Margot & the Nuclear So And So's released a new album yesterday, and there's a song called Arvydas Sabonis on it. Here's a little lyric sample:

Always been strange
Never seemed cool
A Lithuanian I wanted as a friend
Always been afraid
You came a little late
To truly eat your food off a proper big man's plate
Didn't you?

Check it out after the jump. It's worth it.

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True or false: The Texas A&M women's basketball team is better than the Butler men's basketball team. Probably false, although they did come a mere 6 points shy last night of doubling Butler's score from Monday night. Yeah, I went there. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• The Oregonian's John Hunt has a great feature on Oregon's Joevan Catron and his role in helping get the rebuilding process started for new head coach Dana Altman. Altman has nothing but great things to say about Catron and what he did for this team this year. Now he'll have to see how this team responds after the departure of Catron. Or maybe the Ducks will follow in the footsteps of 2010 CBI champion VCU? But first, they'll have to deal with a challenging Pac-12 slate.
• Speaking of Oregon hoops, former head coach Ernie Kent is one of four finalists for the UNLV job. Although I did enjoy seeing Coach Kent on Fox Sports broadcasts this season, I think he'd do a great job at UNLV.
• As spring practices continue around the country, preseason top-25 lists are starting to roll in. ESPN.com's Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg posted his ballot and has Alabama at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 3. Oh, and Ohio State at No. 9, despite the fact that they'll be missing their quarterback and head coach. So, you know, take his opinion with a grain of salt.
• And in case you're running out of Ducks to cheer for this spring, hop on former Oregon golfer Ben Crane's bandwagon as he competes in the Masters beginning tomorrow.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

There isn't a ton out there today, but even a little quack goes a long way. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• The Oregon men's basketball team takes on Boise State in a CBI semifinal game tonight at Matt Court. For those of you in the area, there are still tickets available (as of last night).
• Rob Moseley continues his spring preview series with Oregon's defensive line. Meanwhile, John Hunt takes a look at the Ducks' running backs.
• The Oregon men's golf team finished second to the nation's top ranked team, Oklahoma State, as host of the 2011 Duck Invitational at the Eugene Country Club. The Ducks and Cowboys were the only two teams of the field of 15 to finish under par.
• After sweeping Utah State and Weber State in two double-headers at home last weekend, the Oregon softball team remained in the NFCA top 15 for the seventh straight week. Weather permitting, the Ducks will play host to Portland State this afternoon in a double-header at Howe Field beginning at 2:00 p.m. PT.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Apparently, there are a few major rumors swirling around the college football world today. Of course, that's nothing your Wednesday Morning Quack can't fix:

• After bad news broke yesterday regarding the departure of two Oregon offensive lineman from the team due to medical issues, rumor had it Oregon fans were in for another round of bad news, this time of the "major recruiting violations" variety. Fortunately, the rumor that these violations involved Oregon, the flames of which were aptly fanned by our good friend John Canzano, seem to be untrue. What we know, or at least what we think we know, is that a major news outlet is going to release an expose outing a top 10-12 program today. Here's to hoping that program is Texas, Ohio State, or Florida...or Oregon State, just for good measure.
• If you were looking for some sort of closure from today's much talked about SI piece, you're not gonna get it. The big piece that SI released today had nothing to do with recruiting violations, but looked at crime in college football. After last year's offseason, Oregon fans are familiar with that topic, but the Ducks are not even mentioned in the article.
• The Portland Pilots used a three-run seventh inning to upend the No. 15 Ducks, 5-3, at PK Park last night. The Ducks, now 4-4 on the year, return to action this Friday with a three-game road series with Long Beach State.
• If you purchased a No. 1 Darron Thomas national championship jersey (or received one as a gift during the holidays), consider it officially "vintage DT." Why? Because Thomas will be wearing No. 5 next season.
• The R-G's Bob Clark discusses whether or not Joevan Catron will be chosen by the Pac-10 coaches to the all-conference team. His coach, Dana Altman, sure seems to think so. And I can't say I disagree.
• ESPN.com's Ted Miller discusses the 5 biggest questions facing the Pac-12 heading into spring ball.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below. GO DUCKS!

Not a whole lot out there today (for the second straight day). Despite the shortage, no weekday is the same without your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• During a hearing at the Oregon State Capitol yesterday on Senate Bill 5, a bill pushing to broaden the definition of an agent under Oregon state law, news arose that the Oregon Attorney General's office had been investigating an agent who allegedly paid former Oregon football player Fenuki Tupou back in 2008. The case has been dropped by the AG's office, but it's an interesting finding amid all the agent backlash going on around college athletics.
• Planning to attend the second edition of the hardwood Civil War at Matt Court this Saturday? Well, I hope you already have your tickets, because the Oregon athletic department is reporting that all tickets for the game have been sold. In fact, as the R-G's Bob Clark points out, tickets for next week's homestand against the Bay Area schools are also running low, so if you want to get to the Matt this season, you better get on it.
• Incoming basketball recruit Jabari Brown has been selected to the 2011 Jordan Brand Classic to be played in Charlotte on April 16. Brown is one of only two future Pac-12 players invited to the game.
• The No. 14 Oregon baseball team kicks off its season this Friday with a four-game series against Hawaii in Honolulu. For those looking to catch the Ducks live (who don't live in Hawaii), the Diamond Ducks host their first game at PK Park next Friday, Feb. 25.
• Also ranked 14th nationally is Oregon's softball team, its highest ranking since 2007.
• It sounds like former Oregon All-American defensive tackle Haloti Ngata's continued success in the NFL is going to pay off...quite literally. The two-time Pro-Bowler garnered the elusive franchise tag from the Baltimore Ravens yesterday. Of course, if the current collective bargaining agreement isn't renewed, the distinction will dissolve on March 4. Either way, Ngata can expect a big payday sooner or later, and the franchise tag is a great accomplishment for the young tackle.
• ESPN.com's Ted Miller took a look at each Pac-12 team's quarterback situation yesterday, and lists Darron Thomas as one of four potential All-Americans from the conference. Like last season, the Pac-12 will have a number of high-quality QBs to boast heading into 2011, and for us Oregon fans, it's nice not having questions surrounding the position this offseason (knock on wood).

