Media Release
UO Athletic Department
Jan. 4, 2008

EUGENE – The University of Oregon’s 56-21 win over 23rd-ranked South Florida in the 74th annual Brut Sun Bowl will re-air both locally and nationally, beginning with an 11:30 p.m. showing Saturday by KVAL-TV in Eugene/Springfield.

The original CBS Sports telecast from Dec. 31 will be re-broadcast over the local CBS affiliate, as well as KCBY-TV in Coos Bay and KPIC-TV in Roseburg.

In addition, CSTV, which is owned by CBS, also will air the Ducks’ 2007 Sun Bowl victory as well as Oregon’s appearance in the 2003 El Paso, Texas bowl game.

Oregon dropped a last-second 31-30 verdict to Minnesota in the 2003 version of the nation’s second-oldest bowl game, with only the Rose Bowl enjoying a longer continual run.

CSTV will replay last Monday’s game at 6 p.m. (PST) Sunday (Jan. 6), followed by 12 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, and 1 p.m. Tuesday. In addition, it will show Oregon’s 2003 game at noon and 9 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday at 4 a.m., and Wednesday at 3 a.m.

CSTV can be accessed via Comcast Cable (channel 412), as well as DirecTV and Dish Network satellite providers.

Ken Woody’s postgame analysis of Oregon’s win in the Sun Bowl. What Portland sports columnist could he be referring t0? Hmmm.

Within the last twenty-fours hours, we’ve had a number of responses to our criticism of John Canzano’s coverage of the Sun Bowl. However, we do not want the blog portion of DSN to become a repository for everything anti-Canzano. Even though that might be a good idea for a well-visited website (Yes, we have thought about it - DSN visitors, you get a site up and running, we’ll be the first to link to it.), we’re not being critical of his coverage just to be critical. We’re not even being critical of him because we disagree with him. Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don’t. As of late, our criticism has mostly been about the timing and appropriateness of his columns.

Well, DSN visitors are taking a little bit different view of Mr. Canzano. Based on some of the responses we have received, this one from Doneal typifies how visitors to DSN feel about Mr. Canzano. Here’s his “Dear John” letter (A new DSN feature? Hmmmm.):

Dear John,

You’ve had some terrible articles (although I like some of your ‘feel-goods’, despite what others say), but “Ducks find themselves all on their own in El Paso” definitely has to be one of your worst.

‘Mow the lawn’? In December? You couldn’t come up with something else more irrelevant?!

‘The ducks just haven’t competed in three of the final four games’? Which three were those, John? The Civil War in which they would have won without an offensive line coach’s admitted mistake; but ended up eventually losing despite playing the 5th string quarterback who wasn’t planning on playing, and yet who was still responsible for 3 touchdowns? Since when is double overtime ‘not competing’? Your stance is downright laughable on that one. Or are you writing about the defense which didn’t allow a touchdown in the second half to Arizona? I will give you UCLA…. so that’s one out of four…. having trouble counting these days, John?

And I’m sure the residents of El Paso and Sun Bowl officials appreciate the way you castigate their city, while at the same time patting them on the back of their collective heads, Benny Hill style. Nice.

Oh… and ps:, John; Duck fans have purchased more tickets for the Sun Bowl this year than OSU fans did for the same bowl last year. Did you eviscerate the Beavers and their fans last year the same way? No you did not. Could you possibly be any less objective?

To prove a point from comments in a previous post (DSN to Mr. Canzano: When Isn’t There A Dark Side?), here’s a follow-up from Doneal:

Dang. And then I did it. Couldn’t help but read Canzano’s ‘The Bulls Should Have Ducked’. It’s a good piece. Only one thing keeps it from being truly good - an admission by John that he was wrong in other articles. Or that he writes ‘from both sides of his mouth’.

A few last thoughts about Mr. Canzano. Actually, this is applicable to any media type. If don’t like them, don’t __________ (read, watch, listen to, etc.) them.

Why? Everything in media now is quantifiable. Circulation. Viewers. Listeners. Impressions. Big brother is watching. But it’s not the government. It’s the IT guys. General managers. Programmers. They are the ones that know. So, if you want to make a difference, don’t do whatever it is they want you to do.

