Team Tailgate

Reflections from an embarrassing loss....

2008-10-05T09:46:00.001-07:00

We got drubbed by a far-superior USC team. Our defense is flat-out terrible. Teams have rediscovered that our "bend, but don't break" defense is a poor strategy. We try to get too cute on offense, and opposing teams make us pay. Our game day coaching is awful. With that said, our Ducks are back to being a laughing stock in college football right now.

I'm not one to always to "fire this person", but clearly, some changes are needed here. It might be time for Coach Bellotti to put his friendship with Nick Aliotti aside, and let him go. We need a defense that's going to take some chances, and not play 10 yards off of wherever the football is going.

Also, I'm really getting tired of hearing about our uniform combinations by commentators, along with things that have nothing to do with football, during the game. I like our uniforms, but maybe the time is right to go back to simple helmets (the ol' lemonheads, with the green stripe down the middle, for example) and jerseys with pre-1998 block numbers. At least, that way, the media will hopefully... hopefully talk about the Ducks' field play, rather than what's coming down the catwalk.

After thinking about who we've beaten this year, I think the best the Ducks can hope for is becoming bowl eligible, and seriously evaluating the state of the team for the 2009 season. I will say this, much to some people's chagrin, we will never excel on the national stage until we play to win... ALWAYS!

In-state non-Comcast fans shouldn't have to pay to watch OSN on the internet

2008-09-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

Going along with the lines of the many blogs that already have addressed this issue, I've got to say this latest move is quite uncaring. OSN will help in-state fans, especially the Medford and Bend media markets (and others without Comcast), in getting Duck games... for a hefty fee. $79.95 for an annual fee, if not paid by September 12th? Wow. It just seems unfair, and it takes advantage of fans in an already tough economy. I live in Salem, but highly prefer DirecTV over Comcast. I'd like to set my DVR to record the game, but I'm not about to pay Comcast on top of the $100/month I pay for satellite.

I actually go to the games at Autzen, but that's not the point. I wouldn't pay a dollar for the service, when it should already be on LOCAL TELEVISION for all to see, at least in the state of Oregon! To those who agree, keep complaining to the university... something has got to give.

***************

Moving on... it's a good thing we have Utah State on Saturday. I want to see more of LaGarrette Blount, and a Duck shellacking, like last week. 56-3 is my take. To those going, have a good game! GO DUCKS!!

Great photoshop of the new "Northwest Championship" T-Shirt

2008-08-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is a great example of photoshop at its finest (*laugh*). GO DUCKS! (Courtesy of Off the Pond)

56 hours until kickoff... so here's some random thoughts

2008-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

I only wish we didn't have to wait around all day to see the Ducks take on the Huskies. But, we'll be tailgating early on Saturday, so there is an upside to the long day.

The Beavers take on the Cardinal tonight, and I'm expecting a good game. Look for OSU to be on "upset alert", as Stanford might pull one off here.

I hope to be writing more again on this blog, but time will be a factor, as our new family business is still taking shape (and more of my time). Just not enough time as to missing any home games. I guarantee it.

Also, the Oregon Club of the Willamette Valley's website is up (I'm now on the board of directors), along with the Duck game day weather forecast by Dave Sweeney. Enjoy and GO DUCKS! Hush the Puppies!

Nate, it's time to hang it up.

2008-08-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard from the overnight news, Oregon QB Nate Costa will now miss the entire season, after finding in surgery that there is more damage to his repaired ACL and meniscus than intially thought.

As soon as I heard a few days ago, that Costa was expected to miss 8-10 weeks of this season, I figured that there wasn't much chance of him coming back this year at all. I told a friend of mine (then) that this could be it for Nate. Now we know for sure.

Nate, I know what you're going through. I know what it's like to have this kind of injury....

That was me (in the middle) in June 2004. I had a blown out knee here, after playing in an Aussie Rules Football game, a sport I love almost as much as college football. My knee has never been the same since, even with surgery. And, after three surgeries yourself, Nate, I don't think it'll ever be the same for you either.

So I say this with a heavy heart, but Nate, the time is right for you to find something else to do in life (coaching, maybe?). I know the road to recovery will be difficult, but the rest of your life is in front of you, and you'll be a stronger person in the long run.

Good luck to you, and GO DUCKS!

Video of the second coming of ESPN's College Gameday and game highlights

2007-11-05T13:39:00.001-08:00

As an Oregon fan, which would I rather have?

2007-10-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

*Imagine the latter is an Oregon national championship ring (of course).

Which would I rather have... a Heisman Trophy winner, or a national championship? Bob Rickert's blog in the Oregonian talks about how Dennis Dixon hasn't had a Heisman moment yet. Frankly, we need to beat ASU, win out this year, be in the Top 2 of the BCS (so we're in the national championship game), and let Boston College's Matt Ryan take home the Heisman Trophy (or possibly, anyone else). We don't need it.

Why? Because fans around the country remember championships, not Heisman winners. Besides Charles Woodson and Reggie Bush, who has two thumbs and thinks players who win the Heisman turn out to be duds in the NFL over the last decade? This guy blogging here.

I think it's much more important for Oregon to win a championship. After getting screwed by the BCS in 2001 and 2005, our time is NOW to crash the BCS party. With College Gameday here again, if we don't start by bringing our loud fans early in the morning, and then dismantling ASU, Dixon for Heisman or national championship won't be discussed for the Ducks anymore, if we don't win Saturday.

Video highlights from the USC game (now with music!)

2007-10-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Featuring game highlights from the USC game. "Mighty Oregon", POD's "Boom", and Autograph's "Turn Up the Radio" are the tracks on the video.

Gameday and weekend video from Huskyville

2007-10-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Gameday photos from Huskyville (and Museum of Flight)

2007-10-23T14:03:00.001-07:00

Computer crash now aside... here is video from the WSU game!

2007-10-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

Should the Oregon Athletic Department save the Wrestling Program?

2007-10-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

I received this video in my YouTube inbox from Dave Nelson, a former UO Wrestling associate, campaigning to save the Oregon Wrestling program. My question is should the Duck Athletic Department keep wrestling? My initial belief is no, but he gives a compelling defense as to why the program should remain.

I dispute two things in his rebuttal, however -- the unknown of whether to use Eugene's Civic Stadium (or the construction [and costs] of a new baseball stadium), and Nike CEO Phil Knight's $100 million contribution (which will be used for the Legacy Fund, not for construction of the new basketball arena -- the Ducks are pursuing bond money for that). Other than that his statement is solid.

What is your belief? Here is our conversation, sharing each side of the argument, to help you decide:

First from Mr. Nelson:

"I'm an Oregon alumnus and sports fan from the days of Dan Fouts, Norv(al) Turner, and the Dick Harter's Kamikaze Kids. I remember Oregon baseball when it the games took place at Howe Field. I was the Duck wrestling sports information director in the mid-1970s. Recently I have become involved with the effort to save the UO's intercollegiate wrestling program, which is schedule for elimination in 2008. Please watch my video, "Ordinary Men," and subscribe to my channel. I appreciate your support.

http://www.saveoregonwrestling.com/"

My response:

"Thank you for the subscription invite. Always glad to see videos from fellow Ducks.

