Quite frankly, Softy was very loudly dancing in the streets when UW got their golden ticket to the Big Ten in August and could not have possibly cared less about what that meant for the very existence of WSU, OSU and west coast football. Now, after a trip to the national championship and something as routine as losing a head coach, he’s almost too distraught to be on the air because of the economics of college athletics? Spare me.
I can’t agree more. Now that it hits home for the Husky program, woe is he! And to think their play by play man said, on air, after the PAC-12 Championship, they deserved the No. 1 ranking. Sorry Huskies, no sympathy from this long suffering Beaver fan.
UW feeling a lot better today. If Noah Fifita follows Jedd - the win gets even bigger. One Zona QB we cannot accept though is Jayden de Laura (he planted flag in our carpet after Apple cup win a few years back). The coaching food chain cycle continues. Is Oregon OC, Will Stein, gonna be the next HC at Arizona?
Huskies got their second choice...after Lance Leipold of Kansas turned them down. It'll be interesting to see how long Fisch is in Seattle before he starts rubber-necking again...the guy moves more than Bekins.
Tis’ true. He’s a climber as they all are. Jedd was this fan’s choice #2. Hopefully Fisch succeeds enough to get himself to Florida, and by that time we can get Jonathan Smith back to the PNW. He was my hope, but optics were all bad w/ his move already to MSU.
The only reason why Softy has a gig is he makes sure he’s talked about, as is the case with most of his ilk. If he ain’t stirring it up, the rate card goes down
His polarization is a side benefit to some, an irritant to others
Time to talk about something REALLY important - I have a new Great-Granddaughter as of early this morning❣️
As a long-time PAC fan, I cheered for UW in title game.....but, it’s hard feeling any sympathy for a team or fan base that celebrated UW duplicity when it hammered the death knell to the PAC and left others at the alter at the last minute. Don’t worry. You’ll get another coach and get over it. But the wreckage of the PAC you could have avoided will be your legacy, and there’s no tears for your pain right now.
Hey Scott, it wasn’t UW that killed the PAC. A lot more to it than UW & Oregon Aug ‘23 choice/decision. Also, this UW fan never asked for your sympathy.
Interesting that if Ducks and Huskies would have been the first to leave, like SC and UCLA, then they wouldn’t be nearly as demonized and blamed. Ridiculous! 😂😂
You nailed it. The rest of the pac12 forgets that usc started the dominoes. And how come no one mentions the other linch pin pull when colorado jumped. My UW & your Oregon couldn’t sit around waiting for the apple streaming deal to mature, they needed real $$! Hence the big10 move. Plus from a Husky perspective, the school was already paying for the Lake debacle & a $17 mil balloon paymt due on the stadium remodel. I’d guess Oregon had costs of its own to deal with. Anyways, I get tired of the revisionist history from some coug & OS fans💜💛
That, too...and I'm a Ducks fan. John Karl Scholz, Oregon's new president, is a Cro-Magnon with zero integrity. Washington has been that way for years and it looks like Oregon caught the disease.
Order is right, but you omitted an important distinction: USC was invited with an enormous offer to leave--subsequently, all the others went seeking to leave. Changes everything.
Let's not lump Lanning in with the other 2 opportunists, at least not right now. They parlayed the Alabama job into more money and longer contracts, Lanning parlayed it into a recruiting video. at some point maybe we have to start taking him at his word.
I was surprised at JC writing that Lanning “leveraged” the Alabama opening. Did he get a raise? Another extension? Exactly what did he get from the “leverage?”
Lanning is no different, puts his pants on one leg at a time. I'm sure he got his bread buttered for now to stick with the schmucks, with the leverage of a potential move to bama. He was smart to not do what DeBoer did and try to follow immediately in Saint Nick's shoes, which in all probability doesn't end up well. If anyone thinks Lanning's decision to stay wasn't based firmly on what Lanning thinks is best for Lanning, at the moment, they also believe in the Easter Bunny.
Not one person - not one - has suggested Lanning stayed for any reason other than what's good for Lanning. In his case his interests coincided with Oregon's and Oregon's fan base. Lanning said loud and clear he was staying because his wife and kids needed stability - his oldest son has moved 8 times. He wanted a home and they love Eugene. He has never said - not one time - 'I'm loyal to Oregon and staying here forever!" Never.
You just obliterated your entire predicate because you didn't take the time to think it through. Typical.
Yeah, I didn't get Canzano's point, either. I read that sentence three times and still don't understand why he was lumped in with the others. In all fairness, I think Canzano has been very fair to Lanning during his tenure at Oregon...very fair. Maybe that's another reason this one stood out.
Agreed, the other coaches used their agent to leverage more $$$. Lanning did not even thought he was obviously the top candidate for Alabama. I thought he was gone after a false report on KVAL and am thrilled that he said the same thing to Alabama that he has to other suitors. He is the first coach since Belotti who put Oregon ahead of other opportunities
You mean the Beav and Coog pity party? It's getting pathetic how much sympathy you people have been begging for lately. I'm still trying to figure out what WSU and OSU ever really brought to the conference.
Uhhhh, the subject of the article that you're commenting on. Here, I'll copy it below for you since you apparently didn't read the article above.
“I feel like I’ve had something stolen from me that I have been waiting for 20 years to experience and now, it’s gone. And I don’t know when I’m going to find a way to get it back. I gotta be honest with you — I have no desire to be here right now. I have no desire to talk to anybody. All I want to do is sit in a frickin’ corner and cry. That’s all I wanna do.”
I’m a UW fan a year older than Softy & I don’t have quite the same reaction either. Of course it sucks to lose KDB as our coach. But I also recognize and appreciate that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was made available in his profession. He would be foolish not to run thru the tackles when the A gap is wide open. And good for KDB and his family… this is quite literally the American Dream! How can you be angry too long at that? Kalen is a super good human and coach that combines winning and development of love, culture and character wherever he goes. I hope he helps turn out great young men at Alabama as he did at UW and all prior stops. UW players & fans are gutted by the loss. It’s because he took us to such heights, and boy was it fun! I’d trade the entire ride again for how it went down. I mean, no other P12 team has ever gone undefeated before. And may never do so again. We might be in gutter a bit next year, but that is way CFB is now. As wiser voices have pointed out, Fresno St. fans felt much of what UW fandom is experiencing now, when KDB left before. And if UW poaches another standing coach, that fanbase might also feel badly. If I could wave a magic wand, UW hires Pete Carroll for short term (bridge) and then brings back home Jonathan Smith for the longer term. Go Dawgs!
