By Josh Wilcox
DSN Contributor
Well, just as any Duck fan would, my ears perked up when I heard that Slick Rick was back.
“Wow,” I thought. Now I have the ultimate opportunity to pour my guts out and tell everyone what I really think. How lucky am I?
Now how do I do it?
Do I go on a rant about his fake punts and how that is not really classy? Do I talk about his excuses that are always convenient? How about taking a shot at him for his betting pool?
I don’t know.
What is it about this guy that bugs me? Lots. I bleed green and yellow. The “I’ll jab you with a stick” things he accomplished did bother me, but I have learned to let most all if it go. I mean the guy has a family and it’s not the kids’ fault he was a slick, young coach. He has said he has learned from his mistakes. Well, you know I have made plenty and I guess I need to be mature and let some of it go…
It was suggested to me that to let all my feelings be known, to write an open letter to Coach Neuheisel. So I started one. To be 100% honest, all of these thoughts were going through my head and I just wrote this open rant with no point.
So, I sat back it suddenly hit me. Here it goes.
Dear Coach Neuheisel,
Congratulations on the new job at UCLA. I think it has to be a great feeling to go back to your college and become the head coach. I wish you nothing but the best of luck, unless you play Oregon. I look forward to your first visit back to Autzen stadium. Mabye we can put you on the MegaVision, considering that you’re pretty popular in Eugene.
I do have one request. If on one lucky saturday it seems to be UCLA’s day, and you win at Autzen (which is hard to do - in fact, I think I saw you at the Michigan game a couple years ago), please do not bring your players back out from the locker after the game is over and lead some of them to dance on our “O”!
You have done that in the past and it was one of the cheapest, classless, bogus, B.S. things I have ever seen in my entire life. I believe that was in retaliation to some immature Oregon players who did not respect the game and actually did the same thing at Washington.
As a head coach, and person for whom the game of football has given so much to, I will find it very hard to believe that you think those were approriate actions.
Again best wishes and congrats on being back in the Pac-10. We missed you.
Go Ducks!
Josh Wilcox
See. I told you I let most it go.
Josh’s wrap-up of the football season will be coming soon. So, keep on checking back at DuckSportsNews.com.
Tags: Football, Josh Wilcox, oregon, Rick Neuheisel
Mel Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Josh:
Your writing shows you have matured. Thank you for taking the high road.
Jimaorduck Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Josh:
Have enjoyed the many things you and your family have brought to Oregon!!
Yes you took the high road and maybe one more time you gained ground with extra effort!! But the key here is did you send it too Tricky Ricky?
I do not look forward to seeing your brother back in Autzen Stadium next fall, so can you get him to go Coach some where else? Like you he is a tough competitor!!
Have a great one!!
sportsfan_wsc Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
My Favorite Rick Neuweasel Moments:
3) Already up by 13 points on the Ducks in the 1996 Cotton Bowl, he fakes a punt…once again proving he is a weasel
2) In 2003 he lies to UW school officials about betting on NCAA basketball tournaments…I’m no Huskie fan, but this is not good- even for a weasel
1) Feeling that he had been wronged (because we all know the world is against SlickRick), he sues the NCAA and UW in 2004 for $4.5 million and collects when the NCAA abandons it’s case.
Once a weasel, always a weasel…but I’m glad he’s back in the PAC, so the Ducks can crush him (Unlike Josh, I haven’t grown up).
Pierce Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
If I recall correctly, the dancing on the O wasn’t in retaliation, they started it. The thing about that was next year some Oregon players claimed the disrespect and said they would dance on the W when they won.
Well, they didn’t.
jobeaver Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Skippy Neweasal is a very good coach. Say what you want about his character, he does produce a competitive college foot ball team. UCLA will now have to be reckoned with in the future.
Duck nation feels they were “cheated” out of a BCS game and a Heisman.
Congrats on your Sun Bowl Victory, win three more in a row and you can match the recent success of OSU.
As Riley says, “Beavers Never Lose In Autzen” unless it rains and Bellotti swears it never rains there. We certainly won’t lose to the Ducks in Reser.
Enjoy Basketball, Beavers won’t.
FortheloveofDuck Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
That is where you are wrong BlowJeaver, next year the ducks will crush your stinking Beavers in the stadium named after salsa. The Beavers did not beat Oregon this year(with 5th string QB) the Ducks beat themselves with miscommunication. So enjoy the victory we gave, since we enjoyed the Bowl game you gave us.
And yes you are right, the Beavers basketball team is horrible, what are they oh yeah last in the pac 10. At least you have Baseball though, but not for long, here come the Ducks.
Marko Says:
January 4th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Forthe loveofDick - you’ve must remove your green and piss yellow glasses every once and a while. Oregon was gifted a second chance field goal with the phantom “leaping and landing” penalty. A call that has not been made in years. OS beat Oregon in this years Civil war on the line of scrimmage where they were out muscled all game.
There’s no way you beat the Beavs at Reser next year - the Beavs will have way too many weapons on offense with McCants, Stroughter, Catchings, the Rodgers Brothers, experienced QB’s and a solid Oline. Go ahead and chalk up the Beavs as winners 4 out of 5 years. The frustration in Eugene continues.
CB Says:
January 4th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Stupid Beaver fans! There will be dancing in the streets of Corvallis after every 3rd place finish in the Pac10. “We’re # 3 , We’re #3, OMG We’re #3!” You guys overachieve where as we have recently underachieved , I’ll give you that.
Underachieve? Not this year, our losses were due to things that commonly happen in college football: injuries, inconsistent run D and mental mistakes (civil war I’m looking at you) I’m not classless, I’ll give credit where credit is due, you guy’s beat us in crunch time 2 straight years and thats just better execution, nothing less.
The point I’d like to make is that your football program is sub par to Oregon’s . This is a fact! Just because you won a few games does not change that! Your facilities, recruiting, coaching and fan expectations all fall well short. 9 wins does not please Duck nation but the Beav fans are tickled brown over it. Enjoy it while you can Beavers. I smell a streak of 5- 8 Beaver losses in the civil war coming on very soon. Maybe then you will all shut up! probably not. I hate you soooo much