Anyway, as much as I'm sorry to see that wrestling is getting cut, a new day has dawned at the University of Oregon. Baseball and competitive cheer will be great additions to our athletic department. The unfortunate part of this whole mess is that Title IX, bottom-line revenue generation for Oregon, and other factors make cutting wrestling a difficult, but correct choice. If there is a way to keep all three sports, I would support it. But otherwise, unless someone comes up with a new suggestion, I will be throwing my support toward the new programs.

In the meantime, I will feature your video (sometime today) on my blog, Team Tailgate. Maybe there's broader support out there, than what I'm seeing. Thanks again for the invite; good luck with your campaign.

Cheers, Todd Helton (UO '94)"

His rebuttal:

"Dear Todd,

Thank you for your thoughtful response. While I cannot agree with your view that cutting wrestling was the "correct choice," I appreciate your willingness to post my video on your blog and throw the question open to a wider range of Ducks.

Competitive cheer is here for only one reason: a gender equity balancing sport which the baseball boosters were willing to fund as part of the cost of restoring their sport. It is probably the one that will cost the athletic department the least; hence its existence.

Baseball his here because Kilkenny's top priority is opening up new streams of revenue from donors. Ever since John Caine's administration cut baseball in 1981, there have been certain boosters who have refused to donate to the athletic department.

Make no mistake. Baseball will lose much more money than wrestling did, but Pat believes this will be made up by a reinvigorated donor base whose new contributions--while not specifically earmarked for baseball--will make the decision monetarily positive. We'll see.The elephant in the room is the cost of a stadium. I'm not sure Civic Stadium will be a viable long-term solution--not when competitor programs are building or remodeling modern new on-campus facilities. When Bill Byrne, a former Duck AD, was at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers contributed $12 million toward the $30 million price tag for constructing a joint-use facility with the local minor-league team and the Lincoln city government. I'm not sure that kind of expenditure is feasible in Eugne, as Knight's recent gift (addressed below) is earmarked for other things.

Baseball could become a financial disaster, which may not become apparent until well after Kilkenny's two-year contract expires and he returns to the comfort of San Diego's winters.

During Moos' last year as athletic director, the department lost approximately $3 million, primarily because of deferred compensation obligations. This is not so well known among Oregon fans. When the change of command occurred, the athletic department had only $85,000 in it's checking account--which is nothing.

Oregon desperately needs a new athletic revenue stream, of which the baseball boosters are only a small part. Moos was paid a $2 million buyout because he didn't get along with Phil Knight. When Knight's buddy Kilkenny took over, it paved the way for the $100 million donation which will serve as a down payment for the badly needed new basketball palace. Most of this gift will be consumed for that purpose.

Wrestling got caught in the perfect storm: a deceivingly precarious athletic budget, the baseball rejuvenation that exacerbated Title IX concerns, and a series of broken promises regarding its practice facility.

Several years ago Bellotti ran out of patience with athletic department foot-dragging on a promised new treatment facility. Moos "solved" the problem by taking away the wrestling room and promising Coach Kearney a new facility in the yet-to-be-constructed basketball building. Then, after Kilkenny took control, he found that he could save $6 million by eliminating the proposed new wrestling room.

I argue passionately for wrestling because it's a vital part of small-town Oregon. There are dozens of small cities across the state for which mid-winter wrestling matches are a vital part of the social fabric. Under Ron Finley, Oregon constantly had a top-20 wrestling program, despite the existence of Dale Thomas' wrestling juggernaut up the road in Corvallis. That was the point of my film, and subsequent onces that I will produce: Some 6,000 Oregon boys wrestle in high school each year with only three college wrestling programs to absorb the best prep wrestlers. Now there will be only two.

By contrast, there are at least 15 collegiate baseball programs in the state available to a high school baseball population of about 7,500.

Wrestling costs the university only $629,000 per year, and almost all of the roster is make up of Oregonians. Check out the national origin of the Duck tennis players. By comparison, is cutting wrestling good stewardship of our resources?

Thanks again for subscribing to my video stream, and I promise more in the weeks ahead. I fully understand the arguments for the projected changes; I just wish that most Duck fans knew all of the circumstance. I'll use your blog and others for this purpose.

Thanks, again, for the medium. You may post this response on your blog if you desire.

Best wishes, Dave Nelson (UO wrestling SID, 1974-75)"

Three Pac-10 teams in the Top 10, four in the Top 25!

2007-10-07T12:32:00.001-07:00

I think Les Miles has it wrong about the SEC being the best conference in all of college football. All of a sudden, the Pac-10 has three teams in the Top 10. SEC? Only two (or one, depending on the poll). Granted, USC may now be overrated, but Cal and Oregon have a good shot at a BCS bowl or the National Championship. If the Trojans turn things around after being upset at home to Stanford, they too will be in the mix. The wildcard is Arizona State. They almost blew in Pullman against the Washington State Cougars yesterday. The Sun Devils are good, but I still don't think they're THAT good. Dennis Erickson is a hell of a coach though, so no one should turn their back on ASU.

The next three weeks will be very telling about this year's Ducks. Oregon gets Wazzu and USC at Autzen, but has to go to Seattle to face a pesky Husky team. I have renewed enthusiasm about our Ducks, and I hope, now that the bye week is behind them, that they will too.

More Gameday photos from the Cal game...

2007-10-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my aunt and uncle - Jerry & Suzanne for making the trip down from Seattle (and taking these great shots!).

College Gameday & Team Tailgate Video from the Cal game

2007-10-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

A tough day, but a great day nonetheless. Just have to look forward to the WSU game. Enjoy!

Aggressive "Yellow Out" campaign less than impressive (and Gameday photos)

2007-09-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Kind of what I thought would happen, really. Tell someone to do something, and the knee-jerk reaction is to do the opposite, or something completely off-the-wall. Granted, there was A LOT of yellow (including myself and Linda), but not nearly enough to make me go WOW!!!!

I think true Duck fans should already know what to wear... yellow. The campaign was a good idea, but what you throw on for Gameday should always be OREGON DUCKS no matter what the color may be. The freedom of fashion choice is a beautiful thing. That's all I'll say about that.

It was great to have College Gameday here, tough loss to Cal, but at least, we didn't slide too far in the rankings, and the Rose Bowl is still on the table. It'll take a couple of days to get that bitter taste of defeat out of my mouth, though, when the game was almost won.

On to the Team Tailgate photos -- early morning before College Gameday, Todd & Linda at the tailgate after CG, and the Oregon Marching Band played "Kashmir" and "Mighty Oregon", right in front of us! Video coming this week -- enjoy! :)

Cal at Oregon - By The Numbers

2007-09-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

Source: Scout.com (eDuck forums)

Here's some pretty even numbers, breaking down the closeness of Oregon and Cal.