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Long time, no post, ATQers. I've been on a bit of an unannounced hiatus for a little R&R before starting a new job. Anyway, glad to be back. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• Four-star quarterback Jerrard Randall, who originally verbally committed to the Ducks, but then sent in his LOI to Iowa Western Community College last week, may in fact still join the Ducks in time for the 2011 season. According to his high school coach, Randall needs a higher ACT score, but it's still a possibility.
• Speaking of recruiting, ESPN.com's Ted Miller had an interesting piece on the state(s) of West Coast recruiting...literally. Not surprisingly, Texas produces more FBS football players than any other state. On the flip side, Florida produces the highest ratio of FBS players to total high school football players in the state. (1 out of every 111!) That ratio, much like the yards/play defensive metric, seems to tell a much more accurate story. Anyway, guess who leads the Pac-12 in the same metric? Utah! The mighty State of Oregon, on the other hand, comes in last place with just 1 out of every 1,214. Sure makes me question whether I should be channeling my inner Al Bundy and bragging up my high school football accomplishments. Apparently I was playing against far lesser competition.
• Miller also had a nice write-up on the Pac-12's attendance numbers. Oregon led the conference in percentage of seats filled with 110%, one of only two schools (again, Utah shoots and scores!) averaging more than 100% of capacity. Stanford, despite a banner year, nearly came in last place. Can't say I'm surprised after learning they couldn't sell out a top-15 match-up with Arizona midway through the year. That fact makes me a lot less anxious about our trip to the Farm this fall.
• Do you play fantasy college football? If so, check out Phil Steele's early edition of the top players for 2011. Quite a few Ducks near the top of his rankings, which are broken down by position.
• In other news, both Jeremy Jacob and Johnathan Loyd sat out of the Ducks' practice yesterday, however, both are expected to play against UCLA tomorrow. Both will be needed if the Ducks want to continue their impressive run in L.A. this weekend.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

It's Civil War week! Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• It sounds like Joevan Catron will suit up for Saturday's Civil War in Corvallis. Head coach Dana Altman told reporters earlier Tuesday there's a 50/50 chance the senior returns, but according to Catron, he's "fine." The Ducks' leading scorer has been out the past two games with a strained calf muscle and as John Hunt points out, plays a big role in Oregon's offense, so it will be nice to have him healthy and back in the lineup.
  
• And for those of you whose excitement for Oregon hoops is waning, watch this. That's incoming recruit Jabari Brown posterizing some poor sap.
• In other recruiting news, Oregon verbal commit and local boy Colt Lyerla has been upgraded by Rivals.com to 5-star status, bumping Oregon's 2011 class to No. 6 on Rivals' list.
• Ted Miller lists all former Pac-10 players who will appear in the Pro Bowl in a week and a half. Congratulations to former Oregon star Haloti Ngata, who will be making his second appearance in as many seasons.
• Miller also examines the effect of the "misses" on the Pac-12 schedule next fall. Despite retaining the 9-game conference slate (the Big 12 is the only other major conference to play 9 inner-conference opponents), Pac-12 teams won't play two teams from the other division each year.
• Despite being named Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Sporting News Coach of the Year, Associated Press Coach of the Year, and AFCA Coach of the Year, Chip Kelly lost out to Auburn head coach Gene Chizik for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award yesterday. If you're going award Chizik, don't you kind of have to give it to Gus Malzahn too? Just saying...

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

For me, the heartbreak and disappointment following last Monday's game was relatively short-lived and has been swiftly replaced by optimism for the 2011 season. The Ducks are poised to start the year ranked in the top 5 (for the first time ever, by the way) and return a core nucleus of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Questions still surround the departing offensive linemen and arguably the best linebacking core in school history, but there's a lot to be optimistic about, particularly with the intangibles (special teams, quarterback, coaching staff, etc.). And because it's never too early to make outlandish and bold predictions, here are 5 for the 2011 season:

1. Oregon will beat LSU in Dallas to start the season.

Right now, it seems like this game is more or less a toss-up. But after closer examination, it's looking like Oregon's to lose. To start with, in addition to the departure of several senior defensive standouts (Lazarius Levingston, Drake Nevis, and Kelvin Sheppard), the Bayou Bengals lose All-American cornerback Patrick Peterson and leading rusher Stevan Ridley to the NFL Draft, as well as their offensive coordinator to Maryland (whom we're all familiar with...and no, Crowton haters, getting rid of your coordinator, no matter who he is, isn't an advantage in the season's first game). Oh, and they didn't lose certifiably insane head coach Les Miles to Michigan. Just ask yourself this question: Who wins the coaching duel between Chip Kelly and the Mad Hatter? That's like asking who's smarter: Stephen Hawking or Paris Hilton? Advantage: Oregon.

