According to several of the Scout.com sites, Chris Harper has decommitted from Kansas State University, after the departure of KSU’s Offensive Coordinator for Maryland, and opened the process up again. That means Oregon, supposedly second on his list, is back in the mix.

Here’s a collection of links regarding this news:
[These links are essentially from the same source, Scout.com. And the stories are only accessible if you have a subscription.]

ND Is Still One Of Harper’s Favorites

Chris Harper Sr. Highlight Package

Chris Harper Gone?

Here’s Rivals.com’s take:

Harper opens recruitment again

- JJ

No Oregon sports news here.  Just a “Merry Christmas” from One Click Sports News.

- JJ & RW

By Don Smalley

DSN Contributor

It’s quite evident that Oregon has not learned that they are now the hunted. Every team they play is gunning for them. It’s a huge deal to play against the Ducks. Ask Oakland.

The Golden Grizzlies had never beaten a ranked team before and they wanted the Ducks to be the first. They got their wish.

Oregon sleep walked through the first half and fell behind by double digits by halftime. For the first few minutes of the second half, it looked like the Ducks came to play as they scored 20 straight points. Bryce Taylor asserted himself in those minutes and looked unstoppable.

Then he disappeared again.

When Oregon plays as a team, it is nearly unbeatable. When they whip the ball around on offense and find the open jumper or penetrate the lane, the Ducks can beat anyone. But when they don’t, they can’t beat Oakland.

Oakland proved tonight that a zone will not only hurt the Ducks, it will kill them. And that just shouldn’t be the case. When the Ducks see a zone, they should salivate at the potential open shots. But those shots won’t present themselves when they stand around. Oregon needs to penetrate the lane. If the zone collapses, kick it back out for a three. If the zone does not collapse, go to the rim with authority.

There were way too many possessions when the Ducks stood around and watched Tajuan Porter jack up an NBA three-pointer. He was cold tonight. It was obvious he wasn’t having a good night. This is where someone else, preferably Taylor, needed to take over the game. Someone on this team has to stand up and say, “We will not lose this game.”

The Ducks have too much talent to lose to the likes of Oakland. No disrespect to the Grizzlies, but they are a team from a relatively small conference and they are not even the best team in the Summit.

If the Ducks have problems against Oakland, how will they fare against the likes of UCLA, Arizona or Washington State. The way they are playing now, the season could get ugly real fast. Oregon might be playing for an NIT berth and it won’t have to worry about a seed in the NCAA tournament.

Mike Bellotti has confirmed talking to UCLA about their vacant coaching position. When Rob Moseley asked him the UCLA job, Bellotti brushed if off, saying: “I’m just working on what we’re doing here.” The question(s) is: Why doesn’t he nip this in the bud right off the bat?Does that worry you as a Duck fan?Does that excite you as a Bruin fan?Is he looking for financial leverage?Does he really want to leave? What’s your take? 

In case you missed it, here are some of the “RBAR” (Really Big Arena Report) highlights.

If you want to know how much the new arena might cost you, skip to page 7 (repeated on page 53) in the report. Now, these are potential costs. And even though they are not set in stone, I’m thinking that most of you will be wishing that not a stone is touched at Mac Court for quite some time.

You can find the specifics in the report. But here is a breakdown of the general/average numbers:

Now, are you ready for the “Aggressive” model?

What do you think? Some of these go higher. Some of these go lower. And some stay the same. Scim the report if you get a chance for more details.

A couple of things popped out with a quick glance:

- Portland corporations didn’t seem that interested in most of the seating concepts.

- The demographics for the Eugene/Springfield area ranked pretty low across the board.

Now, I’m going to go and stock up on Kleenex for all the nose bleeds I anticipate having in a couple of years.

JJ

Oregon Media Services
December 17, 2007

The University of Oregon has received a copy of the 200-page Conventions, Sports & Leisure International (CSL) feasibility assessment for the proposed arena. The report details the independent, third-party consultant’s findings on revenue projections for the new University of Oregon sports arena and includes the following key findings:

• CSL concluded that the lack of significant competition from other local facilities bodes well for the arena’s market potential.

• CSL estimates a new UO arena will generate annual incremental net revenues of approximately $9.6 million to $15.6 million (in 2010 dollars, adjusted for inflation).

- These funds, together with unrestricted annual contributions as necessary, should provide the revenue to pay the estimated $11.25 million annual debt payment for the bonds UO will use to fund the arena without a negative impact on the UO Athletic Department’s ability to be self-supporting.