Some numbers from the Pac-10 rankings (and national rankings):

Scoring: 1. UO 48.5 (#7 in the nation)
3. Cal 41.5 (#15 in the nation)

Scoring Defense: 3. UO 21.5 (#45 in the nation)
5. Cal 24.5 (#58 in the nation)

Passing Offense: 6. UO 237.0 (#50 in the nation)
9. Cal 213.0 (#69 in the nation)

Rushing Offense: 1. UO 299.8 (#4 in the nation)
3. Cal 213.0 (#23 in the nation)

Total Offense:1. UO 536.8 (#7 in the nation)
7. Cal 432.5 (#40 in the nation)

Passing Efficiency: 1. Dixon 188.1 (#4 in the nation)
5. Longshore 133.4 (#48 in the nation)

Pass Efficiency "D": 3. UO 109.4 (#34 in the nation)
5. Cal 123.2 (#59 in the nation)

Rush "D": 5. Cal 102.5 (#30 in the nation) - 3.2 yards per carry
8. UO 164.8 (#77 in the nation) - 4.1 yards per carry

Kick Off Returns: 1. UO 29.2 (#8 in the nation)
2. Cal 28.5 (#11 in the nation)

Punting Net: 1. UO 39.0 (#11 in the nation)
3. Cal 37.6 (#24 in the nation)

Punt Returns: 1. Cal 14.9 (#19 in the nation)
2. UO 11.3 (#44 in the nation)

KO Return Defense: 7. UO 24.38 (#96 in the nation)
9. Cal 24.70 (#98 in the nation)

3rd Down Efficiency: 3. UO 46.4 (#23 in the nation)
5. Cal 46.0 (#26 in the nation)

3rd Down Defense: 5. UO 34.8 (#43 in the nation)
6. Cal 35.6 (#49 in the nation)

Penalties Fewest: 4. UO 24 (#43 in the nation)
9. Cal 35 (#101 in the nation)

Red Zone Defense; 1. UO 66.7
2. Cal 73.7

Red Zone Offense: 6. UO 81.8
7. Cal 80.0

Time of Possession: 7. Cal 28:58 (#84 in the nation)
10. UO 27:24 (#107 in the nation)

TO Margin: 1. UO +7
1. Cal +7

Sacks: Cal (13), UO (10)

Sacks Allowed: Cal (3), UO (8)

Tackles: 02. Harper (UO): 10.5
04. Felder (Cal): 10.2
08. Willaims (Cal): 9.2
09. Ezeff (Cal): 8.8
10. Thurmond (UO): 8.2 (tie)
10. Chung (UO): 8.2
17. DeCloud (Cal): 7.2
21. Boyd (UO): 6.8
25. Thompson (Cal): 6.5
39. Tuitele (UO): 5.2
42. Hampton (Cal): 5.0
44. Byrd (UO): 4.8
46. Follett (Cal): 4.7
50. Bacon (UO); 4.5

Sacks: 4. Reed (UO): 3.0
7. Alualu (Cal): 2.5

Tackles for Loss: 1. Reed (UO): 6.0 (tie - James)
4. Faateette (UO): 5.0 (tie - Davis)

Oregon-Stanford game debacle at Magoo's, and Pac-10 TV coverage

2007-09-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

First off, I've been to Magoo's Tavern in Salem many times to watch the Ducks play "non-televised" games, because they've been successful in finding the wild feed off of their big, ugly satellite dish in the past. Not last Saturday night, however. The game started at 7 p.m., and as of 7:45, they were still looking for it. Needless to say, many fans, including myself, left... disappointed. Did anyone else experience issues locating the Duck game on TV as well around Oregon? Did Magoo's finally ever get the feed?

Luckily, I got back my cover charge, but the game's just not the same, listening to it on the radio. OSN radio guy Jerry Allen fumbles around too much in describing the game. It's usually painful to listen to, and it takes me 30 seconds just to figure out what the play was. Watching the replay the next day just doesn't do it for me either... since the outcome had been long decided.

Which brings me to my next point, the Pac-10 prohibits more than one game to be shown on television, in the same time slot. So why in the world did the Pac-10 allow three games be scheduled at the same time, with the very first game starting at 3 p.m.? Couldn't the conference teams space out the starting time of the games, say beginning at 12:30, giving more teams the opportunity to be seen on TV? Conferences like the SEC and Big Ten are killing us in the race to televise games. That should be unacceptable to the Pac-10! If we got more games on TV, then maybe, I wouldn't have to worry about standing around in a crowded bar, wondering if a road game's available to watch live. I can just sit on my couch at home, and only concern myself with cheering on the Ducks.

At least ESPN's College GameDay is coming to Eugene this week. At least one thing's for sure... I'll be wearing something with "Oregon Ducks" on it.

Better late than never... Fresno St. @ Oregon & Sunriver

2007-09-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Here's some Team Tailgate pre-game of the Fresno State/Oregon game from inside Autzen (which also features an Oregon Duck sighting at the end):

Then, it was off to Sunriver (in Central Oregon) for gorgeous views of the Deschutes River, Benham Falls, and Lava Butte:

One of the most stupid debates right now...

2007-09-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

I get home from Sunriver today (an anniversary trip with my wife), and I can't believe this is actually an argument among fellow Duck fans: whether to wear yellow or green for next week's home game against Cal. Now, granted, the prospect of ESPN's College Gameday coming here has everyone around here in a tizzy, but all of this talk is just plain silly. Duck Sports News, based on information they've received, said that they want to see fans in yellow (which has nothing to do with the yellow T's they're selling, hmm?) Or, some have said, wear green(!), because Cal's going to wear yellow. Ugggghhhh! Who cares!

My take is this: wear whatever the hell you want, as long as you're covered (head to toe) in ANY Oregon Duck gear for ANY future Duck game. Duh!

We still have Stanford to play, so start looking now for your favorite sports bar with the "big ugly dish" to find Saturday's game live. And we'll worry about Gameday fashion next week.

It's official: The Michigan Wolverines really suck

2007-09-09T09:53:00.001-07:00

This picture is worth a thousand words! To go to the Big House and make it "Our Big House" is huge!!

39-7 Ducks! 80 percent chance of a Michigan victory? Hardly. Robert Paulson and his blog can suck it!

Appalachian State and Oregon owns the Wolverines.

Video highlights of Team Tailgate and Oregon Pre-Game

2007-09-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

Pics of Team Tailgate and from the Oregon-Houston game... video to come later this week

2007-09-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures from last Saturday. It was a good time had by all, despite the lack of a Duck defense.

The Beavers' sports bra uniforms... ugh.

2007-08-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

I just had to photoshop this. I kept staring like a creep at these ugly "high-and-tight" sports bra unis.

The Beavs have a solid defense and running game, right up until they go against Pac-10 foes. It could be a long season for Oregon State.

New Team Tailgate logo for 2007-2008

2007-08-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here's our new iron-on for the back of this year's spirit T-shirts.

Barney the Chihuahua is our mascot again, and he's ready to go!

GO DUCKS!!!!!

There's no escape from the Oregon/Oklahoma replay debacle

2007-08-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Eugene Register-Guard has a new columnist, George Schroeder. He's taking over the writing duties from current Sports Editor Ron Bellamy, who wants to spend more time managing the sports section at the R-G. The ironic thing is that Schroeder comes to Oregon from The Oklahoman newspaper. And what does he write about in his first column? Of course, last year's Oregon/Oklahoma game.

On the surface, he seems to be a good writer, so time will tell if he does his homework, and get to know our teams and our state. It will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being a columnist in Oregon, where fans can be hard to deal with.

I liked what he said in this sentence though: "Evil men in swooshes did not collaborate to cheat Oklahoma. The Sooners wear Nike, too."

Too true!

Oregon has only a 20% chance of winning at Michigan

2007-08-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

There's this blogger who feels that the Ducks don't stand a chance in the Big House at Michigan on September 8th. He has the Wolverines possessing an 80% chance of victory. And off course, he has Michigan going undefeated all season. I don't know what blue and maize tinted-glasses he's wearing, but at the very least, I just don't see Michigan trouncing Oregon (3-4 point victory for the winner), and I think the Wolverines will LOSE at Wisconsin. No way they escape Camp Randall unscathed.

I guess everyone's got an opinion, but I feel only USC and LSU have the best chance to go undefeated in 2007.

OSU's Sammie Stroughter makes an appearance at practice

2007-08-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

According to the Oregonian's Beaver Blog, Oregon State Beavers' wide receiver Sammie Stroughter, who's been MIA from fall camp thus far, showed up for a few minutes at practice on Saturday, watching quietly from the end zone.

No one knows (or will say) what his deal is. Some of his teammates say he doesn't look happy. If it's serious "personal issues", I would take this year off, if I were him, and do whatever he needs to get straight. Stroughter is a great wide receiver, and his presence (under normal circumstances) would be good for the Pac-10. But if his head's not in the game, there's no sense in him being there, as a distraction to the Beavers, who are preparing for August 30th. For his sake though, I hope Stroughter gets to being back to his old self again.

Crybaby Felipe has left the Ducks Football team

2007-08-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Source: Register-Guard

Senior defensive end Victor Filipe, who redshirted last season due to an elbow injury, has elected to leave the UO football team in search of playing time elsewhere.

Filipe was passed on the depth chart by sophomore transfer Will Tukuafu after the first week of fall camp. Ducks coach Mike Bellotti confirmed Filipe’s departure after Friday’s morning practice.

Filipe finished his UO career with nine tackles, three for loss, including two sacks. He appeared in 21 games, with five starts.

"I wish him well and hope he finds what he’s looking for,” Bellotti said.

If it wasn’t a certainty before, I’d say this all but assures that freshman Kenny Rowe will play this fall.

The Linn-Benton and Salem-Keizer Oregon Clubs to Merge

2007-08-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

The two Oregon Clubs (Linn-Benton and Salem-Keizer) are merging to form the Oregon Club of the Willamette Valley.

Personally, it's fine with me, because the noon-time luncheons before home games will still be at Creekside Golf Club in South Salem. It's a five-minute drive from work for me. (ha ha!)

Response to R-G guest commentary: Playing football in China will not adversely affect UO, the school

2007-08-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Leave it to yet another Eugene "non-sports fan" hippie academic to whine about the UO Athletic Department spending their private money, from ticket sales and donations, to consider (and possibly) going to China to play a non-conference game in 2009.

The thing is, lady, there have been money issues on the academic side of the University of Oregon since I was a student. Education is what you make of it, not what can be handed to you. The costs will continue to rise, regardless of what the athletic side does.

My solution is this: You want more money for the University? Go lobby the State Legislature and Congress for more public money, and leave the Athletic Department out of it.

Oregon Ducks Countdown to Kickoff MySpace Widget

2007-08-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

I may be slow in finding out about this, but you can add this to your blog and/or MySpace page. You can get the code here:

http://admin.xosn.com/quest/Questionaire.dbml?&QID=2193&DB_OEM_ID=500

Must be nice to be Phil Knight... the best owner in college sports

2007-08-15T11:13:00.002-07:00

Through various sources, Saturday's Oregon Ducks practice will be closed to the public and the media... because practice is being held at Nike's world headquarters campus in Beaverton.

The practice may be closed to everyone else, but do you think Nike CEO Phil Knight will miss an opportunity to see "his team" in training, on his turf? Not a chance. It must be great to have that much power and influence in the Oregon athletic department.

Team Tailgate 2007 Pac-10 Preview

2007-08-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

Ah, college football....

It's that time of year where everyone's undefeated, and everyone's going to win the national championship. Fall practices around the Pacific-10 Conference (and the country) are well underway. Soon, we will all look forward to Saturdays, with ESPN's College Gameday first thing in the morning, then tailgating at the stadium, or at home in front of the plasma widescreen.

After reading the news from camps around the Pac-10, my opinion of how each team will finish this year hasn't changed much, and is similar to the many preseason magazines off of the bookstore racks. Here's my take on how the Pac-10 will do this year in 2007 (in order of finish):

1. USC (11-2, 7-2 conf. in 2006) – In receiving all 39 first-place votes in the Pac-10 media poll, let’s just start off by saying the Trojans are loaded with talent, across the board. They return seven starters on offense, and 10 on defense. USC will have some holes to fill at wide receiver and running back, but the new players filling those spots are plenty talented, and should be fine. The Trojan defense, again, will be one of the best in the nation. How could the Trojans lose? Well, it would be because of their brutal schedule: at Nebraska, at Notre Dame, at Oregon, at California, and hosting UCLA. Any one of those games could trip USC up. And, I just found out the backup QB Mark Sanchez is hurt. Will starting QB John David Booty be able to handle the entire load for a while? I believe so. They could lose one game at worst, but will most likely go undefeated. Look for the Trojans to vie for a national title game bid. Prediction: 12-0, 9-0 Pac-10

2. California (10-3, 7-2 conf.) – The Golden Bears luckily shared the Pac-10 title in 2006 with USC, despite losing to the Trojans earlier in the season. QB Nate Longshore and WR DeSean Jackson (a Heisman Trophy candidate) are probably the best offensive tandem in the conference. Cal returns seven on offense, but only five on defense. The Bears secondary will be green, and they may have to outscore some teams this year, but they can put up some points on the scoreboard. They have to play a couple of tough midseason games on the road against Oregon and UCLA, and they’ll try to vindicate last year’s defeat to USC, but at least the game’s in Berkeley. Prediction: 10-2, 7-2 Pac-10

3. UCLA (7-6, 5-4 conf.) – The Bruins will be breaking in their new offensive coordinator, Jay Norvell, but that shouldn’t slow down this potent offense. They have enough tools to win the Pac-10 title. UCLA has 20 starters coming back (10 offense, 10 defense). There most likely is a battle going on for the starting QB job, between two talented players in Ben Olsen and Patrick Cowan, as they seek their share of the snaps. The Bruins probably have the best wide receiving corps in the conference, and have a good running back in Chris Markey. UCLA also boasts a great defensive line, with fast defensive ends and linebackers. They get Notre Dame, California, and Oregon at home, but have to go to the Coliseum to face USC. The Bruins don’t make it past Cal and USC though. Prediction: 10-2, 7-2 Pac-10