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Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our incessant bickering has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of these debates have centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take them to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. Here's your weekly brotherly debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: It's been quite the hiatus for the Brothers, hasn't it, Big Bro? I think it's only fitting we make our triumphant return on the day of the BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

GrumpyJDH: Absolutely agree, Little Bro. It's GAMEDAY, bitches!

PaulSF: Well, since nearly every topic surrounding this game has been analyzed, dissected, broken down, scrutinized, rinsed and repeated, I say we give our (four) loyal readers something they haven't yet seen, heard or read. It's time for our Gameday preview, Brother v. Brother-style.

GrumpyJDH: I'm not sure I know what you have in mind but, as always, I'm down for disagreeing with you...again.

PaulSF: Today is a big day, not just for Oregon football, but for the state itself. Of course, I still have a lot of unanswered questions about several matchups, many of which haven't been discussed much. But, because you can never talk about Cam Newton and Oregon's defense too much, let's start there. (1) What are your thoughts on the matchup between Oregon's defense and Auburn's offense?

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T-minus 5 days and counting. I can't take it any longer. The suspense is killing me. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• The Auburn Tigers got on the field for the first time yesterday after arriving in Arizona on Monday and even spoke to reporters afterward. Meanwhile, Chip Kelly and the Ducks continue to, as Cliff Harris would say, lock shit down from the media. The Oregonian's John Hunt still managed to put together a handful of notes from both teams' practices, while Rob Moseley compiled a series of comments from Kelly and Jeff Maehl.
• Should next Monday be considered an Oregon state holiday? For some city councils around the state, the answer is yes.
• Much has already been made of Oregon as the atypical BCS title game participant. But probably one of the lesser mentioned anomalies is how little interest Oregon's players are drawing from NFL scouts. The Oregonian's Aaron Fentress has the story.
• Fentress and Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register continued their Oregon-Auburn comparison series with an examination of the assistant coaching staffs. Both give the edge to Auburn because of Gus Malzahn, but I like the Ducks' staff's tenure over a hot name on the coaching carousel. Advantage: Ducks, says I.
• The Oregonian's Lindsay Schnell takes a look at "the other guys" for Auburn on the offensive side of the ball. Believe it or not, they have a plethora of weapons not named Cam Newton. And despite the long layoff, Newton expects he and Auburn offense will come out crisp, but if the Heisman winner continues to stay out all night, those other guys might be relied on to play a bigger role.
• Following TCU's Rose Bowl win capping off an undefeated season, NBC Sports posted a poll asking fans how the Horned Frogs would fare against Auburn and Oregon. The results are somewhat surprising.
• Oregon basketball recruit Austin Kuemper suffered a setback when an MRI revealed a stress fracture in his left leg. The 6'9" Westview High School star is expected to miss a month. I guess it could have been much worse, but it's still a bummer for Kuemper amid his senior season.
  

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Are we there yet? No. But the Pac-10 bowl season starts today, which means we're that much closer. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• The R-G published a column swap between Anniston (Ala.) Star Editor Bob Davis and R-G columnist Bob Welch on the cultural divide between Auburn and Oregon. Both are worth reading, particularly Davis's on Auburn.
  
• Meanwhile, ESPN's Ivan Maisel had a column of his own on the dichotomy between the cultures of Oregon and Auburn, complete with "Animal House" references (because no ESPN column on Oregon is complete without mention of the comedic classic or Nike). Most of the differences Maisel outlines are obvious (and stereotypical), but he begs an interesting question at the end: Will we look back on 2010 and see it as the year power in college football shifted? Quite possibly, but not if bowl ratings have anything to do with it.
• Boise State head coach Chris Petersen was on hand at the Ducks' practice yesterday. Rob Moseley has more in his Tuesday practice report.
• The coaching carousel continues to spin, and the rumors regarding Auburn's OC Gus Malzahn don't seem to be dwindling. Malzahn has reportedly been approached by Maryland, which fired head coach Ralph Friedgen last week.

Not a whole lot out there today, so we've added a poll. Who's going to win the Alamo Bowl? Make sure you vote and give us your reasoning in the comments.

GO DUCKS!

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our incessant bickering has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of these debates have centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take them to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. Here's your weekly brotherly debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: I can't believe, after nearly a year, you're still trying to decide between the XBox 360 and the PlayStation 3. Seriously? You could have logged like a bajillion hours of Black Ops by now!

GrumpyJDH: Maybe if I didn't have a career, a second career, a daughter to take care of, a house to maintain...you know, a life. Besides, who needs a console when you can play Angry Birds on your phone anytime you want (read: all day)? So much for those careers, I guess.

PaulSF: Holy smokes! Did Big Bro just reference a smartphone game? I'm shocked you even own a smartphone. No offense, but you seem like more of a feature phone guy. Or maybe even a burner guy. In other words, you're old.

GrumpyJDH: Easy there, McNulty. I'm not a complete Luddite...nor a drug dealer.

PaulSF: Okay, maybe not a burner guy, but definitely not an iPhone guy like me.

GrumpyJDH: If by "iPhone guy," you mean "douchebag," then no, I'm not. I'm all Android, baby. Besides, iPhones are overrated.

PaulSF: Wanna know what else is overrated? The Heisman Trophy. For nearly a century, the award has been handed out to the most outstanding college football player. And it was again last Saturday evening. But there's no doubt the award has lost its luster. We both agree Cam Newton deserved it, but following the Reggie Bush debacle, (1) did his win taint the trophy for the second time in less than a year?

Continue reading this post »

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our incessant bickering has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of these debates have centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take them to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. Here's your weekly brotherly debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: A spotless 12-0 mark. A National Championship berth. A Heisman invitation, a Doak Walker award, and an Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award in the bag. Are you kidding me?! Welcome to Cloud 9, Brother.