Here’s another reason: these guys have egos. Canzano. Ego. Columnists. Egos. Radio guys. Egos. And all of this palaver (That’s right. I used palaver.) feeds theirs egos. Why do you think they are in the media business? They want attention. They love it when you’re talking about them. (How do I know? I’m in the media business, too.)

So, if you don’t like what they are doing, don’t.

- Jay Jones

So, how did you do? Did you pick Oregon? Did you tell your friends you were picking Oregon, but you secretly thought South Florida would win but you didn’t want to sound like a know-it-all newspaper columnist or blogger? Did you move up, or down in the Bowl Bash? Don’t lie. Because it’s all there.

I’m not much of sporting, gambling man, myself. But I wanted to go out on a limb and conduct an experiment in predicting the Sun Bowl. Here’s how I picked Oregon and the points: I averaged all of the predicted scores listed below for both team and then I switched them. That’s it. I did what George would do. Sort of. Instead of doing the exact opposite of my own instincts, I did the exact opposite of everyone else’s. That’s how crazy this is!

Here was my prediction:

DuckSportsNews.com’s Prediction (JJ): USF 19, Oregon 24

Got the win. Close on USF’s points. Way, way off on Oregon’s points. But as Meatloaf said, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”

Let’s see how the less fortunate, and less optimistic, prognosticators did:

Prediction: Register-Guard’s Rob Moseley: USF 26, Oregon 20
Reality: Oops. And he even got called out by Chip Kelley on this one.

Prediction: Portland Tribune’s Jason Vondersmith: USF 31, Oregon 24
Reality: The Ducks played hard and USF was desperate.

Prediction: Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel: USF 31, Oregon 28
Reality: Theatrical? The Ducks tamed that “Raging Bull”.

Prediction: Tampa Tribune: USF 27, Oregon 14
Reality: The Bulls displayed a confidence so quiet, they didn’t even hear it.

Prediction: Rivals.com’s Steve Megargee’s pick: USF 20, Oregon 10
Prediction: Rivals.com’s Olin Buchanan, national college football writer: USF 20, Oregon 10
Prediction: Rivals.com’s Mike Huguenin, college sports editor: USF 20, Oregon 14
Prediction: Rivals.com’s Bill King, Rivals Radio host: USF 28, Oregon 13
Reality: Stewart had the biggest of games and Roper did not turn the ball over.

Prediction: USFBullsEYE.com: USF 24, Oregon 10
Reality: The Bulls did not contain Stewart’s talents.

Prediction: Duck Sports Authority: USF 31, Oregon 34
Reality: We have a winner! But QB play and the receivers were not a concern. Plus, DSA never picks against the Ducks. So, DSA is going to be right a good part of the time.

Prediction: OregonLive.com’s Bob Rickert: USF 24, Oregon 27
Reality: We have a fan, here. If he were a Bulls fan, he would have gone with them.

Prediction: Fox Sports’ & College Football News’ Rich Cirminiello: USF 30, Oregon 17
Reality: He got one thing right: USF did not explode on offense. Maybe implode. But definitely not explode.

Prediction: Addicted To Quack: Oregon (if they win the turnover battle)
Reality: No score for Dave, but he got the turnover battle correct (5-1).

Prediction: CBS Sportsline: USF
Reality: Uh, no, no, no, no, & no.

Prediction: Jimmy Boyd’s Locksmith Sports: USF 29, Oregon 23
Reality: Jimmy got this one wrong. Not quite a lock, huh?

Have a great New Year! I know I will. I am officially announcing my retirement from picking games. I’m 1-0 and I’m going out a winner! Goodnight, everyone.

- Jay Jones

Leave it to The Oregonian’s version of Debbie Downer to address the very serious issues of human rights in his column on the day the Ducks dominate the Bulls in the Sun Bowl.

If you want to read his column and his post on the column, go right ahead. It is a real human issue.

Casting light on dark side of Sun Bowl

What’s happening to the women of Juarez?

But here’s my question for Mr. Canzano: where is this not the case? Is there crime, corruption, and human rights issues within spitting distance of the Rose Garden? What about Safeco Field? AT&T Ballpark? The Coliseum? The Staples Center? Mr. Canzano, where in the wide, wide world of sports are these evils you speak of not within a stone’s throw of sporting events?

