Morning Quack Fix: 4.20.09

by jtlight on Apr 20, 2009 7:38 AM PDT in Morning Quack Fix

Hope everyone had a great weekend. If you missed them check out dvieira's and JConant's recaps of the spring scrimmage.

In other spring scrimmage action, sounds like the linebackers really stepped it up. Don Pellum checks in at the Oregon coaches blog, and lets us know he's really pleased with the growth of the young linebackers. Andy Mac also gives us some thoughts on Eddie Pleasant, who has been excelling as well. John Hunt chimes in with a piece on the linebackers as well. This is going to be a very fun group to watch through the rest of the spring and fall, and is deeper than any linebacker group we've had in years.
Oregon track won a meet over UCLA this weekend, coming from behind, and sweeping the 5,000m and winning the 4x400, in which UCLA botched the baton hand-off, to take the meet.
The drama surrounding the men's basketball team just won't end, as former Oregon assistant Mark Husdon's father-in-law wrote a letter to the editor lambasting Nike, Oregon, Kilkenny, and Kent. My opinion on this is mixed. I feel sorry for just about everyone involved. I don't feel that anyone wants to throw anyone else under the bus, but when you have a team that goes 2-17 in conference, and looks miserable doing it, that's what's going to happen, just like in every other profession.
Lastly, Oregon baseball had another tough weekend. While they were able to get off their 7-game losing streak Saturday, they were trounced on Sunday, falling 11-1 to a below average Bears baseball team.

GO DUCKS!

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My opinion on the letter from Mark Hudson’s father-in-law is that it’s sour grapes. Of course a family member is going to stick up for their own in situations like this but seriously…if Ernie was going to get fired, does he really think Mark Hudson had a great shot at replacing him as head coach? Most likely a new coach would be brought in and with that person, an entirely new staff. Either way, Hudson is out..

That rant just reeks to me of “I didn’t get my way so I’m going to take my ball and go home”. How exactly are they supposed to hold themselves accountable to the Hudson family like the writer of the letter wants? It may be true that Ernie was looking to save his own skin but it’s HIS program and Kilkenny made a business decision to stick with him. So loyalty to Mark Hudson and his family is OK but loyalty to Ernie and his is “self-serving” and just appeasing Nike? Whatever, get over yourself. Seriously.

Sorry your family member got fired and hey, maybe Mark was well liked by the team and the other coaches. Guess what, a lot of people who are “well liked” are unemployed right now. They made a call on it, Mark got fired, Ernie stays, the rest of the coaches stay, a high-profile fundamentals style coach comes in as an ASSOCIATE Head Coach and we move on. Stop acting like your family is the only one that matters in this one because honestly, if Ernie goes…everyone goes. You just happened to be the one affected because YOUR guy got the axe.

And another thing, if you are paying $60,000 for four tickets for floor seats in the new arena, your so-called “real family hardships” need to be looked at in a new light because there are people out there who are no where even close to the question of “let’s see, can I afford to pay $60,000 for basketball tickets this season?”. Considering the majority of people are wondering how they will pay their next house payment or even eat next month, I find it laughable you feel the need to play the “LIFE IS SOOOO HARD!” card.

Grow up

--Dominic, Addicted to Quack

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

by dvieira on Apr 20, 2009 8:24 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs

This.

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on Apr 20, 2009 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Good, loyal, hard-working people get hurt every day in the wake of tough business decisions. That’s all this was.

I believe that Kilkenny and Kent – especially Kent – probably lost a lot of sleep over this decision. I’m not buying Mr. Walker’s assertion that they were insensitive or unappreciative of Hudson’s time on Oregon’s staff. You keep firings short (in this case 15 minutes by Mr. Walker’s account) because they’re damn hard on everyone involved and no one’s interested in debating the decision or engaging in idle chit-chat. I am curious about Mr. Walker’s comment: “…do not feel a sense of responsibility or hold themselves accountable to the Hudson family since dismissing Mark.” If there’s something more to the story, some kind of post-firing drama, then he needed to come right out and say it.

It sucks when people lose jobs. Kudos to Mr. Walker for articulating his feelings in an appropriate forum and for taking action with his wallet. Those are his rights. Beyond that, it’s time for the Walker family to start moving forward and stop looking back.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 20, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

I saw the letter mostly as just a way to get his frustrations out. As a college student who doesn’t have a job and hasn’t been affected much by the economic crisis, it’s tough for me to gauge how exactly the country is doing except for hearing from people like Mr. Walker, who is clearly just aggravated that his family got the short end of the stick. And maybe there’s facets to this story that we don’t know. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “sour grapes” but rather just speaking his mind for his own personal well-being. Now all parties involved can move on.

It's spelled "T-A-K-I-M-O-T-S-C-H-M-O-E."

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 Apr 20, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I gotta admit… while whining and complaining annoy the f*ck out of me and even make me a little queasy while coming out of the mouths of grown ass people, this kind of behavior only really has a few places in society and the letters to the editor section happens to be one of them.

If it’s slander or libel it’s the duty of a copy aide and then an editor to knock it down… ultimately, it’s up to the paper to print.

That being said, I’m really glad this guy isn’t my father in-law. I’d have a hard time getting along with a whiner who spends 60 grand on tickets to anything.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

- from Quick's Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door, 4/16/09

by ArbyOSU on Apr 20, 2009 9:10 AM PDT reply actions

Few other UO sports tidbits

Oregon LaCrosse wrapped up their regular season by beating St. Mary’s 17-10 and finished second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The #2-seeded Ducks will now face #7 Fresno State (winless this season) in the quarterfinals of the MPSF tournament. http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=3723905&DB_OEM_ID=500 story.

Ducks women’s tennis finished their season at Washington. Softball got smoked by #3 UCLA. Men’s golf finished 10th at the U.S. Intercollegiate.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 20, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions

In yet another blow to RB depth...

Alston will be out the rest of spring with a foot injury. Also, TE Mychal Rivera will seek to transfer. Chances are the Rivera would never see the field. Good luck to him and catching on somewhere else.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 20, 2009 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

Bummer for Alston. Durability continues to be an issue. Any idea if he re-injured the same foot?

I was unimpressed with Chris Harper’s route running during the scrimmage. Though he must be impressing someone as he lined up with the first team at slot. I don’t remember him making any catches, though he was thrown to several times. Harper at RB may become a necessity given the lack of depth and continued health issues at that position…probably not a terrible thing if that happens.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 20, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions