By Jay Jones
December 10, 2008

Duck fans, what is Oregon’s best Bowl moment?

CollegeFootballNews.com’s Richard Cirminiello has listed “Every Team’s Best Bowl Moment” for this year’s bowl participants.

Here’s what he listed as Oregon’s best Bowl moment:

Best Duck Bowl Moment: There have been Rose Bowls, a Cotton Bowl and a slew of minor bowls in Oregon’s history, all of which paled in comparison to the 2002 Fiesta Bowl. Joey Harrington threw four touchdown passes, Steve Smith picked off three passes, and the No. 2 Ducks put a bow on the most successful season in school history by pummeling No. 3 Colorado 38-16.

Without a doubt, that’s a very good Bowl moment.  But is that Oregon’s best?

Oregon has been in its fair share of bowl games, but there are a couple of periods there.  So, we’ll just keep this to the most recent run of bowl games since the 1989 Independence Bowl (the game that saved the Independence bowl).

[If you're old enough to remember bowl games previous to the 1989 Independence Bowl game and want to make the case for one of those bowls, have at it.  But take it easy.  You're not young anymore.]

Here’s a list of Oregon’s most recent bowl appearances:

1989 Independence Bowl Oregon     27 Tulsa     24

1990 Freedom Bowl Colorado State     32 Oregon     31

1992 Independence Bowl Wake Forest     39 Oregon     35

1995 Rose Bowl Penn State     38 Oregon     20

1996 Cotton Bowl Colorado     38 Oregon     6

1997 Las Vegas Bowl Oregon     41 Air Force     13

1998 Aloha Bowl Colorado     51 Oregon     43

1999 Sun Bowl Oregon     24 Minnesota     20

2000 Holiday Bowl Oregon     35 Texas     30

2002 Fiesta Bowl Oregon     38 Colorado     16

2002 Seattle Bowl Wake Forest     38 Oregon     17

2003 Sun Bowl Minnesota     31 Oregon     30

2005 Holiday Bowl Oklahoma     17 Oregon     14

2006 Las Vegas Bowl Brigham Young     38 Oregon     8

2007 Sun Bowl Oregon     56 South Florida 21

What’s Oregon’s best Bowl moment? What’s your best Bowl moment?

In terms of historical significance, the 1989 Independence Bowl is Oregon’s best Bowl moment. It was Oregon’s first Bowl appearance since the 1963 Sun Bowl. It began the modern era of Oregon’s Bowl appearances, making this year’s Holiday Bowl a possibility. And it saved the Independence Bowl. (Being from Shreveport, I got to know one of the members of the Independence Bowl committee while there for a visit. When he found out I was from Oregon, he let me know that in no uncertain terms, Oregon and the support of Oregon fans single-handedly saved the Independence Bowl.)

But there are a couple of honorable mentions. The 1995 Rose Bowl. The 2000 Holiday Bowl.

On the flip side, is there any doubt about Oregon’s worst Bowl moment? The 2002 Seattle Bowl. The Ducks saved a Bowl game (Independence), and killed a Bowl game (Seattle). Although, the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl is a close second.

As a personal side note, the 1996 Cotton Bowl was a pretty miserable experience. Cold. Rain. Neuheisel!

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By Jay Jones
December 5, 2008

[Update, 5:11 p.m. PST: According to this Mississippi television station, Coach Petersen is not interested in the MSU job.

Coach Pete Says New Job Rumor Isn't True

Take this report for what it's worth. As I stated below, based on several conversations, I do not believe that Chris Petersen is headed to Starkville.]

After Boise State’s Chris Petersen was effectively bronco-busted from coaching the Ducks in the foreseeable future, the rumor mills have been a wild ride today.

Based a couple of conversations, I believe these reports about Chris Petersen heading to Mississippi State to be rumors.

Why is this relevant to you, a Duck fan?

Because of what I stated at the top. Many Duck fans believed that Chris Petersen would most likely be the next head football coach to follow Mike Bellotti. Now that’s not going to happen, Duck fans are curious as to where he will land, if he leaves Boise State.

Until this is reported by multiple credible sources, I would not hang my cowboy hat on any of these reports.

If you want to take a look at the links, however, here you go:

Tell us you’re joking: Coach Pete to Miss State
BREAKING NEWS: Sources Confirm, Chris Petersen to Mississippi St
Ducks on the blue; Petersen rumors running wild

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By Jay Jones
December 3, 2008

The University of Oregon does a lot of things in collegiate athletics really well. But there is one thing it does better than any other school: Oregon is great at getting attention.

Unfortunately, it’s not always a good kind of attention.

Yesterday’s announcement that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will be the next head football coach, following current head coach Mike Bellotti’s move to Athletic Director, has set off a bit of a firestorm regarding diversity, or the lack thereof, in the collegiate ranks of head football coaches.

In addition to some comments made on ESPN Radio, PTI’s Michael Wilbon made some pointed comments regarding this sudden (not really) trend of naming a “coach-in-waiting” on Wednesday’s show.

Take a look (at around 8:22 – thanks, pjones7):

Over the last couple of years, a number of schools have set up “succession plans” including Kentucky, Purdue, Florida State, and Texas.

So, here’s my question: why is this an issue now? How did Oregon’s actions propel this issue into the mainstream for the talking heads? Why is Oregon all of a sudden the face of the “diversity” issue? Why is Chip Kelly’s face all over PTI?  Why not Mack Brown’s? Was it a problem when current Kentucky, and former Oregon, head football coach Rich Brooks named Joker Phillips as his successor? Why wasn’t this “trend” addressed when it first started happening?

Here’s why. On the field of collegiate competition, the University of Oregon may not always be considered a “big boy” program. But when it comes to off-the-field issues, Oregon’s actions command attention because of its self-promotion.

In the background on my computer desktop, I have Slingbox open and on AMC. And this is no Joker.   “Kelly’s Heroes” is on.

If Oddball had a chance to talk to Mr. Wilbon, this is what I’d imagine he’d say to him:

“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?”

Coach Kelly, kind of makes you want to duck next time, doesn’t it?

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