So, here’s my question to Mr. Canzano: other than write your column raising awareness of the issue, what have you done? Or is that it?

Up until the last year or so, I was a fairly political person. Actually, I’ve been interested in politics for most of my life. I haven’t always been politically active or involved, but I enjoyed them. That is until the last year.

After going on a short term mission trip to Thailand, my opinion on how you affect change in your sphere of influence dramatically shifted. I used to believe that most change happened through governments, elected officials, institutions, committees, and legislation. Can those things affect change? Absolutely. But that power rests in the hands of so few. And I don’t believe that any longer.

While in Thailand, and confirmed when I returned home, I learned that it’s what people do on a daily basis that affects the most change. And it’s not in the big things. It’s in the small things. Do I do something everyday that makes a difference? Probably not. But at least now I know I can.

Do you, Mr. Canzano?

- Jay Jones

By Don Smalley
DSN Contributor
12/31/2007

Oregon played nearly a perfect game in every phase of the football game in a dominating display in a 56-21 win over South Florida.

In the first half, the Ducks played well and scored 18 points. Many were not sure the Ducks would score that much in the game. But in the second half, Oregon showed that they are one of the best teams in the country.

The shock of losing Dennis Dixon clearly affected this team in the Arizona and UCLA games. The Ducks were beginning to snap out of it in the Civil War, a game that should have been won.

But the Ducks showed their true selves today by scoring a Sun Bowl record 56 points, 38 just in the second half.

South Florida has had some good wins this season, but it was clear they were not ready for the speed and the power the Ducks had in store for them. For a team that was once ranked No. 2, Oregon made them look pretty ordinary.

Justin Roper made the quarterback situation an interesting one as Spring ball comes. He made a huge case to be the No. 1 guy despite the recruits and the junior college transfers. Roper did not make a mistake and made plays.

Jonathan Stewart set a Sun Bowl record 253 yards and was running free and easy. The offensive line blocked very well and opened up those creases that we saw earlier in the year. Stewart told the Oregon Sports Network that he hasn’t made a decision whether or not to go to the NFL. But after this performance on national TV, it’s hard to believe that we’ll see Stewart in a Duck uniform again.

It was also great to see Garren Strong score one more touchdown for the Ducks and his brother and to see what a good receiver Jasison Williams is capable of being.

The defense played great and hit hard … very, very hard. Ask South Florida’s Matt Grothe how hard as he missed much of the second half with a major concussion.

Oregon ends the season 9-4 and perhaps there is more excitement around the football program than there ever has been before.

A family member sent these to me. And they are scary (like clowns). If you’ve ever seen “City of Lost Children”, you know what I’m talking about.

But I would swap these four jolly fellows in red for four in zebra-stripes on the field any day of the week.

(Any chance one of them looked at the others in the 3rd or 4th quarter and said, “You boys like Mexeeco?”)

- JJ

It’s been a season of highs and lows. Hunting and hunted. And the sun always shines on TV. But will the Ducks? Ah, hah. That’s the question.

If you’ve read most of the predictions posted on DuckSportsNews.com over the last couple of days, you probably have the impression that the experts believe that the sun set on the Ducks’ ship a long time ago.

DSN is not in the business of predicting winners, predicting scores, laying points, or handicapping. But we’re contrarians. We’re going to go all-George on this one, and do the exact opposite. So, here’s our prediction (we’ll reveal our methodology later):

DuckSportsNews.com’s Prediction (JJ): USF 19, Oregon 24

To review, this is a quick rundown of some of those other, less optimistic predictions:

Register-Guard’s Rob Moseley: USF 26, Oregon 20

Portland Tribune’s Jason Vondersmith: USF 31, Oregon 24

Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel: USF 31, Oregon 28

Tampa Tribune: USF 27, Oregon 14

Rivals.com’s Steve Megargee’s pick: USF 20, Oregon 10

Rivals.com’s Olin Buchanan, national college football writer: USF 20, Oregon 10

Rivals.com’s Mike Huguenin, college sports editor: USF 20, Oregon 14

Rivals.com’s Bill King, Rivals Radio host: USF 28, Oregon 13

USFBullsEYE.com: USF 24, Oregon 10

Duck Sports Authority: USF 31, Oregon 34

OregonLive.com’s Bob Rickert: USF 24, Oregon 27

Fox Sports’ & College Football News’ Rich Cirminiello: USF 30, Oregon 17

Addicted To Quack: Oregon (if they win the turnover battle)

