ICYMI: Oregon Blows out Florida State in Rose Bowl

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It was a close game at the half.

The Oregon Ducks went into the locker room at halftime with an 18-13 lead over the undefeated Florida State Seminoles with a berth in the National Championship game on the line.

And no, even the Ducks couldn't have imagined what would happen next.

The once-invincible Florida State team, winners of their past 29 games started making mistakes.

Four straight Seminoles turnovers led to Oregon points.

The Ducks scored 27 points in the third quarter. And the game was over.

A 41 point 2nd half gave Oregon the statement win they were looking for, their first over a Top 2 team ever. The Ducks beat the Seminoles 59-20. And it could have been worse.

QB Marcus Mariota threw for 338 yards and 2 TD's and ran for 62 yards and another score, leading his team to the win.

As for FSU star Jameis Winston, he had a tough day. He threw for a lot of yards, but had an interception and perhaps one of the ugliest fumbles you'll ever see.

Oregon moves on to the National Title game versus Ohio State in Dallas.

Notes:

--Many of the FSU players left the field before shaking hands with the Oregon players and coaches. A big breach of sportsmanship that should be addressed. (Winston and several others stayed for a long time to congratulate the Ducks)

---Several Oregon players may--and should be in trouble for what they did after the game. A video showing them on the podium mocking the FSU Tomahawk chop and chanting "No means no" has been making the rounds. Once made aware of it, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said they players involved will be disciplined.

Here's the video from Fox Sports West producer Bear Heiser:

Awesome! FSU Fans Produce Oregon Ducks Themed Duck Hunt Game

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Oh, this is fantastic....

A couple of Florida State football fans at A Flat Miner Studios apparently had some time on their hands this past week.

And to keep busy...the produced a football themed version of the classic Nintendo game "Duck Hunt". Only the duck featured in the game was an Oregon Duck.

Or at least a Duck dressed in an Oregon sweater.

And if you shoot the Duck, it falls into the grass only to be retrieved by a Florida State football player with the Seminoles War Chant theme playing in the background.

Yes really.

Click on the link HERE to play....

Fantastic...a great way to pass some time until the two teams play at the Rose Bowl in Round One of the College Football Playoff later in the week.

Mariota Does Letterman

((HT: Worldwide Pants/CBS))

Our personal favorite is number three as the current Oregon QB went on wearing a full tux...


He is right, y'know...

Morning Wrap: Mariota Leads Oregon to Rout Over Oregon State

((ht: foxsports.com))

Marcus Mariota would be a humungous star if he played on the east coast. He's a pretty big college football star in his own right, but he plays out west, so a lot of people don't get to see him

They don't know what they are missing.

Mariota threw for 367 yards and 4 TD's and chipped in with 2 running TD's, leading the University of Oregon to a 47-19 rivalry week win over arch-rival Oregon State.

The Ducks jumped out to a 30-3 halftime lead and never looked back.

Two freshmen also stood out for Oregon, playing on State's home turf in Corvallis. Freshman RB Royce Freeman ran for 135 yards and fellow rookie Charles Nelson caught 2 TD passes as the Ducks moved to 11-1 overall, 8-1 in the Pac 12.

Oregon moves on to a date with Arizona in the Pac 12 Championship game next week, the winner likely will get a berth in the inaugural College Football playoff.

Your highlights from ESPN.com:

Lesson: Don't Celebrate Too Early, Hang On To The Ball...

((HT: ESPN))

The short version of this play...

Offensive player thinks he has a touchdown
Offensive player celebrates too early

Defensive player recovers ball
Tries to run the other way
Fumbles on his own...

Teammate recovers and this happens...


Travis Wilson's pass was complete to Kaelin Clay for 78 yds
Clay fumbled, and it was recovered by Oregon's Erick Dargan
Erick Dargan fumbled
It was recovered by teammate Joe Walker, who then returns for 100 yds and the score

Got all that...???!!!

ICYMI: Oregon Outscores Cal in Friday Night CFB

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This would be the reason why though we like Oregon, we don't think IF they make the College Football playoff, they'll last very long.

On the strength of 5 TD passes by quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Oregon Ducks outscored Cal 59-41 Friday night moving them to 7-1 on the season, 4-1 in the Pac 12.