GrumpyJDH: I know, right? Pinch me. Actually, don't do that. I was being figurative.

PaulSF: How about I just touch you with my ice-cold finger, like you did 40 times during last year's March Madness party?

GrumpyJDH: HA! Ice-cold finger! You realize nobody has any idea what we're talking about, right? Plus, I might've been drinking.

PaulSF: You were definitely drinking...which is always good for a few laughs. I don't care whether or not our (four) readers know what we're talking about, by the way. Want to know why? Because we're in the BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, JOE!

GrumpyJDH: It's like a free pass almost. Permission granted to make no sense whatsoever, Paully! Not like you've ever needed my (or anyone's) permission, of course.

PaulSF: I always make sense, Joe. Unless what I'm saying is nonsense. Make sense? Anyway, 31 days until the big showdown with Auburn. That's one month from today until we face quite possibly the most dynamic college football player since Hershel Walker, and certainly the best in a Tigers uniform since Bo Jackson. And it's for all the marbles. I'm not sure I can wait any longer. We need to keep ourselves occupied, apparently. How did we get here?

GrumpyJDH: Well, we went to Knoxville. We went to the Stanford game in Eugene. We went to Berkeley. I went to the 'Zona game. We never witnessed a loss.

PaulSF: Not "we" as in you and me, Captain Literal. I mean "we" as in the program. (1) When did you know the Oregon football program had arrived on the national stage? In other words, what single event or moment in Ducks history made you think we're a force to be reckoned with, and that we would someday play for a national title?

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Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and reflect on another impressive Oregon season. Feel better? Good. Now enjoy your final regular season Morning Quack Fix:

• The Oregon men's basketball team, who trailed 44-24 at the half, came just short of notching an impressive comeback, falling to No. 9 Missouri, 83-80, last night at Mac Court. Behind E.J. Singler's career-high 19 points, the Ducks outscored the Tigers 56-39 in the second half, but Johnathan Loyd's 30-footer at the buzzer fell short. Despite the loss, it's clear new head coach Dana Altman has this team going in the right direction.
• With only a day to go before the 114th Civil War, more important than the previous 113, the hype machine is in full effect. And despite players and coaches on both sides downplaying the bitter rivalry, make no mistake: The Beavers want to spoil the Ducks' party. Ted Miller discusses how OSU could pull it off, "could" being the operative word.
• Of course, this year's Civil War isn't the only time in 113 meetings that the two teams have played for high stakes. Here are five others.
• Oregon special teams coordinator Tom Osborne is, well, special. And he's a finalist for an award to recognize what has to be a pretty thankless job at times. Kudos to Coach Osborne.
• As the Pac-10 continues to beat itself up, it might have actually done itself a favor this time. Arizona State's James Brooks blocked not one, but two PATs to lead the Sun Devils to a double-overtime win over in-state rival Arizona, 30-29, last night in Tuscon. ASU will become the fourth bowl-eligible Pac-10 team if their waver request is approved by the NCAA. Two other teams are vying for a berth this weekend: Washington (hosting Wazzu) and Oregon State. But let's be honest, the latter ain't happenin'. So, for the good of the conference, go Huskies?
• Speaking of the Pac-10's lack of bowl-eligible teams, SI's Stewart Mandel examines the conference's round-robin schedule and the effect it has on the postseason.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our incessant bickering has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of these debates have centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take them to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. Here's your weekly brotherly debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: True or false: I saw Tangled last weekend...and enjoyed it.

GrumpyJDH: And to think our faithful readers — all 4 of them — would prefer to hang out with you as much as they'd prefer to kick it with me. If you didn't already have a girlfriend, I'd certainly wonder how you were ever going to get one. Then again, maybe the ladies dig a man who's in touch with his inner 6-year-old. Just hope you didn't opt for that over the Friday nightcap in Reno. Tell me you didn't do that, Paully.

PaulSF: Joe, of course I didn't. Are you kidding me?! I might be a pushover when it comes to the ladies (namely my girlfriend), but there was absolutely no WAY I was going to miss the highly touted triple-header. By the way, did you have any idea how cold it gets in Reno during the winter? Yeah, neither did Boise State kicker, Kyle Brotzman.

GrumpyJDH: It's apparently gotten a lot chillier for him since. Seriously, Broncos fans? Here's an idea: Get some perspective, get a life, and get over it. Oh, and when you're done doing all that, don't forget to book your tickets to San Francisco. I hear it's quite lovely this time of year.

PaulSF: And try not to think about how much lovelier it is in Glendale...or Pasadena. On the bright side, at least you'll be fighting hunger with the fine folks at Kraft, an undoubtedly worthy cause.

GrumpyJDH: A fight you've been waging for 28 years, Paully, and (apparently) winning. I mean, you're a picture of health!

PaulSF: What can I say? A steady diet of Kraft Mac & Cheese will do wonders for one's physique. In all seriousness, (1) does a heartbreaking loss to a solid Nevada team really undo what the Broncos have achieved this season? After all, they'll (likely) finish 11-1. Only nine teams in the country have as few or fewer losses.

Continue reading this post »

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our mutual hatred (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of the debate has centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take these debates to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. (I mean, who wouldn't want public affirmation that Big Bro's always wrong and I'm always right?) Here's your weekly ATQ Blogger Debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: Alright, Big Bro. Let's talk turkey. Is it immoral for Duck fans to eat turducken today?

