Say it outloud Huskies. A DUCKADE.

Beaten Dawgs are Silent Dawgs. And Silent Dawgs are Good Dawgs.

 Let's just dwell on this achievement for a moment. Ten wins over Washington is by far the longest win streak between the two teams. In particular it is a monster of a streak for Oregon over the Huskies.

The next longest Oregon win streak over Washington? Four. From 1928 to 1931. Since then Oregon has never beaten Washington more than two times in a row on various occasions.

Over the past 100 years, Washington had one 7-game win streak, three streaks at 6, and one streak at 5. They're used to being the dominate team. So this streak, while pleasing and joyful for us Ducks, is Twilight Zone mind boggling for the Huskies.

It is by no means the longest streak of one team over another. Florida, for just one example, is currently enjoying a 27 game win streak over Kentucky. But it isn't just about the streak, it's about who is streaking whom.

Imagine if Kentucky got bit by a radioactive shoe manufacturer and suddenly hung 10 consecutive ass whoopin's on Florida.

Bitter Husky fans have sourly pointed out that it all changed when Phil Knight whipped out his checkbook and "bought" Nike U. But lots of schools including Washington have deep pocketed backers. And Husky fans didn't seem too embarrassed when they were the rich team.

The difference is it wasn't just about the money of one or two backers. It was a strong effort and unified focus of many people including three athletic directors,  four head coaches, and dozens of assistants. It was divided up in several phases stretched out over 20 years. And every step, indeed every win was cherished because Oregon remembers the old days, the low days, the "Dark days of the Purple Haze".

Oregon made a T-shirt to commemorate the milestone.  Would Washington have made a T-shirt for stretching a 10-win streak on the Ducks?

You know what's great about the answer? Ten years ago, the answer would've been 'no'.  But now, Seattle would have a parade with T-shirt cannons a-blazin' if Washington beat Oregon just once.

Although Washington has spun it's lower budgeted
improvements as Spartan and tasteful compared to
Oregon's excessive opulence, Coach Sarkisian is happy
to show off new Husky Stadium and facilities to Coach Helfrich.

Sark: "That's my office. It's got one of those Keurig single cup coffee makers."

Helf: "Wow, that's really nice Steve."

Sark: "Do you have one of those?"

Helf: "Uhh, nope .... No I don't."

Sark: "HA. Wait 'til my boosters hear that. You can't even make your own coffee!"

Helf: "Uhhh Ya, I ...uhhh... have it delivered in from a five-star restaurant."

Sark: "Whoa, that must take forever. Is it cold when it finally arrives."

Helf: "No .... um, the restaurant is actually down at the end of the hall."

Sark: .....(silent)......

Helf: "Hey uhh ... I should probably get back to my team now."

Sark: Ya OK Mark ..... I'll let you go ..... Five stars, huh?

Helf: "Hey forget about it, Steve. You have very nice facilities here."

Sark: Ya, thanks Mark. OK, see ya ................HEY MARK, I GOT WI-FI TOO!"

 

TOUGH ENOUGH?
Coach Sarkisian told his Huskies that they were the toughest team on the planet. And for five games including a nail biter loss at Stanford, they believed it. They could not wait to show Oregon who the tougher, more physical team was. The announcers bought into the hype, saying Oregon had yet to face a team as tough as Washington.

After the first scoring drive, Oregon's answer was, "True, maybe; but irrelevant." Washington's goal line defense held. Then it held again. And then . . . it didn't. And that was that. The Dawgs spent the rest of the day chasing Oregon's turbo sports car, but could never catch up.

WOULDN'T

QB Keith Price was sacked four times, hurried a bunch more, forced to throw the ball away or die on several occasions, and intercepted once. Oregon held Washington 50 yards below their rushing average and eclipsed their rushing-allowed average by 100 yards.

BE

Towards the end was a good news, bad news situation for the Huskies.
Good news: For the first time this season, they were the ones to finally force Marcus Mariota to set down his cup of Gatorade, strap on his helmet and play in the fourth quarter.  They should be commended for putting up stiff competition forcing the starters to play four quarters instead of three.

DE-

Bad news: Mariota played in the fourth quarter. And so did the top defense. The result was a 14-0 final frame. Showing mercy, the second string came in and kneeled in the final seconds inside the 5-yard line with a 21-point lead.


-NIED.

The tenth win, a 21-point lead, and the Ducks showed mercy. Ya, Oregon's not so tough.

THE OREGON WAY
In the excellent article The Ducks are finding their difficult practices can lead to perfection, Jason Quick wrote about the probable reason why Washington found Oregon unimpressed with all the tough talk. As fast as Washington played, Oregon took it all and gave back change.

Linebacker Derrick Malone shared what he tells new Duck recruits about Oregon's practices.
“I tell them it’s hard and that if you are not ready for it, don’t come here,’’ Malone said. “I tell them it’s the hardest thing you will ever experience and you will never experience anything else like it. I’m not going to lie to them. But I’m also going to tell them it’s the reason we are successful.’’

DON'T TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT,
BUT HE'S THE HEISMAN FRONT RUNNER
"I wouldn't say I'm unaware,'' Mariota says of the Heisman talk. "But I do my best not to pay attention.''

Marcus Mariota is a gem's gem. He is the quintessential All American that dads would gladly throw their daughters at. And he would throw the daughter right back with a perfect spiral. Back and forth, back and forth they would throw. . . the dad, his future son-in-law the All American, and a screaming dizzy girl.

It's not the passing with accuracy or the running with speed that makes him special, but its all that with a super cool and clear head. He is anti-Johnny Manziel (Did you notice no one calls him Johnny Football anymore?) -- all the talent without all the crap. His success is drawing attention as he has been name Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row.

His secret is in his humble, "Aw shucks, No I in team, Good Lord willin', Just here to play ball" style. He's grounded and introverted until he takes to the field. Then he's dangerous like Hannibal Lecter. He'll kill you without even raising his heart rate.

Here comes Mariota. And this time he's brought friends.

DAT A' BOY
DeAnthony Thomas, in this story, admitted he truly wasn't healed from his ankle injury enough to play last Saturday. And he may be questionable at best to play at home against WSU (I'm guessing it's safe for him to sit that one out.).

But his attitude is still in perfect form, as he shows in this comment about his quarterback:
When Thomas will return is anybody’s guess. But Thomas left no doubt about his importance. When asked if teammate Marcus Mariota was the best player in college football, Thomas didn’t hesitate.
“Yes ... beside myself,’’ Thomas said. “He is the best quarterback in the country, you can say that.’’


Next game:Washington State Saturday night 7pm Fox Sports 1