NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson talks about the improvements the Oregon DUcks need to make as they head into the 2013 college football season. There is no doubt that Oregon has the talent to contend for a BCS National Championship next year. Marcus Mariota is coming off an unbelievable first-year at quarterback, De’Anthony Thomas will step into a bigger role on offense, and Oregon’s secondary looks like it will continue to be one of the best in the Pac-12.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson talks about Oregon’s final ranking in both the AP and Coaches Poll. After the embarrassment was over and the dust had settled (which mainly came from Notre Dame fans sprinting out of the stadium in the third quarter), Alabama stood in the No. 1 position for the second straight year while the Oregon Ducks, who took care of the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2013 Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl, finished the year at No. 2.
NWSB Insider and Oregon Ducks blogger Bryant Knox after each week of the regular season, and possibly during a bowl game or BCS playoffs should the Ducks be so lucky, will stop by and bring you his UO game balls. Balls are awarded to the Ducks offensive MVP Marcus Mariota, as well as defensive MVP Michael Clay. De’Anthony Thomas also earned special teams MVP.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson talks about Oregon’s big victory in the 2013 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats. While there were more than enough things that could have distracted the Ducks against Kansas State, they burst out to a quick lead and never looked back as they defeated the Wildcats by a score of 35-17 to win their second straight BCS bowl game.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson gives you some expectations for the 2013 Fiesta Bowl that will take place between the Oregon Ducks and Kansas State Wildcats. With their selection to the Fiesta Bowl the Ducks became the fourth team in BCS history to go to four straight BCS Bowls, an unprecedented number that goes to show how far the program has come and how high it has risen.
NWSB Insider and Oregon Ducks blogger Bryant Knox makes a claim for Chip Kelly to remain with the team beyond the 2012 college football season. If Kelly stays, he has a chance to continue his legacy long into the future, especially with Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas in the backfield. He still has “unfinished business” at Oregon, and if he goes, there’s no guarantee he’ll build the same reputation as a football mastermind in the NFL.
NWSB Insider and Oregon Ducks blogger Bryant Knox after each week of the regular season, and possibly during a bowl game or BCS playoffs should the Ducks be so lucky, will stop by and bring you his UO game balls. Balls are awarded to the Ducks offensive MVP De’Anthony Thomas, on defense this week Brian Jackson earns recognition and in the special teams it’s Keanon Lowe.
Oregon Ducks blogger Bryant Knox breaks down what he expects to see from UO in the 2012 Civil War. The Civil War has been known to throw curve balls in the past, but a bounce-back performance from Oregon, a much closer game than last year and a fifth-straight win in the series are all things we should look for out of the Ducks. De’Anthony Thomas, Marcus Mariota and Kenjon Barner should all play well on offense.
NWSB Insider and Oregon State blogger Jonathan Irwin reports on this week’s football matchup against the Oregon Ducks in NCAA football Week 13 action. It’s not quite the battle of the unbeatens we were all hoping for, but it’s still the biggest game of the season for these two teams. OSU needs a win to cap off their underdog season, while UO has to win to stay alive in the Pac-12 North.
NWSB Insider and Oregon Ducks blogger Bryant Knox is here to bring us his What Went Wrong UO report. The Ducks’ offense had been one of the most elite all season, yet they struggled mightily in both the rushing and passing games against the Stanford Cardinal. Neither Kenjon Barner nor Marcus Mariota were able to play up to their own standards. The biggest problem, though? Kicking, kicking, kicking.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson talks about Oregon’s game against the Cardinal on Saturday. The contest between these two Pac-12 North heavyweights marks the third straight year that the game will be featured on ESPN’s College Gameday, signifying the importance of this matchup in the big college football picture as well. A factor determining the outcome of this game will be Oregon’s d-line and how they hold up against Stepfan Taylor.
NWSB Editor and Insider Chris Anderson talks about Oregon’s win over the California Golden Bears on Saturday night. While this game did have some resemblance to Oregon’s narrow victory over the Bears on their previous National Championship run in 2010, Oregon used an impressive second-half effort, led by freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota , to dispel any thoughts of another top team falling victim to the upset.
