Sorry for how long this one took--D

Oregon 39, Michigan 7
September 8, 2007
Michigan Stadium
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Leaders:

Oregon | Michigan
Passing:
Dixon 292 | Henne 172
Rushing:
Stewart: 111 | Hart 127
Receiving:
Paysinger 97 | Manningham 117

When we last left the season review, we were left very unsure about our season.  We were encouraged by the offense, but frustrated by the inconsistency.  And our defense surrendered more than a Frenchman at the sight of a German schoolboy.  And while I think many of us were cautiously optimistic, we were not excited about having Michigan on this particular week.  Michigan entered the season ranked #5 in the country, but opened up their season with an embarrassing home loss to 1-AA Appalachian State, who used a spread offense to eek out a win.  Many believed that there was no way Michigan was that bad--and was going to take it out on Oregon the next week.

And certainly, the game didn't start out as encouraging as we'd hoped.  To start off, our defense was every bit as bad as we feared it would be, taking about two minutes to march down to the Oregon 31.  But a well timed interception by Matthew Harper (and he would have a penchant for that this season) would keep the Wolverines out of the end zone.  Oregon rode a series of short passes down to the six yard line themselves, but when we had to settle for a field goal, you sensed that we let an opportunity slip by, and that it might hurt us later on.  And as Mike Hart sliced through our defense en route to a Michigan touchdown and a 7-3 Wolverine lead, your gut practiced wrenching because it was going to be one of those games.

Psych.

Brian Paysinger and Dennis Dixon squashed any fears with this bomb on the first play of Oregon's next possession:

Honestly, the game was over right there.  Chad Henne got hurt.  Mike Hart tried but couldn't make it happen.  And Oregon just imposed their will any way they wanted.  Long bomb to Jones.  Long bomb to Williams.  And we all know the signature play of the game, the one that would put Dennis Dixon on the map as a player to watch this season:

And what else can you really say at that point.  When you do something like that, there is nothing you can't do against that team.  It was the most dominant performance I've ever seen by an Oregon team--and we played like crap for most of the second half.  Sure, we've seen bigger margins.  But have we ever seen an opponent's psyche so completely destroyed as we'd seen in this game?  It was the most fun I've ever had watching a Duck game on TV--and it's not even close.  In the house of the most storied program in the sport, and absolutely took them to the woodshed.

We still weren't exactly sure what we had after this game.  Were we really good?  Was Michigan really bad?  Both?  I still couldn't believe that we would be national title contenders at this point, but I had a lot more confidence that we were going to be really good.  I was only concerned about the trap.  A decent Fresno team, who was desperate for a win against us was next.  Remember what happened after the Michigan game in 2003?  I was just hoping that history didn't repeat itself........

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Well, not a whole lot of interesting Duck news out there (besides Dave announcing he's jumped off the college football playoff bandwagon - ugh).  Here's what's been happening over the last day or two.

There's been a lot published about the NCAA academic standards and how Oregon (and the rest of the Pac-10 have fared).  The only thing of interest (in my opinion) is that Derrick Jones may end up costing the Ducks a scholarship next year, as Moseley notes in his blog.  Basically, the Ducks need to have a four year average of 925 to avoid the loss, which means next year they need a score of 931.  For reference, they have scored a 934 and 931 in the last two years, so it seems like they have a decent shot of avoiding the penalty.

Also, in case you've missed it, Moseley has been doing the Writer's Block segment this week with Schroeder out of town.  Each day's segment can be found on the sidebar of his blog, and they are all worth checking out.

Finally, there were a couple of interesting articles in the Oregon Daily Emerald yesterday.  First, Kevin Hudson has a feature on walk-on wide receiver Elvis Akpla.  In other news, the Athletic Department is apparently going to start distributing student tickets online for football and men's basketball.  Also, there will be a set allotment of tickets for each class, with upperclassmen getting larger shares.  The tickets will also be associated with an ID card with students being penalized for obtaining a ticket and then not using it.

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(What I'm about to say is not likely to be popular.  It may seem seem like a devolution to some, but I feel enlightened by it)

As you've undoubtedly heard, a plus-one playoff format was rejected by the conference commissioners last weekend.  With all the fan calls for a playoff system like we have in EVERY other sport, you may be thinking that the commissioners dropped the ball by not giving the consumers what they want.

Me?  I breathed a sigh of relief.

For years, I've advocated for a playoff.  I've advocated on this blog many times that I wanted a playoff.  As a lifelong Duck fan, there is no doubt in my mind we win the 2001 national championship with a playoff.  But although I know that my newfound views won't exactly be popular among many of the Duck faithful, I have indeed crossed over to the dark side.