CBS Sportsline: USF

Jimmy Boyd’s Locksmith Sports: USF 29, Oregon 23

- Jay Jones

Tampa Bay Bucaneer’s punter, and former Duck, Josh Bidwell is in the unique position of having played for Oregon and currently living in the University of South Florida’s hometown. Exclusive to Duck Sports News, here’s what Josh has to say about this year’s Sun Bowl matchup:

The Sun Bowl this year pits the University of South Florida, which is here in Tampa, Florida, against the Oregon Ducks. Both teams’ seasons this year were eerily similar in that both teams were the number 2 ranked and most talked about teams at one point during the season, but both teams also drastically fell down the rankings by the end of the season. Unlike the Ducks though, the South Florida Bulls were not crippled by key injuries as the Ducks were and as such, the tone here in Tampa is one of great confidence. No one believes that a Dennis Dixonless Oregon team can hang with this, very healthy South Florida team. It is going to be a great match up and I know that the South Florida program, which has only been in existence for 7 years or so, is going to be very motivated and excited about this bowl game. There is a buzz here amongst the local fans that this could cap off, still, the greatest season in USF history…I hold quite a different opinion of course.

I have been asked about the bowl game by only two or three people from the local media here. I think they are tired of me telling them the same thing over and over. Oregon is a great team with whoever we put on the field to play. So, USF needs to watch out!

- Josh Bidwell

“When It’s Fourth and Long.”

August 1st was the release date of my first book, “When It’s Fourth and Long.” The book gives a detailed insight into my battle with Testicular Cancer and a look at some hard events I had to endure during my childhood. I was also able to put quite a bit of fun insights into actual life in the NFL during my experiences these past 9 seasons. There are fun stories of my days as a teammate of Brett Favre’s and my week in Hawaii during the 2007 Pro Bowl. The book is designed to entertain and inspire. I know all who read it will enjoy it.

You can visit joshbidwell.com to get more info on the book or you can get the book at any of the local Christian stores in the state as well as a select few Barnes and Nobles and Borders. This book can also be ordered on Amazon.com or any other major book stores website.

Josh Bidwell In The NFL

Remarkably consistent punter who is considered one of the NFL’s finest athletes at his position… Possesses one of the NFL’s strongest legs and is equally adept at displaying the necessary accuracy to pin opponents deep inside their own territory… Has been a steady performer over the past seven years despite having his 1999 rookie campaign dashed by a testicular cancer diagnosis late in training camp… Selected to first Pro Bowl in 2005… Appeared in 112 career regular season games and six postseason contests… Totaled 573 career punts for 24,277 yards (42.3 avg.) with a long of 68… Has placed 152 punts inside the 20-yard line in his career… For the postseason, punted 24 times for 956 yards (39.8 avg) with nine punts landing inside the opponents’ 20-yard line… 43.8-yard average as a Buccaneer is tops in team history… His 45.6-yard gross average in 2005 was the best single-season performance in team history… Signed by the Buccaneers as a free agent on March 13, 2004… Spent his first four professional seasons (2000-2003) with the Green Bay Packers as one of the NFC’s top punters despite often kicking in the NFL’s toughest weather conditions… Showed marked improvement in only second season in league, raising his gross average by a full four yards, jumping from a 38.5-yard average in 2000 to the 42.5-yard mark in 2001… Selected by the Packers in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.

Selected by Green Bay in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft on April 18, 1999 … Signed by Green Bay on July 27, 1999 … Placed on Green Bay’s Reserve/Non-Football Illness list on September 4, 1999 … Activated from Green Bay’s Reserve/NFI list on February 7, 2000 … Became restricted free agent on February 20, 2003 … Re-signed by Green Bay as restricted free agent on April 30, 2003 … Became unrestricted free agent on March 2, 2004 … Signed by Tampa Bay as unrestricted free agent on March 12, 2004.

Josh Bidwell, the Bucs’ punter since 2004, owns the two best gross punting seasons in franchise history (2005, 2006), three of the top five net punting seasons in team annals (2005, 2006, 2004) and two of the top three punting yards seasons in team history (2005, 2006).

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.