- UO previously estimated net revenues of approximately $8 million to $14 million in the first year of operations.

• Based on the Eugene-Springfield market and experiences at other similarly sized facilities in similar markets, CSL estimated the new arena could host between 21 and 54 non-university events a year.

• The CSL report is based on multiple sources of information including market research, CSL’s knowledge of the collegiate sports and entertainment industries, and data provided by university officials.

• CSL compared the UO to other college and university arenas in the Pac-10 and nationally to estimate the costs to operate the arena and to gauge its likely success.

• CSL suggested various pricing scenarios for tickets, annual contributions and one-time construction fees based on focus groups, comprehensive market surveys and sports and entertainment industry expertise.

The CSL feasibility assessment is available at:
http://pmr.uoregon.edu/current-uo-news/archive/media-advisory-file-2007/UO-Arena-%20Report.pdf

JM Smith at TheOpinionSmith gave us a heads up about this story.  Usually, we try to stick with stories about current athletes and atheletic issues relating to the University of Oregon.  Occasionally, however, we like to make execeptions.  And this story is one of them.

So, if you just want sports stories about Oregon, this story isn’t for you.

Here’s the email from JM:

“In Peter King’s weekly Monday Morning Quarterback he starts it off with a feature on George Martin. He played defensive end for Parcells and the Giants. Martin is walking across America to raise money for the first responders to 9/11. King spent a day with him on his walk. It mentions he went to Oregon so I figure it applies”

Here’s the story: A Giant cause - Martin walks for Ground Zero victim.

Thanks, JM.

JJ

By Don Smalley

DSN Contributor

Going into the Nebraska game, we all heard how the Cornhuskers were a lower-level Big XII team and even though it’s a game on the road that was on a neutral floor, Oregon would have an easy time of it.

But the Ducks put themselves in adverse situations and the result was the second loss of the year.

Nebraska jumped out to an early 9-0 lead and the Ducks had to play catch-up for the entire game. When a team is battling a deficit the entire time, the energy level is drained quickly. This “strategy” worked at Kansas St., but Oregon failed to overcome the deficit.

It seemed like the Ducks were not on the same page and were standing around and watching too much. Oregon needs to play as a team. The Ducks have been great in recent years at playing as a unit and making the extra pass for the wide-open shot.

That kind of offense didn’t happen too many times in Omaha. On many possessions, the Ducks were watching Tajuan Porter dribble around and then make a wild three-point shot as the shot clock was winding down. Today, he made several of these shots and that was the only reason why the Ducks were even in the game.

Despite all of that, Porter’s last wild shot with nine seconds left tied the game and he had the chance to give Oregon the lead with the free throw. Porter, who had missed nine free throws all season a year ago, missed his 10^th free throw and the game went into overtime.

So why isn’t Porter automatic any more? A friend of mine pointed out that Porter might be in a strength program and his muscles are changing, which is why he is having troubles from the line. He hasn’t adjusted to the change in his body yet.

Losing this game won’t be the end of the world for the Ducks. Although Nebraska will be their last true test before the Pac-10 season starts where every game will be a test. But you never want an opportunity to slip away, but the Ducks did just that.

There were some bright points from this game. Malik Hairston had his best game of the year so far by pouring in 25 points, including 8-of-9 from the charity stripe. Porter, despite his free throw line problems, was hitting his shots. But he was forcing up too many shots.

But they were the only two players who were consistent. Bryce Taylor, Joevan Catron and Maarty Leunen were not big enough offensive threats. Oregon needs more than two go-to guys, especially when the conference season starts.

Media Services

EUGENE – The University of Oregon is offering an added incentive for fans unable to attend the 74th annual Brut Sun Bowl Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas, to purchase souvenir tickets for the game between the Ducks and South Florida.

For each souvenir ticket purchased, Oregon will donate an equal number of game tickets to troops stationed at Fort Bliss for the 11 a.m. (PST) contest televised nationally by CBS Sports.

All tickets are $40 each and may be purchased on-line at www.goducks.com, by phone at 346-4461 or 1-800-WEBFOOT, or in person at the Casanova Center Athletic Ticket Office from 9 a.m-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Souvenir bowl tickets will be mailed to purchasers after Jan. 1, 2008.

This is an interview with Rashad Evans of James Logan for the insidebayarea.com prep corner blog. Evans is mentioned in this OregonLive.com post.