The game featured 1150 yards of offense and 21 penalties and probably finished long after most of the East Coast was sleeping.

Much like Baylor, who can score with anyone, the Ducks are dangerous as heck. Mariota is arguably the best quarterback in College Football. But he can't play defense, which over the years has been the one thing that's kept Oregon from winning titles.

We'll see if Oregon can run the table. If they do, the Ducks will surely be one of the four playoff teams. But then again, we aren't even in November yet....

Your highlights from FoxSports:

Maybe Oregon Should Stop Playing Arizona When They're Ranked (UPDATED W/Locker Room Reax)

((HT: Pac-12 Network))

You could see the signs early on...

Constant pressure in Marcus Mariota's face and keeping all the receiver activity in front of the secondary. In addition to that, the Arizona defense made sure that Mariota didn't get loose in his own and break off a big run.

Arizona traded punches with Oregon and won in Autzen Stadium- again...

Whaddya want to bet that folks ni Michigan are REALLY rueing the idea that Rich Rod ended up in Tucson and wasn't around in Ann Arbor for all this Brady Hoke mess...


Great strip and steal by Scooby Wright and:

WHAT IS UP WITH THOSE UNIFORMS???!!!

Yes, the HQ knows despite their hideousness, they will sell out and some of the proceeds will hopfully go to a great cause.

Here's the reaction in the Arizona locker room...
((HT: Arizona Wildcats their own selves))

The End For Mack Brown: Let's Face It, Oregon Let Up...

It was the blowout that Oregon kept from being a blowout...

Marcus Mariota was trotted out there out of shape and the Oregon offense still ran rings around the Texas...

Well, the Texas everything...
Here's Mack Brown after the fact...
((HT: Longhorn Network))


With analysis from San Antonio from Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden from the Austin American-Statesman
And highlights from KVUE-TV

Oregon Football Players Get and Appear To Be Selling New Air Jordans

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Hmmm….what was that argument about college football players needing to get stipends or paid?

It appears, according to a report in the Portland (OR) Business Journal that at least one lucky University of Oregon football player or someone related to one,  has a pair of the new "Limited Edition" Air Jordan sneakers on sale on EBay.

We don't know for absolute certain that it's an actual Oregon Football player selling the shoes…but. The shoes are apparently part of some "Player Exclusives" given to the football team by team owner…um…I mean Nike magnate Phil Knight or at least his representatives.

And yes, it's an NCAA violation if this in fact is an athlete selling the shoes. The Business Journal did contact the University who said they are monitoring but all inventory are accounted for as far as they know.

Read the entire story RIGHT HERE

Okay, so does anyone else find it amusing that there are apparently some 43 active auctions of similar shoes…that were supposed to be "Limited Editions" or "Player Exclusives"?

And for that matter, is there not a restriction on Nike granting athletes multiple pairs of shoes selling for a LOT of money? Money they would not have themselves?

And if only "Select" athletes get them, who decides who is in that group? While we certainly aren't against the whole "Stipend" thing, this is a bit excessive? No regular students have access to these. Heck, it appears a lot of athletes don't.

Just some of the many questions sitting out there. And no, we don't begrudge Oregon for taking advantage of the team owner's benevolent gift giving at all.

Would you?

Ducks Lay an Egg: Arizona Stomps Oregon 42-16

Well, if you really wanted to still be taken seriously University of Oregon, this probably was not a good way to go about it.

The Ducks squared off with a feisty Arizona Wildcat squad Saturday afternoon, and Arizona sent them quacking with a 42-16 win. And while Oregon could arguably state they were blinded by the Arizona uniforms, that argument would be a wash considering some of the jersey's they sport their own selves.

Arizona kept the ball for 35 minutes and ran for 304 yards in their dismantling of a seemingly uninterested Oregon squad. Ka'deem Carey got 48 carries, ran for 206 yards and 4 Touchdown's to lead the Wildcats to the biggest win in the Rich Rodriguez era.

The win moves them to 7-4, 4-4 in the Pac 12, as for Oregon, they may have gagged away a potential Rose Bowl berth while dropping to 9-2, 6-2 in the Pac 12.

ESPN provides the highlights: