The last home game brought about a moment I am most embarrassed by; the booing of a college player. Has there ever been a more maligned player in Oregon history than Alejandro Maldonado?Criticism of players is fair game in my opinion; it is what we do. But as George Wrightster told me last week, it is okay to criticize the performance, but not to insult the person or his family. Booing a college p

So, just a funny anecdote that in many ways disappoints me after having defended Oregon fans.I see some commentary today about the "smirk" on David Shaw's face during the game last Thursday and how much Oregon fans dislike his demeanor.Wasn't it less than a year ago that those same fans would defend the "smirk" on Chip Kelly's face during games and after? Wasn't Kelly one whose demeanor made fans

This has been weighing on my mind the entire 2013 season.I love football. Specifically, I love college football. When I started this blog, it was as a response to a request from other Duck fans to put all of my thoughts on a specific topic in one site. So I did.After that, the story, thanks to the NCAA, refused to die for more than two years. During that time I was asked by a friend for more forma

"Practice? We're talking about practice?"Yes, Allen Iverson, we are going to talk about practice.Iverson was famously quoted after missing some practice time and, while some diminish the importance of practice, I am not wont to do so.Coaches often bark out that they want to see you practice like you're going play. They want the same kind of focus, energy and attention to detail as they are going t

Duck fans have been all over the internet tonight discussing the letter John Canzano posted tonight from an unnamed former Duck player who had a very bad experience in the stands this past Saturday.Well, Duck fans, remember, there is always the Other Side of Duck in just about every instance.Once again that is true.I cannot say who wrote the letter as I am not completely privy to his identity. How

So, I have to confess, I have had a sort of existential crisis ever since Flock Talk last week.At the end of my story on Colt Lyerla, I said that we should care everyday.Afterwards, I had to ask myself honestly if I were acting in the manner I described. Did I care every day? Was I doing anything to make the world a better place?Some will say that the mundane makes the world a better place. Good p

Today, local columnist included a slightly redacted version of a letter he received with its origins from a former player. John Canzano was ambiguous at best describing the player to protect his identity, likely at the former players request.While some would love to speculate that the letter was fiction; the work of a rival fan whose only goal is to embarrass the fan base, reality says that this i

Herbstreit has long had love for the Oregon program.Today he stated that he thought that, right now, Florida State deserves the number two spot more than Oregon in the BCS.I say he is wrong and I can prove it with two words: Boston College.Boston College is ranked somewhere in the 70's or lower by computer polls; they are currently 3-4 with their three wins over Villanova, Wake Forest and Army; te

The insidiousness of drugs. Destruction.This week, former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla was arrested for cocaine possession. As writers, fans and scouts talk about the topic from the sterile world of their own, you wonder just what each person knows or feels. It is oh so easy to criticize; to look back and provide lectures on the opportunities that were given and either ignored or not underst

Tomorrow in Flock Talk, I look at the Colt Lyerla story from a different angle.While everyone else talks about their "hope" for his future, I look at it, as usual, from a different perspective. Everyone keeps saying "this is not a football story."Oh really? Then why are football writers covering the story? It shouldn't be a football story, but it IS a football story whether we like it or not.I tal