Jay, here.

It’s not a sexy subject, but the announcement of University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer’s impending retirement in June of 2008 should be of interest to all Duck fans. And Ducks fans should keep their eyes and ears open as the search committee begins the process of finding the next president.

With Pat Kilkenny’s probable departure at around the same time, a leadership vacuum will open up on campus. And nature abhors a vacuum. And, well, I think the Athletics and Academics abhor each other. And this will be an opportunity for a power-grab on the part of both parties. Unfortunately, considering Dave Frohnmayer’s favorable disposition towards athletics, I think the Athletics have more to lose and the Academics more to gain.

I anticipate 2009 being a year of immense change for the University of Oregon on both sides of the Willamette. And it all will start with who’s sitting in Johnson Hall.

So, keep your ears open (trust me, it’s kind of tough and painful to close them) and take a listen as George, Justin, and I talk about the impact Dave Frohnmayer’s departure will have on the future of Oregon athletics.

Click hear to listen to Duck Sports News on “The Writer’s Block”.

Listen to Jay from Duck Sports News every Wednesday on “The Writer’s Block” at around 2:20pm on Eugene-Springfield’s KSCR 1320 AM.

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Seems as though the Huskies may already know what Oregon’s game plan will be for their season-opening showdown in Eugene on August 30. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times had this to say:

The other Pac-10 player listed is Oregon OT Max Unger, part of a strong Ducks’ offensive line. Combine that with 235-pound running back LaGarrette Blount, and we can already see what Oregon’s strategy figures to be against UW come Aug. 30 — run up the middle and run some more until that young UW line proves it can stop it.

For more entertainment, read the comments to this blog entry. The first entry, posted by “first and reality”, seems equally concerned about Oregon’s ground game and even wonders if the Huskies are in for another 450-yard rushing game from the Ducks. 

- r.dub

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Jay, here.

As humanity encroaches more and more into the Animal Kingdom, attacks on humans by animals are on the rise.

But that’s not what we’re talking here

Ducks aren’t attacking Duck Sports News. Yet. Although, if they did, we’re fairly well-armed.

Could we be talking about the University of Oregon Ducks attacking us?

No, we’re not talking about them either. And it looks like they’re fairly well-armed, too.

Actually, we’re talking about Matt over at Ducks Attack. And he’s not attacking us. Just the opposite. As of today, Matt is joining our team here at Duck Sports News to cover University of Oregon athletics.

While Ryan and I are not journalists, Matt is headed in that direction. And he’s got some great connections, as well. You can take a look at some of his posts here.

You can expect Matt to report and comment on University of Oregon football, basketball, recruiting, and alumni news. And if you’ve got comments or questions for Matt, you can also expect to respond on our blog.

Matt’s going to continue his own blog. But most of his stuff you’ll be able to find right here on the Ducks Sports News blog.

Matt, welcome to the Duck Sports News team.

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Jay, here.

I’ll be on “The Writer’s Block” with George Schroeder and Justin Myers today on KSCR 1320 AM in the Eugene/Springfield area at around 2:20pm.  If you can’t catch it that time, tune in to KUGN 590 AM at around 6:20pm.

We’ll be talking about what Duck fans are reading and talking about on Ducks Sports News.

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Jay was able to find out the test scores of Dennis Dixon among other QBs that were drafted in this years draft and started a very interesting conversation. Ducks Attack will take it one step further; how well does Dixon stack up against former 1st round QBs taken in the NFL Draft?

According to WWW.ArmChairAssociation.com who compiled a list of scores of great quarterbacks of the past, current stars, and other players who have played recently in the NFL the rankings would go as followed:

