Good Time of Year

Opening the Oregonian today led to a surprising and welcome sight. Actual sports news and thoughts that were relevant to sports fans. I can only take so much on fishing and brief stories from around the baseball world. With football underway and the Blazers training camp nearing, things are looking up in Oregon.

All I ask of the Mariners is to keep me interested until August so they can then turn it over to football...which they've done.

So a quick look at the Oregonian reveals that John Canzano thinks Mike Bellotti has been skating by which I agree with to some degree.

I think it a big time school, Bellotti would have been forced to clean out his desk the day after the arse kicking administered by BYU in the Vegas Bowl, but being the Dean of the Pac-10 gives you a little bit of leeway. Trouble is, since the Fiesta Bowl, arguably Oregon's crowning moment under Bellotti, the team has really been average. For all the money and resources they pour into the program, they haven't necessarily been re-paid with wins. According to the boys at Coaches Hot Seat, Bellotti is behind Mike Riley, Bill Doba, Karl Dorrell, Mike Stoops and Jeff Tedford in cost per win ranking. Not sure what significance that holds, but I think Canzano presents a few valid points on Bellotti.

I would counter that Oregon would be wise to not fall into the never-ending trap of hiring and firing coaches. Getting into that cycle is difficult for programs to get out of and Oregon, despite it's money and resources is probably still a second tier gig (if not lower) nationally. There will always be somewhere higher for a young coach to go. Bellotti was once courted by Notre Dame and Ohio State but stayed with Oregon. That kind of loyalty needs to be re-paid in my mind.

Of course had he gone, Jeff Tedford might have been named coach...nevermind.

------------------------------------UPDATE-----------------------------------------
SI's Stewart Mandel has an interesting idea about Bellotti in this article. He claims, and I think he's spot on, that Phil Knight will have a lot to do with Bellotti's job security. As a huge fan and bigtime booster, I'm sure he'll make his opinion known if things don't improve soon. And Phil's opinion is pretty important in Eugene.


There is another school in Oregon (other than Oregon and Oregon State) and it's Portland State, that urban school in the Big Sky Conference. Previously irrelevant until the arrival of Jerry Glanville, who immediately brought in some style and panache to the program. Tim Walsh was a great man and a good coach, but cmon, it's Jerry Glanville!

Taking a page from the Ducks down the road, Portland State has broken out it's own terrible uniforms. Glanville has some funny comments about the uniforms in this article. I think that Glanville will be a well-liked addition to the sports fraternity in Oregon. Besides, I think he will win at Portland State and bringing Mouse Davis home from Hawaii was a major major coup. Look for PSU to become a good Big Sky team and look further for Oregon and Oregon State to decline to play the Viks in a few years.

Now comes word out of Corvallis of an imminent quarterback battle for the Beavers. Perhaps Riley didn't want to play Canfield last year because he just wasn't that good. I don't know, but the majority of Beaver fans wanted Matt Moore out but the oft maligned senior rebounded to have a pretty good year and left on a high note. Now, Canfield is neck and neck with Lyle Moevao for the QB job.

Oregon State is the only Pac-10 needing to break in a new QB. Optimism is high in Corvallis with several returnees including RB Yvenson Bernard. But the Beavs will roll out an unproven quarterback this fall and that QB will surely cost them a game or two. Canfield has supposedly been the golden child since he first set foot on campus. Moevao has been more of an unknown but has grown on players, coaches and the media.

My guess is that Canfield starts but Moevao gets some playing time and eventually becomes Oregon State's next Jonathan Smith.

In Blazer news, the organization announced a couple of 10 game packages for those unwilling (like me) to fork over the big bucks for season tickets. One of the packages includes a "big game package" which includes teams like Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit and the like. I guess the question is, would you rather see Portland win or see a good team and maybe lose?