4. Oregon (7-6, 4-5 conf.) – The second-half collapse of the Ducks was hopefully a fluke, as they try to overcome their immense number of injuries and lack of confidence late in the season, that they experienced in 2006. Oregon, like UCLA, has a new offensive coordinator (and spread offense guru) in Chip Kelly. With the seven returning starters on offense, and the seven on defense, the Ducks, behind QB Dennis Dixon, need to maintain their good offensive production (#9 in NCAA total offense in 2006), and utilize the running game more, with bruiser RB’s Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson. Special teams will hopefully improve, but remains in question, along with their depth on the defensive line. The Ducks were abysmal at stopping the run last year (ninth in the Pac-10). Oregon arguably has the best secondary in the conference, however, with Patrick Chung, Jairus Byrd, and Walter Thurmond III, each as potential All Pac-10 candidates in 2007. The Ducks have a favorable schedule, but still will have trouble at Michigan, at home versus USC, and at UCLA. Prediction: 9-3, 7-2 Pac-10

5. Arizona State (7-6, 4-5 conf.) – The lucky thing for the Sun Devils is that it’s now 2007, and they have one heck of a new head coach in Dennis Erickson. After last year’s fall camp debacle with Nebraska QB Sam Keller quitting the team, starting QB Rudy Carpenter was miserable in 2006, compared to when he shared snaps with Keller his freshman year. ASU has 10 offensive starters returning, but only six on defense. The Sun Devils feature a decent running game with RB Ryan Torain, and the entire offensive line is back, so it should give Torain room to roam. Here’s the hard part… figuring out their win and losses. Besides hosting Arizona, California and USC, the Sun Devils travel to Washington State, Oregon, and UCLA. Not a good way for Erickson to start his tenure in Tempe. Prediction: 7-5, 4-5 Pac-10

Now, a quick look at the rest of the Pac-10:

6. Washington State (6-6, 4-5 conf.) – QB Alex Brink is one of the best in the Pac-10, and could become number one on the Cougar's career passing list by year’s end. The problem is, WSU needs to work on their running game and defense. Prediction: 6-6, 4-5 Pac-10

7. Arizona (6-6, 4-5 conf.) – The Wildcats have most of their weapons coming back, but QB Willie Tuitama needs to stay healthy (and concussion-free) for Arizona to move up this list. They do have one of the better defenses in the Pac-10, however. Prediction: 6-6, 3-6 Pac-10

8. Oregon State (10-4, 6-3 conf.) – The Beavers have a great defense and excellent running game. That might be enough to win games. Or, it might not be enough. There’s a QB battle between Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao. And what’s worse is that star WR Sammie Stroughter has been MIA from fall camp so far (no word if he’s returning), and punter Kyle Loomis has quit the team. Uh oh. Prediction: 6-6, 3-6 Pac-10

9. Washington (5-7, 3-6 conf.) – A few bright spots this year for the Huskies include a good offensive line and decent receivers. But that will only take you so far, if anointed blue-chip freshman QB Jake Locker comes out green and gets hammered by opposing defenses. If he doesn’t complete passes, and if RB Louis Rankin gets hurt again, look for head coach Tyrone Willingham to receive his walking papers. Prediction: 2-10, 2-7 Pac-10

10. Stanford (1-11, 1-8 conf.) – New head coach Jim Harbaugh said at the Pac-10 Media Day, “I will enjoy the struggle” at turning around the Cardinal. He won’t be “enjoying” anything, if his team gives up another 50 sacks as Stanford did in 2006. The Cardinal were near the bottom of the NCAA in total offense and defense last year… I don’t expect that to change this year. You’re in it for the long haul, Jimmy. Good luck getting some of Michigan's recruits. Prediction: 0-12, 0-9 Pac-10

Well, there you have it. That's my take on the Pac-10 conference. Please feel free to let me know what you think. Saturdays are coming!

"Casey-gate" now making Oregonian look bad, not Ducks

2007-08-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

I think it's outstanding that Dave Frohnmayer and Pat Kilkenny of the University of Oregon are standing up to The Oregonian, and emphatically denying ever offering the baseball head coaching job to Oregon State's Pat Casey.

Any freshman journalism school student knows to check (and double check) their sources. This so-called, concocted(?) "well-placed" source that The Oregonian's Brian Meehan refers to is losing credibility by the minute. Bad reporting, Meehan... bad!

The Oregonian wants to keep finding ways to pick on the Ducks

2007-08-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Brian Meehan of The Oregonian says that it is fundamentally wrong for the Oregon Ducks to go after OSU baseball coach, Pat Casey. A "well-placed" source (well-placed? who?) says that Oregon was trying to get Casey. I highly doubt that. What would there be to gain by it? There's no need for "etiquette training" for Oregon, because there's no story! Dave Brundage is the more logical candidate to pursue, and a better fit for our fledgling program.

Todd is honored to get published on the 'Q'

2007-08-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

I received an opportunity on FanIQ to give my argument why the Pac-10 will be the best conference in all of college football. Several people have given me their "thumbs up" on it. Let me know what you think. Here it is, if you don't want to have to visit FanIQ (below).

Why is the Pacific-10 Conference the best in all of college football? I can tell you why in just three words… experience and depth.

Southern Cal, for one, has not only survived brutal Pac-10 slates in recent years, but has done so in convincing fashion. Teams in our conference typically beat up on each other year in, and year out, but the Trojans always seems to emerge unscathed. Plus, they’ve further proven their worth, by appearing in a few national title games in this decade alone. USC has also received all 39 first-place votes in this year’s Pac-10 Preseason Media poll.

Throughout our conference, the Pac-10 has some of the most experienced teams, top to bottom. According to ESPN, of the 240 starters from last year’s teams, 165 starters return to their respective programs. That’s nearly 69 percent of the returning starters! There’s a wealth of talent, especially at key positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, and cornerback. Even Pac-10 coaches are among some of the best in the nation, and have had great prior success, like USC’s Pete Carroll, Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson, Oregon’s Mike Bellotti, and California’s Jeff Tedford.

Position depth is also a factor. At quarterback, USC and UCLA are at least two-deep on their rosters, in terms of solid talent. At running back, Oregon features lots of versatility with Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson. UCLA has arguably the best receiving corps in the Pac-10, if not one of the best in the nation. The best offensive tandem in the conference is Cal quarterback Nate Longshore and his wideout, DeSean Jackson. And either Oregon State or UCLA could boast that they have the best overall defense in the conference.

Offensively, the Pac-10 can compete with (and surpass) anyone in the nation, as four teams are ranked in the top 25, in terms of total offense in 2006: Oregon (#9 in NCAA), Cal (#12), USC (#21), and Washington State (#25). Defensively in 2006, the Pac-10 also performed well: UCLA (#9 – rushing defense), USC (#11 – scoring defense), Oregon State (#29 – rushing defense).

Basically, if you like teams with wide-open offenses and punishing defenses, the Pac-10 gives you that, and more. Head-to-head and game-by-game, our conference’s teams can challenge any other conference’s team any day. To me, that’s why I know the Pac-10 is the best, in all of college football. And, look for a Pac-10 team (hint: USC) to fight for a spot in the BCS National Championship Game again this year.

Bring on the season!

Canzano: Bellotti is a spin master trying to save his job. Also, Ducks in China?

2007-08-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

John Canzano just can't leave Oregon and Mike Bellotti alone. First, he got on the coach for openly saying Dennis Dixon should've stayed in Eugene this summer, and now he's accusing Bellotti of being a "spin master", and deflecting the Ducks' shortcomings over the past few years on others... coaches, players, etc. So what?

This one guy (in the blog comments) brought up this point, which I have to agree with... Bellotti has brought the program success. Period. Read below:

I think a lot of us "old" duck fans still can't quite believe we are here, where Oregon could be seen as a national power. I am 36. I graduated from high school in 89, the fall I went away to college was the year Oregon went to the Independence Bowl, their first bowl in over 20 years.

Fans who have been here that long remember the pre league games against Pacific and San Jose State in Autzen that went down to the wire through the late 70's and 80's. We remember the years like when Musgrave led the team to a great start, only to break his collar bone against Arizona State and the season was lost. We remember great individual players mired on losing teams who gave their all.

We saw the Rich Brooks era (89-94), after waiting over 12 years for him to build the program, we went through those inconsistent years where we'd make a low level bowl, then go 3-8, then another low level bowl, then 4-7. Then, Kenny Wheaton intercepts a pass and suddenly, the Ducks are in the Rose Bowl. Most of us didn't cry when Brooks left, he was a plodder, slowly, painfully building from perrenial doormat to occasionally successful, and a lot of us wanted something new after 18 years of Brooks.

Belotti has been coaching now for 12 years. In that 12 years, we have 10 bowl games, we have 2 New Years Day bowls, we have shared titles, national relevence, and cutting edge glitz. To a lot of us old Duck fans, the last dozen years has felt like a long term fluke, like if we push away Belotti, we go back to the 80's. We associate the success with the man who led the team during it.

There are problems. The collapses the last few years, the bowl losses, the questionable recruits, but for many of us, its frightening to hold Belotti accountable. Its like when the Kings (I am still a rabid Duck and Blazer fan though I live in Yuba City near Sac) fired Adelman, the people cheered, but they didn't have a plan. They weren't firing Adelman for Phil Jackson, or even Nate McMillan. Change for its own sake rarely works out.

Well stated. Also, the Ducks are working on a non-conference game with Boise State, in China of all places. Stay tuned.

Feel the Earth QUACK

2007-08-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is the new spirit t-shirt for all Oregon Ducks sports for 2007-2008. I think it's going to take some getting use to. But, like all late summer happenings, Duck fans anticipate the start of football, as everyone around here is excited. GO DUCKS!

It's Go Time: A look at the Ducks as they begin preparations for the 2007 season

2007-08-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Gotta love it the Ducks begin practice today. Just under 4 weeks to go until the Oregon home opener against Houston at Autzen Stadium. Here's a little piece from the Eugene Register-Guard to whet your appetite for college football!

Source: The Register-Guard

As Oregon primes for the football season, how about a practice primer?

The Ducks open fall camp with the first of 29 preseason workouts this afternoon. Veterans take the field at 12:15 p.m., with the less-experienced group at 4:30 p.m. as Oregon practices with a split squad for four days.

The team dons pads for the first time Friday, and will scrimmage briefly that day before double days begin Saturday.

There's much to watch for this month as the Ducks prepare for their season opener Sept. 1 against Houston at Autzen Stadium. The team's five biggest questions:

1. IS DENNIS DIXON READY TO LEAD?
The issue Oregon most wanted to address this offseason on offense was turnovers, and Dixon needed to do his part after throwing 14 interceptions as a junior. Then, after adjusting to a new coordinator in spring drills, the athletic scrambler spent the summer playing minor-league baseball rather than working out with his football teammates. Today is Dixon's first chance to prove the Ducks won't suffer from his absence this summer. UO coach Mike Bellotti believes his quarterbacks to be a strength of the team, but Dixon and Brady Leaf must show more consistency.

2. CAN THE OTHER "SKILL" GUYS BECOME MORE CONSISTENT, TOO?
There is also ample talent among the backs and receivers, but again some questions. Clearly, Jonathan Stewart has the physical tools to be a dominant back in the Pac-10 Conference. But it remains to be seen how he'll react to carrying a bigger load this fall, particularly in light of his history of injuries. And the Ducks love their group of receivers, led by Jaison Williams. He typifies a unit filled with big, fast players - players who don't always haul in passes they're expected to catch.

3. WILL THE RUN DEFENSE COMPLEMENT A STRONG SECONDARY?
With rover Patrick Chung and sophomore cornerbacks Jairus Byrd and Walter Thurmond III, Oregon has one of the top secondaries in the conference. Indeed, the unit helped the Ducks lead the Pac-10 in pass defense a year ago, though that was offset by a No. 9 ranking against the run. Key to improving that will be the ability of the UO defensive tackles to stay healthy. Three of the four players on the preseason two-deep - Cole Linehan, Jeremy Gibbs and Sonny Harris - missed significant time due to injury in 2006. And if they go down again this fall, the team can't turn to top recruits Myles Wade and Simi Fili, who each failed to qualify academically.

4. WHAT EFFECT WILL TOM OSBORNE HAVE ON THE SPECIAL TEAMS?
Osborne returns to Eugene after six seasons at Arizona State. Last fall, the Sun Devils were better than the Ducks in nearly every special teams category, and Bellotti is hoping for a boost across the board now that Osborne is back. But of primary concern is the punt-return game. Chung and running back Andiel Brown are slotted to field punts at the moment, but each struggled to hang on to the ball last fall.

5. CAN THE DUCKS RELY ON TWO NEW KICKERS?
Returner Matt Evensen, who went 1-for-3 on field-goal attempts last fall, is listed as an "or" on the depth chart, but he's below a true freshman at place-kicker in the form of Daniel Padilla. The two will also contend for the kickoff job, which becomes tougher this year after the NCAA moved the placement for such kicks back five yards. At punter, the Ducks like the leg of transfer Josh Syria, who sat out last season as a redshirt. But punting in games rather than practice is a whole different deal.

Head-to-head
Three key position battles

Strongside linebacker: Kwame Agyeman is a heady player and respected leader on the defense after starting all 13 games at the position Oregon calls "strong safety" last season. But from a production standpoint, he was unspectacular, and the Ducks want more game-changing plays - i.e., turnovers - on defense this season. If the taller, faster Jerome Boyd can show an improved grasp of the defense this fall, the position could be his.

Slot receiver: Cameron Colvin, one of the most highly regarded recruits to ever sign with Oregon, has one more chance to reach all that potential after being dogged by injuries. Colvin currently sits second on the depth chart behind the speedy Brian Paysinger, who started 12 games in 2006.