It’s pretty hard to be a dedicated college fan and supporter in today’s world. No rules, no guidance, no reason for any commitment by the players and coaches has changed everything that made college football special to fans of even “lower” level programs. Your team changes every year now.
By no means an OSU fan, but maybe if Smith didn't act so desperate, he could have had his "dream" job and not have completely screwed OSU over right before signing day. Hoping Michigan State turns into a Willie Taggart experience.
Oh I'm sure he did his alma mater well and had 100% focus on the game, after all he would never screw over the program. The Ducks saw this "commitment" with Taggert, Cristobal and even Dillingham in the prior year Civil War.
Smith has a low bar to clear at MSU. They've been to one bowl since 2019, haven't won the Big Ten since 2015, and their last undisputed national championship was in 1952. If he can keep the program clean, just win 7 or 8 games most years, and get them to bowl games on a fairly consistent basis, he can probably stay there for quite a while.
Jonathan Smith buy out is $7M and decreases $1M every year of his contract until it become $1M in 2028. DeBoer buy out is $12M. UW might not be able to woo Smith this year due to the optics. But they could do so in subsequent years, if Jonathan is willing.
The bloom on the Judas rose has wilted, and successive losing seasons at Gulag State will cast him into the “also ran” trash can of college football. As Dennis Ercickson said, “ …leaving OSU was a huge mistake”
UW gets a taste of its own medicine. OSU and WSU fans know it doesn't feel very good to get screwed by the money and ego driven, semi-NFL system that FBS football has become. It will be interesting to see if the move to the B1G even matters, now. I saw this play out in Nebraska and the move helped a great old program not at all.
Nebraska's problems have nothing to do with their conference affiliation. Their initial unrealistic expectations after Osborne left (firing Solich), an insistence on trying to duplicate Osborne, and their subsequent terrible hires are to blame. In fact, without a B1G membership, can you imagine how uncompetitive they'd be? At least that gives them some recruiting potential, as it does WA in its pursuit of a new coach.
LOL...so you are saying Nebraska is "less worse" because of its B1G membership. That is hysterical. Bad is bad. The fact is the B1G did nothing to elevate Nebraska. They were better off in the B12 with their traditional midwest rivalries like Missouri and Oklahoma. I love your effort to twist results to build your case for the B1G. People who actually live in the B1G do not think it is as special and magical as west coast people, apparently.
Build my case for the B1G? What? If that's what you got from my comment, I don't know what to say, especially about your last sentence. But why is my assessment any less valid than your own "they were better off..."? At least mine was "hysterical", I guess...
Because membership in the B1G is no panacea. It does not help bad teams. It changes nothing at all and I lived in Minneapolis and Chicago for 32 years so know this first hand not from a distance. The B1G is no rational basis for moving from one conference to another. That is just an illusion that UW and UO bought hook, line and sinker. I would add UCLA and USC to this but at least they received a full share of a rights deal that no one will ever see again. The sports market is going streaming as we saw (or didn't see in my case) last night when the KC v Miami game was streaming-only on Peacock.
I have been a strong proponent of the streaming option and the PAC displayed sheer ignorance in turning down the Apple opportunity. The entrepreneurial gene is non existent in the bureaucratic minds that run universities. The proverbial “Achilles Heel”. It’s view mirror decision making being exploited by the media carpetbaggers.
Correct! Streaming as the sports economic model is as inevitable as the sun coming up tomorrow. Those who dream of the next big linear TV "rights contract" for $80M per year per team for an entire conference of now 18 teams are living in the past.
Agree that the B1G is no panacea---disagree (strongly) that teams moving to the B1G lacks a rationale (btw, living in the Midwest might make you more conservative, but doesn't give you added insight on this issue--statistics do). The B1G's greater exposure to fans, and thus TV/media, and greater revenue (because of the former) is undeniable. That also matters greatly in recruiting.
Whatever the future is, streaming or linear, revenue will be based on numbers watching. The SEC and B1G win, and win large. So yes, a bad team will not be a good team just because of B1G membership, but they will be a rich team with a better shot at becoming a good team. Why? Because they can spend...on a good coach and good players. Now, back to the original point: could Nebraska have gotten good in Big 12? Yes, but terrible coaching hires killed them, as it's hurt them in the B1G. Again, conference had zero to do with it.
So we agree....population of course is an issue. It is why UO, in a small population state and a small population city, is propped up only by Nike and PK affiliation. That is not forever. I don't see Oregon becoming a major metropolitan state any time soon. So, you can affiliate with a conference with larger metro areas like Mpls, Chicago, Detroit, NYC and Phlly / Baltimore. But it does not bring you larger streaming subscriptions and revenue and never will. In the B1G this is also true for Illinois (south centra/ IL), Indiana, Iowa City and Purdue (Lafayette, IN). These are small population markets with fewer wealthy boosters. As for Nebraska, you can make all the same arguments that Omaha / Lincoln is not going to become Chicago any time soon.
As for politics, not sure why you brought that up. This is a sports page and refreshingly devoid of politics. Yes, I am conservative and that means I am also fact based and rational versus emotion based and irrational. So if that is what you meant, yes, that is me.
I’m far from a lawyer, but when you listed all of those using Sexton as an agent, it seems like he has monopolized college coaching. He then is able to use this to increase exponentially his own income. Just seems pretty suspect to me.
Agents are and always have been parasites / blood suckers adding almost nothing to the game. Rewatch "Jerry McGuire" with Tom Cruise. That movie is almost 30 years old. Hard to believe
ADs play along, and irrational fans who can't handle the reality of normal coach movement are the fuel. If ADs think they'll lose their job for losing a coach, then they'll pay what it takes to keep them.
As a fan I don’t have to like results of Jimmy Sexton work (and in this case I don’t!) - but he has every right to maximize value for his clients. It’s not sleazy or suspect, it’s literally how our capitalist free market system works. Get used to it for key players in the portal, moving forward.
Lanning doesn't need to play that game. His benefactor created the most iconic brand in sports, and has a $40BN bankroll to show for it. When his program needs something, he knows how to ask, and he knows better than to abuse that just to appear to be leveraging situations elsewhere. That's not who Lanning is, and that's why he was Oregon's guy when many didn't consider him a prime candidate.