1. Drew Henson 42
2. Alex Smith 40
3. Eli Manning 39
4. Brian Griese 39
5. Charlie Frye 38
6. Tony Romo 37
7. Drew Bledsoe 36
8. Matt Leinart 35
9. Kellen Clemens 35
10. Aaron Rodgers 35
11. Tom Brady 33
12. Steve Young 33
13. Joey Harrington 32
14. Patrick Ramsey 32
15. Sage Rosenfels 32
16. J.P. Losman 31
17. Matt Schaub 31
18. Phillip Rivers 30
19. Brady Quinn 29
20. Rex Grossman 29
21. Marc Bulger 29
22. Matt Hasselbeck 29
23. Troy Aikman 29
24. John Elway 29
25. Drew Brees 28
26. Peyton Manning 28
27. Kyle Boller 27
28. Ryan Leaf 27
29. Jay Cutler 26
30. Kyle Orton 26
31. Carson Palmer 26
32. Akili Smith 26
33. Ben Roethlisberger 25
34. Byron Leftwich 25
35. Chad Pennington 25
36. JaMarcus Russell 24
37. David Carr 24
38. Jason Campbell 23
39. Tim Couch 22
40. Trent Dilfer 22
41. Brett Favre 22
42. Michael Vick 20
43. Tarvaris Jackson 19
44. Bruce Gradkowski 19
45. Derek Anderson 19
46. A.J. Feeley 19
47. Daunte Culpepper 18
48. Aaron Brooks 17
49. Vinny Testeverde 17
50. Vince Young 16
51. Steve McNair 15
52. Randall Cunningham 15
53. Dan Marino 15
54. Terry Bradshaw 15
55. David Garrard 14
56. Donovan McNabb 14
57. Marcus Vick 11
58. Jeff George 10
59. Chris Leak 8

With Dennis Dixon getting a 29 he would land squarley in the middle of this list but right with Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and John Elway and current NFL start Matt Hassleback.

How does Dixon stack up to other Ex-Duck QBs who went on to take the test?

www.macmirabile.com provided these numbers on Ex-Ducks:

1. Jason Mass 1999 43
2. Akili Smith 1999 15 &37
3. Kellen Clemens 2006 35
4. Joey Harrington 2002 32
5. Dennis Dixon 2008 29
6. Jason Fire 2004 26
7. AJ Feeley 2001 19

Dixon is in with a very special group of players who have played QB in the NFL.

Does this translate into instant success? No, as you can tell with Hansen at the top he is no where to be found in the NFL right now. Alex Smith, Matt Leinart, and Kellen Clemens are still a work in progress and Charlie Fry is now a backup in the league.

Dixon appears to have the smarts to get it done but will his body heal fast enough and will he translate well to the NFL as a QB are the questions that need to be answered.

-Matt

Duck Sports News and Ducks Attack

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Now that the 2008 NFL has come and gone, Draft junkies are already looking for their 2009 fix.

Before I get to 2009, let’s ween you off of the 2008 NFL Draft. Here’s a quick update on undrafted free agent signings, including a couple from Oregon:

2008 NFL Draft: The Free Agents: Cameron Colvin & David Faaeteete

Got 2008 out of your system? Well, here’s the good stuff for 2009.

2009 NFL Draft CB Rankings: # 24 Walter Thurmond

2009 NFL Draft Strong Safeties Rankings: # 7 Patrick Chung

2009 NFL Draft DE Rankings: #18 Nick Reed

I’d like to thank Aaron for pushing these headlines on us and contributing to the national addiction that is the NFL Draft.

A different Aaron (Fentress from The Oregonian), took a look at the round projections for some of Oregon’s players.

Jay
DSN

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Jay, here.

Every year, prospective NFL quarterbacks’ Wonderlic Test scores seem to get leaked online.

This year is no different.

While Dennis Dixon’s body has been hurting, his brain seems to have been humming along at 100%.

Even though Dixon was a fifth round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers, his Wonderlic test score seems to indicate that maybe he should have gone higher. Or at least ahead of some other quarterbacks.

According to Mac Mirabile, Dixon scored a 29 out of a perfect 50 on the Wonderlic Test. Among this year’s crop of quarterbacks, Dixon came in second.

Here are a couple of scores of note, and relevance to Duck fans.

- Alex Brink, Washington State – 27

- Chad Henne, Michigan – 22

- John David Booty, USC – 14

So, how would you score?

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APRIL 29, 2009
Headline of the Day: President McCain signs legislation to open up drilling in ANWAR to offset $6.00/gallon gas prices.

Dr. Duckgood, here.

Listen all! This is the truth of it. Quacking leads to fighting, and fighting gets to warring. And it might be the death of us all. Look at us now! Busted up, and everyone talking about it raining in Autzen Stadium! But we can learn, by the dust of them all… Ducktown can learn. Now, when Ducks get to fighting, it happens here! And it finishes here! Many Ducks enter; few Ducks leave.

Welcome to Oregon’s Thunderdome!

Thunderdome’s simple. Get to your arguments, use them any way you can. I know you won’t break the rules, because there aren’t any!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…arguin’ time’s here!

