this that Charles has put together for US. I hope the Duck Coaches can organize and lead their guys in Football as well as Charles has Lead Us into a TEAM!

On 10/11/2026 at 9:01 AM, Solar said:

A prevent defense will allow those types of numbers but he was competent. The only thing is he couldn't make the big throw to Dak that would have won the game, he doesn't have the arm strength. I was actually thinking Smith should have gone in the last drive to throw some bombs, but maybe we never would never have gotten past our own 30.

If we're thinking about the same play, Brock actually overthrew Dak by 3 feet so arm strength isn't an issue (he's not elite but has enough). He was under pressure because the OL was collapsing yet again so accuracy went out the window.

On 10/11/2026 at 6:12 AM, Santa Rosa Duck said:

Brock Thomas was 11 for 15 with 156 yards in one quarter!

Remember, that was with the mindset of nothing to lose and saving the day. Not the same pressure as when you’re the starter and not as loose. It doesn’t mean he can’t; but it’s a big mind adjustment between the two roles - especially at QB.

I think Brock is fine for his role, but I am guessing the point being made is that for Brock to complete that 35 yard sideline throw from the pocket, it requires a bit of a wind up to uncork a bit of a rainbow to get there (which by testing his limits of what you would like to see him do, is much more likely to either sail by or float on him), than Dante who can deliver that on a rope with velocity out of his regular throwing motion.

The difference between arguably having as much pure arm talent as any high school QB recruit the last decade compared to a very good walk-on. It is a pretty tough throw for a college QBs to regually make. I see some of the problems people point out currently in Dante's game, but making that throw as good and regularly as anyone isn't among them.

In Brock's defense, until I see Raiola do it in 2026, I am not sure it is a throw he can make much easier either. 🤷‍♂️

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by AnotherOD