But wait: Timothy Moran says that Phil Knight has nothing to do with the operation of t he Oregon sports programs and did not hire the AD or the football coach. He just gives his money and hopes it is spent wisely.
Not sure I totally believe that. I’m sure he doesn’t force it, but when you give support like that you KNOW that the beneficiaries are gonna bend over backwards to try to, within reason, give substantial weight to his wishes!
So you agree that PK has a lot to say about hires and recruiting. PK and his friends control Division Street and so have a lot to say about where the NIL money is spent.
Canzano, who is as wired into Oregon sports as they come, has said as much many times. This is not some conspiracy theory.
I was most definitely NOT saying that Phil Knight dictates at any level or even weighs in on a granular level. And I could fully agree that he makes grants with no conditions or strings attached. What I AM saying is that when you have a donor like that you are gonna do everything in reason to make sure you use the grants in a way that pleases him. It would shock me to hear that there’s ever been a case where they went ahead and did something that they KNEW would tick him off. So in that sense, he does have influence. And I’m great with that and thankful as a Duck fan that he wants to share his wealth and knowledge of the sports world with our mutual Alma Mater! And those who sneer about his contributions, Eat Your Heart Out!! Go Ducks!
What do you expect from teams you compete with that don't have that? I mean, get real. I would be pissed off in high school if another team recruited and paid for players that my team had no chance to beat. And we were in the same conference. I am happy for Oregon that they are going to the B1G, which is not a super league today, but could be in a few years after they ditch their weak sisters like Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers and Maryland. I actually think Oregon should play in a league where they face teams with the same purchasing power every Saturday. That sounds fair. You and I can agree to disagree on how much influence PK has in coach and AD hires. He personally hired Lanning, whether or not you want to believe that. And if JC is correct about Lanning gaining leverage by feinting a move to Alabama, that would have been with PK to get a pay bump and extension. PK is who makes the compensation decisions since it is his money
PK absolutely has impact as a super mega donor to UO. Nobody is disputing that, at least as I can read. But, his influence inside the program is likely not as direct as you imply. Like any donor at any university, he can direct how his money is used. So can you and I. And UO would like to keep him happy so that the check book stays open. Duh. But, the institution and its officers and faculty make hires, and negotiating between the interests of the institution and of the donors is part of their collective jobs. Remember the stance UO took/kind of took against cheap labor in Asia? This pissed PK off, but UO could not just tell the students faculty no. Division Street is different and worse. This is directly controlled by donors and the money goes directly to the students. This skips the phase of "institutional control" and is a disaster not waiting to happen but happening right in front of our eyes.
You're kidding, right? You pretend to know that Lanning is some kind of stand-up guy? As the DeBoer saga proves, no one knows what these guys are capable of doing in the pursuit of more Benjamins.
Is it that crazy someone who shares hometown ties might subscribe to an OR writer's substack in part to follow the career of a local kid? Maybe to you, but Dan impacted a lot of people on the way up.
No, of course not. Lanning is probably a good guy. That doesn't mean he wouldn't leave for greener pastures ... although Oregon is going to be crazy good for the next few years.
I’ll second that question. You’re right to question that. I’ve read most everything I could find about the Lanning/UO situation in this and I have NOT seen anything published about any favors or revisions extracted by Lanning in this Alabama affair. Yet John is certainly implying that Lanning “got” something because of it. Gratitude from admin. & fans for loyalty doesn’t count John. But if you have evidence to support that implication of something more substantial, please publish the facts and not leave it with that teaser of a comment!
I didn’t intend to be critical. I love this column. Best sportswriter I’ve ever read. But I got the impression that he knows something he isn’t sharing. Maybe because he thinks everyone knows it already. But if it’s been out there, I sure missed it. Don’t recall that his coverage of Lanning vis a vis this mentioned anything but the “right reasons” to stay. Of course, that does put the ball in Oregons court...to continue to reward his loyalty as they already have. But I wouldn’t call that using “leverage”. That’s honorable dealing. Maybe John is implying “innocent” leverage, but quid pro quo is what makes the world go ‘round isn’t it?
It would make sense that Sexton, as agent for both Saban and KDB, could & did share behind the scenes info of Saban pending retirement and that job opening, well before Saban announced. In fact, I would expect that if I’m paying Sexton big $ to represent me. The other factor then is the University itself. The University has to want the coach (product) represented by agent. KDB worked his MF ass off to get to the pinnacle of CFB coaching. Good on him for hiring connected people to help put him in best resourced and highest paying coaching job in the land.
I don’t think that, no. I’m just suggesting KDB may have known of Saban departure (or however Sexton framed it up) prior to Saban announcing. And for this reason, KDB held off signing extension w/ UW to ‘wait and see’. I.e. KDB due to his hiring of Sexton, gained access to valuable knowledge.
No, not really. Phil Knight calls the shots and tells Lanning and everyone in the athletic program at UO what to do and how to do it. And for his $1.5 Billion I do not begrudge PK that. He has paid for that right
Are you a big time Oregon booster? Are you on the board? Best buddies with the AD? I ask because you post like you know everything there is to possibly know about the inner workings of the program??? Here's an idea, instead of focusing all of your energy on the Ducks, why not get all those engineers and multi million dollar grass seed farmers to buck up? College football is a money game, you can accept it and go get your base involved, or continue to whine about PK but I'm guessing most people here are tired of the same droning on and on.
Well said. PK is not micromanaging the athletic program. He has a say in the big stuff, but he’s not controlling everything. 😂😂 That is some STRONGER stuff you’re smoking Brian!
They just did pony up, $85 million for the stadium/health center/admissions welcome center; $50 million for the new supercomputer building; $50 million for the vet school; $25 million for the fine arts center. Academic buildings that benefit the students.
But you guys have a nice track stadium that gets used 10 times a year.
Not whining at all, Timothy. I am congratulatory. I am sincere about that. PK has earned the right to spend his money however he wants. If the NCAA does nothing about it, it is not his problem. As for his control of athletics at Oregon, give me a break. Do you really think all that money comes with no strings. And yes, he personally hired Rob Mullens as AD. This has been well documented. That you think PK is "hands off" with the Ducks management is hysterical. That is some strong stuff you are smoking
Not saying he doesn't have a say, sure he does, bit you act like OSU doesn't have any influential boosters. Good or bad, big boosters have always had a say in college sports. You make a lot of assumptions about Oregon but bring little facts to the table.
