Here’s a quick run down with a little analysis sprinkled in:
- Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, who somehow convinced ESPN Insider to partner with them for the upcoming season, unveiled their 2010 conference predictions. Why am I not so fond of the Blue Ribbon bunch? Take a quick look at their picks for the Pac-10. As a twitter follower points out, do they lose more credibility by placing the Ducks FIFTH or by predicting UW at No. 2? Either way, I’m not a fan. Sure, Oregon lost their All-America quarterback and tight end, but just about every other key player returns from the conference-winning squad. (Side note: OSU is breaking in a new QB as well, but that doesn’t stop BRCFY from ranking the Beavs fourth, one spot ahead of us.) I think this is just one site trying to stand out from the rest and create controversy rather than believing in their rankings. If Washington finishes three spots ahead of the Ducks, I promise to take back every bad thing I’ve ever said about Jake Locker… which is a lot.
- There’s exciting news on the recruiting front. Could I interest you in ESPN’s No. 44 nationally ranked recruit in 2011, who’s the No. 6 overall wide receiver, who’s from Florida, who’s said he “Absolutely loves Eugene”, who’s run a 4.24 40-yard dash, a 4.32 shuttle and possesses a 37” vertical leap? I thought so. Meet Tacoi Sumler, a 5-8 lightning bolt in the mold of OSU’s James Rodgers. Tacoi, we would love to have you in Eugene!
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Sumler has been clocked multiple times under 4.35. Speed, baby, speed!
Admittedly, I don’t know much about new Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens, so I like to see articles like this. Mullens may be 40 years old, young for an AD of such a big program, but the Register-Guard’s Bob Welch says age is relative. “Dave Frohnmayer was elected Oregon attorney general at 40, Phil Knight founded Nike at 33, and Duck alum Ann Bancroft reached the North Pole at 31.” OK, I’m sold. However, I do find it funny that Mullens asked for a membership to the Papa’s Pizza Birthday Club as part of his contract. (I repeat, contract! Not handshake agreement!).
- Jeremiah Masoli is still looking for a new home. However, as Dave Reardon writes in the Honolulu Star-Advisor, it won’t be Hawaii. Reardon asks if the Warriors should embrace Masoli, if only to keep him away from conference rival LaTech – analogizing the situation to a “block” on the game show Hollywood Squares. In the end morality wins out. If this were Masoli’s second chance that’d be one thing, but it’s his third. “In this game, it’s two strikes in you’re out.”
- It’s too bad UH turned down Masoli, because that probably would have been the best fit for the quarterback — not just on the field. Reardon says he’s been told Masoli is a good guy when he’s around his family back home. That said, morals have never stopped the team with the newest public interest in the ex-Duck. Ole Miss, of the notoriously morally liberal SEC, is said to share mutual interest with Masoli. The Reb’s SB Nation blog asks “Do We Want Jeremiah Masoli?” Shockingly, the majority say yes. Although Ole Miss looks to be heading into a rebuilding season, the allure of adding such a dynamic player and becoming instant contenders might just be enough for Mississippi to overlook the fact that Masoli is still scheduled to appear before a Springfield Municipal Court judge in September.
Any more news, thoughts? Share it in the comments!
The UO Sports Dude 