Finally, back to the Ducks. It seams that Oregon is seeking to play Boise State in in China in 2009. Calling it "very Oregon", UO director of football operations says "you like to be on the edge. You like to be the first." Oregon was also the first team on the West Coast to add an indoor practice facility. Also the first team to add a space-age locker-room with a door that opens up and down instead of like those normal wimpy doors other teams have. Unfortunately, they were also the first to have uniforms like this.

However, like the Mo Center I think a game in China is an amazing idea. Yes, China is the new frontier for US sports, everyone is trying to capture that market and the enormous population. But this will be an incredible experience for the Duck players, coaches and staffers. It may also help recruiting if players think they'll have a chance to visit some far off land on the university's dime. I mean China is no Pullman but it's close.

Some Interesting links

Part one and part two of a three-part study of the job Mike Stoops has done at Arizona since taking over for John Mackovic.

He makes some good points but I still hate Arizona and Mike Stoops, mostly because of his comments he made after Oregon escaped Tuscon with a 28-21 win over the Wildcats. In this game, quarterback Kellen Clemens' career was ended with a broken ankle and Dennis Dixon suffered a concusion. Afterwards, Stoops said something to the effect of, "our defense played well, they knocked out two quarterbacks."

When you look at the comments, not terrible but also not classy in the slightest. He should have complimented his defense and not mentioned the injuries or said that he hoped that they could return to the field soon. Instead, he complimented his team for injuring two players. I can't stand Stoops for this and several other reasons.

This is an interesting study though.

Here's a study of the SEC vs. Pac-10 Schedules. He makes some great points regarding the SEC's schedule:

The typical SEC format is 4-4-4: four games against other strong or solid SEC opponents, four games against the dregs of the SEC, and four freebies against out-of-conference weak sisters. And half of the teams play all of those out-of-conference games at home. What does that prove? Nothing.

Sure, LSU is in a conference in which four other teams are ranked, but LSU does not play them all. Georgia and Tennessee may be ranked, but neither is on the LSU schedule. And the only road game of note is at Alabama, which is about the 40th best team in the country. The Tigers' road games are Mississippi State, Tulane, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi.

He brings up some interesting points.

Here is a fascinating website studying college football coaches. Click around the site if you are a college football fan, you will not be disappointed. Some highlights for me: The Hippo Standards, a look at salaries and contracts and also a look at 2006 cost per win.
Basically a really cool site for fans of college football and coaching.

Finally, the new basketball coach at Butler is 30, used to work in sales and quit his 9-5 desk job to begin a career in college basketball. I'm 28, a low-level assistant at a small high school in Oregon and want to coach. I'm behind the eight ball.

Finally, finally, Tuesday Morning Quarterback returns!

Pac-10: A Pointless Season?

Everyone says USC is the hands down favorite. Every year, a buddy and I pick the Pac-10 runner-up because we figure USC has got the title in the bag every year. The Pac-10 coaches are not stupid (Mike Stoops is but the rest aren't) and they unanimously voted USC to win the Pac-10. True, there are a few games that could be difficult (possibly at Oregon if they can find a quarterback) and definitely at California on November 10.

The Pac-10 can be broken into four distinct tiers.

A Tier
USC – simply loaded all over the field, particularly on defense where they return 10 starters including all star performers FS Taylor Mays, NT Sedrick Ellis, LB’s Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers to name a few. John David Booty is back and will probably amass big numbers after a year of experience. Any number of the 10 scholarship running backs could be a breakout performer. To put it simply, the Trojans are obviously loaded and are making a mockery out of the Pac-10 and leaving the rest to play for second and the prestigious Holiday Bowl.


B Tier
Cal – Jeff Tedford has turned Cal into a western powerhouse, one step below USC but a step above everyone else on the west coast. They only return seven starters on offense but they are some big names. Junior Nate Longshore returns after a quietly stellar sophomore season where he passed for over 3,000 yards and 24 TD’s. He’s got great weapons out wide in DeSean Jackson (who is easily one of the most exciting players in the nation), Robert Jordan, LaVelle Hawkins and Sam DeSa. Plus TB Justin Forsett returns for what seems like his 8th season at Berkley. They are a step above everyone else and a step below USC.