I am not a reporter and I doubt you could bring an original fact to the table yourself. This is not a news service. It is a commentary of opinions. Stop acting like you own the facts. My assumptions are backed by facts reported elsewhere, not the least an entire book on the subject and full of well-researched facts. If you don't have it, buy and read it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37938327-university-of-nike
I just wrote a comment and went to edit it and hid it by mistake. Can’t figure out how to unhide it so I’ll say it again. I can believe the PK gives his grants with no conditions or strings attached. But it would stretch my credulity to think Oregon doesn’t want to please a benefactor like that, and that they didn’t seek his input on some questions. But I’m great with that and as a Duck fan I’m pleased that he wants to share his wealth and knowledge of the sports world with our mutual Alma Mater. I respect the guy! He was my Den Chief when I was a Cub Scout! To those who sneer at his contributions to Mighty Oregon, I say: Eat Your Heart Out! Go Ducks!
But you don't complain when JC makes many complimentary references to Knight School. So in your world a journalist is biased if they write one or more statements that are not complimentary to the program you support, which in your view, apparently, can do no wrong.
College football needs a complete redo in governance, structure and in most every other way. That said, if I’m a player and I get offered substainaly more money to leave my team and go to another through the NIL I’m gone. The fans will care about me while I’m playing and then the vast majority won’t give me the time of day when my college career is over.
If I’m a coach and a team offers me a lot more money, again, I’m gone. If I have a few bad seasons the fans will be calling for me to be fired and I will be.
It is a business, and for some reason people get upset when people act in their own business interests.
Don’t blame the people blame the system and CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
Signed OSU fan Sorry, my last post I didn’t mean to post
If this is the case can we please stop calling them “teams”? It would be more appropriate to call them football clubs or associations now. Because there is nothing that suggests “team” in the current behavior of coaches and players.
Interesting sentiment and actually my first though was I call NFL and NBA teams, teams, but they don't have free reign where every player can transfer every year. So point taken.
Much as I view, as a lifelong Duck, Washington as the Purple Peril, a vicious threat that needs to be subdued on the field of play (😉), I truly do empathize with Husky Fans at this time. Oregon has definitely been there a few times! Bad enough to have Michigan defeat you, a team with chronic high self-regard no matter how well they’re actually doing, but to lose one of the most admirable (I thought) of the coaches you’ve ever had. Based on his demeanor and statements, I had actually thought I was going to have to “like” the Huskies because of your coach. But he proved to be primarily a climber! Probably should have suspected that had a role in his rapid rise! But I thought he might have, at Washington, all the tools he needed to build a program as good as say the James days. (and I didn’t like Don James!). Sadly, I think very few coaches want to drop anchor and “build a team” anymore. With the Portal & NIL, etc, you CAN’T do it like the old days, so a lot of ‘em just want to make as much money as fast as they can, and they don’t care where!
Every coach at some point has been a ‘climber’. The Alabama HC job is top or near top of all CFB and just became available for the 1st time in 16 years. KDB is the hottest coach still hanging in CFB (25 wins in 2 years @ P5 and still in it during 4th Q of NC). The marriage seems to be destined. Timing is sometimes everything.
OS alum here. Hard to get worked up over the huskies situation. Hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. My sides do hurt from laughing, so there is that.
I’m not worried about Softy. The Washington fanboy is just experiencing what the other 3 schools in the Pacific Northwest have over the last 6 years. The coach leaves and the star players and commits bail. Sadly, it’s the nature of CFB today. Washington will be back but who knows when.
Quite frankly, Softy was very loudly dancing in the streets when UW got their golden ticket to the Big Ten in August and could not have possibly cared less about what that meant for the very existence of WSU, OSU and west coast football. Now, after a trip to the national championship and something as routine as losing a head coach, he’s almost too distraught to be on the air because of the economics of college athletics? Spare me.
I can’t agree more. Now that it hits home for the Husky program, woe is he! And to think their play by play man said, on air, after the PAC-12 Championship, they deserved the No. 1 ranking. Sorry Huskies, no sympathy from this long suffering Beaver fan.
Karma was great when all the Husky fans was celebrating a possible Lanning move the day before.
Exactly!
UW feeling a lot better today. If Noah Fifita follows Jedd - the win gets even bigger. One Zona QB we cannot accept though is Jayden de Laura (he planted flag in our carpet after Apple cup win a few years back). The coaching food chain cycle continues. Is Oregon OC, Will Stein, gonna be the next HC at Arizona?
Huskies got their second choice...after Lance Leipold of Kansas turned them down. It'll be interesting to see how long Fisch is in Seattle before he starts rubber-necking again...the guy moves more than Bekins.
Tis’ true. He’s a climber as they all are. Jedd was this fan’s choice #2. Hopefully Fisch succeeds enough to get himself to Florida, and by that time we can get Jonathan Smith back to the PNW. He was my hope, but optics were all bad w/ his move already to MSU.
The only reason why Softy has a gig is he makes sure he’s talked about, as is the case with most of his ilk. If he ain’t stirring it up, the rate card goes down
His polarization is a side benefit to some, an irritant to others
Time to talk about something REALLY important - I have a new Great-Granddaughter as of early this morning❣️
GO DAWGS
Congratulations, David! You're right- something REALLY important!
Go, Ducks! Did your kids name her Puddles?
Congratulations! I'm impatiently waiting for my first grandchild!
Congratulations Daveid!
As a long-time PAC fan, I cheered for UW in title game.....but, it’s hard feeling any sympathy for a team or fan base that celebrated UW duplicity when it hammered the death knell to the PAC and left others at the alter at the last minute. Don’t worry. You’ll get another coach and get over it. But the wreckage of the PAC you could have avoided will be your legacy, and there’s no tears for your pain right now.
Hey Scott, it wasn’t UW that killed the PAC. A lot more to it than UW & Oregon Aug ‘23 choice/decision. Also, this UW fan never asked for your sympathy.
