OREGON LOCATION FINALLY REVEALED

The Oregon location is where it’s always been, somewhere between Seattle and San Francisco.

That’s what I got from talking to foreigners in their own country.

No idea of Oregon, Washington, or Portland. But Seattle? Yes.

California? Yes.

Why does Oregon get the same confused reaction from sports analysts?

During a game break yesterday the broadcast cut to the studio team for insights and projections.

They talked about the SEC and how a two loss team, maybe a three or four loss team from that conference, could make the playoffs.

They talked about the Big10 and what Indiana is doing in their barn burner of a season.

Before they finished their segment, the lead man reminded his partner that the Oregon Ducks are the #1 team in all of college football at the highest level with the best wins.

(I might be adding a little hyperbole.)

Booger: We don’t talk about that, not about Oregon, that’s too far, way out there by Alaska or something.

Here’s some help with an Oregon location:

Look at the top left corner of an American map, the corner that has the point pinched off.

Now take your finger and trace the boundary between the Pacific Ocean on the left and the North American contingent on the right.

Left is the water, right is the land. Let’s stay together.

Trace downward until you find a gap, a notch, in the coastline. Below that is Oregon.

Once more, top left corner, then down to the gap that is the mouth of the Columbia River.

Above the top left corner sits Canada, and above that Alaska.

Quick reminder, Oregon and Alaska don’t share a common border.

 

#1 Oregon Ducks Hard To Find, Hard To Say

The Southeastern Conference is the undisputed king of college football conferences.

You could call it the smart conference for just the name when the Big10 has eighteen teams and the Big12 has sixteen.

The Big10 Conference, the new environment that was supposed to grind the Ducks down, but instead it’s the conference the Ducks lead the nation from, also has a hard time finding the right words.

The expert panel talked about Penn State, Ohio State, and mostly undefeated Indiana. How ’bout those Hoosiers.

The board showing the current standings has Indiana at the top with Oregon next.

Oregon is the top team in the nation, but listed second on Big10 talk shows?

There’s only one way to explain it: Custom and Tradition.

With that in mind, the only time most old Big10 teams, when 10 meant ten, the only time they saw Oregon was in the Rose Bowl.

And, back in the day, Oregon wasn’t a Rose Bowl regular.

The midwestern sports audience was more familiar with USC and their annual game against Notre Dame.

Maybe you’ve heard of the University of Spoiled Children?

This is a time-out season for them and their super coach from Oklahoma.

At the same time, this is a legacy season for the Oregon Ducks and their quarterback from Oklahoma.

Saying It Together: Oregon Ducks #1

The Ducks look like they’re in big trouble against teams named for birds of prey, apex predators, and dogs.

But they are Oregon Ducks, not Delaware Blue Hens, not a Creighton Bluejay, or a Pomona Sage Grouse.

Earning respect takes time.

It’s been a healing time with Oregon at #1.

Now I can watch the mighty SEC play each other into insignificance and know the Ducks could beat them straight up.

Announcers and prognosticators see the Ducks in action and still can’t bring themselves to swoon.

I feel the resistance to jumping on the Oregon bandwagon.

Not for me, but for the talking heads mooning over Ohio State’s loss to Oregon, Michigan’s loss to Oregon.

Based on their observations and opinions, Oregon is an after thought to the true powers of college football.

But, based on history and mortality, Woody Hayes isn’t running out on the field anytime soon, Nick Saban isn’t walking through any team door, and Knute Rockne is too busy with other things.

So it’s Oregon this week at #1, just like last week, and the week before, and the week before.

Pardon my excitement, but I’m hoping against hope they finish the season #1, get a playoff bye, and beat the feathers off every team they face on their way to the podium.

That is the true Oregon location.

Others will always have their view, and around these parts they are welcomed.

I’m glad to help get things pointed in the right direction.