I don't remember the team ever having this many knuckleheads. Maybe I have selective memory, but I can't recall a time when the Ducks have had legal problems of this magnitude. Is this because CK recruits talented but troubled players? Or is it because the team's swagger has bred some kind of "above the law" attitude? What are your thoughts?
Every program has problems. I don't think that a bunch of unpaid tickets is really that big of a deal. Masoli seemed like it was a bigger deal, and the program dealt with him. Ed O.
Yeah, but there's Masoli... and Blount.... and James.... and that other linebacker guy. I can't honestly remember the team having this many problems so close together.
to be honest... with higher profile comes a bigger microscope. If this would happen to someone at Montana State or something, no one would say anything. Oregon and every other school has had knuckleheads, I just think its more apt to be talked about now. IMO of course. And I agree with Ed about Masoli's being moreso than Cliffs.
I think it's a culture thing. It's either the kind of guys that we are recruiting or it's an attitude that's given once they get here.
I guess it depends on how you look at it. Although I dont think its an attitude given once they get here, I am just thinking of the overall #'s with it. There can be upwards of 125 kids on a College Football roster when you factor in walk ons, Scholarship players etc. We're talking 5 or 6 kids out of 125 who have made some bad decisions. Not excusing that, and I like that CK is keeping them accountable no matter their star power. Hopefully that accountability helps build confidence with future recruits' parents. Often parents are one of the biggest deciding factors in where their kids are steered. I would be interested to see a percentage of College kids overall who get into things like this.
But have you noticed that it's some of the most talented guys on the roster that are getting in trouble? Is that ego or does it go back further? I'm just wondering if CK is pulling a Bob Whitsitt and overlooking character flaws to get the best players.
I agree that it has been some more talented ones, which could also be why it gives more to talk about. But also I'm not sure we can look yet at CK overlooking characters. Masoli, James, Alonso, and Blount were all inherited by CK. And those seem to be the ones IMO who have gone through the bigger things with the law/on the field. Sure CK had some say in kids as an OC, but it ultimately came to Bellotti on recruits. So far of the guys CK has signed on when he has been the one to offer scholarships are Harris (Traffic Fines) and a Minor in Posession in Tyson Coleman (thankfully wasnt driving) I guess we will just have to wait and see about CK overlooking character concerns in my opinion at the least.
Montana State had an entire article in Sports Illustrated discussing how the program there was out of control. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1105362/index.htm They fired their coach and cleaned out their program. I did my undergrad at Montana State, and it was embarrassing to all of us in the Bobcat community. EDIT - I just noticed George Dohrman wrote the MSU article. He's the guy that basically just forced Jim Tressel's resignation at tOSU.
i see no problem, keep bringing in the top talent, keep doing what got you here. win a couple chips. THEN deal with it
I agree with Ed O. It's a combination of the info age, players attitudes/choices and the increased spotlight and Oregon continues to become a national powerhouse. Name any top program and we can find issues within the program. I for one, am pleased with how Chip has responded. He's a fantastic leader and example. Keeping in mind the number of "young adults" who are involved in the Oregon program, it truly is a small minority. Of course we'll focus on Oregon due to the recent news and well, this is an Oregon message board, but we could just as well be discussing Oregon State, UW, Auburn, Ohio State, LSU, <insert nearly all programs here>.
Oregon football records lack text message details http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2011/06/oregon_football_records_lack_t.html
Rachel Bachman articles usually kill any credibility... Stupid Chip Kelly for not forcing AT&T to have more servers to save messages!!!