Interesting that if Ducks and Huskies would have been the first to leave, like SC and UCLA, then they wouldn’t be nearly as demonized and blamed. Ridiculous! 😂😂
You nailed it. The rest of the pac12 forgets that usc started the dominoes. And how come no one mentions the other linch pin pull when colorado jumped. My UW & your Oregon couldn’t sit around waiting for the apple streaming deal to mature, they needed real $$! Hence the big10 move. Plus from a Husky perspective, the school was already paying for the Lake debacle & a $17 mil balloon paymt due on the stadium remodel. I’d guess Oregon had costs of its own to deal with. Anyways, I get tired of the revisionist history from some coug & OS fans💜💛
Apparently we don’t have enough California transplants yet! (to boost up TV eyeballs that networks coveted w/ LA market)
It was the final straw. Quit denying it!
The final straw was the day Larry Scott was hired by the then presidents, and the day Larry Scott and president signed the current TV deal.
Maybe the shortest straw but certainly not the final one 😂
Along with ARROGANT OREGON
That, too...and I'm a Ducks fan. John Karl Scholz, Oregon's new president, is a Cro-Magnon with zero integrity. Washington has been that way for years and it looks like Oregon caught the disease.
As I understand it, the order of departure was:
USC
UCLA
Colorado
Arizona with a tentative Big12 agreement that brought the BigTen back and contact UW
Washington
Oregon
Arizona concludes Big12 agreement
ASU
Utah
Stanford
Cal
Order is right, but you omitted an important distinction: USC was invited with an enormous offer to leave--subsequently, all the others went seeking to leave. Changes everything.
Very good visual of the order for all to see. I just wish they would all actually see it and understand it!
Excellent comment - right on the nose.
Let's not lump Lanning in with the other 2 opportunists, at least not right now. They parlayed the Alabama job into more money and longer contracts, Lanning parlayed it into a recruiting video. at some point maybe we have to start taking him at his word.
I was surprised at JC writing that Lanning “leveraged” the Alabama opening. Did he get a raise? Another extension? Exactly what did he get from the “leverage?”
Great PR and he can now tell recruits he turned down the bama job
Nothing but a cheap shot by Canzano in lumping Lanning in with the other two.
Yeah... what, exactly, did Lanning leverage to get out of it? Nike stock?
LANNING AND OREGON DID A GREAT PR JOB. HE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE REST.
You're wrong on that one...Lanning is a lot different on this issue than Kelly, Taggart, Cristobal, Jonny Smith and DeBoer...a lot different.
Only time will tell…
Lanning is no different, puts his pants on one leg at a time. I'm sure he got his bread buttered for now to stick with the schmucks, with the leverage of a potential move to bama. He was smart to not do what DeBoer did and try to follow immediately in Saint Nick's shoes, which in all probability doesn't end up well. If anyone thinks Lanning's decision to stay wasn't based firmly on what Lanning thinks is best for Lanning, at the moment, they also believe in the Easter Bunny.
Not one person - not one - has suggested Lanning stayed for any reason other than what's good for Lanning. In his case his interests coincided with Oregon's and Oregon's fan base. Lanning said loud and clear he was staying because his wife and kids needed stability - his oldest son has moved 8 times. He wanted a home and they love Eugene. He has never said - not one time - 'I'm loyal to Oregon and staying here forever!" Never.
You just obliterated your entire predicate because you didn't take the time to think it through. Typical.
"Yawn".
How fast will Bray leave if he has any kind of success? Power 4 job>group of 6
Bingo
That actually reminded me of Canzano when he wrote for the Oregonian. I was surprised but maybe that’s who he really is.
Yeah, I didn't get Canzano's point, either. I read that sentence three times and still don't understand why he was lumped in with the others. In all fairness, I think Canzano has been very fair to Lanning during his tenure at Oregon...very fair. Maybe that's another reason this one stood out.
Agreed, the other coaches used their agent to leverage more $$$. Lanning did not even thought he was obviously the top candidate for Alabama. I thought he was gone after a false report on KVAL and am thrilled that he said the same thing to Alabama that he has to other suitors. He is the first coach since Belotti who put Oregon ahead of other opportunities
FYI, Belotti interviewed for the USC job in 2000.
What a disloyal scumbag, Scott...a real Judas! Should have been fired and then crucified on Calvary.
This guy feels like something was stolen from him?
Welcome to the Beav and Coug party pal.
You mean the Beav and Coog pity party? It's getting pathetic how much sympathy you people have been begging for lately. I'm still trying to figure out what WSU and OSU ever really brought to the conference.
OSU AND WSU BROUGHT HONESTY TO THE PAC, something you guys do not have!!
LOL... it's an article about a UW radio guy whining about losing their coach, and no one cares or wants anything from you.
But you double down on being a dick all ya want, seems to be your thing.
Well, I did read several of your comments and clearly you're looking for folks to feel sorry for you. Thank you for your service, though.
Oh clearly? lol. As in clearly you've made assumptions because I said nothing of the sort.
But like I said, keep doubling down. I give your troll game a 2 out of 10. Try harder.
I like your style sir!!!
They beat various PAC12 teams through the years.
Well Nick, the fact is you can’t fix stupid. How’s the dunce cap fitting?
If the tables were turned, you’d be whining too…
?
GO DAWGS
Not sure what your question is, the subject of the article said he felt like "something was stolen from him."
I love how these UW fans are acting like their world is over after their school bent the conference over. Tough to feel bad for the oppressors, sorry.
Who are you talking about?
GO DAWGS
Uhhhh, the subject of the article that you're commenting on. Here, I'll copy it below for you since you apparently didn't read the article above.
“I feel like I’ve had something stolen from me that I have been waiting for 20 years to experience and now, it’s gone. And I don’t know when I’m going to find a way to get it back. I gotta be honest with you — I have no desire to be here right now. I have no desire to talk to anybody. All I want to do is sit in a frickin’ corner and cry. That’s all I wanna do.”