C Tier - this is the biggest tier of them all. I figure teams 3-7 are in here.

OSU - despite the fact that their quarterback situation is unsettled, I like OSU at the top of the C Tier. They return 15 starters on offense including stud running back Yvenson Bernard and 2006 breakout performer Sammie Stroughter. Their offensive line is loaded in the middle led by guards Jeremy Perry, Kyle DeVan and Roy Schuening. They should open big holes for Bernard to once again run through. Whoever the quarterback is, Canfield or Moevao, there are plenty of weapons to find and both have been in the system for three years. Mike Riley appears to have things on the rise in Corvallis.

UCLA - UCLA returns 20 starters on offense and defense from a team that went 7-6 last year and lost to Florida State in the Emerald Bowl. Karl Dorrell always appears to be on the hot seat. Dorrell has always been on the hot seat as UCLA’s teams have been erratic. Quarterback Ben Olsen returns as does backup Ryan Cowan, both of whom played last year. TB Chris Markey is one of only three running backs returning with over 1,000 yards rushing and should be a force this season. The defense is the strength but depth is an issue. 10 starters return on “D” but an injury or two could be devastating for UCLA.


Arizona - As a “journalist” I try to be objective but I really can’t stand Mike Stoops. I think he’s arrogant and a blowhard and not that great of a coach. He gets his players so riled up that they make stupid plays and they hurt themselves when they shouldn’t. He can recruit though. Defensively, Arizona has always been good. Antoine Cason is a hard-hitting DB and anchors a fast and tough “D”. It’s the offense that has been brutal for the Wildcats but the addition of Sonny Dykes from Texas Tech should fix that. He’ll inject some life into the offense and possibly help all-everything quarterback Willie Tuitama reach his potential. Of course Dykes works for a Stoops who left Tuitama in a game in which he received a serious concussion. Idiot.

Oregon - I’m a Duck fan so I’ll try to be objective. They’re really good or really bad. I just don’t know. Much of the talk has been on Dennis Dixon and his struggles last year and his decision to go play baseball rather than stick around and do passing drills. I think it was just meant to be a mental escape for Dixon to get away from Eugene so he can get a fresh start this year. All it did was increase the scrutiny and pressure on him as each miscue will be met with a “what if?” shrug from the fans. The focus on Dixon has overshadowed several things in Eugene, namely leadership (is there any?) Chip Kelly (how will his new offense play in the Pac-10?) and Jonathan Stewart (will he get the ball?). There’s talent in Eugene but can they put it all together?

ASU - Did you know Dennis Erickson is coaching ASU? Of course you did, everyone knows that. The coaches gave ASU a ton of love, ranking them fourth in the preseason poll. I don’t see that happening but it won’t take Erickson long to reacquaint himself with the top of the conference. He’s upgraded his talent from what he had at Idaho but they’re still suspect on “D”. They do get most of their tough games at home including Cal, USC and OSU but travel to Oregon and UCLA. They return Rudy Carpenter who is somewhere between what he was as a freshman and what he was last year. He rebounded to have a decent year, tossing 23 TD’s and has nine other offensive starters returning including TB Ryan Torain who rushed for 1,229 yards last year. The defense was soft last year, getting torched by Cal and Oregon but they did a good job later in the season.

D Tier - Washington, Washington State and Stanford. These teams are rebuilding and will probably play the role of spoiler. Washington State is particularly dangerous because I think games in Pullman in late October/early November are difficult games to win. Jim Harbaugh is the new coach at Stanford and is using his mouth to get some attention for the Cardinal. The fact is, they’re terrible and his verbal swipes at big time programs like USC and Michigan isn’t going to endear him to many AD’s and Presidents. Washington has Ty Willingham whom I really like and think is a great man. I don’t know how great of a coach he is but I think he’ll return Washington to respectability if they give him more than three years. It’ll take a bit more time for him to turn that around after Kevin Gilbride flew that thing into the mountain.