I have some insight into Oregon State’s quarterback competition. Will the money matter? If it does, Maalik Murphy’s second-year revenue-share deal at OSU becomes an interesting data point.
I have the goods there.
Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens did some talking this week. I asked Mullens about Phil Knight’s legacy, and what happens over the next 10, 15, and 20 years in Eugene.
Also, the radio show is back, officially. I’m excited for the relaunch. Should be a blast. I have the details for you.
Emptying the notebook…
• Oregon State’s quarterback competition is a fascinating race. Three-player battle with Maalik Murphy (Duke transfer), Braden Atkinson (Mercer transfer), and Brady Jones (Western Michigan transfer). The season opener is at Houston on Sept. 5. Who’s your bet to start the opener? Tell me in the comments.
• I recently asked JaMarcus Shephard, the OSU head coach, who will win that job. He played poker, and said, “One of those guys in that room…”
• People think I just eat hot dogs and watch football. Part of my job is swatting away nonsense, interpreting cryptic comments, talking with sources who watch practice, and predicting the future.
• Murphy has a big arm, is a little more of a dual threat, and has lots of big-game experience.
• Jones impressed onlookers in the early days of camp, zipping the ball around the field with confidence. I know Mike Barrett, the former TV broadcaster, likes Jones a lot. Barrett has observed a few practices. A second source in Corvallis told me they thought Jones has been getting good live reps.
• Atkinson threw for 3,611 yards and 34 TDs as a freshman at Mercer before entering the portal. He’s in this battle, too.
• How might money play into the race for the starting job? We all know that NFL teams that invest high draft picks in players are subject to giving said picks a wide berth, more reps, and a clear path to the starting job. It’s a natural byproduct that makes the GM and coach look smart for their investment.
• Murphy got $1.5 million to transfer to Oregon State and play last season, but he was underwhelming (9 TDs, 8 INTs). Credit to Murphy and his handlers, they’re just trying to get his career back on the rails now. He decided to come back to Corvallis. I think they expected he’d only been at OSU for one season. I’m told by program sources that Murphy is now on revenue-share agreement that is essentially a minimum deal.
• Think: $50,000 range.
• Atkinson got “far more” per a source to leave Mercer, get the transfer portal, and land at Oregon State.
• Think: $500,000 range.
• I don’t know what Jones is getting from Oregon State yet. Have to think his market value landed somewhere between those bookend deals.
• Shephard has talked about using data points to determine who starts at QB, but are those dollar figures a data point the program can afford to ignore? I’m wondering. How about you?
• Be sure, if Murphy starts the opener, it will be because he came back hungry, out-performed everyone, and flat won the job. It would be a good story, but this coaching regime at OSU isn’t as financially invested in Murphy’s success as the prior staff.
• Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens joined me for a 1-on-1 on “BFT: Unfiltered” on Friday on YouTube. He talked about the football practice facility, Phil Knight’s legacy, the legislation to protect college sports, and the evolution of coach Dan Lanning.
The episode is worth your time:
• Mullens on Phil Knight’s impact: “There is no doubt that we would not be where we are as an athletic department as a university without the generosity and the creative energy and passion from Mr. and Mrs. Knight. You can’t walk on campus and not see the impact, and whether it’s the Knight Campus for Accelerated Scientific Learning or the Knight Law School or the Knight Library and also, whether it’s Hayward Field or the (football facility), the impact is lasting.”
On whether there’s something he can share about the legacy planning that Phil Knight has in place for UO: “No, nothing I can share on that front other than to say that Mr. and Mrs. Knight have given us incredible resources and support to be successful.”
• Mullens on Dan Lanning’s first game as head coach at Oregon, a 49-3 loss to Georgia: “That wasn’t fair to Dan.”
• Mullens on whether he’d consider playing a Week Zero ‘payday’ game against a top SEC team again: “It is a resource game, John. So, yes, it would be tempting. But the resources would matter… You have to have the resources to be competitive, and as much as we can diversify those resources, the better prepared we’re going to be. So it’s certainly something we would listen to.”
• I make the return to syndicated radio on Monday. The “BFT” radio show will air LIVE weekdays from 2-3 p.m. across the state of Oregon. The affiliates include: Portland (620 AM), Eugene (102.9 FM), Medford (107.9 FM), Roseburg (1490 AM), Klamath Falls (960 AM), and Fox Sports Newport (92.7 FM).
• Tune in. I’ll spill the tea.
• The show will be fast-moving and real. It’s just 60 minutes daily. No wasted time. Big guests. Strong opinions. Should be fun. It’s presented by Adidas… and your local Jamba location.
• A special thanks to my friends at Gresham Ford, The Wall, First Call Heating and Cooling, Shoe Mill, High Caliber Millwrights, and Wilsonville Carpet & Tile. People have wondered over the years if I use the local businesses that advertise on my show. These are my friends and allies. I trust them. So, of course I do. I don’t think it’s coincidental that they’re all family-owned and operated. They’ve all stayed in contact with me during my contractually mandated six-month radio hiatus. Talk about loyalty.
• Oregon football coach Dan Lanning joins me on Monday’s show on the radio and YouTube. Should be a fun talk. Lanning’s oldest son is driving now, I’m told. I’ll ask him about that, football, and some other topics.
• The radio show will also air in Boise on KTIK “The Ticket” (93.5 FM) from noon-1 p.m. MT on weekdays beginning August 31.
• Given the focus, the show should probably also be on in Pullman, Spokane, Fresno, San Diego, Seattle, the SF Bay Area, and some other markets in the Pacific Time Zone. Hit me if you’d like your local station to carry the syndicated show.
• Don’t know if you caught my 1-on-1 interview with Jon Patricof, the founder and CEO of Athletes Unlimited. It’s also worth your time. Patricof’s family of origin comes with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. His grandfather was an orphan immigrant who rose to become a NY stockbroker. His father is a venture capital titan. The kids are all running visionary businesses. The subject matter was rich.
• Patricof on his investment in women’s sports: “I just thought there was a huge opportunity that was untapped. Amazing athletes, some really great evidence of TV ratings and viewership, but there really just was not a lot of investment going into the into these sports. Most things were being done on a shoestring, underinvested… the way live sports was going, I just thought there was a huge untapped opportunity, and I dove in with both feet with Athletes Unlimited,… there’s just a lot going on. People have woken up. People have realized there’s a huge opportunity here, and it’s a very exciting time to be part of this growing ecosystem.”
• A big thanks to those who donate subscriptions to seniors who are on a fixed budget. That program keeps a group of readers who are frequently marginalized and disconnected from the rest of us.
Suzanne wrote: “I’m grateful for the gift of the last year of your column by another reader. Is it possible for me to get a gift subscription for another year? I’m 78 and am experiencing extreme financial hardship, and I do so love your column.”
Done… and you did that.
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