Softy is a talking head with a zealous following. He doesn’t speak for me or most of my HuskyCircle
“one is the loneliest number”
Long time PAC8/10/12/2 fans have seen this happen to just about every program over the decades
I choose to get over it and look forward
GO DAWGS
I’m a UW fan a year older than Softy & I don’t have quite the same reaction either. Of course it sucks to lose KDB as our coach. But I also recognize and appreciate that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was made available in his profession. He would be foolish not to run thru the tackles when the A gap is wide open. And good for KDB and his family… this is quite literally the American Dream! How can you be angry too long at that? Kalen is a super good human and coach that combines winning and development of love, culture and character wherever he goes. I hope he helps turn out great young men at Alabama as he did at UW and all prior stops. UW players & fans are gutted by the loss. It’s because he took us to such heights, and boy was it fun! I’d trade the entire ride again for how it went down. I mean, no other P12 team has ever gone undefeated before. And may never do so again. We might be in gutter a bit next year, but that is way CFB is now. As wiser voices have pointed out, Fresno St. fans felt much of what UW fandom is experiencing now, when KDB left before. And if UW poaches another standing coach, that fanbase might also feel badly. If I could wave a magic wand, UW hires Pete Carroll for short term (bridge) and then brings back home Jonathan Smith for the longer term. Go Dawgs!
Oppressors? Woke much?
LOL. You're incredibly bad with your assumptions.
Sorry not sorry!
GO COUGS!!
It’s pretty hard to be a dedicated college fan and supporter in today’s world. No rules, no guidance, no reason for any commitment by the players and coaches has changed everything that made college football special to fans of even “lower” level programs. Your team changes every year now.
Yep, "rooting for laundry".
By no means an OSU fan, but maybe if Smith didn't act so desperate, he could have had his "dream" job and not have completely screwed OSU over right before signing day. Hoping Michigan State turns into a Willie Taggart experience.
You mean right before the oregon game.
Oh I'm sure he did his alma mater well and had 100% focus on the game, after all he would never screw over the program. The Ducks saw this "commitment" with Taggert, Cristobal and even Dillingham in the prior year Civil War.
Smith has a low bar to clear at MSU. They've been to one bowl since 2019, haven't won the Big Ten since 2015, and their last undisputed national championship was in 1952. If he can keep the program clean, just win 7 or 8 games most years, and get them to bowl games on a fairly consistent basis, he can probably stay there for quite a while.
What every future top 10 coach hopes to find, the Colorado of the Big 10.
Jonathan Smith buy out is $7M and decreases $1M every year of his contract until it become $1M in 2028. DeBoer buy out is $12M. UW might not be able to woo Smith this year due to the optics. But they could do so in subsequent years, if Jonathan is willing.
The bloom on the Judas rose has wilted, and successive losing seasons at Gulag State will cast him into the “also ran” trash can of college football. As Dennis Ercickson said, “ …leaving OSU was a huge mistake”
UW gets a taste of its own medicine. OSU and WSU fans know it doesn't feel very good to get screwed by the money and ego driven, semi-NFL system that FBS football has become. It will be interesting to see if the move to the B1G even matters, now. I saw this play out in Nebraska and the move helped a great old program not at all.
Nebraska's problems have nothing to do with their conference affiliation. Their initial unrealistic expectations after Osborne left (firing Solich), an insistence on trying to duplicate Osborne, and their subsequent terrible hires are to blame. In fact, without a B1G membership, can you imagine how uncompetitive they'd be? At least that gives them some recruiting potential, as it does WA in its pursuit of a new coach.
LOL...so you are saying Nebraska is "less worse" because of its B1G membership. That is hysterical. Bad is bad. The fact is the B1G did nothing to elevate Nebraska. They were better off in the B12 with their traditional midwest rivalries like Missouri and Oklahoma. I love your effort to twist results to build your case for the B1G. People who actually live in the B1G do not think it is as special and magical as west coast people, apparently.
Build my case for the B1G? What? If that's what you got from my comment, I don't know what to say, especially about your last sentence. But why is my assessment any less valid than your own "they were better off..."? At least mine was "hysterical", I guess...
Because membership in the B1G is no panacea. It does not help bad teams. It changes nothing at all and I lived in Minneapolis and Chicago for 32 years so know this first hand not from a distance. The B1G is no rational basis for moving from one conference to another. That is just an illusion that UW and UO bought hook, line and sinker. I would add UCLA and USC to this but at least they received a full share of a rights deal that no one will ever see again. The sports market is going streaming as we saw (or didn't see in my case) last night when the KC v Miami game was streaming-only on Peacock.
I have been a strong proponent of the streaming option and the PAC displayed sheer ignorance in turning down the Apple opportunity. The entrepreneurial gene is non existent in the bureaucratic minds that run universities. The proverbial “Achilles Heel”. It’s view mirror decision making being exploited by the media carpetbaggers.
Rear view!!
Correct! Streaming as the sports economic model is as inevitable as the sun coming up tomorrow. Those who dream of the next big linear TV "rights contract" for $80M per year per team for an entire conference of now 18 teams are living in the past.
Interesting that the game could be viewed in KC & Miami on local TV without Peacock. # Avoided riots
Agree that the B1G is no panacea---disagree (strongly) that teams moving to the B1G lacks a rationale (btw, living in the Midwest might make you more conservative, but doesn't give you added insight on this issue--statistics do). The B1G's greater exposure to fans, and thus TV/media, and greater revenue (because of the former) is undeniable. That also matters greatly in recruiting.
Whatever the future is, streaming or linear, revenue will be based on numbers watching. The SEC and B1G win, and win large. So yes, a bad team will not be a good team just because of B1G membership, but they will be a rich team with a better shot at becoming a good team. Why? Because they can spend...on a good coach and good players. Now, back to the original point: could Nebraska have gotten good in Big 12? Yes, but terrible coaching hires killed them, as it's hurt them in the B1G. Again, conference had zero to do with it.
So we agree....population of course is an issue. It is why UO, in a small population state and a small population city, is propped up only by Nike and PK affiliation. That is not forever. I don't see Oregon becoming a major metropolitan state any time soon. So, you can affiliate with a conference with larger metro areas like Mpls, Chicago, Detroit, NYC and Phlly / Baltimore. But it does not bring you larger streaming subscriptions and revenue and never will. In the B1G this is also true for Illinois (south centra/ IL), Indiana, Iowa City and Purdue (Lafayette, IN). These are small population markets with fewer wealthy boosters. As for Nebraska, you can make all the same arguments that Omaha / Lincoln is not going to become Chicago any time soon.
As for politics, not sure why you brought that up. This is a sports page and refreshingly devoid of politics. Yes, I am conservative and that means I am also fact based and rational versus emotion based and irrational. So if that is what you meant, yes, that is me.
I’m far from a lawyer, but when you listed all of those using Sexton as an agent, it seems like he has monopolized college coaching. He then is able to use this to increase exponentially his own income. Just seems pretty suspect to me.
