JJ, here.

While Josh is on his way to the Super Bowl, he wanted me to post this in response to some of the comments that were made to an earlier post (Josh Wilcox: ‘08, Recruiting, JStew & The Pit Crew).

Before I do, I want to thank Josh for being a part of Duck Sports News.  Josh and I have known each other for a long time.  When I thought about offering Josh the opportunity to contribute to our blog, I honestly didn’t know what we would get.  What I did know is that Josh has a unique familiarity with Oregon football and athletics that makes him more than qualified to offer his opinion on Oregon sports.  Playing in the 1995 Rose Bowl alone, qualified him in my book.

[JJ note: If anyone else from that team wants to contribute to Duck Sports News (Danny? Bobby?), we would more than welcome it.  Actually, if you are a former Oregon athlete, we would like to hear from you.  Who knows Oregon sports better than you?]

I also knew that we would be getting the opinion from a hard-nosed football player with a different take on things.  And in typical football, and Josh, fashion, after getting hit, he wants to hit back.

Here’s Josh.

Seems I have ruffled some feathers on some of my subjects but you know I never knew I was a sports writer.  No matter your opinion of me, if you know me or not, I was asked by some friends due to my involvement in the past with Oregon Athletics to write a blog.  Its fun and I can add my twisted sense of humor to it, but do not consider me a sports writer.  I am a Duck fan through and through and am lucky to do this.  So lets get a couple of things straight.

1. I am not questioning Freedom of Speech or any of that.  I just think the excuse we used not to take away signs was just bogus.  Not a knock on the AD he is doing an outstanding job, not a knock on anything else, but the excuse was just lame.

2. I would really like to thank some of you for pointing out that I need “writing and skills”  Again I am not writer, in fact my favorite book(s) are pop-up’s.

3. The Pit Crew is made up of many great fans and it won’t happen again I am sure.  I just hope this helps some Duck fans realize there are lines to sportsmanship and we crossed it.

4. I have not played basketball since High School so I really don’t think I am the right guy to write about the Oregon Basketball team and its woes.  I only wrote about the crowd due to the fact I have been there before.

5. I would take as many 5 star recruits you can with heart and talent.  Your right the coaches at USC do get them to play well together.  That is why they have won national championships.  All I am saying is that if you purely go off a star rating on how good a player is supposed to be you are judging on the wrong things.  Some 5 Star recruits are just that, like Stewart.  But the harsh reality is no matter what star you are it takes more than your high school ranking to play in the PAC-10.  Our Coaches have done a great job of getting character guys and continue to do so, but at the end of the year no one cares how many high school yards you had, or what star you were, it was how did you help your team to a bowl game?

Thanks to all of you for allowing me to have fun doing “Wilcox over the Middle” and providing feedback.  So while most of you in Eugene continue to thaw out I am headed down to Phoenix for a couple days of Super Bowl parties and fun.  And since this is the sport where I have a little more knowledge, my pick is New England.  But, honestly, if it is not Oregon Football, who cares?

[UPDATE 7:39PM PST: Josh wanted to respond to some of the comments in a separate blog entry.  You can find that here.] 

By Josh Wilcox
DSN Contributor

I was going to write a wrap of the season, but why look back? Let’s look forward.

2008

We have plenty of good players coming back, and we have good coaches. So what does all of this mean? Will we have a season like last year, or will this be like a Seattle Bowl year, or Las Vegas Bowl year, when people forgot what it takes to win, and be effective? I sure would like to think that some of the players now who will be leaders will not let that happen, and will stand up when things are wrong and challenge each other. But in this day and age, I know better.

The days of calling out your teammates, only if you can back it up, is over. Now you have to worry about feelings, and how they will take it, and not to disrupt the team. And even though it was a major factor in helping the players and coaches come together, you have to make trips to Camp Harlow to iron out issues. When I first heard that I thought it was a positive step and I am glad they did that, but I can tell you that the game has passed me by when you have to do that at the University of Oregon.

Recruiting

Looking into the future also means recruiting which now is almost a bigger business than the 70’s icon the pet rock. What I find amazing is how recruiting has evolved. Instead of a player and his parents feeling lucky to have the opportunity for a full scholarship to a PAC-10 school, they are worried about the NFL and playing time. Well lots of these kids will never play in the NFL, and for the most part the parents will never understand that. And so instead of selling what is good about your team, university, and why a player would be a good fit, you have to worry about that. It’s sad.