GrumpyJDH: Seriously, Paully? You're gonna sell me out in front of God and everyone? I didn't plan the menu, for your information. My job is merely to make short work of it. By the way, one of my co-workers told me she considers turducken morally reprehensible. Literally. It's some sort of carcass violation or something. When did people become so…loathsome?

PaulSF: I don't know, but while we're on the subject of loathsome people, remember when the "'Zona Zoo" stormed the field with time left on the clock in regulation, only to watch their squad lose the game in OT? Then, they retaliated by throwing garbage at the Duck cheerleaders as they were leaving the field? Arizona fans sure are awful, aren't they? Or maybe they're just not ready for the big time.

GrumpyJDH: How could they not be ready? They've only been waiting for...well, forever. Speaking of teams that have been waiting for the big time, were you aware Auburn's been to precisely one big-time bowl since 1990 (the 2004 Sugar Bowl)? Before we talk Ducks/'Zona, (1) who's going to win the Iron Bowl tomorrow? Perhaps more importantly, why?

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First, there was the infamous Black Out. Then the half-assed attempt at a Yellow Out. So, the obvious next step is a Black & Yellow Out, right? Or, as one ATQer suggests, a Glow Out (if you're into the whole raver scene). By 2017, we'll be primed for my personal favorite, the Chartreuse Out. Let's start campaigning now. In the meantime, here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• As the Ducks prepare for their matchup with Arizona this weekend, they're also getting used to life without their best downfield blocker, Lavasier Tuinei. Meanwhile, LaMichael James sat out Tuesday's practice, this time with a bruised left leg, but Chip Kelly insists it was for precautionary reasons. Rob Moseley has more in his Tuesday practice report, as well as a few highlights from Coach Kelly's press conference.
• Speaking of Kelly, he was named one of eight finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award. Just making the final 8 is an honor for Kelly, but I'm guessing he's the front-runner at this point. The other seven coaches to make the cut are Bret Bielema (Wisconsin), Gene Chizik (Auburn), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Jim Harbaugh (Stanford), Chris Petersen (Boise State), and Gary Patterson (TCU), who took home the award last year.
• And while we're on the subject of great coaches, former Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti was on hand for Tuesday's practice at the Moshofsky Center. Follow the link for the video.
• Arizona is embracing the role of underdog heading into this weekend's game, and the Wildcats' top priority is to unseat the top-ranked Ducks. The Oregonian's John Hunt thinks the game will at least be interesting given the past few meetings between the two teams. Meanwhile, with cold weather on the horizon for Saturday, Arizona head coach Mike Stoops will only let the media speculate on how many snaps we can expect from dual-threat backup QB Matt Scott. Scott offers a different look than starter Nick Foles, so if the weather remains frigid, we can probably expect to see more of Scott than in week's past.
• The Oregon men's basketball team got back on track following Saturday's loss to San Jose State to beat Texas Southern, 75-52, behind a balanced scoring attack that included six Ducks with 8 or more points and 11 with at least a point. The Ducks get a few days off for the Thanksgiving holiday before traveling north for their first real test (and by real test, I mean the ultimate test) when they take on top-ranked Duke on Saturday at the Rose Garden.
• The R-G's George Schroeder has a great feature on head coach Dana Altman and the rebuilding process over at SI.com. Schroeder occasionally moonlights for the national publication, and this one is a must read.
• Make sure you vote for our beloved mascot in the Capital One National Mascot of the Year contest. The Duck is taking on Ohio State's Brutus in the quarterfinals.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our mutual hatred (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of the debate has centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take these debates to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. (I mean, who wouldn't want public affirmation that Big Bro's always wrong and I'm always right?) Here's your weekly ATQ Blogger Debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: Last week, you insisted on kicking things off. And then we nearly crapped the bed in Berkeley. Not that I'm superstitious or anything, but I think I'll be doing the honors this week.

GrumpyJDH: Yeah, I'm pretty okay with that. Yikes! Appreciate you putting us up, by the way. Just wish the Golden Bears had been slightly more hospitable. Who'd have thought "couch-surf in the Haight" would trump "road game at Memorial Stadium" on the hospitality meter?

PaulSF: Are you that surprised? It's not like Berserkley's been all that good to us the past decade. Saturday's win was our first at Cal since 2001, and the only time we've beaten Tedford in Strawberry Canyon. I wonder if it has anything to do with the condition of that stadium. Next year's renovation really couldn't come soon enough, huh?

GrumpyJDH: Especially if you're a woman, apparently. Newsflash: 6-year-old girls need to use the restroom every once in a while...and their football-crazy fathers don't appreciate having to hike 20 sections over to take them. Seems like the "Crown Jewel" of the UC system could manage something a tad more modern for its gridders, especially a group that plays really inspired ball every once in a while. Speaking of which, (1) did those really inspired Bear defenders just draft the blueprint for future Duck opponents?

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I thought about faking an injury to get out of writing this post, but I'm better than that. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• LaMichael James, David Paulson and Carson York were all named to the Pac-10 all-academic first team, the conference announced yesterday. Three Ducks made the second team, while six were listed as honorable mention, including senior Nate Costa. James was also listed as one of 15 "players to watch" for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award.
• With the BCS on a collision course with another epic controversy, ESPN.com's Ryan McGee reflects on the top 6 BCS "bridesmaids" of the system's 12 tumultuous seasons. If you don't have an ESPN Insider account, check out Ted Miller's analysis of McGee's post. Oregon's 2001 snub comes in at No. 3.
• Ken Goe has a feature on former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti's interest in returning to the sideline. I don't blame Bellotti for wanting to get back in the game. When he originally hung up the whistle, I was pretty shocked. It's hard to imagine Bellotti on another team's sideline, just as it was tough to see Rich Brooks on Kentucky's sideline the past half decade. We'll see how it all plays out, but my hope is Coach Bellotti does what's best for him and his family...and for us fans. (In other words, don't take the Colorado job, Mike!)
• Jeremy Jacob appears to be showing progress after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery back in late October. On a team with only three players over 6'6", the 6'8" forward will be nice to have back in the lineup, which was originally expected to be in December.
  