WILL DAVE FROHNMAYER APPOINT A NEW ATHLETICS DIRECTOR BEFORE RETIRING?

University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer’s retirement is a few short months away. And Athletics Director Pat Kilkenny will be stepping down at the same time. What happens next, Ducktown?

The Master: Yes. President Frohnmayer will name Football Head Coach Mike Bellotti as the new Athletics Director before retiring. In turn, Coach Bellotti resigns and names Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly as his successor.

The Blaster: No. President Frohnmayer will not appoint a new Athletics Director before leaving the University of Oregon. Instead, he will leave that prerogative to the next University President.

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT ATHLETICS DIRECTOR?

The Master: Mike Bellotti. He will transition from being Head Football Coach to Athletics Director. And he might serve in both positions for a year or two.

The Blaster: Current Athletics Director Pat Kilkenny could stick around for a third year. But that’s unlikely. It’s probably going to be someone from outside of the Athletics Department. Frohnmayer. Gone. Kilkenny. Gone. Bev Smith or Ernie Kent. Gone. There will be someone new in that position, and at a lot of other positions.

WILL THE NEXT UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT NAME A NEW ATHLETICS DIRECTOR?

The Master: Yes. But that fight starts with the the naming of the next President of the University of Oregon. And that battle will be a worthy of the Thunderdome! The Academics versus the Athletics. And the Academics would love to have an anti-Athletics Academic in that office. But Academics are supposed to be smart. Pulling a Vanderbilt and not naming an Athletics Director would not only damage the North side of the Willamette, but it would hurt the South side of the Willamette, as well. No A.D. No Phil Knight. No money.

The Blaster: No. The Academics will capture this Presidency, unlike the Democrats and the White House (Senators Obama and Clinton continued down their path of mutual assured destruction right into to also-ran Presidential history.). And in Battlestar Galactica-speak, Oregon’s next President says, “Frak’em.”

Dr. Duckgood, here again.

Thank you, Master-Blaster. If only we knew what was at stake for the University of Oregon in April of 2008, we might have been able to do something.

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Jay from Duck Sports News, here.

Sometime in the second half of Oregon’s Spring Game, I heard Don Essig give the the official attendance.

14,107.

I really didn’t think about it that much. But I looked around Autzen and thought that number seemed reasonable based on the number of sections that were full. Pretty precise. But reasonable.

After the game, a friend asked me, “How many people were at the Spring Game?”

“Around 15,000,” I replied. I rounded up.

“How do you know? Were they selling tickets? Were there people counting at the gates?” he fired back.

I didn’t know. But I knew 14,107 seemed reasonable.

I guess I’m not the only one who rounded up.

Raise your hand if you know the answers.

How seasons has Coach Bellotti been at Oregon?

14.

How many wins does Coach Bellotti have?

107.

Bam. 14,107. Take a look for yourself.

Coincidence? I think not.

Well, everything else about the Spring Game was made up, why not the official attendance?

In case you’re curious, this little tip was forwarded to us.

And if you’re curious about the attendance at other Spring Games across the country, here you go. These numbers come by way of Bob Condotta at the Seattle-Times and Dave Plati at Colorado.