Agents are and always have been parasites / blood suckers adding almost nothing to the game. Rewatch "Jerry McGuire" with Tom Cruise. That movie is almost 30 years old. Hard to believe
ADs play along, and irrational fans who can't handle the reality of normal coach movement are the fuel. If ADs think they'll lose their job for losing a coach, then they'll pay what it takes to keep them.
The university is under no obligation to hire any of his clients.
As a fan I don’t have to like results of Jimmy Sexton work (and in this case I don’t!) - but he has every right to maximize value for his clients. It’s not sleazy or suspect, it’s literally how our capitalist free market system works. Get used to it for key players in the portal, moving forward.
It's shameful he's never been on the receiving end of a congressional subpoena.
Except those hearings always make me laugh....liars and cheaters questioning liars and cheaters!
Oh for sure, I just want that jack*** have to suffer through it LOL
I doubt that actually happened.
You nailed it, JC.
He was too soft on softy.
Curious...what did Dan Lanning “leverage” Oregon for by staying? He’s already signed up for years ahead.
Lanning doesn't need to play that game. His benefactor created the most iconic brand in sports, and has a $40BN bankroll to show for it. When his program needs something, he knows how to ask, and he knows better than to abuse that just to appear to be leveraging situations elsewhere. That's not who Lanning is, and that's why he was Oregon's guy when many didn't consider him a prime candidate.
But wait: Timothy Moran says that Phil Knight has nothing to do with the operation of t he Oregon sports programs and did not hire the AD or the football coach. He just gives his money and hopes it is spent wisely.
Not sure I totally believe that. I’m sure he doesn’t force it, but when you give support like that you KNOW that the beneficiaries are gonna bend over backwards to try to, within reason, give substantial weight to his wishes!
So you agree that PK has a lot to say about hires and recruiting. PK and his friends control Division Street and so have a lot to say about where the NIL money is spent.
Canzano, who is as wired into Oregon sports as they come, has said as much many times. This is not some conspiracy theory.
I was most definitely NOT saying that Phil Knight dictates at any level or even weighs in on a granular level. And I could fully agree that he makes grants with no conditions or strings attached. What I AM saying is that when you have a donor like that you are gonna do everything in reason to make sure you use the grants in a way that pleases him. It would shock me to hear that there’s ever been a case where they went ahead and did something that they KNEW would tick him off. So in that sense, he does have influence. And I’m great with that and thankful as a Duck fan that he wants to share his wealth and knowledge of the sports world with our mutual Alma Mater! And those who sneer about his contributions, Eat Your Heart Out!! Go Ducks!
What do you expect from teams you compete with that don't have that? I mean, get real. I would be pissed off in high school if another team recruited and paid for players that my team had no chance to beat. And we were in the same conference. I am happy for Oregon that they are going to the B1G, which is not a super league today, but could be in a few years after they ditch their weak sisters like Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers and Maryland. I actually think Oregon should play in a league where they face teams with the same purchasing power every Saturday. That sounds fair. You and I can agree to disagree on how much influence PK has in coach and AD hires. He personally hired Lanning, whether or not you want to believe that. And if JC is correct about Lanning gaining leverage by feinting a move to Alabama, that would have been with PK to get a pay bump and extension. PK is who makes the compensation decisions since it is his money
PK absolutely has impact as a super mega donor to UO. Nobody is disputing that, at least as I can read. But, his influence inside the program is likely not as direct as you imply. Like any donor at any university, he can direct how his money is used. So can you and I. And UO would like to keep him happy so that the check book stays open. Duh. But, the institution and its officers and faculty make hires, and negotiating between the interests of the institution and of the donors is part of their collective jobs. Remember the stance UO took/kind of took against cheap labor in Asia? This pissed PK off, but UO could not just tell the students faculty no. Division Street is different and worse. This is directly controlled by donors and the money goes directly to the students. This skips the phase of "institutional control" and is a disaster not waiting to happen but happening right in front of our eyes.
Not what I said ..but hey, if that's a delusion you want ro believe in, then by all means...
The point is, there is a process in place, and everyone involved behaves like a professional. It's the anti-Auburn.
You're kidding, right? You pretend to know that Lanning is some kind of stand-up guy? As the DeBoer saga proves, no one knows what these guys are capable of doing in the pursuit of more Benjamins.
Is it that crazy someone who shares hometown ties might subscribe to an OR writer's substack in part to follow the career of a local kid? Maybe to you, but Dan impacted a lot of people on the way up.
No, of course not. Lanning is probably a good guy. That doesn't mean he wouldn't leave for greener pastures ... although Oregon is going to be crazy good for the next few years.
Most iconic brand in sports. That is totally hilarious! Thanks for saying this. I needed a belly laugh.
Nike
💯
Hope
One can.
Yoda
I’ll second that question. You’re right to question that. I’ve read most everything I could find about the Lanning/UO situation in this and I have NOT seen anything published about any favors or revisions extracted by Lanning in this Alabama affair. Yet John is certainly implying that Lanning “got” something because of it. Gratitude from admin. & fans for loyalty doesn’t count John. But if you have evidence to support that implication of something more substantial, please publish the facts and not leave it with that teaser of a comment!
My comment isn’t a criticism of John at all. Just wondering if he knew something behind the scenes that we didn’t. I’m just glad Lanning is staying.
I didn’t intend to be critical. I love this column. Best sportswriter I’ve ever read. But I got the impression that he knows something he isn’t sharing. Maybe because he thinks everyone knows it already. But if it’s been out there, I sure missed it. Don’t recall that his coverage of Lanning vis a vis this mentioned anything but the “right reasons” to stay. Of course, that does put the ball in Oregons court...to continue to reward his loyalty as they already have. But I wouldn’t call that using “leverage”. That’s honorable dealing. Maybe John is implying “innocent” leverage, but quid pro quo is what makes the world go ‘round isn’t it?
It would make sense that Sexton, as agent for both Saban and KDB, could & did share behind the scenes info of Saban pending retirement and that job opening, well before Saban announced. In fact, I would expect that if I’m paying Sexton big $ to represent me. The other factor then is the University itself. The University has to want the coach (product) represented by agent. KDB worked his MF ass off to get to the pinnacle of CFB coaching. Good on him for hiring connected people to help put him in best resourced and highest paying coaching job in the land.