• In other news, the Oregon men’s cross country team remained at No. 3 in the coaches’ poll. Meanwhile, the women moved up one spot to No. 6.
• Much has already been made of the alleged fake injuries by Cal in last Saturday's win in Berkeley. Seemingly everyone is weighing in on the topic, including Ted Miller and Ken Goe, and according to a source, the fake injuries were actually part of Cal's game plan. Whether the allegations are true or not, this video at least puts a comedic spin on the debate (video after the jump). Frankly, I don't care whether he did or didn't fake it. Let the woeful Pac-10 officials deal with it. Meanwhile, we won. 'Nuff said.
  

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

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In the midst of an unprecedented run at its first National Championship in the program’s 117-year history, it’s safe to say the Oregon football team is on Cloud 9. The men’s basketball team, on the other hand, is trying to get out from under a black cloud.

Four years removed from its second Elite Eight appearance this decade, a program that was once on the rise nationally is now attempting to rebuild itself. After a tumultuous offseason following yet another subpar campaign, the Ducks enter the 2010-11 season with a new coach, a new arena, and what appears like an entirely new roster.

The Ducks open the season tonight against North Dakota State at Mac Court. For those of you who haven’t been paying as much attention to the latest greatest in Oregon hoops, we’ve put together an ATQ all-in-one guide to the 2010-11 Oregon men’s basketball team. Without further ado...

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Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our mutual hatred (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of the debate has centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take these debates to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. (I mean, who wouldn't want public affirmation that Big Bro's always wrong and I'm always right?) Here's your weekly ATQ Blogger Debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

GrumpyJDH: So I noticed, Paully, you've kicked things off pretty much every week since we started this little virtual tete-a-tete. I know the blog was your idea and you wrote the intro and you're impossibly insecure and all that, but...how about giving Big Bro a chance to get the first jab in for once, huh? Here goes: what were you thinking going against the Horned Frogs? No, that's not the first question of the week. It's my way of saying don't quit your day job and move to Vegas anytime soon.

PaulSF: Touché, broseph. Is this the part where I change the subject to your abysmal fantasy football team? I won't go there. Yes, I picked Utah to beat TCU. Yes, I was absolutely wrong. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe I wanted one of our new Pac-12 members to finish its tenure as a non-AQ team with a bang. Alas, I didn't get my wish. TCU looked absolutely dominant in their 47-7 win over the Utes. And now that Alabama lost to LSU, there's a decent chance we're playing the Horned Frogs in the National Championship, rather than an SEC team.

GrumpyJDH: Well, since you went there and begged that doozy of a question, here's a follow-up: (1) would it be a good thing or a bad thing for the Ducks to face a non-AQ school if we make it to Glendale?

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Keep focusing, Duck fans. Oregon plays Cal in Berkeley in three days, and we haven't won there since 2001. This game is not to be taken lightly. Not now. Not when we're so close. We can't let our rival's athletic director putting his foot in his mouth distract us. Just win the day. Here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• In case you hadn't heard the official word, senior quarterback Nate Costa's career as a Duck is officially over, the Oregon athletic department announced yesterday. Costa, who injured his right knee in the third quarter of the Ducks 53-16 win over Washington last Saturday, will undergo surgery in the next few weeks. Costa answered questions for reporters yesterday, and was his usual, classy self. It's a shame his career had to end with such an unfortunate injury. He deserves a lot of credit for playing a vital role in the Ducks' success this season. And let's not forget that saved field goal against Arizona last year that ultimately spared our Rose Bowl season. If you have a comment you'd like to leave for Nate, Rob Moseley invites you to post it in the comments here.
• I know many of you were worried about the SI cover curse after hearing LaMichael James is one of three players featured on the cover this week. Fortunately, he's not alone, which I think means we're safe. And speaking of James, he's also one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the nation's best player.
• The Civil War is set to kick off at 12:30 on Dec. 4 and will be televised on ABC. Who wants to look up the last 20 Civil Wars and their respective start times to see if there's a pattern? Not it.
• Apparently Washington athletic director Scott Woodward's half-assed apology wasn't good enough. UW interim president Phyllis Wise essentially ordered Woodward to apologize personally for the inflammatory comment he made to a local Seattle radio station prior to the Ducks-Huskies game on Saturday regarding Oregon's academic prowess.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

1. Oregon 53, Washington 16 - It wasn't pretty for about 3/5ths of the game, but the Ducks continued to do what they've been doing all year: Wear Teams Down (maybe that's what WTD really stands for?). The Ducks were held scoreless in a quarter (other than the fourth quarter in two blowout wins) for the first time this year after failing to put points on the board until Rob Beard's 29-yard field goal at the beginning of the second period. But once the offense got rolling, it was as unstoppable as it's been all season, racking up 522 yards behind a balanced attack capping a very Happy I Hate Washington Week. The only bad news from the game was the unfortunate injury to backup quarterback Nate Costa, who suffered what appeared to be a pretty serious knee injury on a botched snap field goal attempt midway through the third quarter.

2. Stanford 42, Arizona 17 - Andrew Luck and the No. 13 Cardinal got sweet, sweet revenge for their big loss at Arizona last year, holding the No. 15 Wildcats to their second-lowest point total this season. They also dropped more points on the Wildcats than any other team has this year en route to improving to 8-1 on the season. And they did it all in front of a whopping 43,506 fans in a 50,000-seat capacity stadium. Apparently there are better things to do in the South Bay than watch a top-15 matchup. Either way, Oregon's best win keeps getting better. Although 'Zona struggled offensively, much of that could have been due to the rusty play of Nick Foles, who sat out the past three weeks with a knee injury. Foles and the Wildcats get one more tune-up at home against USC before taking a week off and traveling to Eugene for a Friday night showdown with the Ducks at Autzen. Stanford travels to Tempe, then Berkeley, before wrapping up its season at home against Oregon State on Nov. 27.

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Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our mutual hatred (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of the debate has centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take these debates to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. (I mean, who wouldn't want public affirmation that Big Bro's always wrong and I'm always right?) Here's your weekly ATQ Blogger Debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: The Ducks just posted an eviction notice on the Pac-10 penthouse door in the form of a 53-32 workmanlike beatdown of perennial powerhouse USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum. That's quite a statement win, wouldn't you say, Big Bro?

GrumpyJDH: We're not into statements, Paul. We're just into winning games. Remember? That would have been my favorite sound bite from this glorious weekend, incidentally, if I hadn't stumbled across this priceless gem from Trojans defensive lineman, Armond Armstead: "We weren't tired at all." Not at all, big guy? Didn't get just a LITTLE bit gassed chasing LaMike and the Maehlman all over the stadium? Armstead added, "If we had limited the big plays, it would have been a different story." Mmm-hhh. And if I had a big ol' steak right now, we could have some steak and lobster...if we had some lobster. By the way, I found both of these nuggets in Bruce Feldman's postmortem of the drubbing (requires ESPN Insider); appropriately titled "The Oregon Ducks can't be stopped." Ha! Tell us how you really feel, Bruce!

PaulSF: Can you disagree with him, though? So far, we haven't been stopped...like, at all. Granted we've played a pretty suspect list of defenses (which Sporting News's Matt Hayes was kind enough to point out), but we're not just beating teams. We're HAMMERING them. We have been methodically running away from teams, and it's really not just our offense, despite what the "analysts" say. Our D has given up 7 points in the 4th quarter...all season! (1) How good is this Oregon defense?

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It feels like each week is getting longer and longer. It's probably just impatience, but Saturday can't come soon enough. If you're feeling the same way, you're going to need your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix to help you cope:

• Sophomore Cliff Harris is one of 10 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's best defensive back. There's no doubt he's deserving of the award. He is, after all, locking shit down.
• Running back Kenjon Barner practiced for the second-straight day yesterday, but has yet to be cleared for contact. Oregon running backs coach Gary Campbell is hopeful Barner will be cleared for this weekend's matchup with UW, but reiterated he's still day-to-day. Rob Moseley has more in his Tuesday practice report.
• Dr. Saturday offers a lighthearted look at Oregon's "warp speed" offense. There are some interesting tidbits in his post, most notably that the Ducks are faster and more efficient statistically than any high-octane offense in the past six seasons (and that includes the 2008 Oklahoma juggernaut).
• When asked who might be able to stop the aforementioned warp-speed offense, USC head coach Lane Kiffin suggested Alabama. Here's to hoping the matchup plays out in Glendale, although I'm not convinced the Tide is up to the task.
• On his weekly conference call with reporters, Chip Kelly refused to acknowledge himself as a genius. "Jonas Salk is a genius. We coach football." Fair enough, Coach. Genius? Maybe not. But guru? Most certainly.
• LostLettermen.com examines the Oregon-Washington rivalry, claiming it's one of the most overlooked in the country. I'm guessing our 6-game winning streak (soon to be 7) in the series might have something to do with why it's overlooked.
• Could Mike Bellotti return to coaching at...Minnesota? The Oregonian's Rachel Bachman weighs in on the rumors.
• It sounds like the Big East wants in on the expansion action after the conference announced its plans yesterday to push membership from eight to 10 teams. ESPN.com's Brian Bennett (not to be confused with Bryan Bennett) speculates on who the top candidates might be. Not surprisingly, TCU tops the list.
  

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our mutual hatred (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of the debate has centered on college sports, it seems only appropriate we take these debates to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. (I mean, who wouldn't want public affirmation that Big Bro's always wrong and I'm always right?) Here's your weekly ATQ Blogger Debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

PaulSF: OH HAI JOE! Are you ready for another round of sibling mudslinging? You KNOW I am. I'm feeling rather supercilious today. Probably has to do with the Ducks' 60-13 massacring of UCLA last Thursday night. Or maybe I'm just preparing for our second-straight bludgeoning of a SoCal school on Saturday. Either way, I hope you're in the mood for my contemptuous attitude toward you and your inferior opinions.

GrumpyJDH: Uhhhh...should I have brought a helmet and a cup? It's called decaf, Paul. You should probably consider it. Besides, what are you so feisty about? We WON! Then, Oklahoma went out and did us a huge favor by soiling the bed in Columbia. All in all, pretty good little weekend for the good guys.

PaulSF: That's exactly why I'm so feisty. We WON! No, correction: We DOMINATED! We made UCLA look about as pedestrian as Portland State. Or New Mexico. I think the Ducks are hitting their stride, and just in time for the toughest stretch of the conference slate.