Its not as if one day I just woke up and decided that I don't want a playoff anymore.  It was a process, and I remember some of the steps distinctly.  Its also not as if I've stopped believing that a playoff is the fairest way to determine that it is.  It undoubtedly is.  And the players probably deserve one.  But, asking what's fair and what's the best thing for college football and, more specifically, the college football fan, is much different.

I started having these thoughts early on last football season.  I'm sitting there watching the Cal-Tennessee game in week one.  And I started thinking to myself:  why the hell am I watching Cal-Tennessee.  If it's a basketball game, there is no way I'm watching Cal-Tennessee.  Yet I watched every minute of that game.  And I watched Oregon State-Cincinnati. And USC-Nebraska.  Oh, and not just Pac-10 games.  I watched West Virginia-Rutgers.  And Oklahoma-Missouri.  And basically football every minute of every Saturday all fall.

I thought about it during the Cal-Tenn game, but didn't really think much more about it until the NCAA tournament, which is my favorite weekend of the year.  I love the NCAA Tournament.  As a sporting event, it is perfect.  But it also made me realize a reality--I didn't watch a single college basketball game not involving the Ducks all year.  I'll watch every Duck basketball game that I can because I'm a die hard, but I won't watch other teams until the tournament.  

And it has nothing to do with football vs. basketball, because I like the sport of basketball a hell of a lot more than I do football.  But the regular season games in basketball matter very little compared to football.  In football, so many games affect the championship picture that I feel I can't miss anything.  The games are too compelling, the drama too much.  The first game of the season can have a profound effect on the national championship.

I've really found that college football is bigger than just the games themselves.  Part of the fun of the game is the rankings, and the unknowns, and the debates.  In basketball, nobody gives a damn if their team is in the top ten six weeks into the season.  In football, your team damn well better be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that college basketball isn't the same as college football.  I've already said that I love the tournament.  Also, I'm not sure my wife would stick around if I put as much time into the college basketball season as I did the college football season.  But I've also come to realize that its okay for one sport to be different.  And, guess what America, most of the evidence says that you do, too.  You ever see a college basketball game get the ratings that a football game does?

With a playoff, I don't care about Cal-Tennessee.  I don't care about any team other than Oregon.  I watch the Duck game, then mow the lawn and clean out the garage.  Because, while the playoff would be great, there would just be no reason to watch the other weeks.
The drama would be gone.  

Saturdays in Autumn are an all day party.  The Duck game may be the steak, but the potato and the salad and the bread make the dining experience all that much better.  You won't watch half as much college football that you do now if there were a playoff.

Yes, I know that I have just joined the Empire.  But I think that Saturdays are worth saving.  I can't watch a baseball game not involving the Mariners.  Nor NBA games not involving the Trail Blazers.  But in college football, I must see it all.  

Commissioners Hansen and Delany--thank you for saving my Saturdays.

[Ducking flying tomatoes aimed at head]

GO DUCKS!!!

--Dave

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Yes, it is that time of year.  The absolute worst time of the college sports calendar.  There is literally nothing happening.  The top story at Duck Sports news right now is about Kevin Coster's band.  Just let that sink in a little bit.

About the only decent thing to come out lately is Jay's post over at the Duck Sports News blog on the whole Oregonian/Phil Knight series.  If you haven't seen his post, check it out.  Jay says pretty much everything that I am thinking about this nonsense.  Also, for another good rebuff at this affront to journalism, check out Dave's piece a while ago, which is still applicable today.

One thing that I would like to add all this is that Canzano and the Oregonian argue essentially that the University should not accept money that has any stipulations on it, as this is giving control to Phil Knight.

But this is absolutely preposterous.  It is very tough to argue that Knight does not have a lot of influence at the University of Oregon.  He has a very large amount of influence.  But to equate this with harm to the university is not even logical.  We must look at every situation and figure out the good and the bad that came from that.  Unfortunately, this was nowhere to be seen in the coverage.  It was sensationalist nonsense and poor journalism.

Furthermore, looking at this objectively, isn't this how the world works?  Any time that someone puts money into anything, be it business, politics, whatever, they gain some level of access/control over that entity.  Look at shareholders in a company:  The more money that someone has invested in a company, the more control they have.  The same is true in this situation.  Phil Knight has the ability to give money, and put stipulations on that money.  With the amount of money he has given to the University, in both athletics and academics, he has effectively become a significant shareholder in the University.  

This fact alone is not problematic.  Anytime money is involved, there is a chance for corruption, etc.  However, I don't believe this is happening.   There is no evidence of this going on, and the University has been nothing but transparent over the entire relationship, which I think we can all appreciate.  Money and its influence are a part of life.  But I believe the University is doing its best to be honest and open about what's going on.  It's not like we're an SEC school.  We've had no donor involved NCAA violations, and to my knowledge, have never come close to flirting with that line.

I believe that all parts of the University are better off due to Phil Knight.  If all of Knight's donations were taken away, every part of the University of Oregon would be worse off, and any sane person would agree with this.  

I am really getting tired of this same old junk coming from the Oregonian.  I don't usually get my sports news or opinions from the Oregonian, and this will decrease even more, as this affront to journalism continues.

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Sorry, I just haven't had a lot of time for blogging lately.  Just because you're moved in to the house, doesn't mean the work is really done.

I'll resume posting regularly as soon as humanly possible, but it looks like it may be sparse for another week or two.  Sorry, real life comes first.

In the meantime, will someone get Canzano off Phil's ass?  

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After the Masoli news yesterday, there wasn't a lot out there this morning.  Moseley has another article in today's Register-Guard on the newest Oregon QB, which includes some thoughts by Bellotti.  In particular, Bellotti commented on the fact that the starting QB position is still undecided:

Moseley also reports that Masoli will be in Eugene in June to begin taking classes and participate in voluntary conditioning.  

In other news, Moseley also states in his blog that Bellotti had no comments on the transfer of Na'Derris Ward, which Moseley believes is an indication that things are not yet finalized.

Finally, Cory McCartney of SI.com lists LeGarrette Blount as one of the Spring's biggest winners.  (h/t to Moseley for the link)

As always, feel free to post any other interesting links that I either missed or come up later in the day to the comments.

Go Ducks!

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Well, it looks like JC QB Jeremiah Masoli will sign with Oregon.  According to Scout.com, he would have been rated the number one JC QB going into next season.   Because he was a full qualifier out of high school, he's able to transfer after one year -- which means he has four years to play three.  While Moseley thinks he immediately enters the competition to start next year, Rickert thinks the Ducks may try to red shirt him unless they need him.  Again, I have to believe that this is at least a partial indictment of the current QB situation.  I like the fact that Oregon is getting looked at by the top dual-threat QB recruits -- but, if Costa wasn't injured and if Roper hadn't looked inconsistent through the spring drills (and with the presence of Thomas and Harper) I think there would have been less interest on Oregon's part.  And, I think this is supported by Bellotti's statement that he would prefer to have five QBs on the roster in the fall.  There were already six this spring before Masoli, which seems to indicate that there will be redshirts and/or position changes in the works.  

This is a few days old, but Moseley predicts the two-deep heading into fall camp.  The biggest surprise is seeing Crenshaw listed as #2 at RB over Blount, though Moseley does say that it  is "close, if not even."  

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Since Dave handled a bit of the draft round-up, there isn't a whole lot going on today.  And unfortunately, that will probably continue for some time.  We are entering the longest 4 month stretch of the sporting season, and boy, August cannot come soon enough.  Baseball, though a nice diversion, just doesn't cut it for me.  At least next year Oregon will have a baseball team to follow.

So, with that, lets hate on the Pac-10, Big 10, and Rose Bowl.  Another article just come out regarding the "plus-one" system that has been talked about to some degree or another, and the author of this piece flat out states that if not for the Rose Bowl, we would be on our way to some sort of playoff.  Also, a few days ago, another columnist claimed that college football was being held hostage by these 3 entities.

I do not disagree with either of these articles.  The second, especially, makes a great case for the elitism and greed of the Rose Bowl, Pac 10, and Big 10.  I can't really say it any better than the authors here.

But to me, the icing on the cake is that in the name of "tradition," quality football gets thrown out the window.  Last year, we were subjected to USC/Illinois (which I refused to watch).  It was a pathetic game, with a team that only got in because of its conference affiliation.  No other BCS bowl would have taken Illinois.  This was done purely because, hey, the Rose Bowl needs a Pac 10 and Big 10 team.  This was done despite possibility of having a Georgia/USC Rose Bowl.  

Screw tradition, I want to see the best football possible.  As a Pac 10 fan, I feel cheated.  I would much rather play in a different bowl game and play a good football team than go to the Rose Bowl and play a team like Illinois.  This type of blind following of tradition does a disservice to both players and fans.

This isn't even about a playoff or bowl system.  It's about two conferences and a bowl game deciding to have a bad football game for the sake of tradition.  And that its one of the most ridiculous, asinine things I've seen.  No wonder the Pac 10 gets such horrific bowl games.

GO DUCKS!

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Just wanted to make a few notes about the three Ducks who were drafted on Saturday: