MAD DUCK 2020: It's Helfrich's Team Now

Note to Duck opponents for 2013: You know all those scouting reports and defensive schemes you had drawn up to load up the box and stop the running game? Oh you'll still need to hang on to those, but it just got harder -- to the point of being totally unfair.

This link to the Oregonian takes you to Mark Helfrich's first hire of his coaching era: Matt Lubick, son of Colorado State coaching legend Sonny Lubick, was named this year's top receivers coach in the nation by footballscoop.com and is considered a great recruiter as well. Helfrich named him "Passing Game Coordinator" and Receivers Coach.
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Helfrich is the Godfather
A release from Oregon:

EUGENE -- University of Oregon defensive back James Scales has been dismissed from the Ducks' football team for a violation of team rules, head coach Mark Helfrich announced.

The redshirt sophomore from Greensboro, N.C., appeared in 10 games over the past two seasons and recorded 12 tackles.

I was talking to others about Helfrich coming off as a really nice guy, a new guy, a young guy. How is he going to handle the first time one of his players tests him? Is he going to do that classic mistake of trying to be everyone's friend until he gets burned and is forced to toughen up?

I'm thinking of when Al Pacino became the new Godfather, how he had to (ahem) "tie up loose ends".

It's almost customary that when the new guy comes to power, whether its next in line in the Corleone or the Kim Jong family, somebody needs to get whacked. Bullets must fly, missles must be tested to create a cornerstone of strength for the new establishment.

We don't get to know the details behind Scales infractions or dismissal. But the result was very public. It was the shot heard around Duck Nation reporting the new sheriff in town. Helfrich sent the message. He's in charge.

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Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!!
Finally we got some cooperation from a legitimate team east of the Rockies. Oregon will travel to Virginia September 7th instead of Nevada according to this article. This will give Oregon Tennessee AND Virginia this season. That should please the BCS computers.

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"Hello Kenjon, Joey Harrington here.
I'm just calling to give you some advice . . .
RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!"

In the following article from the Detroit Free Press, look who likes Kenjon Barner
Lions have the need for speed at running back
Oregon's Barner could help fill void

The Detroit Lions: Where good careers go to die.

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Leading the League in BASKETBALL!!
And ranked #10 in the nation, Oregon is undefeated in the Pac-12 including sweeps in L.A. and over the Arizona schools at home. At the risk of jinxing them, they're playing fantastic ball right now. Here is an R-G write-up of their win over Washington. Next they travel to the Bay area with a Wednesday, 8 pm tipoff against Stanford.