Morning Quack Fix: 4.7.09
by ntrebon on Apr 7, 2009 7:26 AM PDT
in Morning Quack Fix
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PrintGood morning Duck fans! Most of the news out there this morning is on yesterday's practice. Let's get right to it.
- Moseley blogs that the first practice this week did not have the intensity of last week. Chip Kelly is waiting for a leader to emerge on both sides of the ball that can help motivate the team through rough patches. Chris Courtney, of eDuck, has notes from yesterday's practice, which cover some of injury updates, the inconsistent play from the wide receivers, and the improvement of DT. However, one of the biggest developments yesterday was the return of LeGarrette Blount to practice, though he was held out of most drills. Finally, John Hunt has the best quote, play and sign from yesterday.
- Moseley has a piece up on the improvement of Jamere Holland (which also includes a video). Holland developing into a legitmate threat at receiver would be a huge boon to this team, which has its share of talent and potential at the WR spot, but not a lot of proven commodities.
- Bruce Feldman runs down the 10 teams he thinks has the best shot at winning next year's BCS title. The Ducks appear to come in at #11, as they are listed as the first team to miss the cut. However, two 2009 opponents show up on the list: USC (#5) and Boise State (#7). Of course, Notre Dame comes in at #10, so take the list for what you will.
- The final news item of the day is a blog piece by Ted Miller that discusses the Oregon legislature possibly enacting a "Rooney Rule," that would require public universities to interview at least one minority candidate when looking for a football coach.
As always, leave your comments and other links below.
Go Ducks!
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Where is all this Notre Dame love coming from? I’m obviously missing something here. What did they show last year/this off-season that makes everyone believe they can win a national title, let alone beat the service academies?
Lou Holtz
if he picked them to win 11 games last year, what will he say this year…
by Harringtoncuz3 on Apr 7, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
They’ll win 15 games this year. Yes… you heard it here first. 15 games. They are going ot be THAT good.
It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"
Dude...
Come on. Charlie Weis is totally the best coach ever. He’s a proven winner.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
He also has Nate Costa knee!
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
It’s the combination of experience and a WEAK schedule. Like I say, no way are they getting through USC, herego, no way are they getting to the National Championship, but it’s Feldman’s column to write whatever he wants. Realistically, there are probably only 5-6 teams that will win the National Championship, and of those 5-6, 2 will get there I’m sure. In no particular order: Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, USC, Ohio State. Throw in a black horse team that makes noise (like Oregon or Ole Miss) and it may get stretched. But just look at the last few NC games: Florida (2), LSU, Ohio State (2), Oklahoma, USC, Texas— every single one of these teams were in the top 10 in the preseason (if not top 5, I didn’t look back).
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Sure it’s his column to write whatever he wants. But a columnist is only as good as his credibility.
I agree with VD’s assertion that only 5 or 6 teams really have a legit title shot…and that anyone outside of the group taking the title would be an upset. Still, Feldman’s inclusion of Notre Dame in this group makes me wince. Of USC, BC, ‘Ferd, Pitt, UConn, Michigan and Michigan State, I’d give ND at least three losses.
It bothers me when otherwise respected columnists appear to try and predict an enormous long-shot for a rare shot at glory if a miracle happens; or, when a columnist chooses to hype Notre Dame in a veiled attempt to attract eyeballs from that school’s considerable fan base.
You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.
Sure...
But with that schedule…they could conceivably run the table, and have a better shot than most at it. With the ease of that schedule, all it takes is a couple good days, and they will be sitting pretty.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Yep, and I think that’s his main point. If they can get through USC (albeit, miraculously) then they have a realistic shot of running the table
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Sure, I see that possibility. I guess I consider the likelihood of ND having a bad day against mid-quality teams to be much greater than them having a good day against those same teams.
You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.
