Morning Quack Fix: 3.3.09

by ntrebon on Mar 3, 2009 5:45 AM PST in Morning Quack Fix

Good morning Duck fans. After a great weekend, there's not a lot of substanial Duck news out there -- but here's what I could find. Enjoy.

The Ducks take on their first baseball conference opponent tonight when they play the Huskies in Seattle. Jeff Smith of the Oregonian notes that tonight's matchup (as well as a second game on Wednesday) are non-conference games and won't count in the standings. Smith also writes that UW was picked to finish ninth in the Pac-10 and opened the year by losing two of three to Fresno State. It seems like UW might be a great (i.e. gentle) choice for an early peek at what Oregon will face in conference play.
Ted Miller continues his positional preview of the Pac-10 with the running back position. Oregon grades out as being in "good shape" rather than "great shape" only because of the suspension to Blount, despite an "overwhelming assumption' that Blount will be back.
Scout.com runs down their top 10 non-conference matchups for football with Oregon's opener at Boise State coming in at #7. USC's road games games at Notre Dame and Ohio State are ranked #4 and #1, respectively. In a similar vein, Nick Daschel of BusterSports.com lists Oregon's opener as one of the top storylines for the Pac-10.
Scout.com also examines five major questions facing next year's football team, which include who becomes the lightning to Blount's thunder and who will start at wide receiver, in the defensive backfield, at center and at defensive tackle.
ESPN's Tim Griffin blogs about Ludwig departing KSU for Cal after only a few months. He also considers Oregon a "successful previous stop." Someone should send him Jared's guest post from CGB.
In Cross Country news, Galen Rupp has been selected the Men's NCAA Division I Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. According to the release, Rupp combined wins at the conference, region and national level this year with a 3.91 G.P.A. Congratulations to Rupp for an outstanding season and a well-deserved honor.

Go Ducks!

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I just pray USC beats Notre Dame like a drum

God i hate the Irish.

Meanwhile, I am surprised the Purdue-Oregon game didn’t get more pub after the way it was last year. I know we finished a sad 4-8, but I do think we have enough coming back to at least make a goal game and give you guys a game in Autzen.

You guys playing us, Boise, and Utah is a ballsy non-conference schedule.

A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance

by BoilerTMill on Mar 3, 2009 5:55 AM PST reply actions

You guys playing us, Boise, and Utah is a ballsy non-conference schedule.

That’s the way we like to roll! :-)

It's spelled "S-H-U-G-S-A-R-E-F-O-R-T-H-U-G-S""

by JShufelt on Mar 3, 2009 7:42 AM PST up reply actions

utah v oregon

This game ranks 12th. I would rank this higher than the Boise State/Oregon rematch. Hopefully we can run the table because with our tough nonconference schedule, we can make a push in the BCS

by westspec on Mar 3, 2009 6:47 AM PST reply actions

Utah loses quite a bit, and will most likely drop a spot or three in the MWC. Boise State has the inside track for a BCS bid if they can beat Oregon, and could be better than last season. Also, playing at Boise is always interesting.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Mar 3, 2009 7:04 AM PST up reply actions

To me, a team riding a 16 game win streak, a perfect season just a year ago topped by knocking off a top SEC team who very well could have been playing for the national championship, coming to Autzen is by far the bigger game. Not diminishing the importance of the UO v BSU game; just saying the Utah v Oregon game ranks higher.

by westspec on Mar 3, 2009 8:27 AM PST up reply actions

Ted Miller Preview Pac-10 tight ends...

And Oregon is absolutely loaded there. Not only do we have Ed Dickson, but Malachi Lewis, NaDerris Ward, and Dion Jordan. We gotta get these guys on the field.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Mar 3, 2009 7:16 AM PST reply actions

using the tight end

I’d like to see Oregon steal a play from Florida where the tight end sneaks up the middle and the QB pitches it to him. Dickson could gain some big yards that way and it gives Masoli a third option other than pitching it to the RB or taking it himself.

by westspec on Mar 3, 2009 8:24 AM PST up reply actions

good call, that’d be great.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Mar 3, 2009 8:34 AM PST up reply actions

we have run somthing similar with a pitch inside

but not very often. We just never seem to have success inside with stuff like that. We run the middle screen to Dickson often for no yards. But i agree that play is sick and getting Dickson the ball is always a good idea.

Ducks Go!
yep, lots and lots of blow.
We should change the name of the blog to addictedtoblow.com

by trumpetduck on Mar 3, 2009 9:08 AM PST up reply actions

I believe most of our options plays have three choices. Usually it was Air-Maehl on the outside for that pass.

But I agree. The TE shovel pass option is sick.

It's spelled "S-H-U-G-S-A-R-E-F-O-R-T-H-U-G-S""

by JShufelt on Mar 3, 2009 9:15 AM PST up reply actions

Next UO president

Looks like it will be Richard Lariviere, a provost and vice chancellor from KU. He was the only finalist that will be sent to the state Board of Higher Education for approval.

This is actually the first I have heard of him — any one from campus have any insight?

by ntrebon on Mar 3, 2009 7:26 AM PST reply actions

I believe he is the only one that hasn’t requested confidentiality in applying for the job. I think there are others but just haven’t been announced. Not sure on that though

--Dominic

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Mar 3, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions

An interesting read

Zahn to play in Iraq?

by ntrebon on Mar 3, 2009 8:03 AM PST reply actions

I know it's hardly an accurate gauge...

but Jordan becomes an absolute freak of nature in NCAA 09 if you give him a couple of seasons. I think he creeps up close to 90 speed which, given his size, is insane.

Also, how are we playing UW non-conference? Did we opt in to playing a full Pac-10 schedule for this year or no?

by Doug-e-Fresh on Mar 3, 2009 10:25 AM PST reply actions

We’re also playing them in conference play…so I don’t know what’s going on.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Mar 3, 2009 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

I’m pretty sure you can schedule anyone in non-conference. I think you can even do that in football. Non-conference isn’t a limit to who a team can play, while conference play is.

We can probably even schedule to play Washington in football for our OOC game if we wanted to.

It's spelled "S-H-U-G-S-A-R-E-F-O-R-T-H-U-G-S""

by JShufelt on Mar 3, 2009 10:52 AM PST up reply actions

We should schedule them for all 3 games so we can beat them 4 times in a single season!

by jessenumber1 on Mar 3, 2009 11:38 AM PST up reply actions

Love that idea.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Mar 3, 2009 11:41 AM PST up reply actions

I always use NCAA as a gauge

It can get you into trouble though, players get good, become all-americans, your expectations get way to high.

Ducks Go!
yep, lots and lots of blow.
We should change the name of the blog to addictedtoblow.com

by trumpetduck on Mar 3, 2009 3:33 PM PST up reply actions

I use it as a gauge way too much.

Holland better be a god this season (or next, what year is he?) He was uncatchable in my dynasty haha.

by T-Town on Mar 3, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions

case in point

all american todd doxey

damnit…

It's spelled "M-A-R-C-H-I-N-G-B-A-N-D."

I support inroywetrust in his support of The VD Special in his support of me supporting Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Mar 3, 2009 4:57 PM PST up reply actions

Strangely enough, I think I ended up moving Masoli to Free Safety and let Roper start. Masoli led the league in interceptions and Roper won the heisman. To think what could have been…

--Dominic

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Mar 3, 2009 5:00 PM PST up reply actions

THAT’S why you were so high on Roper!

It's spelled "S-H-U-G-A-R-S-U-B-S-T-I-T-U-T-E"

by JShufelt on Mar 3, 2009 7:23 PM PST up reply actions

No, he was so high on Roper because his brother is a Ropert peddler.

Dom found his stash.

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; "In other news, Ropert was mauled by a velociraptor yesterday and sustained a life-threatening ACL injury and a pulled hamstring."

by qrsouther on Mar 3, 2009 8:40 PM PST up reply actions