Also when did ranking recruiting classes become a science? And who determines if he is the best in the land? I have met more 4 star and 5 star recruits who are tapped out on potential, and never get better. Those are the facts. It is almost like the 1st round of the NFL draft. It’s a crap shoot. I mean if a player wants to be a Duck great, if not, go somewhere else. In the past Oregon has built its program with a sprinkling of 4 and 5 star guys, but with more guys that are 2 stars with 6 star hearts. When people judge the athletes or programs simply by their recruiting stars, or class ranking, then it really becomes unfair to both.

So next year, what do I want? I just want them to play hard, not make excuses, and everything will fall into place. The most important thing of all is to get to the Rose Bowl, and we certainly have the talent to do it, because if a bunch of 2 and 3 star guys can do it, I see no reason why we can not all have a good time in Pasadena on New Year’s!

Jonathan Stewart

Here is my take on the whole Jonathan Stewart debate. Was he the best Oregon running back ever? What is your definition of best? He came in with tons of hype, and he lived up to many of the expectations. So that argument can be made. But in my own opinion, the best three running backs Oregon has had since I have been going to games from the 80’s to the present are (in no particular order): Loville, Ruben, and Morris. Why? I just think those three brought the most to the teams they played on. And I asked my self, who would I have block for? Hey they were all good, and everyone has different tastes, so let the debate go on.

The “Pit Crew”

Finally I would like for anyone in the “Pit Crew” to realize how stupid they made the school look last week. I was in college and by no means was I an angel. But since when did acting like a jerk get you a free beer at Taylor’s? I would imagine that most of the people responsible would have some remorse, but deep down I think a lot of that is out of jealousy. Not one person in the stands could hang with Kevin Love for 30 seconds. Heck we had a hard enough time as a team doing it to a great player.

Just remember how lucky you are to have your “Pit Crew” and how some of you got free shirts from Nike, and how the new AD got a bus, and tickets to NCAA games last year. Don’t spoil something good, and stop acting like a bunch of idiots. However, you are not alone in the blame.

So taking a card board sign is a freedom of speech issue? Wow. Are you serious? Oregon, it was your responsibility to make sure this was a good environment for basketball to be played. This was not a Supreme Court case or a Presidential Debate. This was a public basketball game at your arena, where you are responsible for security as well. And the best thing you can think of is Freedom of Speech. Well, that is bull @#*@!

Man, I love freedom of speech!

Josh Wilcox, a Junction City, Oregon native was a four-year letterman with Ducks. In the Rose Bowl Season of 1994 against Arizona, Danny O’Neil threw 15 yards to Josh for the game’s only touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Oregon came from behind to win 10-9. Arizona was ranked No. 11 by The Associated Press and ranked 23d by The New York Times computer. Josh went on to catch 11 passes for 135 yards against Penn State in the 1995 Rose Bowl. After finishing his career at Oregon, Josh went on to play for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL.

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.

Josh Wilcox is going over the the middle for the Civil War game this week.

As the Ducks head into the Civil War, visitors to DuckSportsNews.com are throwing ideas at Josh to see what happens. Even we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we know it’s going to be honest.

Now it’s time to send Wilcox over the middle…

Marty in Bend, OR wrote:
My best Civil War memory is…

Josh:
My best Civil War memory is…One of my fondest memories of the Civil War is actually not even playing in it. I can recall listening to it on the radio when the Ducks used to go play the Beavers in the early to mid 80’s. I would be helping my dad, more than likely getting in the way, stealing his Pepsi’s, cleaning the basement, and listening to every call on what was going on. “Latin Berry, up the middle, TOUCHDOWN DUCKS” they would scream. Of course as I got older and was able to go to the games and watch I can remember seeing us stuff Erik Wilhelm, and the Air Express. And senior day when Bill Musgrave was the QB, that was pretty amazing. He certainly does not get enough credit for what he did for this football tradition, he was Joey before Joey. He was the man. Clinching the Pac-10 title in Corvallis was nice, but I much rather would have done that in Eugene. Winning in 1996 my senior year when we went in there playing for a bowl berth, which we did not get, and our pride. We did just that.