Yes, I agree completely... I don't think they will run the table
But I also think Feldman is reaching out to his audience. He loves to build up Ole Miss, as well, as he spent that whole year down there researching his book. They went 9-4 (same as OSU and Oregon) with only 1 quality win. He mentions LSU, but if you beat a 7-5 team, I don’t care who that is, that isn’t a solid win. Just like when UO beat Michigan last year. It wasn’t the same Michigan from back in the day. He might as well given Oregon credit for beating Arizona this past year.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Ole Miss had 2 quality wins...
Florida (at Florida) and Texas Tech. Those were two great wins, and are carrying them a long ways.
And Feldman is very high on Oregon as well.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I think Texas Tech, and the Big 12, were overrated last year, but it still was a pretty good win.
by Harringtoncuz3 on Apr 7, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
One other not about "Michigan last year"
The Michigan team, that Oregon gave the worst home defeat ever, went 9-4 on the season, and beat Florida in their Bowl game. You might remember them for Appalachian State, but there was no comparison between 2007 Michigan and 2008 LSU.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
True
I forgot that was the year they ended up decent…. My fault
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
All fair points, further supporting your notion that outside of the big five or six, any other title contender would be a dark horse. Vegas certainly agrees with you…current odds for a BCS championship:
Florida 3/1
Oklahoma 9/2
USC 9/2
Texas 6/1
Ohio State 7/1
Notre Dame 35/1
Oregon 30/1
Oregon State 200/1
Washington 200/1
Off topic, but I gotta say, I just don’t get the OSU odds being the same as UW.
You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.
I can’t believe that UW bet is even available. And it’s pretty ridiculous that OSU is as low as UW.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
USC is going to be the early favorite again, but I wouldn’t discount OSU, Oregon, or even Cal to win the Pac-10. USC just needs one loss to not make it to the Rose Bowl.
It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"
Cal needs a QB who doesn’t suck. What’s with Tedford and his QB development as of late? That used to be his thing, right?
No kidding...
I am seriously not impressed by their QB play lately. While Riley doesn’t throw many INTs, he doesn’t do much else either.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
He folds under pressure really well. If he can turn that into completions he’s got some W’s in his future.
I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS, YOU STATE OF OREGUN GOONS!
HYDROTECH IS FREE!
by Thoroughbred on Apr 7, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
How do you think we feel? The kid is FROM Oregon. We’re almost as disappointed as you are… until our teams play him, of course.
I would be more disappointed in his pass protection versus OSU last year… Also, that deep ball that was dropped, and Jahvid Best looking upfield before he catches that screen pass…
HYDROTECH IS FREE!
His pass protection against OSU was pretty terrible. That made a late comeback impossible, and led to the score being farther apart than the game actually was.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Riley gets concussed and leaves the game, too!
HYDROTECH IS FREE!
by Thoroughbred on Apr 7, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
What's not to believe?
Somebody wants to give their money to Vegas, Vegas isn’t going to turn them away.
I don’t think it’s a discredit to OSU or a credit to UW, but really, they are saying “these teams have no realistic shot of getting there, so rather then try and sit around for hours to come up with actual odds that won’t matter, we’ll just give them 200/1” or some other arbitrary number.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Plus, if they get stupid, delusional Husky fans to take those odds, hey, free money!
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Bow down to Washington! Sark is putting this program on the map! Husky football will be at the top again in no time!
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
Watch out!
The team that went 0-12 that has very little talent is making waves! You know, cause twitter makes your football team better.
Please. I’ll start worrying when they can keep within 20 points of us.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Yaaaawwwwn
A slight drizzle and light winds from the north, at best. I’m sure Idaho is gearing up for a tough game.
As for Sark and Twitter – of course he’s doing that. He’s replacing a guy who was hated. He needs to be embraced by the fan base. He needs to generate some excitement. He needs to sell tickets and put butts in seats. He needs new facilities. Hello…it’s a f-ing PR campaign plain and simple.
All that Sarkisian hype will result in a whole bunch of noise right before kick-off of the LSU game. Figure all the air is out of that balloon when LSU goes into halftime with a 28-3 lead.
You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.
I can’t believe people are hyping up a team that went 0-12. Only UW, I suppose. Where’s the WSU hype? They are more talented anyways. I can’t wait for another dismal fall in the Apple State again.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey guys, wanted to jump in on the conversation over at ESPN about the Rooney Rule, but nobody can have an intelligent conversation over there, so I was wondering your thoughts on it?
(NOTE: It’s interesting that Oregon, a state with little cultural diversity, is leading the way for this; also, the state of Oregon currently has two black basketball coaches). My personal opinion is mixed. I think rules like this are meant well and have positives, but at the same time, I am still of the opinion that reverse racism is still racism. Where does it end? Are we going to be sitting here 10 years from now, and then saying “OK now interviewing isn’t enough. Now, universities have to hire a black coach once every 3 coaches” or something of that nature?
I’m not saying that I don’t think minorities have it tough to get HC jobs right now, but I personally believe it’s more due to the fact that there just aren’t as many minority (specifically, black) assistant coaches, which are usually the next to become HC (rather then a HC move to another job)
I believe it’s something like 25% of assistant coaches and 3% of head coaches are black. So let’s say a school is interviewing 10 candidates for a new HC position— 5 current head coaches and 5 current assistant coaches. AT MOST, you will have 2 black coaches being interviewed (which is still technically ahead of the actual numbers).
Basically what I’m saying, is only recently have blacks been able to wet their feet in the coaching game. It wasn’t THAT long ago that they weren’t even allowed to attend the same universities that we root for day in and day out. Give it time. 10 years from now, I’m sure the numbers will show a significant increase. Thoughts?
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
I have a few really good pieces on affirmative action that actually explain it in a way that addresses the usual small minded attacks it is usually subject to (“They took our jobs!”)… I’m going to neglect my work and dig through my email for them right now and if I find them, I’ll fanshot ’em.
All that aside and without going off on the subject, I think it’s necessary. People get the wrong idea about practices like this, as if hiring committees simply pull people of color of the street, completely unqualified or less qualified than white counterparts. It’s sad and further testament as to why this is necessary in the first place…
I’m mixed opinions on this issues. Being libertarian, my initial reaction is to be skeptical about government action. However, being a public institution, this action is totally within the scope of government power.
However, at the same time, it’s not saying a lot for college football that only 3% of head coaches are African-American when so many players and assistant coaches are. And part of this is the fact that college athletics is a very “old boys” network, which is a very bad thing, especially for public institutions. As far as giving it time, I sort of think so, but college athletics are entrenched (just look at the freaking Rose Bowl). Change will not come easy. In the short term, the worst thing that could happen is that it gives those outside the old boys network a chance to get the job.
The only drawback is that it could end up going too far in the future. I guess that could happen, and I’m as skeptical of the government going to far as anyone else, but I just don’t see that happening.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I read the Miller post and the Oregonian piece last night, and still don’t feel like I can shoot a strong opinion from the hip on this one. I think my feelings largely follow jtlight’s sentiments.
The question I struggle with is this: Sure we can legislate the need for an interview to happen. How do we guarantee that interview is a legitimate consideration by the school of the black coach’s qualifications and potential? Do we scrutinize the university each time a black coach is interviewed but not hired? And if a black coach is hired, does the same scrutiny exist if a white coach appeared well qualified but did not get the job?
I’m eager to ready the articles ArbyOSU referred to. Those may help me settle on where I stand.
You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.
I agree that we should undoubtedly proceed with caution but we must proceed nonetheless. If things are going to change we need to change how we do things, especially in our public universities. It’s pretty clear that black coaches don’t get a fair crack at jobs at major college institutions and you’re dead on that hiring practices of our public institutions are totally within the scope of our government.
These are conversations that need to be had and changes that need to be made. We’re a little late to the party in my opinion but better late than never.
But again, I think the 3% comes from a very small amount of time that black people have been allowed into this "old boys" club
I was really young when it happened, but I am just now understanding the magnitude of Mississippi State (Miss obviously being one of the, let’s say, least developed states) hiring Sylvester Croom as their head coach. I agree with JShufelt below in saying that I’m disappointed that the gov’t has to get involved.
