Good Luck Ducks, Week 1: Reboot

The Quack Attack begins their second B1G season with a very remade roster. 

 

I probably say this every year, and you could certainly look at this year's calendar and see that Labor Day falls on the earliest day it possibly could, but it seems like the football season really sneaked up on us again. The Ducks begin another typically mellow nonconference schedule with a home match against an FCS opponent, but it's not just another FCS opponent. Much like the Ducks last season, the Montana State Bobcats ran the table in 2024 only to get knocked out as soon as the calendar flipped over to January. Of course, the two programs exist on entirely different planes of college football existence, but that's not to say that today's match will be a cakewalk.

There are quite a few changes on both sides of the ball for the Ducks as they head into their second season in the Big Ten. This doesn't come as a surprise in the current state of player movement across the sport, but it is the first time in several seasons that Oregon won't be quarterbacked by an accomplished multi-year starter from a major program who transferred in just in time for some potential playoff action. They will have another power school transfer at the helm, though, as Dante Moore is expected to takeover as QB1. Moore started as a freshman two years ago under Chip Kelly at UCLA before moving to Oregon to more or less apprentice under Dillon Gabriel last season. He took enough snaps to get his feet wet (ha!) with the green and yellow, but not enough to burn a redshirt year as far as I can recall, so if this all works out he could be around for a bit.

Montana State is an excellent running team who is led by Adam Jones, a back that is not quite at the level of Ashton Jeanty, but could at least give Ducks fans some uncomfortable feelings reminiscent of the game they squeaked out against Boise State early last season. A successfully running game is often an equalizer against an offense with superior talent, meaning that if Oregon can't force many fourth downs, it could make for an uncomfortable sunny afternoon in Eugene.

Notes and miscellany:

• Given how things played out last year and the current massive turnover in the roster (only three starters return), I am going to temper my expectations for the season. There's a chance this team could take a big step back, but given the talent and (presumably) cash being thrown around, it's also possible that the Ducks become one of those programs that breaks off from the rest of the bunch and ends up in some superleague tier someday. I don't really like either prospect. I know going back to the way things were (pick a year: 2015? 2010? 19-90something?) isn't ever going to be a possibility, but the upheaval in this sport (and others that I follow to be quite honest) makes me less invested than I used to be. Of course, that might be a good thing for my own personal health.
• Opponent Fun Fact: Jersey number 41 holds a particular significance for Montana State, and not just because Montana is the 41st state.
• Opponent History: Oregon won the only previous meeting, 27-14 back in 1947.
• Game time is 1:00 PM PDT on the B1G Network in Eugene.

The Baseball Project Trading Cards!

 

Baseball cards featuring a rock band that writes songs about baseball. 

 

If you're reading this and you like rock music, there's a good chance you've at least heard of The Baseball Project. Founded almost two decades ago, the band (a supergroup, if you will) celebrated their fourth album release and tour back in 2023 with a pack of cards available at their merch table which was clearly too fun for me to pass up.

Each card features one of the primary band members, and the info card that leads off the pack gives you some contact info as well as a small glimpse at the album cover of their latest release, Grand Salami Time. The title track is based on the catchphrase of Seattle Mariners legendary broadcaster Dave Niehaus and ties in a bunch of other famous announcer catchphrases.

Each card features a childhood photo of a band member, using the familiar 1987 Topps style and Future Stars logo.

On the back of the card you get each band member's "stats" (i.e. rock band resume) along with a fun fact about that member.

Did I get an all-rookie hot pack? It seems like I did!

One of the big things that put this band on my radar is that I became a huge R.E.M. fan in high school, and the band has included two core members of that group at times as well as a touring member, meaning that I first got to see 60% of this group play live together more than 30 years ago.

Is there anything better than old little league photos? I still have one or two of mine somewhere.

Peter Buck was always my favorite R.E.M. member, and he's only gotten more involved in different projects as he's gotten older, including a run of solo releases not mentioned here.

Scott McCaughey is a Bay Area native, so he may not be as enthused about wearing a Yankees shirt here as he seemed to be in the photo.

McCaughey started touring with R.E.M. in 1995 and eventually moved up here to Portland, so I see him around from time to time when I go to shows locally. The Minus 5 is always a fun time.

Steve Wynn pushes the Yankees thing further here with an actual team logo.

Wynn put out a number of acclaimed records with The Dream Syndicate in the '80s and is married to the band's drummer, Linda Pitmon. He splits lead vocal duties with McCaughey for the most part, with Mike Mills at the mic on a couple of fun tracks about Dale Murphy and doctoring baseballs.

I tend to shy away from most bands that could easily be labeled as a "gimmick band", but the first time I caught these guys live I was really into it. Their collective background in the music game certainly helps here. Check them out at their website, on Bandcamp, or YouTube or wherever you consume music.

New Cardinals and an Old Friend

New (to me) Cardinals cards and a fun surprise.

 

Earlier this year, Padrographs opened some new card packages and was kind enough to send some of the Cardinals spoils my way. We once again had a couple of major Topps releases from 2024 bleed into the 2025 calendar, including this fun "rookie year" insert of Masyn Winn that's a throw back to a mid-90s insert design.

From the 2025 Topps Series 1 set came a few Nolan Arenado inserts, as he is one of the lone players still with the Cardinals that could be considered a star these days.

Arenado did not get traded in the offseason despite at least one serious attempt, and did not get traded at this year's trade deadline. I imagine the market for him had shrunk even further, as his production at the plate has fallen off dramatically (and he is currently injured.)

Topps swiped a few insert concepts from canceled sets like Big League and Opening Day recently to assimilate them into the main flagship set. I think these must have only been available in some special retail configuration or another.

Stan the Man gets in on the 2025 Series 1 fun.

I assure you this is a rainbow foil parallel, one of the only shiny parallels that exists these days that doesn't throw a bunch of weird glittery patterns at you. Of course, it scans just like a base card.

The 2024 Topps Heritage High Numbers product was the other carryover from last year. From left to right, top to bottom, we have a guy in a City Connect jersey who was recently dealt ahead of the trade deadline, a Rule 5 pick from last year who recently rejoined the active roster, a speed demon who is still developing at the plate (or so they tell me), a "sunset card" of sorts of one of my favorites, and a guy who was recently DFA'd twice and is currently in the minors for another unmentionable team.

The big fun surprise, of course, is this Paul DeJong signed card of his "Bowman 1st" Chrome card. DeJong is with the Nationals right now and has recently smacked a couple of homers. Good for him!