ALABAMA ……………………… 78,200
ARIZONA STATE ……………… 5,000
ARKANSAS………………………. 40,200
AUBURN………………… 35,000
BOISE STATE……………… 7,500
BRIGHAM YOUNG…………… 16,700
CINCINNATI…………………… 10,142
CLEMSON ……………………… 25,000
COLORADO……………………. 17,800
COLORADO STATE ………….. 6,100
EAST CAROLINA…………. 5,053
FLORIDA ……………………… 61,000
FLORIDA STATE ……………… 30,000
FRESNO STATE……………….. 2,600
GEORGIA………………………… 19,874
GEORGIA TECH………………. 8,500
HAWAII…………………………. 9,300
HOUSTON……………………… 3,500
IDAHO………………………….. 5,100
ILLINOIS…………………………. 12,531
IOWA……………………………. 15,352
IOWA STATE…………………… 8,000
KANSAS ………………………… 10,000
KANSAS STATE…………… 15,523
KENTUCKY…………………….. 8,500
LOUISIANA STATE …………… 33,624
LOUISIANA TECH ……………. 5,103
LOUISVILLE……………………. 17,200
MARSHALL………………… 6,701
MARYLAND……………………. 10,221
MIAMI-FLA……………………. 11,000
MICHIGAN STATE …………….. 27,000
MINNESOTA…………………… 7,200
MISSISSIPPI…………… 28,311
MISSISSIPPI STATE…… 10,000
MISSOURI…………………. 26,322
NAVY ……………………………. 2,497
NEBRASKA…………….. 80,149
NORTH CAROLINA STATE…… 15,273
NORTH TEXAS………………… 3,169
NOTRE DAME………… 30,286
OHIO STATE……………… 76,346
OKLAHOMA…………………….. 23,306
OKLAHOMA STATE………….. 20,000
OREGON ……………………….. 14,107
OREGON STATE ……………….. MAY 3
PENN STATE…………………… 73,000
PITTSBURGH ………………….. 7,549
PURDUE………………………… 9,500
RUTGERS………………….. 14,501
SOUTH CAROLINA ………….. 31,125
SOUTHERN MISS…. 11,126
STANFORD …………………….. 2,000
SYRACUSE ……………………… 3,428
TENNESSEE ……………………… 28,898
TEXAS …………………………… 43,000
TEXAS A & M…………… 32,000
TEXAS TECH …………………… 11,250
UCLA…………………………….. 15,052
USC……………………… 22,000
UTAH ……………………………. 4,500
VIRGINIA……………………….. 5,000
VIRGINIA TECH ………………. 30,000
WAKE FOREST…………………. 4,100
WASHINGTON ………………… 9,000
WASHINGTON STATE……….. 900
WEST VIRGINIA………….. 18,000
WESTERN KENTUCKY……….. 2,000
WESTERN MICHIGAN……….. 1,305
WISCONSIN ……………………. 22,000
WYOMING……………………… 1,700
ANONYMOUS …………………. 6,000
NATIONAL AVERAGE (all)…………. 14,331
MEDIAN …………………………………. 8,000

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Jay, here.

In case you’re curious, here are all of the the Pac-10 players draft in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Round, Overall Draft Position, Name, Position, School.

Arizona
None

Atlanta
1 (21) Sam Baker, ot, Southern California
3 (98) Thomas DeCoud, db, California
5 (138) Robert James, lb, Arizona State
7 (212) Wilrey Fontenot, db, Arizona

Baltimore
None

Buffalo
None

Carolina
1 (13) Jonathan Stewart, rb, Oregon
7 (241) Geoff Schwartz, ot, Oregon

Chicago
7 (243) Joey LaRocque, lb, Oregon State

Cincinnati
1 (9) Keith Rivers, lb, Southern California

Cleveland
None

Dallas
None

Denver
5 (139) Ryan Torain, rb, Arizona State
6 (183) Spencer Larsen, lb, Arizona
7 (220) Josh Barrett, db, Arizona State

Detroit
None

Green Bay
None

Houston
7 (223) Alex Brink, qb, Washington State

Indianapolis
2 (59) Mike Pollak, g, Arizona State

Jacksonville
5 (155) Thomas Williams, lb, Southern California
7 (213) Chauncey Washington, rb, Southern California

Kansas City
None

Miami
7 (245) Lionel Dotson, nt, Arizona

Minnesota
5 (137) John David Booty, qb, Southern California

New England
5 (153) Matt Slater, wr, UCLA

New Orleans
1 (7) Sedrick Ellis, dt, Southern California

New York Giants
2 (63) Terrell Thomas, db, Southern California.

New York Jets
None

Oakland
None

Philadelphia
2 (49) DeSean Jackson, wr, California
6 (184) Mike Gibson, g, California

Pittsburgh
3 (88) Bruce Davis, lb, UCLA
5 (156) Dennis Dixon, qb, Oregon

St. Louis
5 (157) Roy Schuening, g, Oregon State

San Diego
1 (27) Antoine Cason, db, Arizona

San Francisco
2 (39) Chilo Rachal, g, Southern California

Seattle
1 (28) Lawrence Jackson, de, Southern California
7 (233) Justin Forsett, rb, California

Tampa Bay
None

Tennessee
3 (85) Craig Stevens, te, California
4 (126) Lavelle Hawkins, wr, California

Washington
2 (48) Fred Davis, te, Southern California
4 (124) Justin Tryon, db, Arizona State
7 (249) Chris Horton, db, UCLA

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