When it comes to sports, I don’t think the gov’t should have anything to do with it (unless of course, laws are being broken to a magnitude never before seen, i.e. the steroid scandal in baseball, but that’s another topic). This is something that needs to be addressed amongst the sport itself, which, I think, is a problem, especially when the big wigs in college football are Southern white boys. Sounds crass, maybe, but it’s the truth.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I actually have to work, so I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this, but in a quick summary…
I’m not happy to see this go through government legislator, and I would have been happy to see the universities adopt this type of policy on their own.
I don’t know much about the bill to make very many comments, but my concern isn’t so much over Oregon or OSU, but the other schools with athletic programs – like Western Oregon, PSU – and what effect would the Rooney Rule have over private schools like the University of Portland, or Linfield?
I’m also worried about where the line will be drawn – I think it is relatively harmless (Again, without reading the bill for myself). Of course, in Oregon, there aren’t many black people there, but it’s my understanding that the Rooney Rule isn’t specific to any race.
Ultimately, I don’t really care – as this is about the most harmless form of “Affirmative Action”, but if it was legislator that forced it on private schools, then I might have a small issue about it.
It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"
The Rooney Rule is specified as "interviewing a MINORITY candidate"
But I think we have a tendency (naturally) to think African American, because they are so prominent in the sport itself. And I think specifically, the Oregon leg. is doing this for football.
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
So what you’re saying is… Oregon Legislator is declaring the schools Sanchez?
It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"
They are being a bunch of asshats
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
by The VD Special on Apr 7, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Rooney Rule = Ridiculous
I do not like the Rooney Rule, primarily because it takes away from the autonomy of universities. You should not have to interview someone solely because of their race. I think it demeans any minority candidate. Anytime an NFL team is looking for a coach, long-shot interviews are granted to minority coaches who have no realistic shot of obtaining the position.
Even though I despise slippery slope arguments, I must make one to illustrate the absurdity of this rule. At least in the NFL, the majority of quaterbacks are white. I can only think of 4 (Campbell, McNabb, Russell, and maybe Jackson/VYoung). So, why don’t we make it mandatory to have a black QB on the roster? Its really the same argument. The sport is made up of mainly black players, but not QB.
But I can stomach the Rooney Rule in the NFL. College is different. College is not just about X’s and O’s. College is, first and foremost, about recruiting. Colleges want to go after the big name coaches who will recruit well for them. Forcing them to interview minority coaches for the sake of diversity takes away from this process.
I agree with what some people have been saying, there isn’t enough black assistants in the NCAA. Do something about that. How do college coaches get known? By doing well in assistant roles (see our own Chip Kelly).
Considering that since the Rooney Rule has been in place, minority head coaches have risen from 6% to 22% of the head coaches in the NFL, I find it very hard to believe that those getting the interview have no chance at the job. It’s pretty obvious that the Rooney Rule has significantly helped black coaches get a foot in the door where they might not have otherwise.
I also don’t understand the argument that simply interviewing a minority candidate would take away from recruiting. This is, in fact, an absurd statement.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
It’s an unfortunate but expected side effect of any modified hiring practice where an organization or government decides that a pool of applicants should be populated by an accurate cross section of society and not just the first 100 or so applications handed in…
This isn’t about special treatment or token interviews. This is about finding the best possible candidate from the best possible pool of candidates—in terms of ability AND diversity. The old stories of an unqualified black guy snagging an over qualified white guy’s job are crap. The people spinning those yarns do so with a vengeance and an agenda.
Don’t believe me, please, research it for yourself.
You misunderstand what I’m trying to say. Perhaps I did not spell it out well, the negative of writing in class. I’m not saying that all interviews are just token interviews. I’m referring to situations like what happened this year with the St. Louis Rams, when they wanted to hire interim coach Jim Haslett during the middle of the season. But the NFL said no, that would violate the RR. So, instead of making Haslett the coach, the Rams would have to wait and interview a candidate who they had no interest in just because he was a minority. That is absurd. It would be like you owning a business and wanting to hire your brother or good friend who is currently working for you in an upper management role. But, before you do that, some law makes you interview a minority…just because. You have no intention of hiring that candidate; you’re just interviewing the candidate to follow the law.
Another problem. Recall in ‘07 when the Raiders interviewed USC’s Steve Sarkisian, who is Armenian. That DID NOT fufill the RR. Why not? Because his skin is white. Apparently Armenian’s are not a minority in the NFL.
Regarding recruiting, once again, I did not explain myself well. I am not advocating nor do I believe that interviewing a minority coach will take away from recruiting. What a RR will do to college football is prevent teams from tagging assistant coaches as “head coaches to be”. So, for instance, Chip Kelly could not be deemed the next head coach. Would we have him today if he wasn’t guaranteed to be the next coach of Oregon? I don’t know. Same with Will Muschamp at TX. Same with Jimbo Fisher at FSU. Most likely, these coaches would take off for head coaching positions at different universities. This would affect recruiting. Time and time again this recruiting season we heard prospective recruits say they were not going to be worried if Bellotti retired because they knew Kelly was waiting in the wings. If such a RR were in place, they would have been worried and very well could have gone elsewhere.
I just think that in a lot of siuations, a RR cheapens the hiring process, particularly in college. I think universities should take it upon themselves to interview minority coaches, just like many law firms I’ve applied at/work in do. There is no law requiring them to do so. They do it to diversify their company.
I think it’s fine to say that universities should take it upon themselves to hire the best people for the job. Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening. A pathetically low number of college coaches are minority candidates, and is highly out of proportion with who plays the game.
And those who hold the power are entrenched in that power. Breaking in is not easy. And the fact that these are public institutions that are entrenching individuals in this power is shameful.
As far as problems with the RR you stated, I think those are very minor compared to what it has actually done that is good. There would be ways to deal with wanted to set a coach-in-waiting, etc. At a certain point, laws like this aren’t necessary anymore. But it seems that the time is still a ways away.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Sark is like a second generation Armenian.
If you go back far enough, you can call anyone a minority. Steve Sarkisian is a rather exotic looking white guy, that’s all.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
…the autonomy of universities.
I see your point… but until employees stop being paid with public funds and universities stop being public institutions, they really can’t be autonomous. The don’t really have a right to it.
Agreed. When it’s a public institution, being financed with public funds, there is nothing wrong with this.
On top of that, does this version of the bill actually hamper the abilities for state universities to function? Doubtful, considering there are no penalties for non-compliance.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
All of this Duck / Beaver love is making me sick
So here is a picture of the Oregon QB of the future! Justin “I make Kevin Riley eat Gummy Worms” Ropert
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
How nice, he has a helmet to match his clipboard.
Seriously though, the e-bouquet jtlight and shusweatsmyballs sent to me was so touching, dv, I’d read the card to you but I don’t want to embarrass them.
ooo did you get the ones with penguins? I love the singing penguins!
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
I think it’s spelled “a-w-k-w-a-r-d”?
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
heh, heh,
You said “journalistic integrity”.
You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.
By “journalistic”, I mean better than Michael Moore, and by “integrity”, I mean what they mean when talking about the warp core in star trek.
It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"
Which reminds me... [OT]
Religulous raised excellent points but Bill Maher really didn’t need to be such a total D-bag.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
It isn’t just Religulous where he does that.
I generally like his discussions, regardless if I agree with him or not – but he really can be a big D-bag.
It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"
Yeah...
I just felt like he’d be so much more convincing if he at least tried to be objective. There were just times when he’d argue well, then completely override it with rudeness. He’s like the CV of… whatever you call his documentarian/comedian profession.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
Or as Jared wrote in his QBs spring preview, Roper(t)
I liked that one.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
...
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
by qrsouther on Apr 7, 2009 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Here’s a little piece on Oregon 2010 commit Ethan Grant, who is ridiculously fast, and has insane change of direction ability.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
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