Defensive end: While Nick Reed holds down one side of the line, the other will likely be manned by a player who didn't take a snap last season - anywhere. The most familiar face is senior Victor Filipe, who redshirted with an elbow injury last fall but started five games in 2005. He'll battle intriguing transfer Will Tukuafu, who sat out last season at his second JC stop but impressed UO coaches in spring drills.

IT'S THEIR TIME
Players with big shoes to fill

John Bacon, MLB: All Blair Phillips did last season was lead Oregon in tackles with 105, post nine for loss with two sacks, intercept a pass, force a fumble and recover another. Then there was that blocked field goal against Oklahoma. Bacon may not be expected to repeat that last feat, but otherwise he'll be asked to replace Phillips as QB of the defense. He's a cerebral player who showed signs of cutting it loose in the spring.

Jeff Kendall, C: Gone after 33 career starts is Enoka Lucas, who fostered both intensity and unity on the O-line. Kendall added weight in the offseason, and he held his own in the spring. Still, the Ducks will also give all-league tackle Max Unger a look at the position in camp, even though Unger sat out spring drills following hernia surgery.

Matthew Harper, FS: The Ducks are also missing last season's second-leading tackler, graduated safety J.D. Nelson. Ryan DePalo had the first shot at replacing Nelson before injuring his knee in the spring, and he remains intent on playing a meaningful role this fall. But for now, the senior Harper will try to hold the job after playing in a reserve role as a JC transfer last fall.

Lifting the so-called "drinking ban" at Autzen Stadium

2007-08-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

There is this editorial in today's Register-Guard discussing that the Eugene City Council is essentially "legalizing" public alcohol consumption at tailgaters in the Autzen Stadium area only. Well, I don't know about anyone else, but the consuming of libations at Autzen has NOT been actively enforced for many years, that I can tell. And I don't understand why everyone's panties are in a bunch now, all of the sudden. Sure, you get a few drunken yahoos (i.e. mostly students) that can ruin everyone's day, but for the most part, folks at tailgates act fairly responsibly.

Personally, I leave the drinking to other people, so the "legalization" doesn't really affect me while I'm at Autzen. But after the game?? Well, there have been a few harsh car wrecks involving other fans, going home up Interstate 5. You just have to be alert, and on the lookout.

Oregon Ducks Fall Camp Preview - Portland Tribune

2007-08-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Portland Tribune has a nice article, discussing the Oregon Ducks going into fall camp. Good read!

Are colleges selling their souls for free shoes?

2007-07-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

James Day of the Salem Statesman-Journal says that college athletic departments are selling out their operations to shoe companies, like Nike and adidas. He's complaining that schools are signing up with the highest bidder, while being "controlled" by the almighty dollar.

What did you expect, Jim?

Programs need money to be competitive, and shoe companies are willing to hand out the cash, in exchange for schools marketing their brand. But he thinks the price of allowing companies, like Nike, to have an impact on athletic department decisions is too high. What's wrong with that? I don't see the problem. I also disagree with Day's analogy that Nike CEO Phil Knight has too much say and influence in University of Oregon athletic department decisions.

For example, Knight and Nike have single-handedly put the Oregon Ducks on the collegiate map, in terms on donations and market-branding for the university. Without that money, many teams would have to tighten budgets and do without, rather than focus on building winning programs.

UO fans do splits on cheer as a sport

2007-07-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Eugene Register-Guard takes a look at what Duck fans think about cheerleading as a scholarship sport. Personally, I think it's great for the Athletic Department, as well as for Title IX. I think more people will be interested in competitive cheer, than say, women's lacrosse.

Canzano: Bellotti's shot on Dixon was undeserved

2007-07-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

John Canzano is spouting off again. So Oregon head football coach Mike Bellotti decides to talk publicly about his displeasure of Dennis Dixon taking off the summer to play baseball. Big deal!

Bellotti is within his right to do so. Not exactly tactful, but he's free to speak openly about it. Dixon should pick a sport, and leave it at that. You can't improve on past mistakes when you're running away and hiding from them, like Dixon did in baseball this summer.

Here's Canzano's blog post:

*Source - The Oregonian

Anyone else find Mike Bellotti's chiding of his quarterback/outfielder Dennis Dixon in today's Oregonian to be a little misplaced and foolish?

Dixon hit .188 (12 for 64) with no home runs in 24 games with the Braves' Gulf Coast Rookie League team. He struck out 18 times, walked 14 times and had only two extra-base hits. He cut his baseball season short to be back a month early.

Dixon missed valuable summer time with Oregon's new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, but I'm not so sure the quarterback deserved the big hit he took from his own head coach this week at the Pac-10 Conference media day.

I mean, didn't Bellotti shamelessly chase that Ducks' athletic director job while it was open during the late spring? As long as we're killing dreams, wasn't Bellotti better served focusing that time on spring practice, recruiting and 2007-season preparation after a disappointing finish to the 2006 season? Maybe it's just me, but I don't think Bellotti is in position to single out another human being for wanting to explore an opportunity.

An obviously irked Bellotti told The Oregonian's John Hunt:

"The only upside I can see is that he learned that he really loved football and his teammates. And maybe he said, 'Hey, I'm a really good football player -- I might be a better football player than I am a baseball player."

Bellotti's essentially issuing a psychological code red to a guy who struggled mightily with confidence last season down the stretch. Brilliant, coach. Brilliant. I get that Bellotti is disappointed that Dixon, a fifth-round draft pick, wasn't around during the summer. I get that Bellotti wants the rest of his Ducks' teammates to understand that if they skip out on off-season training, they'll be given the equivalent of a coaching brush-back pitch. He established all that this week.

But there's something about the way Bellotti approached this that feels wrong.

Imagine Dixon standing around after BYU pummeled Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl last Dec. going, "The only upside I can see is that coach learned he really loved the Vegas shows. And maybe he said, 'Hey, I'm a really good regular-season coach -- I might be a better regular-season coach than I am a bowl coach.'"

UPDATE: Dixon turns in his glove, but still takes some jabs

2007-07-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

*Source - The Oregonian

Coaches question the Oregon quarterback's decision to play baseball this summer

JOHN HUNT The Oregonian

LOS ANGELES -- Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon will be in Eugene today after his first season as a professional baseball player ended a few days early -- welcome news to Ducks coach Mike Bellotti, who clearly was unhappy with Dixon's multisport aspirations.

"The only upside I can see is that he learned that he really loved football and his teammates," Bellotti said Thursday in Los Angeles, where the Pacific-10 Conference held its annual media day. "And maybe he said, 'Hey, I'm a really good football player -- I might be a better football player than I am a baseball player.' "

Other Pac-10 coaches questioned Dixon's decision to pursue baseball -- he was a fifth-round pick by Atlanta in this year's draft -- although he will be trying to win back the leadership of Oregon's team after losing his starting job and gaining an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

"Obviously I wouldn't be real happy about it," Washington State coach Bill Doba said. "Can he hit?"