You think?? DeBoer interviewed for the Alabama job in Houston before the national championship game.
How do you know JML?
I don’t think that, no. I’m just suggesting KDB may have known of Saban departure (or however Sexton framed it up) prior to Saban announcing. And for this reason, KDB held off signing extension w/ UW to ‘wait and see’. I.e. KDB due to his hiring of Sexton, gained access to valuable knowledge.
Thanks. I hear ya. Good points 👍🏻
Same question I had. Did he get more control? Seems like he has whatever he wants.
No, not really. Phil Knight calls the shots and tells Lanning and everyone in the athletic program at UO what to do and how to do it. And for his $1.5 Billion I do not begrudge PK that. He has paid for that right
Are you a big time Oregon booster? Are you on the board? Best buddies with the AD? I ask because you post like you know everything there is to possibly know about the inner workings of the program??? Here's an idea, instead of focusing all of your energy on the Ducks, why not get all those engineers and multi million dollar grass seed farmers to buck up? College football is a money game, you can accept it and go get your base involved, or continue to whine about PK but I'm guessing most people here are tired of the same droning on and on.
Well said. PK is not micromanaging the athletic program. He has a say in the big stuff, but he’s not controlling everything. 😂😂 That is some STRONGER stuff you’re smoking Brian!
They just did pony up, $85 million for the stadium/health center/admissions welcome center; $50 million for the new supercomputer building; $50 million for the vet school; $25 million for the fine arts center. Academic buildings that benefit the students.
But you guys have a nice track stadium that gets used 10 times a year.
Not whining at all, Timothy. I am congratulatory. I am sincere about that. PK has earned the right to spend his money however he wants. If the NCAA does nothing about it, it is not his problem. As for his control of athletics at Oregon, give me a break. Do you really think all that money comes with no strings. And yes, he personally hired Rob Mullens as AD. This has been well documented. That you think PK is "hands off" with the Ducks management is hysterical. That is some strong stuff you are smoking
Can’t argue with a man who has the inside track on all things Oregon.
Not saying he doesn't have a say, sure he does, bit you act like OSU doesn't have any influential boosters. Good or bad, big boosters have always had a say in college sports. You make a lot of assumptions about Oregon but bring little facts to the table.
I am not a reporter and I doubt you could bring an original fact to the table yourself. This is not a news service. It is a commentary of opinions. Stop acting like you own the facts. My assumptions are backed by facts reported elsewhere, not the least an entire book on the subject and full of well-researched facts. If you don't have it, buy and read it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37938327-university-of-nike
Thank you!
I just wrote a comment and went to edit it and hid it by mistake. Can’t figure out how to unhide it so I’ll say it again. I can believe the PK gives his grants with no conditions or strings attached. But it would stretch my credulity to think Oregon doesn’t want to please a benefactor like that, and that they didn’t seek his input on some questions. But I’m great with that and as a Duck fan I’m pleased that he wants to share his wealth and knowledge of the sports world with our mutual Alma Mater. I respect the guy! He was my Den Chief when I was a Cub Scout! To those who sneer at his contributions to Mighty Oregon, I say: Eat Your Heart Out! Go Ducks!
It just shows JC's anti-Oregon bias when he makes comments like that.
But you don't complain when JC makes many complimentary references to Knight School. So in your world a journalist is biased if they write one or more statements that are not complimentary to the program you support, which in your view, apparently, can do no wrong.
College football needs a complete redo in governance, structure and in most every other way. That said, if I’m a player and I get offered substainaly more money to leave my team and go to another through the NIL I’m gone. The fans will care about me while I’m playing and then the vast majority won’t give me the time of day when my college career is over.
If I’m a coach and a team offers me a lot more money, again, I’m gone. If I have a few bad seasons the fans will be calling for me to be fired and I will be.
It is a business, and for some reason people get upset when people act in their own business interests.
Don’t blame the people blame the system and CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
Signed OSU fan Sorry, my last post I didn’t mean to post
If this is the case can we please stop calling them “teams”? It would be more appropriate to call them football clubs or associations now. Because there is nothing that suggests “team” in the current behavior of coaches and players.
Interesting sentiment and actually my first though was I call NFL and NBA teams, teams, but they don't have free reign where every player can transfer every year. So point taken.
As a Husky Fan, I am truly bummed. Thought DeBoer and the Huskies were on the verge of modern greatness
As a realist in this NewNormal, I am far from surprised. Lots floating through my pea brain, but I’ll avoid saying sumthin’ stupid...
GO DAWGS
Gee. It's not like your school doesn't have a conference and lost its coach.
You really have no idea how bad it can be. Good lord.
Many good friends and former customers, not to mention family, are hard-core BeaverFans and alumni
I felt and feel their pain
GO DAWGS
Much as I view, as a lifelong Duck, Washington as the Purple Peril, a vicious threat that needs to be subdued on the field of play (😉), I truly do empathize with Husky Fans at this time. Oregon has definitely been there a few times! Bad enough to have Michigan defeat you, a team with chronic high self-regard no matter how well they’re actually doing, but to lose one of the most admirable (I thought) of the coaches you’ve ever had. Based on his demeanor and statements, I had actually thought I was going to have to “like” the Huskies because of your coach. But he proved to be primarily a climber! Probably should have suspected that had a role in his rapid rise! But I thought he might have, at Washington, all the tools he needed to build a program as good as say the James days. (and I didn’t like Don James!). Sadly, I think very few coaches want to drop anchor and “build a team” anymore. With the Portal & NIL, etc, you CAN’T do it like the old days, so a lot of ‘em just want to make as much money as fast as they can, and they don’t care where!
Every coach at some point has been a ‘climber’. The Alabama HC job is top or near top of all CFB and just became available for the 1st time in 16 years. KDB is the hottest coach still hanging in CFB (25 wins in 2 years @ P5 and still in it during 4th Q of NC). The marriage seems to be destined. Timing is sometimes everything.
OS alum here. Hard to get worked up over the huskies situation. Hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. My sides do hurt from laughing, so there is that.
Like my ol' grandpa said, it's not far trom the penthouse to the outhouse. Go Dawgs! Just please GO.
I’m not worried about Softy. The Washington fanboy is just experiencing what the other 3 schools in the Pacific Northwest have over the last 6 years. The coach leaves and the star players and commits bail. Sadly, it’s the nature of CFB today. Washington will be back but who knows when.