Oh Well. I didn't really want the Ducks to play LSU again anyway.

This was the worst part for me. After the game, the Trojan Band playing on and on at Autzen.
Barkley up there directing them. It's like watching Fidel Castro take a dump
on the lap of the Lincoln Monument. It's like watching Russians catapult
pumpkins at the faces of Mount Rushmore. It's an insult and a crime
against all that is good.

First of all, let me say that I was completely wrong about Matthew Barkley. He backed up what he said about exposing the Ducks' weaknesses. He passed with perfect precision. He came with a game plan and executed it almost flawlessly. He is a fine young man with a heart of a champion. He and his Trojans won deservedly.

"OK Matt, now can you let go of my arm and get your knee off my head?"

I thought Montana played for Washington. But
Barkley and his two main receivers did a re-enactment
of Joe, Jerry Rice, and Dwight Clark all night.

Perhaps we Duck fans and maybe a few players all fell into the "trap" of thinking, after beating Stanford at Palo Alto, that handling USC in Eugene would be a sure thing. Could you ever imagine in all your years that USC would prove to be a trap game for the Ducks?

Meanwhile, down in L.A., the Trojans were stewing about the last two humiliating losses to Oregon; and no one more than Matt Barkley. It's one thing to circle a game on a calendar and get all worked up about it. It's so much more to set a good plan, prepare, and execute it effectively.

Lots of teams have gotten all fired up for playing the Ducks. A few came out with good game plans, only to run out of gas in the end. USC did it exactly right. They stunned the Ducks and built a big lead. Then they hung on for the ferocious comeback that Oregon was sure to serve.

Oregon's motto is WTD -- "Win The Day". Another fitting motto might be ANQ -- "Absolutely No Quit". Sure, the Ducks lost. But those in witness saw them working their tails off to erase the deficit. They almost did it. But as Vince Lombardi once said, "We didn't lose. We just ran out of time."

Talking to other Duck fans, we agreed that had that field goal kick gone through, Oregon had the momentum to carry them through overtime and win. 
Photos from Oregonian.

Absolutely No Quit in Kenjon Barner, Darron Thomas, David Paulson, or the rest of the Ducks Saturday night.

But that's all moot under the bridge today. All we can do now is face the realities, which aren't so bad.

Oregon isn't ready to go back to the Natty. USC showed that. But that's OK because the Ducks need to take care of other business first. They need to go back to the Rose Bowl and win that thing. That possibility is still very much alive.

Beat Oregon State and they host the first Pac-12 Championship. Win that and the Ducks are likely back in the Rose Bowl as long as the big giant heads of the BCS don't suddenly decide to get creative with the placements.

At the end of the USC game, I was smirking to myself, "Congratulations, Trojans. Have fun sitting at home watching the Ducks play in the post season."

But ironically, their probation turns out to be a bit of a shame. They lead the Pac-12 South right now. How cool would it have been to say, "Nice game Trojans. Now come back in two weeks and try it again. Only this one will be for all the marbles."?

 How we would've loved to see our Ducks run into the locker room right after Saturday night's game, seething, and saying "Rematch, baby. Let's beat OSU and get USC back up here."

Oh well. The bottom line is still the same as it always was. Take care of business for the coming Saturday. It's Civil War week. Had Oregon beaten USC as expected, they might've shown mercy on the Beavers and beaten them nicely, humanely, and without a lot of bloodshed. 

But that's not gonna happen now. The Beavs will be walking into a cranky Autzen. And they can bet the Ducks will be certain not to underestimate their opponent again. 

Have a Cookie
When you were young and you had a bad day, did your mom ever try to cheer you up with a cookie, or brownie, or bowl of pudding? Did she give you some treat to help take the sting away? Well Duck fans, wipe away your tears and bite into this treat. . .
Thomas Tyner, five-star prospect from Aloha, verbally commits to Oregon Ducks
Published: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 9:30 PM
By Jason Quick, The Oregonian 
 
The fastest athlete in Oregon high school history has come to a quick decision about where he will attend college: Thomas Tyner is verbally committing to the University of Oregon to play football and run track.

A junior from Aloha, Tyner is the state record holder in the 100 meters and the reigning Class 6A offensive player of the year in football. He gave Oregon football coach Chip Kelly a verbal commitment Saturday after the Ducks lost to USC 38-35 at Autzen Stadium.

Tyner is regarded as a five-star recruit, and figures to be near the top of the nation's recruiting lists. His decision is not binding, but he said "I'm pretty sold on Oregon.""Being a big recruit, and all that goes with that, I think making this decision early will take a lot of the stress off," Tyner said Saturday. "I've been going to nearly every Oregon game this year and I got the feeling that's where I belong."

Tyner said assistant Steve Greatwood and Kelly did the majority of his recruiting, but the school and the football team sold themselves. Tyner also wants run track and study broadcasting. Oregon has a storied track and field history and a well-regarded journalism program

He was being recruited by every power conference in the nation, including several Southeastern Conference schools.

"Football wise, I think I fit pretty well into Oregon's offense," Tyner said. "I think with a lot of those SEC schools, they run a Pro-I, grinding type offense that would take a toll on my body. In Oregon's spread offense, I can get out in the open and use my speed. I think I can rack up some yards. Plus, Oregon has shown they do a good job recruiting offensive linemen.

"And school wise, I want to go into broadcasting and I looked into their program, and I think it will be great for me."

Tyner (6-foot, 208 pounds) missed six games this season with a variety of injuries, the last a hairline fracture in his right tibia that caused him to miss Aloha's final two games. He will be in a walking cast for two more weeks. He still finished with 1,136 yards (8.9 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns, plus one kickoff return for a touchdown.

Last season, he rushed for 1,821 yards and 19 touchdowns in leading Aloha to the Class 6A state title. He also won the state title in the 100 meters, and set the state record of 10.35 (wind-aided), which was the fifth fastest prep time in the nation last year. He said he will run track for the Ducks as well.

At one point it was believed that Oregon State had the inside track to Tyner, and he admitted the Beavers held a special place with him entering the school year because they were the first team that recruited him and the first team to offer him a scholarship.

"For any athlete, the first school that offers you, you automatically like that school; it's going to put a big smile on your face," Tyner said. "So I gave Oregon State a lot of attention, and I really loved it in Corvallis, and the coaches are amazing, they made me feel like family. Then I went down to the Sacramento State game ... and that wasn't too pretty. I ended up leaving at halftime. It seems like their sports are going down, and Oregon, I don't know, I just like it down there. It's awesome." 

Oooo. Ouchy, Beavers. That loss to Sac. State came back to bite you again, didn't it. That's unfortunate.

Let me hammer home what you just read. This guy is five star. Nationally recruited by the major schools. The fastest sprinter in the state, he's not a 5'8", 175 pound squirt. He is 6', 208 pounds -- and only a junior in high school. Thomas Tyner has been compared to Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.

I saw a video of him where he looked like a runaway downhill freight train.  When he gets in the secondary on a head of steam, smaller cornerbacks just wave at him as he runs by. They ain't no fools.

When I heard this, I immediately started dreaming. Think along with me. In 2013, QB Brian Bennett and RB De'Anthony Thomas will be juniors. Tyner would be a freshman. That's two years of talent and leadership in key positions. Add a good supporting cast around them . . . . . savor those cookies for a moment.

Here's one video for a little taste. Tyner is #4.

Ya think Coach Kelly will talk to him about getting back to the huddle a little quicker?

--KB