Dixon hit .188 with no home runs and five stolen bases in 24 games for Atlanta's Gulf Coast League rookie team, although he did draw 14 walks in 64 at-bats and his .342 on-base percentage was second on the team. Then he went 0 for 5 in a brief appearance for the rookie-level team in Danville, Va.

"Well," Doba said. "He should have stayed home."

Atlanta had expected to have Dixon's services until August. Although he's coming back to Oregon early, Dixon still missed valuable practice time, bonding time and learning time. But he did take his new playbook with him to Florida and got a visit from new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

Arizona coach Mike Stoops took a deep breath when told of Dixon's decision to pursue baseball before his senior season.

"For me to really accept that, he'd have to be really established," Stoops said. "Summer is one of the most important times of the year to be a leader of the team."

Dixon will face more second-guessing beginning Aug. 6, when the Ducks open fall camp. He still enters camp as the clear No. 1 quarterback, followed by Brady Leaf and Nathan Costa, although Bellotti insists that after the first few days of camp, the depth order will be "performance-driven."

"I expect him to be ready to go. I expect him to be excited about the opportunity to change people's impressions from last year," Bellotti said. "You have a certain backlog of experience and knowledge. I really expect him to be OK. Would it have been better to be here? Absolutely."
Bellotti even joked on the podium for media day, saying that Dixon was spending his time "reading pitches instead of reading defenses."

The other Pac-10 quarterbacks -- the conference has nine who started games last season -- took part in summer workouts, and it wasn't all about passing. Washington State's Alex Brink organized a team picnic. USC's John David Booty visited with NFL star Peyton Manning.
Of course, Manning wasn't in Eugene, and the Bootys and Mannings are family friends. But for Dixon, opportunities have been won and lost as he returns for today's senior preview day.
Bellotti has made it clear that decision-making at quarterback will be a key factor to his team's success this season, and he said he plans to alleviate Dixon of some of that.

"A lot of our offense is quarterback-driven, by what he sees at the line of scrimmage," Bellotti said. "But I think we're going to add some plays that don't require decision plays. We're trying to incorporate a few more of those plays to take some pressure off."

And perhaps being away from football, even it was to play another sport without great success, serves to take pressure off Dixon, too.

"It's hard to tell a kid he can't do something -- you're only young once," Doba said. "Sometimes you have to look at the individual, even though it's a team sport. And usually that works out for the team, also."

Falcons rally around Joey Harrington (with video)

2007-07-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Source: AP

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - At virtually the same time Michael Vick was pleading not guilty to federal dogfighting charges in Richmond, Va., on Thursday, the Falcons opened training camp in the Atlanta suburbs with all sorts of distractions.

Protesters out front. That plane flying overhead. And Joey Harrington at quarterback instead of No. 7.

The Falcons called it the first day of moving on without their most dynamic and visible player. They held a morning meeting to let everyone air their feelings about the ugly charges against Vick, any bitterness they might feel toward him for getting into this mess, and the very real possibility that he won't play for Atlanta this season, if ever again.

Then it was time to get down to business. There's just over six weeks to go until the Sept. 9 opener at Minnesota.

"I'm not trying to fill anyone's shoes,'' said Harrington, who signed with the Falcons expecting to be Vick's backup. "Mike is one of if not the most talented player ever to play this game. There's no getting around that. He's an athletic phenomenon. My job is not to try to fill his shoes. My job is to win games.''

Instead of having one of the league's most dynamic players at that crucial position, the Falcons are forced to go with Harrington, whose career has been a huge bust since he was taken third overall in the 2002 draft.

His career record as a starter is 23-43, and he's already lost the No. 1 job in both Detroit and Miami.

"We're going to rally behind Joey,'' linebacker Keith Brooking vowed. "We're going to give him our full support and let him know we're there for him.''

Joey is saying all the right things. This is his team, and I truly hope this is Joey's breakout year, so he can show all the naysayers that he really is a good quarterback.

UO's Dixon gets call-up to Danville

2007-07-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

*Source - Eugene Register Guard

Oregon senior quarterback and minor league baseball outfielder Dennis Dixon went from last place to first with his promotion this week to the Danville Braves of the rookie Applachian League.

Located in Danville, Va., Dixon's new team is 23-10 atop the East Division. The Gulf Coast League Braves, his former club, is 8-25 in the GCL North.

Dixon, a right fielder drafted by Atlanta on the fifth round in June, batted .188 in 24 games with the GCL Braves with a double, triple and six RBIs. He stole five bases and had 18 strikeouts in 64 at-bats with 14 walks for an on-base percentage of .342.

At Danville, Dixon is hitless in nine at-bats in his first three games.

With stats like these, I don't understand how he would get called up. The only thing I can figure is that he must be amazing in the outfield. Soon, it'll be time to put down the bat, and come to the Ducks training camp.

Will Dixon get necessary confidence from baseball?

2007-07-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Oregon Ducks QB Dennis Dixon, drafted earlier this year by the Atlanta Braves, is playing baseball this summer, rather than working out with his team. Brian Meehan of The Oregonian says that the experience will help Dixon gain confidence on the football field. I still don't see how that is. Dixon's confidence is already shaken after last year. And, his baseball stats aren't that impressive either: .179 batting average, with 6 RBI's in 67 at-bats in 25 games total. How will that help him again? I'm sorry Brian, it won't help him improve in football or in bonding with teammates in Eugene.

Colin Cowherd to replace Dan Patrick on ESPN?

2007-07-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

This was posted on Oregon Media Insiders a few days ago, with the Oregonian's John Canzano suggesting that ESPN sports radio guy Colin Cowherd replace Dan Patrick. I'm all for the move, even though many listeners have a disdain for Cowherd. He's brought ratings, and he's controversial. All the makings for excellent sports radio.

Something new...

2007-07-21T19:09:00.001-07:00

Now that I have an RSS feed of my blog, I'm going to try something new. I'm going to use this as a launching point for stories and information about Oregon teams, that will automatically direct to other sites, like FanIQ.com. Hey, at least I don't have to wonder if my thoughts will be published. I'll also have appearances from notable sports fans, like Isabel322, and my wife, Linda. Look for stuff from local and national sports news on this blog. Thanks.

Todd

The AFL Grand Final - Sydney vs. West Coast

2006-09-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

My FanIQ AFL preview was posted as a blog today. Read it here:

http://www.faniq.com/blog.php?id=312

Enjoy!

A tongue in cheek flash site and game at quacksquad.com

2006-09-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

More fans with too much time on their hands, but still well done. Who says you can't laugh at this?

http://www.quacksquad.com/

All the controversy from the Oklahoma-Oregon game is turning into more B.S.

2006-09-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

None of it matters now. It's now Week 4, and Oklahoma should move on. Read what I think about this here:

http://www.faniq.com/message_board.php?id=0&action=read&type=messageboard&topic_id=5147&rnum=29

And, then more here:

http://www.faniq.com/poll_results.php?poll_id=51798&rnum=0#newcomment

If you think you know a lot about sports, check out FanIQ here: http://www.faniq.com/profile.php?id=30123&view=30123. Best of all, signing up for FanIQ is completely free!