Nate, it's time to hang it up.

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

As an Oregon fan, which would I rather have?

*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!)

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

One of the most stupid debates right now...

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

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.

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

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.

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

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!!!!!

OSU's Sammie Stroughter makes an appearance at practice

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.

Todd is honored to get published on the 'Q'

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

Will Dixon get necessary confidence from baseball?

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.