Marty in Bend, OR wrote:
My worst Civil War memory is…

Josh:
My worst Civil War memory is…There are a few actually. One has to be my first civil war. 1993, we just had a disappointing loss to Stanford and the Beavers were coming to town. It had so much to do now with pride and beating the beavers. I was so excited to actually get to play in my first civil war. The closed practices, the old players coming back and telling you what it meant to be a Duck and be a part of the Civil War. We went out and stunk up the joint, bad. We stunk. I was devastated. I don’t think everyone was, but I know a lot of young guys saw how some of the older guys were acting and vowed not to be like that. I would also saying falling on my rear end in the 1994 Civil War ranks up there but that is more embarrassing than anything. Other civil war moment(s) I can recall as not being to pleasant were the games some of the home games in the early to mid 80’s, the 0-0 tie game, and another game with snow, ice, and Jack Frost nipping at my nose. Wish we would have had skyboxes back then.

Wally in Eugene, OR wrote:
As Pac-10 commissioner, I would…

Josh:
As Pac-10 commissioner, I would…Wow. That would be like me getting a cool chemistry set from Santa on Christmas morning. You play with it for about 5 days, then figure out this is way too complex. First thing of order would to place a lifetime ban on “Slick Rick” from ever coaching in the Pac-10 again. Secondly, I would require that each Pac-10 school play at least two non-league games with schools from other BCS conferences or teams consistently going to bowl games. What I mean is not playing a 1-AA school more than once or twice, and then a team like a Duke, who has had a tough go of it for a while. Third, I would examine the BCS thoroughly to see what the repercussions would be of expanding the Pac-10 to include two more teams. And then I would examine a championship game, just to see what benefit it would be to the Pac-10. I would also put in by-laws preventing Rick Neuheisel from ever coaching in the Pac-10…Oh did I already say that? I would also require each team to have throwback uniforms. I would look into the possibility of forming a Pac-10 network, with available on demand games from the past. Just think of watching Oregon defeat BYU and Ty Detmer, or Akli Smith torch Michigan State, or Chris Miller to Lew Barnes. I would make sure there is a focus on academics and recruiting players who will be productive in society and the classroom, not just the on the field.

Rick in Berkeley, CA wrote:
Beating OSU this weekend would mean…

Josh:
Beating OSU this weekend would mean…a chance to have the state bragging rights, and an opportunity to play in a great bowl game! What else can one ask for? Lets not forget that we were doing back flips and cart wheels about 20 years ago when if we beat the beavers we might get to go to lovely Louisiana. Granted it was not for the National title, but going to the Independence Bowl to play Tulsa and make a name for Oregon, that got guys on a team with less overall talent to play hard and win. Let’s see what happens. I mean depending on how it plays out but a chance to either go to the Holiday Bowl, or Sun Bowl, both places where we could redeem ourselves after our previous performances in each prospective bowl games! A win also proves to the nation these kids won’t quit.

John in Longview, WA wrote:
The Ducks’ current situation is…

Josh:
The Ducks’ current situation is…not uncommon to the program. If you go back and look at the programs in the 80’s and early 90’s, this was something Oregon was always facing. They were facing it to the magnitude that this year’s team is facing, but they were facing similar issues. Losing QB’s, having players injured, the offense struggling. The difference now is that we have the depth and talent to overcome some of those issues and still be competitive. At least we do on paper. We have so much more talent top to bottom than in the past. But the guys now who are playing for those who are hurt, have no experience. Now comes the time as a player and coach you get to see what you and your teammates are made of. It is extremely disappointing what they went through. They did lose the heart and soul of the team when Dennis went down. Now Leaf is down. Stewart is banged up; receivers are down, linebackers banged up. But that is why you play the game. It is not easy. But if you can not get excited to play in the Civil War against your rivals less than 60 miles away and a bowl game, then quit right now. Same for the fans, if you can not support the Ducks and if you can not realize that the ball does not always bounce your way then support another team. But if that is not you and you want to stay on the wagon, it might get bumpy. But it will feel good when the ride is over, because we’re all in it together. GO DUCKS!

- Josh Wilcox

Would you like to send “Wilcox Over The Middle”? If so, go to OneClickSportsNews.com or leave a comment and throw one to Josh to see where he goes with it.

Josh Wilcox, a Junction City, Oregon native was a four-year letterman with Ducks. In the Rose Bowl Season of 1994 against Arizona, Danny O’Neil threw 15 yards to Josh for the game’s only touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Oregon came from behind to win 10-9. Arizona was ranked No. 11 by The Associated Press and ranked 23d by The New York Times computer. Josh went on to catch 11 passes for 135 yards against Penn State in the 1995 Rose Bowl. After finishing his career at Oregon, Josh went on to play for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL.

Josh Wilcox is going over the the middle, again.

This week, OneClickSportsNews is proud to introduce a new weekly feature and contributor to DuckSportsNews.com, Wilcox Over The Middle.  As the Ducks make their title run, visitors to DuckSportsNews.com are throwing ideas at Josh to see what happens.  Even we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we know it’s going to be honest.

The Junction City, Oregon native was a four-year letterman with Ducks.  In the Rose Bowl Season of 1994 against Arizona, Danny O’Neil threw 15 yards to Josh for the game’s only touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Oregon came from behind to win 10-9.  Arizona was ranked No. 11 by The Associated Press and ranked 23d by The New York Times computer.  Josh went on to catch 11 passes for 135 yards against Penn State in the 1995 Rose Bowl.  After finishing his career at Oregon, Josh went on to play for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL.

Now it’s time to send Wilcox over the middle…
Dave in Portland, OR wrote:
The turning point of the 1994 (Rose Bowl) season was…

Josh:
The turning point of the 1994 (Rose Bowl) season was…“The Pick”. We were 2-1 in the Pac having won a huge game at USC with outstanding play from Graz, but got beat bad at WSU. Cal was a good win and in came the highly ranked and hated Huskies. We got up, they came back, we had a drive, and then they started making plays, and everyone was wondering what would happen. Were these the old Ducks and would Washington come back and win one? NO. This play stands for more than just the Rose Bowl; it stands for where the program is today. Let’s not forget that part of the disdain for the Huskies was due to their success, and now we are the ones with consistent success and high expectations!

Bob in Eugene, OR wrote:
Playing at Arizona Stadium is like…

Josh:
Playing at Arizona Stadium is like…playing a game of 2-2 tackle football with your brother and buddies at your buddies house on his lawn, with his rules. You know it will be a tough game, a fight, but you are ready. You don’t know if they will spread you out and throw it, or run it at you, or even pull out the option. You know they can always “D” you up because that is the family tradition; they learned it from their older brothers. There will be injuries, you will be tired, sore, and beat up, but the victory over someone you respect is the ultimate.

Ryan in Seattle, WA wrote:
If Oregon was running the spread offense when I played, I would have…

Josh:
If Oregon was running the spread offense when I played, I would have…most likely been on the bench holding coach Greatwood’s cords. Actually I think that having speed on the outside only can open up the middle and short routes we used to run. We did a lot of two tight end stuff which opened it up for lots of us. But I don’t think I am exactly a prototype for a tight end in that offense, but success is not always up to your bench press and forty times. Sometimes it takes heart, desire, courage, and brains to be a football player. I mean look at Jed Weaver, Blake Spence, Justin Peelle, Willy Tate, Jeff Thomason, all great tight ends at the University of Oregon and none would dazzle you in the weight room or on the track, but when it came to playing football, their production does not lie.

Pat in Gresham, OR wrote:
Players on the University of Kentucky’s football team think Coach Brooks is…

Josh:
Players on the University of Kentucky’s football team think Coach Brooks is…a great coach, but an even better man. He is a coach who has evolved through the years as players have, but one thing about him is that he is loyal to his players, and he cares. You could see the losses eat at him, and you could hear the joy in his voice during victory speeches. Despite his critics he keeps his head held high, and always has his player’s backs. He has also taken two teams in the two toughest conferences in the nation and made them contenders. There are not many better coaches out there. It is a pretty neat thing to have two coaches you played for that are two of the best in America at what they do.

Jeff in Denver, CO wrote:
New Orleans is the best city in the country to…

Josh:
New Orleans is the best city in the country to…visit. New Orleans was a fun place to live, but I missed the tree’s and mountains and west coast feel. However when it comes to food, drinks, and having a good old time, New Orleans is the place to do it. I went back for a wedding in March of 2006 and it is sad to see some of the devastation which occurred to some of the historic areas. There were some beautiful French style houses which just got destroyed. The people there are very friendly and you will get that down home southern feel. If you’re looking for lo-cal and fat free, you might want to go somewhere else. If your looking to hear some blue’s, eat some oysters, and have a few adult beverages then don’t skip Bourbon Street. There is a lot more than just Bourbon Street and some of those places off the beaten path are actually the best.
Would you like to send “Wilcox Over The Middle”? If so, go to OneClickSportsNews.com or leave a comment and throw one to Josh to see where he goes with it