Of course, I could just be fired up about yet another BCS snub. Auburn jumps not one, but TWO teams to take over the top spot? Sure wish we played in the SEC. Because apparently that means you'll automatically qualify for the National Championship Game.(1) What was your reaction to the second edition of the BCS standings?

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Much of the nation's attention is beginning to turn toward Saturday's match-up between the Ducks and Trojans in L.A., which some have tabbed the season's next major upset. Of course, we're just trying to win the day, and in order to do that, we need our Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• John Hunt has a feature on the improvement of both Matt Barkley and USC's defense. Meanwhile, Ken Goe talks about Kelly shrugging off Barkley's inflammatory tweet about the Ducks, Oregon insisting USC's defense is better than stats are indicating, and Oregon's recent struggles at the L.A. Coliseum (as if we needed the reminder). And, of course, don't forget Rob Moseley's Tuesday practice report.
• The new logo for Matt Court was unveiled yesterday on GoDucks.com (although the logo has been up at MatthewKnightArena.com for a few days). The design, which was created with the help of Nike's Todd Van Horne, "visually represents Oregon's modern graphic language, a Japanese torii gate, while also embodying Matthew Knight's toothy grin."
  
• ESPN.com's Ted Miller discusses Oregon's impressive depth.
• Have you ever wondered about that strategically placed Washington State flag waving in the background of every College GameDay telecast? Wonder no more. The fine folks at Deadspin got their hands on the secret manual Wazzu fans use to make it all happen. I guess when your team's as bad as the Cougars are, you've gotta do something to keep your fans interested. Something tells me the guys at CougCenter are behind all of this.

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!

Everyone has an arch nemesis. Mine just happens to be my older brother. But our mutual hatred (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) has led to many an entertaining discussion through the years. And because much of the debate has centered on college sports, and the Ducks in particular (we're both die-hards), it seems only appropriate we take these debates to the blogosphere to settle them once and for all. (I mean, who wouldn't want public affirmation that Big Bro's always wrong and I'm always right?) Coming to you weekly (we hope) from here on out, we officially introduce the weekly Brother v. Brother ATQ Sibling Blogger Debate, affectionately known as Sh*t My Brother Says.

GrumpyJDH: Do I get a proper introduction at least? Man. All you really need to know about me, folks, is that, unlike Lil Bro and about half a million other Duck fans who make a similar claim, I actually WAS there when Kenny Wheaton scored. As a student. That means A) I'm older than dirt, and B) I know more than Paul. So, since I've got seniority here, let's kick off this little fraternal tete-a-tete with an obvious one, Paully. Now that the Ducks are #1 in the country and have a bull's eye placed squarely on their chests, (1) who of our remaining opponents should we fear the most?

PaulSF: First of all, can we just take a moment to acknowledge that the Ducks are No. 1 in the country for the first time…ever? As if you haven't already. I've probably read over 200 headlines from various news sources, and I LITERALLY never get tired of reading them. So this is what it feels like at the top. I've always wondered.

As for your question, had you asked me that a week ago, I'd have said Oregon State in Corvallis. But then the Beavers proceeded to take a bumdump in Seattle on what was arguably Mike Riley's most questionable coaching decision (sans taking the job with the Chargers). So, this week, I'm taking USC. The Trojans lost in a close one with Stanford, and then absolutely spanked the Bears at home last Saturday. Needless to say, the Trojans may be on the rise, and something tells me they haven't forgotten last year's 47-20 Halloween black-out beat-down. How about you, Big Bro? (Let me guess: Arizona.)

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One more day of waiting, and then it's time for yellow-out at Autzen...in 3D! In the meantime, here's your Wednesday Morning Quack Fix:

• In case you hadn't heard, USC and UCLA are getting a sweetheart payout deal to finish out the remaining term of the Pac-10's TV contracts in order to pave the way for equal revenue sharing for the conference's next agreement. I'm not going to get into the specifics, since A) I don't know enough and B) it was discussed at length in the comments of yesterday's Quack Fix. But if you're looking for a pretty good summary of all the events, check out Brian Floyd's post on CougCenter.
• John Hunt reported that the Ducks may be without three "starters" for Thursday night's game. Zac Clark (groin), Terrell Turner (toe), and Anthony Gildon (ankle) were all in uniform at yesterday's practice, but Hunt doesn't expect them to play. Kenjon Barner (concussion) is also expected to sit out this week's game. For more info, as well as a few highlights from Chip Kelly's press conference yesterday, check out Rob Moseley's Tuesday practice notes. Moseley also has a nice round-up of Oregon's national statistical standing.
• Hunt also has a feature on the audacious Cliff Harris. You have to love Harris's confidence, but it sounds like his biggest weakness right now is conforming to the Ducks' system. I'm sure it's something that will come with maturity and experience, but given how talented he is, my guess is the system may need to conform to him a bit too.
• Speaking of Oregon defensive backs, Aaron Fentress has a great feature on former Oregon standout Pat Chung. The former second-round pick for the New England Patriots is having a fantastic sophomore year in the NFL, including a breakout Monday Night Football game earlier this year in which he blocked a punt, a field goal and returned an interception for a touchdown. He's also posted double-digit tackles twice this season.
• The venerable (or is it venereal) John Canzano interviewed several Ducks players and coaches yesterday, including Kelly and Spencer Paysinger.
• And finally, the Oregon men's golf team finished seventh at the Alister Mackenzie Invitational, hosted by Cal, its best showing so far this fall.
  

As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.

GO DUCKS!